Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

A she stepped into the grand ballroom, her mouth nearly dropping open as she looked around in awe.

The extravagant decorations left her speechless. It was as if the very walls themselves were alive with opulence. Shimmering chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow across the room, illuminating the intricate tapestries adorning the walls. Each piece depicting a scene of envy or desire, each woven gaze and embrace more enticing than the last.

The ballroom itself was a work of art—crystals hung from the ceiling like shimmering stars, casting rainbows on every surface below.

As the strains of a string quartet filled the air, guests in elegant gowns and tailored suits floated gracefully around the room, sipping champagne and nibbling on delectable hors d’oeuvres. The sweet fragrance of roses and lilies mingled with the savory aroma of perfectly cooked steaks, creating an intoxicating atmosphere that left everyone feeling enchanted.

The room buzzed with gossip and spiteful whispers as they sipped their champagne and nibbled on delicacies. Roses and lilies intertwined their scents with the aroma of perfectly cooked steaks, creating an intoxicating blend that permeated every corner of the ballroom.

Ashe couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she scanned the room at the beautiful demonic creatures and mortals alike, all of them more beautiful and alluring than the last. This was a world she’d only ever dreamed about. A world where power was king and beauty ruled.

As she walked through the crowd, she kept to the shadows, not wanting to draw attention to herself. As much as she longed for it, she knew it was too dangerous in this den of vipers. No, it was better to observe and learn before making any rash decisions. She circled the room, sticking close to the walls, her eyes darting from one conversation to another, her keen ears picking up on whispers and tantalizing gossip.

Envy and jealousy oozed from every pore of this place, a palpable poison in the air that Ashe could practically taste.

As she circulated among the guests, her disguise as the demon holding firm, Ashe couldn’t help but fall prey to the very emotion this realm thrived on. Everywhere she looked, there were creatures more beautiful and alluring than she could ever imagine being. Their gowns seemed to shimmer and flow like waterfalls of jewels, each more extravagant than the last. The music swirled around them like a living thing, urging them on to dance and mingle while she did her best to stick to the wall and seek out the prince.

Her father’s words rang in her ears, “Envy is a disease of the heart, Ashe. It will consume you if you let it.”

But as she watched the demons swirling across the dance floor, their wings gracefully fanning out behind them like dark, velvet ribbons against the night sky, she found herself longing for just a taste of that kind of freedom.

“You look as though you are missing something.” A demon who appeared human save for the fork in his tongue as he spoke handed her a glass of champagne. “This is no party to stand along the wall. Not when you are as you are.” He took her hand and placed a kiss on top of it before whirling away.

If it is that easy to gain a kiss perhaps, I will be gone from here in no time.

As she sipped her champagne, trying to blend in, Ashe couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to rule this realm. To feel the adoration and respect that these demons craved like air itself. To have power over life and death in her hands.

Stop it right now. You are here to free yourself, not drown in their world.

The longer Ashe stood and watched, the more she found herself falling prey to everything that this realm was. The whirlwind of colors from gowns and the sounds did nothing to distract her from the stunning beauty of it all.

Dresses swirled and glittered as the guests danced to the music that filled the air. Beautiful women and handsome men flirted and laughed, their voices blending together in a melody of excitement and joy. The room vibrated with energy, fueled by the lust for life that seemed to consume every demon here. Ashe looked on with longing, her eyes hungrily drinking in the scene before her.

Ashe’s heartbeat quickened as she watched them, their playful banter making her ache for companionship she hadn’t known in so long. The scents of all the perfumes mixed together in an intoxicating cocktail that made her head spin. Everywhere she looked was beauty—and not just in human form. Even the demons seemed to take her breath away as they behaved in a manner so humanlike. But Ashe knew that there was darkness lurking beneath it all.

“You’ve never been to one of Leviathan’s balls before?” A red demoness asked, standing beside Ashe. Her voice was like honey dripping from her lips as she swayed closer. “You must tell me everything you think about it.” Her eyes glowed with curiosity tinged with malice.

Ashe forced a smile on her face but shook her head. “I’m not one for parties,” she lied. “I find them quite overwhelming.”

It wasn’t entirely untrue, being surrounded by such opulence made her stomach churn with nerves and anticipation. She couldn’t help but feel out of place in her dress compared to the others wearing extravagant gowns adorned with jewels and feathers, showcasing their sinful nature.

“I assure you, you fit in better than any I’ve ever seen.” A red hand with only three fingers grazed down her arm. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say the prince would snatch you up the moment he lays eyes on you.” She let out a wistful sigh. “I’m never the lucky one.”

Ashe couldn’t help but laugh weakly at the woman’s comment as her heart raced, “If I am lucky enough to have the attention of Prince Leviathan. I shouldn’t complain,” she said, trying to hide her true feelings of anxiousness towards finding the prince and stealing his affections.

What if my life had been like this?

She’d always known her father had money before her stepmother ferreted it all away, and being surrounded by such splendor wasn’t enough for her to envy those who had it; she wanted to take back what had been stolen from her.

Belial was dead and gone, but there had to be another Crossroads Demon she could find and make a deal with, ensuring her father never met her stepmother. This entire painful ordeal could be avoided by making sure they never crashed into that woman’s carriage.

Ashe excused herself from the red demoness and walked through the crowded ballroom, her eyes scanning the room for any familiar faces. But the only face she truly wanted to see was the prince’s. Now more than ever, she needed to secure her kiss and leave this realm before the armor she wore in the guise of a demon somehow came undone.