To hell and back

The ball is not like I expected

The air was sizzling with excitement as well as other uneasy emotions. It was almost like I could feel them against my skin. For the first time in a while, I was happy that I was no longer as influenced by the flow of energy as this would have messed with my flow so badly. So, now another new thing in my life, and it was that I no longer needed to constantly shield myself from the outside world with the fear of how it would affect me.

Now I can just be without many repercussions for me and it was strange.

In the past, I could rarely let myself just sit and absorb what the other person close to me was feeling or doing. Only doing it in small portions, never fully, as I was sure that my magic would give me away or create more chaos than it was worth it. But now here I was sitting in the small space of the limo while watching as the young bird was almost sizzling with excitement. I could see it in how her body moved, how she chirped like a small bird about all the things she wanted to do and see. While, on the other hand, her mother, who was sitting right next to her, looked close to a nervous breakdown. She was the culprit, bringing in all the other emotions, starting with worries and ending with a cold and deadly fear for her daughter's life, as well as everything in between.

It was quite exaggerating to see emotions so in the open.

Restraint in emotions and just general numb coldness was the norm in the dark kingdom, especially among magic users, the people I was mostly surrounded by. Now I saw a completely new and different side to people, and it was fascinating while being hilarious at the same time.

It was clear that the twenty-minute ride to the house where the ball was to be held felt a lot longer for my two companions... well, for Sara, who was sitting next to me, the ride probably felt long as well, as she was sitting stiff as a board next to me. Since our little play time in the baths, she has been avoiding me, and at the moments I do catch her gaze, she averts her eyes away from me. In the moments that I do manage to catch her eyes, she turns bright pink and runs away, making these reactions that are almost as sweet and tasty as our little play time in the baths.

Once the car finally stopped, the ladies of the house climbed out first, leaving me to follow, while Sara would be dropped off in the back. The moment we stopped by the door, the older woman looked over her shoulder at me and, without a word, I knew that she reminded me to keep close to the young birdie I was in charge of tonight.

And from the look in her eyes I could tell that if something did happen to the young miss, there would be hell to pay. I had the feeling that this woman's raft would even compete with the raft of the dark king himself... or so I had been told by Sara. As a person that has faced that raft first hand, I highly doubt it, but there was no reason as to why I would try my luck with that woman.

She might not have the dark king's power and cruelty, but she was resourceful and very protective of her child, meaning that there would be a lot of problems for me if I displeased her.

I gave the older woman a short nod as we were escorted inside.

There was already music playing, as well as loud chatter of people filling the air.

Stepping into the main ballroom, I let myself absorb the space around me... and I was surprised by the sheer amount of colors as well as general clothes people were wearing.

Well, it is clear that the balls in the dark kingdom were quite different from the ones here. There was no nudity, drinking or drugs. As well as no magic, but the space still looked magical.

There were flowers everywhere, candles scattered all over the room and, among other light fixtures, they were lighting the room in a warm glow.

It was really quite a difference not to feel the size of dark magic in the room or the scent of blood.... or, well, other additives to spells and magic, which scent that follows around anyone that is actively using dark magic. It was actually one of the things that is the hardest to get rid of. As it seeps in so deep into your skin when you actively use it. Luis bathed me in all sorts of things till he finally boiled that scent out of me. Well, it was not only the baths, but cleaning my diet as well as consuming crazy amounts of water. It was more of a torturous experience than craving sigils into my skin without any sedatives or numbing solutions. It was the closest I had been giving up in this whole ordeal. But even after all this, I can still smell the faint scent of dark magic in my skin. I guess it, alongside other scars and what not, that will forever stay with me.

My thoughts were catered by the loud scream from the young Birdie. Instantly, my body got ready for a fight. I was quite surprised that the mother was right, and we were being attacked upon entering, but I guess some things do stay the same. It happened in the dark kingdom all the time. More than once, I saw people getting attacked the moment they got to the ball. It was a means of initiation and a reminder to be on your toes, as you never know who will want to end you for one reason or the other. But when I looked up at her, I saw that she was not in danger, but instead hugging a similar aged girl, and they were both now screaming.

Wow... tell that is impressive. It looked like the girls were genuine friends that were reunited after a while. Which would make sense as the young Birdie was supposed to have been sick this whole time.

I guess we can add one other thing that is different here than back in the dark kingdom.

In the dark kingdom there were no real friends, but maybe the closest it got was mutuals with a common goal or benefit. Openly caring about anyone was one way ticket to getting that person killed, so most kept to themselves.

Hand in hand, the two girls walked deeper into the crowds, and so I silently had to follow them while keeping enough distance to not get too mixed up. I am sure if I hung around too close I would not hear the end of it when we get back home. So, instead, I leaned against the wall a few steps away from the chirping young bird that was finally released from her cage.

She indeed looked really happy, and I caught myself smiling at that thought... which made me scowl at the soft emotions that I had let myself drawn into. I could almost see the old me laughing and making fun at the pathetic smile.

Gods, what would I do for a drink right now and out of nowhere one appeared like magic in front of me.

For a second I got worried that I was the one that had done it, but conjuring magic was never my strong suit, so it was highly unlikely. What made it that much more obvious that it was not my own doing was the low rumble of a familiar voice.

"Well, what do we have her if not the little thief?"