The Deamon Angel

Chapter 9: Truth

When I wake from my restless sleep, Ash, thankfully, is still there. We both still wear our costumes from last night- or day, or, well, time is weird here. The music is still dramatically loud. The masquerade is probably going to last a few more days at the very least. Ash stirs slightly in his sleep. He looks timeless. His flaming red hair falls just to the left of his eyes. He smiles gently in his sleep, as if he is reliving a happy memory. His mask lays on the nightstand next to mine. His wings are folded lightly so that they don't show. He looks like a dozing Ephemeral.

I sit up and stretch my wings wide. Their ten foot span stretches past the bed and nightstand. The gold tinsel is still lightly weaved in the feather of my wings. I ditch my heels for a pair of snug, light, black boots. They are like thick socks, really, but with a thin sole. They are made for dancing.

"Planning on dancing?" I hear from behind me.

"Of course," I say, laughing.

Ash gets up and crosses the room to where I stand, admiring myself in the mirror. I redo my hair, adding more glittery onyx pins to keep it in place. My hair, licorice-black on the back half- pinned in a tight, neat twist-, and snow-white on the front half along with my long bangs- curled and pinned- is perfect. My raven feather earrings mach my outfit perfectly.

The masque is only just beginning to liven up when Ash and I arrive. I immediately spot Jackson, William, and Damon from the second floor. Ash and I part ways at the base of the steps. He goes to get me a drink, and I go to speak to the others. Angels stop me along the way, asking me questions about my wings, and about what happened between Daeya and I. I was so close to my group when Lord Roscia taps my arm. Reluctantly I turn around and converse with him. He blathers on for what seems like hours. Thankfully, Ash comes to my rescue. I bid a farewell to Lord Roscia, and Ash and I make our way to Jackson, Damon, and William.

"Evening guys," I say.

"Get caught up earlier, then?" Damon jokes.

"Ha ha, Damon, very funny," Ash says, annoyed.

"Well, my queen, you look bored," William jokes," Would you care for a dance?" he says, laughing.

"Always," I say, giggling.

William leads me to the center of the room where the dancing is. One of my favorite songs is playing, the Danse Macabre- Camille Saint Saëns. We begin the waltz, slowly catching up to the rhythmic beat of the music. William, still shorter than me, looks up at me, a huge smile on his face. His wings, the same black as my dress, are folded gently behind him; they show slightly. William is gorgeous in his half mask. I am so glad that I have been able to look beyond the past- these are the few friends that I have allowed myself to have-, and it would kill me to lose them again. William jokes throughout the whole dance.

The next song begins- a new tune that I haven't heard-, and Damon taps on William's shoulder, and asks me for a dance. William bows slightly to me, and he retreats to the bar, leaving me with Damon.

"How is your evening so far, my lady," Damon asks sweetly.

"Damon," I mock-whine," Don't call me that. I'm just Jane to you, okay?"

"Of course, my lady," Damon laughs.

We both crack up. Damon is a gifted dancer.

"Jane," he says, suddenly serious," Why did you just accept Ash's proposal?"

This caught me off guard and I tripped, causing me to bump into one of the jesters. Damon caught me before I hit the ground and apologized to the jester for me. I catch my bearings and we begin to dance again.