Ridley

I stood in the empty training field, the sun hanging low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. Beads of sweat trickled down my brow as I brought my sword down repeatedly over the training dummy. The clang of steel against straw and wood echoed through the field in a rhythmic series of thuds. 

“Ridley!” a voice called from behind me.

I finally lowered my sword, wiping my brow with my sleeve as I turned to look at the speaker. Percival made his way towards me, his gaze flitting from the sword in my hand to the dummy.

"Did you need something?” I asked. 

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 unpredictable and hostile lately. If they try anything tonight, I want to be ready.”

"Ridley," Percival said with a laugh. "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 won't try something when it’s over…”

“You’re being paranoid.”

“With good reason." My gaze went dark. "They’ve already proven that they are willing to play dirty.”

Percival lay a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Ridley, you've gotta just let this go. I want to fight the demons as much as you do, 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 and 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 hard line as he spoke. “I’m sorry, Percival, but I just can’t. I need to be ready—” 

The brassy fanfare of trumpets rang through the air. Percival and I froze, exchanging a confused glance. The sound was a rare occurrence, reserved only for royalty.

Percival's eyes went wide. “No way! Do you think that’s Stefan?”

We rushed from the training field to the front of the palace, slipping into the wild crowd that had had gathered on the castle steps, a sea of expectant faces turned towards the palace gates. Annette stood at their front, framed between The King and Queen, all three practically bouncing with excitment. I followed their gazes and my breath caught. In the distance, a small but dignified procession emerged, led by a fluttering banner adorned with a golden lion. 

So he really was back! 

Prince Stefan was the second child of the royal family, born only ten months after Annette and second in line to the throne. Four years ago, he had gone to the neighboring country of Pecore to continue his studies in astronomy and philosophy. With both Percival and I being around his age, and the sons of noble knights, we'd been his childhood playmates growing up. Despite the many years that had passed since then, our fondness for him had never once faded. 

At last, the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the castle, and Prince Stefan stepped out. Practically any person attracted to men swooned the instant he appeared. These past four years had been kind to the prince. He had grown taller, wisps of long black hair falling around his handsome face. He struck the crowd with a dazzling smile, shaking hands and exchanging pats on the back as he made his way through them. When he reached his family, he embraced them tightly before striding towards us. Frantically, Percival and I sank into a bow. 

Stefan laughed, shaking his head. “Come now, Percy, Ridley, I think we’re far past formalities.”

“How was Pecore?” Percival asked, beaming from ear to ear. 

Stefan grinned. “Fantastic! You two would love it there!"

I offered him a small smile of my own. “How long do you plan on staying?”

“Hopefully for awhile. I had fun abroad, but I feel I’ve learned enough and it’s time to return home. As you can probably tell, I didn’t tell mother and father I was returning. I wanted it to be a surprise!" He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I really wanted to make it back in time for the Haunting Ball. I mean, it only occurs once every fifty years. I’m probably only going to get to go once in my lifetime. It’s an opportunity I certainly don’t want to miss.” He chuckled, slinging one arm around my shoulder and the other around Percival's. “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. It clung tightly to my limbs, and would certainly limit my movements in a fight. I couldn't stop picturing how easy it would be to just rip the sleeves off. 

Annette walked beside me, dressed in a gown of silk and lace, diamonds twinkling like captured stars, woven intricately into her hair. Together, we stepped through the trees into the clearing that rested directly between demon and human territory. Candles floated in a spiral around us, gradually climbing higher into the air, suspended by magic. The night was warm, and the chirp of crickets filled the clearing, mixing with the swell of strings, even though there was no orchestra present. Lanterns dangled from the trees, and the blue haunting moon cast an eerie glow over the mismatched crowd gathered beneath it. The whole scene had an almost other worldly quality.

Stefan stepped beside me as we approached. “This is pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

I nodded stiffly. "I would enjoy it far more if there were no demons."

Said demons stood crowded on the other side of the clearing, their pitch-black eyes boring into us. Both sides reamined in place, hesitant as we stared back at one another, no one having any 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 the space. The demons took the humans' hands, as was custom, spinning them onto the dance floor in a swirl of capes and skirts. 

Annette gave me a sideways glance. “So, what do you think?”

My gaze swept over the crowd of demons and humans spinning about 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, her eyes crinkling around the edges. “Then again, we might as well enjoy it. Tonights the only time in our lives we'll get to see everyone actually 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 light nudge. “And speaking of demons…”

Striding towards us came Prince Vandel. He was dressed as glamorously as ever. Raven feathers crafted from shimmering silver were arranged around his collar, and delicate threads of spider-like lace cascaded from his sleeves and back to form a cape, intricately woven to resemble a web. The elaborate craftsmanship of his attire seemed to mirror the complex layers of his awful personality, drawing eyes with every step he took. 

He came to a stop before Annette, taking her hand in a dramatic, sweeping motion. “Princess, would you care for a dance?”

Annette’s dark eyes narrowed. “I think I’ll pass.”

Vandel shrugged. “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 asked. “Would you like the honor of dancing with me, Sir Ridley?” I opened my mouth to decline, but Vandel wagged a finger in my face. “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 whirl of dancers. I stared at him, confused. Amidst the rhythmic movement of the other dancers, we found ourselves stationed in the center of the floor, unmoving and surrounded by the lively whirl of others gracefully gliding past us.

Vandel arched a 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 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--”

I was cut off as a female dancer slammed into me, a clear reminder that we were still standing in the middle of the dance floor, bickering.

“Fine,” Vandel said. “Let’s flip a coin.” He pulled out a golden coin, its surface glinting wherever it caught the light. “Heads, I lead. Tails, you don’t lead.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Nice try.”

His lips curled upward. “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, watching it summersault through the air. 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 other couples spinning across the dance 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 intoxicate a human's mind.”

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

I glared at him. “I rather die.”