“What?” Exclaimed Poppy, following Alex’s lead and chewing on a muffin.
“Yeah, well let’s just say they are both totally into each other, but as he’s the prince of evil...”
“The prince? Evil? Shit!” Poppy interrupted Alex. She stared attentively at Alex, like she was telling a detailed love story. Oh my days this was completely unreal. Poppy and Alex talking about me and Logan and the fact that he’s a demon. I will wake up in a minute, and this will be a completely random dream.
“Yeah so they shouldn’t like each other, but they do...”
“I knew you weren’t family. You looked at each other differently to what family members do. It’s more intense.” Poppy interrupted Alex again, smiling at me with her matter of fact look.
“I don’t think you guys understand the fact that he’s a demon, and he kills people,” I mumbled.
“That didn’t stop you sleeping with him.”
“ALEX!” I yelled, hitting her over the head.
“You slept with him!” Poppy gasped, her mouth so wide open, she could catch flies.
“Wow. This conversation is officially ending now. Come on Poppy, I should get you home.”
“I don’t think so. I have just found out my best friend is a magical being, and she is in love with a guy she shouldn’t be. This is so much better than watching the soaps,” she babbled with a huge grin on her face.
“Poppy my life isn’t all fun and games. It doesn’t run off a script. It's real life and people get hurt. I watched an angel die in my arms less than twenty minutes ago. I’m in deep shit here. My life is in danger,that’s what brought those demons to the Bales house tonight. They were looking for me, and now they know who you are. They can hurt you, Poppy...They could kill you. Not looking much like as soap now ay,” I sighed. I didn’t want to scare her, but I didn’t want her to be naive about the situation either. Her life wasn’t exactly in danger as none of the demons had a chance to get away, but that wasn’t the point. My life was an abysmal mess, and I don’t think she should be involved in this side of it. Maybe I should erase her memory.
“Fuck Elle. I didn’t realise,” She stuttered.
“Now you have the choice to remember what a mess my life is. Or you can forget about it. I can cast a memory spell on you and you won’t remember a thing...”
“I want to remember!” Poppy exclaimed, before I could finish what I was going to say.
“Are you sure?” I asked. I’m not sure she was taking this situation seriously, but I wasn’t going to do something she didn’t want me to do. It wasn’t fair to her.
“Yeah of course, I’ve finally found out why my best friend runs off all the time unexpectedly. She saves people...”
“I never said I saved people.”
“Emerald told me. She said that you would explain everything but what I had to remember, was that you save people’s lives. That without you, a lot of people would be a lot worse off.”
Even though, Emerald was exaggerating a little bit, the thought of someone thinking that what I did was worthwhile made me smile. It was always good to be praised by someone.
“She’s exaggerating,” I sighed.
“No, she’s not” Alex groaned smacking me lightly over the head.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Come on Poppy I’ll orb you home...”
“But,” Poppy and Alex both protested.
“You can come back again,” I chuckled.
Saying their goodbyes. I placed my hand on Poppy’s shoulder and orbed out of Emeralds kitchen. Back into the human world, to head back to the boring elderly Christmas party.
Chapter Twenty Two
Five balls of light glowed around my head, creating a glowing halo. Bending his fingers Folan controlled the small balls of light, balancing them above each finger. Flying lights flickered all around the gigantic hall, floating around the several chandeliers and landing in an available holder. Golden curtains lined the glass windows, making up one side of the hall. Golden decorations hung from the ceiling and lined the walls. Glancing around, the ball room looked like it had been hit with a golden tidal wave. Groups of fairies where dancing around, scattering fairy dust. They created luminous sparkles around the room, creating a magical glow.
“Now this is better than Beth’s Christmas party,” I smiled, as I entered the large ball room. It had been three weeks since the incident at the Bales house and with Poppy visiting Gracia nearly every day. To hang out with me and Alex, I’m pretty sure my life has gone flip side. With New years day being nine hours away, my stomach had butterflies out of fear instead of excitement for the New Year’s ball.
“Wow this place is fucking amazing!” Poppy cursed as she stood mouth open, turning in a circle to admire the whole room.
“Language Poppy,” I chuckled, pulling at the braided rim of the gold Victorian style dress, Emerald had put me in. Unlike Poppy who loved her custom made gown. I wasn’t a big fan of looking like I had walked out of a history book. These parties really were a blast from the past. My father never did step into the twentieth century, never mind the twenty first.
“Hello Tamtun.” I greeted the centaur as he trotted towards me, his hoofs snapping on the laminate flooring.
“Hello Adabelle, Poppy nice to see you again.” Smiling, he gave a little bow in my direction and then to Poppy. Surprisingly Poppy had come to terms with the different magical creatures around Gracia, and was starting to become less awkward around them.
“You to Tamtun I like your hair like that it looks very... Masculine.” She stretched out her hand to stoke his body, then realised what she was doing and pretended to run her hand through her curled hair. That was a very smooth move Poppy, nobody noticed that at all.
“I heard what happened at your human family home. I’m sorry about that. Dwayne was a good soldier, and I know you worked closely with him over the years. He will be missed.” He laid his huge hand on my shoulder as he spoke, as an attempt to be consoling. My shoulder looked tiny in comparison. For half man half horse, he had a big human half.
“Yes. He was, I grew up with him and his sister Freya,” I sighed. Remembering Dwayne’s face, as he breathed his last breath brought a tear to my eye. Wiping it away before they could see it, I restrained my emotions. I can’t afford to lose face now.
“I think I should start being a good little princess now,” I sighed as Tamtun smiled strongly at me.
“That would be best your highness,” He chuckled to lighten up the mood.
Bowing again, he trotted off out of the ball room as Emerald marched in.
He face fixed on me as she entered,with a dozen fairies floating behind her. Following her every move.
“Adabelle you look beautiful,” she beamed. Looking me over, scrutinising ever last thread to make sure it was in place.
“Emerald, I’m not your personal Barbie doll...Stop fussing,” I exclaimed, as Emerald twirled me and sent several fairies to circle and scan my dress. She sighed as my phone began to chime from the inside of my bra.
“What? My dad may want to stay out of the twentieth century, but I’m not,” I moaned. She dismissed her tiny workers and headed towards the stairs, which stood on the back wall of the room. It led onto a balcony that overlooked the entire room. The governors of Graica usually wandered around the balcony, watching what everyone was doing. I will say yet again, no privacy in this building what so ever. Pulling out my phone from my bra. I soon wish I hadn’t.
I heard what happened at the Bales, I’m not standing for you ignoring me anymore. I hate that you won’t talk to me. This is more than me and you now. If there is a me and you?
“Fuck sake!” I exclaimed, my voice echoed in the huge hall, alerting many of the elf workers.
“Sorry,” I yelled, smiling awkwardly at them. They grunted at me and carried on hanging decorations from the ceilings and walls. Raising her eyebrow at me, Poppy looked confused. Why this boy can’t just let me breathe. Handing my phone over to Poppy to read,
the ring on my finger glistened in the light. Yes, Elle you’re trying to not think about him, but you still insist on wearing the ring he gave you. Where exactly is your head at girl, take it out of the clouds and back down to the harsh reality.
“Can I ask you something?” Poppy asked handing me back my phone.
“Err...Sure,” I replied, reading the message again to fix the words into my head.
“You’re not hurting anyone right? Seeing him, so why not have some fun? So what if you’re what. Opposite sides of some twisted magical thingy ma bob...”
“Thingy ma bob?”
“Look, it’s not like you're thinking of getting married or anything. Just hear him out. What is the worst thing that could happen?” She whispered.
“You really want me to touch on that?” I asked. Sighing at me she walked in the direction Emerald had gone and began to talk to some of the elves. It really did amaze me how well she was beginning to fit in. She was even adamant that she wouldn’t tell a living soul, even though she was the gossip queen of Sainsdun College.
I can’t talk, tonight’s the doomsday night. I will tomorrow I promise
I texted back. Poppy was right, I should just hear him out. I owed him that much. Crossing the hall towards Poppy, my phone rang, filling the room with the voice of Ashlee Simpson.
“Sorry,” I yelled running out of the hall and into the corridor that contained my grandfather’s statue. By passing a few magical creatures, who were bustling in and out. I ducked into a small box room whilst answering the phone.
“You took your time,” Logan’s voice stopped my heart for a second before I realised how cliché I was being.
“Like I said I can’t talk,” I mumbled, opening the door into a crack to check no one was listening in.
“Well I have to hand it to you, you really are a stubborn one,” He chuckled. The sound of his laughter made me smile, despite myself.
“What can I say. I like to stand my ground.” Despite the smile on my face, I tried to hide it in my voice.
“I know I find that hot in a woman,” He chuckled again.
“You’re a creep.”
“Ouch. So all hands on deck around yours then tonight?”
“You could say that,” I replied opening the door slightly again, to check I was alone. All this sneaking around was exciting, but the consequences of being seen talking to Logan would be dire.
“What do you mean?” He asked. The worry in his voice shocked me a little.
“We are having this New Year masked ball thing. That my dad sort of wanted to do, I don’t know. He thinks having everyone around will decrease the attempt of an attack on me.” I sighed, shutting the door and leaning against it.
“That sounds...Like a dumb idea. Having more people around means, more people will get killed. Sometimes your father infuriates me,” Logan snarled through the phone.
“Cool it Mr Hyde, Can I speak to Dr Jekyll now?” I moaned slumping to the floor. The cold floor made my whole body shudder and my teeth chatter.
“Masked ball huh? Ok. Looks like I’ll be counting in the New year with you then.”
“What? Logan?” He hung up before I could reply to him. Great what the heck did that mean. Please for the love of all that is holy. Do not let this mean he is going to do something stupid., Like turn up here. Oh come on like I need that to worry about tonight.
“Fuck!”
***
The double doors opened, as I stood on the right side of my father with Ethan on his left side. The normal protocol for a big event like this. Looking down over the balcony as we walked out, the hall was filled with every witch and wizard from Gracia. In their ball wear and wearing masks. Tamtun stood tall amongst the fairies and elves that stood in one corner. I never understood why they didn’t stand with the others, at the beginning of these events.
“Welcome everyone. I am very glad you have all attended this New Years Ball.” My father began his usually speech filled with happiness and rejoice. Why did it this time seem fake and wrong. He wasn’t telling them the real reason why they were all here. Fair enough, we did tend to celebrate New Year’s but not this way and not with masks. The masks were something my father had thought of. To hide the identity of twenty of the soldiers that were protecting us, in case of any attack. It was one thing to lie to his people, but it was another to scare them. People were always a little scared when they saw a lot of soldiers in one place. I didn’t blame them. I don’t know if it’s the fact that the clock was ticking on my life, or the number of eyes watching me that’s making me feel uncomfortable. Scanning the crowd, my stomach tensed. I couldn’t see Logan, but I knew what he was like, he liked to make an entrance.
After my father finished his speech, the crowd clapped as the music began to play and we made our way down the staircase. The giant clock on the wall above the entrance doors turned to half ten. Not long now till it all begins. I’m not so naive as my father. I know that Lorias wasn’t going to give up so easy. He still had the diamond to get, but I know he will get it, and he will get me. When it comes down to it, not even twenty guards and a room filled with magical beings can protect me. That thought terrified me and made me feel physically sick.
“Your majesty,” My friends bowed and curtseyed in unison.
“Hey guys,” I mumbled, watching the huge clock that was taunting me with ever tick and laughing with every tock.
“Are you ok?” Alex asked, placing her hand on my shoulder. I wanted to scream at her and tell her how petrified I was, but I had to keep up the pretence.
“I’m fine” I smiled the fake smile that I had perfected over the years.
“Now I’m convinced,” Josh muttered.”May I have the first dance princess?” Josh asked, taking my hand he led me into the middle of the room.
Bowing towards me, I curtseyed and laughed as he took my hand and twirled me. Chuckling he brought me in closer and placed one hand on my waist. It felt weird Josh’s hand being on my waist. It felt intimate which was odd.
“I must warn you I’m a bit of a mover,” He laughed.
“I can tell,” I giggled as we swayed along to the music. Letting me go, I spun out towards the middle of the floor and spun back into his arms.
“Get you smooth operator,” I chuckled.
His dark green eyes shone threw his eagle mask, as the spotlight reached where we were dancing. My own blue and pink feathered mask tickled my nose, making me want to sneeze. This mask idea was completely baffling. I could tell who everyone was, so I’m sure everyone else could.
“So are you really ok?” He asked.
“Yes I’m fine. Nothing’s going to happen to me right? Not with all these guards,” I replied, glancing at the guards that were casually doted around the dance floor, watching my every move.
“Yeah and I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he smiled. I knew he was being sincere, but I knew he was no match for Lorias and his army, none of us were.
“Thanks,” I smiled.
“Hello, may I have the next dance,” A fair haired boy asked. Not knowing who he actually was. Josh reluctantly let go of my hand. His hands were quickly replaced by this stranger in a dark blue mask. Taking my eyes from Josh as he walked away, I looked straight into the strangers eyes. They were a gorgeous dark blue shade, without a second for me to think. He stared at me intently as he began to ballroom dance with me. I was never one for dancing, I had only learnt for the sake of Emerald, but now I was dancing as if I was being led by the music and him. He spun me around without his hand leaving mine. Pulling me in so close to him, I could feel his chest move with ever breath he took. Tilting me down towards the floor, he lifted me slowly leaving his face so close to mine.
“You are suicidal,” I breathed.
“I like to think It adds to my charm,” Logan chuckled, as we continued to dance. As the song came to an end my face was almost touching his.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, as the band began to play a slower song.
>
“Are you not getting tired of asking that,” He replied. I wasn’t aware how close we truly were, until I saw Poppy and Alex’s shocked faces out of the corner of my eye.
“Are you not tired of avoiding the question?” I smiled, pulling my face away from his reluctantly. I didn’t want to pull away for some reason, even with all these soldiers around. He was the one that made me feel safe.
“Touché,” He chuckled. Wrapping my arms around his neck, he placed both hands on my waist. Unlike when Josh did it, his hands felt right. It didn’t feel weird or awkward, it felt normal, and that scared me slightly.
“How are you feeling,” He asked looking truly concerned.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m completely terrified.” I breathed, relieved that I could tell someone how I was truly feeling.
Taking one hand from my waist, he stroked my cheek with his thumb and smiled at me. I’m defiantly trying my damn hardest not to kiss him right now, why was he making it more difficult.
“I’m not going to lie to you Elle and tell you everything is going to be ok, and you’re going to be safe. I know that’s not what you want to hear. It’s also not the truth. This isn’t something anyone can control, but with that said, I have faith in you. I know you will do everything you can to protect yourself.” He spoke whilst looking straight into my eyes with his dark blue eyes. His words made some of my fear disappear, but it was soon replaced with more fear, as the clock struck eleven.
We both looked up at the clock as it chimed. Logan’s hands tightened around my waist at each stroke. He was just as scared as me. He knew this wasn’t going away without a fight.
“Get away from her,” My father yelled, as half a dozen soldiers charged towards us. Looking around I couldn’t see anyone other than them surrounding us. Pulling Logan from my grasp, two soldiers held him back as my father pulled me towards him and my friends.
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