The Deal with the Demon Prince

*Chapter Nineteen*

I found a pic I drew a year ago of a random anime character I made up. Just realized how much she's like Aurora. I put it in the external link. Just imagine her with black hair. Check it out if you want -> 

 

*Chapter Nineteen*

The smoke spiraled upwards, drifting and dissipating into the night sky. The fire crackled – a deafening noise in the silence of the night. Gabriella glanced around worriedly, expecting people to sneak up on them because of the bright fire. Phoebe threw her head back and laughed another one of those shrill and loud laughs. Simultaneously, the four sitting around the small campfire winced.

“Phoebe, if you would please lower your voice as not to attract -”

She turned her piercing gaze onto the human. Daniel immediately clamped his mouth shut. Students in Artemis were instructed not to be overly formal with the Demon Prince, an order implemented by the very Prince himself as he thought it was pointless, and it only infuriated him. It was because of this that people no longer bow to Adrian’s presence whenever they see him. At the same time, people were so used to the presence of a Royalty that they almost no longer execute the proper respect needed to be shown.

“I’m not like Adrian. I do demand your respect,” she said imperturbably, yet beneath the serene look, Gabriella could easily see the rigidity.

God help anyone who dares to disrespect the Princess, Gabriella thought.

“My apologies, Princess Phoebe,” Daniel said hurriedly before dropping to one knee and looking down. Artemis, being an international bridge between the three species, taught them the basic customs in all three species.

The Princess giggled like a teenager.

“You’re forgiven. As for the fire, you don’t have to worry about that. We’re leaving the place as soon as we finish eating.”

Gabriella resisted the urge to scream. The Princess was saying that they were prone to being seen by other people. The Princess shot her a curious but cautious look. Gabriella hadn’t even realized that she had stood up.

“I-I’m sorry,” she apologized. She bit down on her tongue. It felt so wrong to bow down to a Demon Royalty.

The Princess lifted her chin up, forcing her to stare into her beautiful turquoise eyes. Recognition flashed through her eyes.

“I presume you know of Cade?”

Taken aback by her question, Gabriella nodded.

“I see,” she said before turning away to face the others. “We have approximately six different groups of people approaching from each side. It’s time to leave.” She grinned at the barely suppressed anger and annoyance each of them had. “As we leave, the six pair of people will meet. If I’m not wrong, they will try to kill each other.”

Four pairs of jaw dropped. No one had expected the exceptionally innocent-looking Princess to hold such a notion. Gabriella stared at the profile of the girl. She held herself in a haughty way, and there was something about her that made her completely different from Adrian, her supposedly brother.

Avary walked back to where he had left Aurora, his mind drifting to the conversation he had with his sister earlier. His posture relaxed, and he let out a deep sigh. He was definitely lucky to get away from Phoebe.

“Aurora?” he called.

There was no reply. He tried it again. His expression sobered as he broke out into the exact area he had left her. There was no one in sight. His eyes narrowed at a deep gash on the ground. Avary crouched down. There were a few droplets of dried blood. He looked around once again, noticing the scratches all over the trees.