Wise Men Say

Pretty Boy

  It was the night of prince Gabriel's ball. The soon to be king was to find a partner or be forced to wed someone of his father's choosing. Artemis was supposed to have the night off for once but of course, that didn't happen. He just couldn't catch a break. Mary, his master, had decided he needed to help out as one of the maids fell sick the night before. He was upset, who wouldn't be? He had planned on finishing reading his romance novel and he would no longer be able to do that. However, he knew he couldn't talk back.

He was in his master's quarters getting ready. He put his long midnight blue hair up into a poney-tail and looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a dark grey button-up with a light steel blue vest. He adjusted his black bowtie and sighed. His black cat ears twitched in annoyance with his master but he would never voice his complaints. He was too nervous to be yelled at by her. She may be sweet but she had a bit of a temper, especially when it came to him. He was always messing up in her eyes.

He took a deep breath as he heard a knock on the door and turned to it with a smile, "Come in." Mary, a tall beautiful lady walked in. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes. Many found her attractive but her heart was taken and broken many years ago. She smiled as she walked over to Artemis. "You look handsome, you're not trying to impress anyone special tonight, right?" She joked, laughing with her familiar. "No, no. Of course not. Just don't want to be an embarrassment upon Gabriel's name." He rolled his eyes slightly as he gestured to his ears and tail as if to ask mary to hide them.

"Ah, right." She muttered a small enchantment and they disappeared in an instant, "There you go." Artemis bowed and smiled, "Thank you, master." She nodded, "Yes, of course. Now, remember, you have three hours before you need to get out of there. Oh and after, will you go into Gabriel's room and find me a small red bag, please." "Yes, of course." He said, not daring to question why she needed it as he went to leave the room to join the maids in serving food for the night.

It didn't take long to spot the odd two out in the night. One he recognized from Gabriel's childhood, Beelzebub. He was shocked to see the small male again. They had run off years ago but he had been told by Mary that they and Gabriel had reconnected a few weeks ago. But then, the other he had no clue who he was. He was tall with long black hair and a stubbled chin. His eyes were a chocolaty brown that you could get lost in forever. He shook his head, he shouldn't be thinking that way about someone here to most likely court the king.

He was supposed to be a servant tonight, a man like that would never even glance his way . . . but then he saw the man's eyes flash red and it clicked. He was Beelzebub's familiar. He had never known Beelzebub as Mary use to keep him hidden due to witches not really being accepted in the castle but when she had her child she needed help and he was there with helping hands. Now he watches her all the time, he's basically her father but she calls him uncle.

The familiar went over to Gabriel and Artemis couldn't help but feel jealous. He just wanted someone's attention, but he could never bring himself to give his heart to anyone. Maybe that's why he and the prince never got along, Gabriel got everybody's attention whilst he got none. Not even his own master gave him much attention anymore but he loved her like a mother. She was busy, it wasn't her fault. At least he had Sofia, even if she only was six. He practically raised her and they were really close.

After a while, Artemis saw the prince and Beelzebub leaving the ballroom and the familiar following them with a redhead witch named Crowley. Out of pure curiosity, he decided to follow them. His time was almost up anyway but then he remembered the red bag and knew Gabriel would be going back to his room soon. He quickly transformed back into a fluffy black cat and ran to Gabriel's room quickly, sneaking through the already slightly opened door before shutting it with his tail. He quietly went to snoop through the room. Under the bed, through the drawers but the red bag was nowhere to be found for him.