Ridley

I stood in the empty training field bringing my sword down again and again on the dummy I had set up to practice with.

"Ridley!" I suddenly heard a voice call from behind me. I finally lowered my sword, wiping the sweat from my brow with my sleeve as I turned to look to the speaker. Percival was making his way over to me. His gaze moved from the sword in my hand to the dummy.

"Hi," I said. "Did you need something?"

Percival frowned. "Why are you still out here? The Haunting ball is tonight, you should be getting ready with everyone else, not training."

I shook my head. "On the contrary, I'm training extra because of it. The demons have been extremely unpredictable and hostile lately. If they try anything tonight I want to be ready."

Percival laughed. "Ridley I know neither of us have been alive for a haunting ball but even I know it's impossible for them to do anything. That's the entire point."

"That doesn't mean they might not try something when it's over..."

"You're being paranoid."

"But with good reason. They've already proven that they are willing to play dirty."

Percival lay a hand on my shoulder. "Ridley...seriously you just need to let this go. I want to fight the demons as much as you but sometimes you need to realize when it's time to stop pushing yourself. You shouldn't exert yourself this much, it's not good for you. Take a break, come hang out with me and the other knights. We're all playing a card game together right now. Camaraderie is just as important as training."

My mouth tightened into a thin line as he spoke. "I'm sorry Percival but I just can't...I need to be ready-" I was cut off by the sound of trumpets. We exchanged a glance, the sound was reserved only for royalty.

Percival's eyes widened. "Wait...no way do you think that's Stefan?"

We immediately rushed from the training field to the front of the palace. Almost everyone had gathered on the castle steps. My eyes widened. There in the distance was a small procession, a carriage behind it. Judging from the golden lion on the flag it could only be one person. The king and queen stood with Annette who seemed to be the most of excited of all. There was no way it wasn't prince Stefan. I couldn't believe he was back. Stefan was the second child of the royal family, born only ten months after Annette which also made him second in line for the throne. Four years ago he had begged to go to Pecore to continue his studies in astronomy and philosophy. After quite a bit of begging the royal family finally let him. Percival and I knew Stefan fairly well before he left. Percival and I had both been sons of noble knights and had been around his age. That meant that we once had been Stefan's playmates.

Finally the carriage came to a stop in front of the castle and prince Stefan stepped out. Practically any person attracted to men swooned when he appeared. These last four years had been kind to the prince. He had grown much taller and his long black hair had been brushed back. There was color in his sun kissed cheeks and he struck the crowd with a dazzling smile. He shook hands with members of the crowd, exchanging pats on the back and more smiles. When he reached his family he embraced them each tightly. Finally he made his way over to us. We both bowed.

Stefan laughed, shaking his head. "Come now, Percival, Ridley I think we're far past formalities."

"How was Pecore?" Percival asked, a smiled plastered to his face.

Stefan grinned. "Fantastic! I learned so much! I became very close with the crown prince there, Mikhos." He gave Percival a little pat on the back. "You two would like him, he's pretty amazing. You should see his swordsmanship! I have no idea where he learned to fight the way he does."

Percival was beaming from ear to ear. "How long do you plan on staying?"

"Hopefully for awhile. I had fun abroad but I feel like I've learned enough and it's time to return home. As you could probably tell I didn't tell mother and father I was returning, I wanted it to be a surprise. I really wanted to make it in time for the haunting ball, I mean, it only occurs once every fifty years, I'm probably only going to get to go to one in my lifetime. It's an opportunity I certainly don't want to miss." He looked to us now. "So, what happened while I was away?"

Percival and I exchanged a glance and Percival laughed nervously. "Er...well to put it mildly...a lot."

----------

I hated this outfit. Annette had forbid that I wear armor to the haunting ball so instead I was dressed in a stiff uncomfortable garment. Annette walked beside me as we approached the clearing that rested directly between demon and human territory. It was beautifully decorated. Candles floated in a spiral around the clearing, gradually climbing higher into the air, suspended by magic. The night was warm and the chirp of crickets filled the air. Beautiful music danced through the night but there was no orchestra present. Lanterns dangled from the trees and the blue haunting moon cast an eerie glow over the clearing. The whole scene had an almost other worldly feel to it.

Annette wore a beautiful white dress made of silk and lace. It was a gorgeous garment, the sleeves slipping down to expose her tan shoulders. Diamonds had been braided into her hair and a necklace made of gold and emeralds hung at her throat.

Stefan stepped up next to me as we approached. "This is pretty amazing isn't it?"

I nodded stiffly, I would have enjoyed it more if there were no demons there. Speaking of which...the demons had begun to arrive now. They crowded on the other side of the clearing, watching us through their pitch black eyes. Both sides were hesitant, staring at each other, each having no idea who should cross over first. Finally Annette took a deep breath and stepped into the clearing. Just like that both humans and demons alike flooded into the space. The demons began to take the human's hands as was custom and spun them onto the dance floor.

Annette came to stand beside me now, giving me a sideways glance. "So...what do you think?"

I looked over the crowd of demons and humans both swirling together. "I think it's an extremely pointless event."

Annette laughed. "Well at least both demons and humans seem to agree on that." She smiled slightly. "Then again, we might as well enjoy it. It'll probably be the only time in our lives we get to see both humans and demons so at ease with each other."

I shook my head. "Demons and humans aren't meant to get along. It's just how the Gods made us, it's in our DNA."

Annette gave me a little nudge. "Speaking of demons..." coming towards us was prince Vandel. He was dressed as glamorously as ever. Raven feathers made up of silver stuck up around his collar. Spider like lace hung from his sleeves and down his back in the form of the cape which was intricately woven to resemble a spider web.

He stepped up to Annette, taking her hand. "Princess, would you care for a dance?"

Annette's dark eyes narrowed. "No thank you, I think I'll pass."

Vandel gave a little shrug. "Fair enough." His gaze fell to me now. "Ridley," he said dryly.

"Vandel." We stared at each other a moment. Suddenly a sly grin spread across Vandel's face, an expression I was coming to know more than I would have liked.

"How about you," he said suddenly. "Would you like the honor of dancing with me sir Ridley?" I opened my mouth to decline but Vandel wagged a finger in front of my face instead. "I'm royalty, you're just a knight. You don't get to refuse my offer, I won't allow it." And with that he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the circle of dancers. I stared at him confused. We were standing in the middle of the floor, not moving, as the others danced around us. Vandel arched a dark brow at me. "The fuck are you doing? Have you never danced before?"

"I've danced."

"Then why are we just standing here like idiots." Because I had never danced with a demon before...hell because I had never danced with a demon PRINCE who I couldn't stand before. I took a deep breath and finally put a hand on Vandel's waist. He in return lazily rested a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm leading," we both said at the exact same time. We both stopped to glare at each other.

"I'm leading," I said again, through gritted teeth.

"No I am."

"I'm taller than you, that means I should lead."

"Yeah well I'm royalty."

"You're not my royalty." A female dancer slammed into me since we were still standing directly in the middle of the dance floor bickering.

"Fine," Vandel said suddenly. "Let's flip a coin." He pulled out a golden coin and held it up. "Heads I lead, tails you don't lead."

I narrowed my eyes. "Nice try."

"I thought it was at least worth a shot."

I snatched the coin from him. "How about this, heads you lead, tails I lead and I flip the coin."

"Alright fine."

I tossed the coin into the air and flipped it. It came down heads.

"You cheated," I said, glaring at him.

"What? I did not!"

"You did, you never play fair."

Vandel narrowed his eyes. "I had a fifty fifty chance of winning. It's just simple statistics."

I sighed heavily, though I still didn't believe him. "Fine, you lead."

We began to move, finally fitting into the thrall of the dozens of other couples that spun across the floor.

"So Ridley, how've you been. I hope you haven't broken into any more castles."

"I haven't."

Vandel smirked. "You know, I really am curious as to what enticed you to risk breaking in a second time. Did you want to try your luck at kidnapping me again? Perhaps your head got so big that you thought it would be just as easy to do it a second time."

I shook my head. "No, I entered back into the castle for personal reasons."

He grinned. "Oh I get it. You couldn't stop thinking about that kiss we shared. It haunted your dreams, drove you mad until you couldn't stand it anymore and you had to come back for more-"

"No," I hissed, cutting him off. "That obviously wasn't it. And can you keep your voice down. Sexual relations between humans and demons is one of the highest and most disgusting forms of treason."

Vandel chuckled under his breath. "Really? Why? Alterian humans are even more uptight than I thought."

I glared at him. "Isn't it obvious? For demons sexuality is even more than a means of procreation, it's a defense. You can use seduction to practically intoxicate a human."

I could make out the points of Vandel's teeth as his mouth twisted into a smirk. "Want to give it a try?"

I glared at him. "I rather die."