The High Priestess had a lit torch and she visited with each of her fellow Glorins, lighting one torch and then the next. Three priestesses at the back of the stage didn’t have torches, but instead held some kind of wind instruments. They blew into them, creating an eerie type of flute music that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  The other priestesses raised their torches in the air and began to perform an interpretive dance. Again, there was something strangely eerie about it all. The fire of their torches danced, too, creating a glowing light that moved around the gardens in an otherworldly rhythm. If I didn’t know any better I’d say there was magic involved, but I knew it was only a trick of the light.

  “There he is,” Vas rumbled low and I looked in the direction he was staring.

  Red Armand stood far away from us at the other end of the garden. He wore a black suit and his bright red hair stood in stark contrast to the sumptuous dark material. My breath caught, because after so much planning and thinking about this night, it had finally come.

  My chance to kill him.

  On instinct, my hand went to the fold just below my breast where I’d hidden the sepial dagger.

  An attractive woman stood next to Red Armand, her arm linked through his. I also noted the presence of several demons I’d encountered overseeing workers in the mine. Among them was Yuri, the prick who’d knocked me out and stolen my earrings. I knew Vas had spotted him, too, because his eyes narrowed to slits. Again, I wondered if this was the demon who’d scarred him when he was a boy. Yuri didn’t look any older than forty, but like vampires, demons aged slowly. He could be centuries old for all I knew.

  When the light display was ending, I whispered to Vas, “What’s our next move?”

  “He’ll return to the ballroom with his date. When they’re dancing, you’ll approach and ask to cut in.”

  “But what if recognises me?”

  “He won’t. You’re masked, and besides, he’d never expect you to be here. For all he knows Sven and I are still labouring away in the Blaze and you are still in your home dimension.”

  I swallowed thickly and nodded. I couldn’t balk at this task. I had to get close to Red Armand and this was the easiest way.

  “Be sure to stab him low in the gut, preferably in the liver or kidneys. I’d say go for his heart but that will attract more attention. I’ll stay close and as soon as the job is done I’ll teleport us out.”

  I linked my arm through Vas’ and we followed the others back into the ballroom. We were in the hallway where we’d first arrived when I suddenly felt a tingle at the back of my neck. I turned my head and found Yuri and two other demons who worked for Red Armand were right behind us. I squeezed Vas’ hand and made crazy eyes at him to make him aware of their presence. As soon as he saw Yuri his posture stiffened, but there was nothing we could do. We had to keep walking forward because if we tried changing direction it would appear suspicious.

  I noted the presence of several important looking people at the top of the ballroom. All of them had greyish white hair and wore dark red attire.

  “That’s the Dicteps and his family,” Vas said, his voice full of spite as he eyed them.

  “Is the hair colour a, uh, family trait?” I questioned. Vas’ hair was dark blond, nowhere near the greyish white hue of the Dicteps. Perhaps it really was only a rumour that he was his grandfather.

  Vas shook his head. “They dye it that colour. Just one of their ridiculous traditions. Only the ruling family are permitted to dye their hair that shade of white.”

  “How odd,” I said as the music started back up and couples began to fill the dance floor. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him about the rumour, but now wasn’t the time.

  We had a demon to kill.

  I searched the sea of heads, trying to pinpoint Red Armand. Sure enough, I spotted him with his date. He twirled her onto the dance floor like he hadn’t a care in the world, like so many people weren’t living in hell down in the mine because of him. Maya was dead. Demi was grieving. And countless others were suffering just to feed his empire. Well, not for much longer if I had anything to do with it.

  Fury burned within me. My fingers itched to grab for the dagger.

  “Easy,” Vas whispered, his lips brushing my ear. The intimate touch snapped me out of my murderous haze. “Anger will only make you sloppy. You need to be focused. Sharpen your senses. Be aware of everything and everyone around you.”

  His voice brought me back to myself, and I glanced at my watch. Three hours and nine minutes left.

  Vas and I stood on the outskirts of the ballroom, silently observing as several women approached Red Armand to request a dance. He was highly sought after and held in high esteem among these people. It was sickening that a man such as him could garner so much attention and respect.

  “This song is about to end,” Vas said, his hand on my lower back. “Now’s the time.”

  We moved through the ballroom, and when we neared Red Armand there were a number of ladies hovering, waiting for their chance with him. Vas melted away as I pushed past them and tapped Armand on the shoulder just as the song ended.

  I made the same little curtsey I’d seen the other women make, mustering my most angelic smile as his whiskey coloured eyes fell on me. “Hello,” he purred, eyeing me like I was just another pretty thing to look at, no clue of the assassin behind the fancy mask.

  “Might I trouble you for a dance?” I asked in Oreylian, hoping the accent Roman bespelled me with was accurate enough not to tip him off that I wasn’t local.

  He smiled then, a predatory smile, and I shuddered to think what happened to the women he brought home with him at the end of the night. Nearby, his date was loudly flirting with another man to make him jealous. Obviously, she was annoyed that Armand had spent so much time dancing with other women.

  “It would be my pleasure,” he answered, presenting his hand. Stifling my revulsion, I took his hand and we started to dance. It was a formal dance, like a waltz. I mimicked the steps I’d seen the other couples doing while sweat beaded my upper lip, my heart racing as I contemplated my next move.

  “You look familiar,” Red Armand commented, his demonic gaze cataloguing what features he could make out since the mask covered most of my face. “What is your name?”

  I scrambled for an Oreylian name, my eyes meeting his when I finally answered, “Maya. My name is Maya.” It seemed poetic to kill him in her name. Because of him she’d barely gotten the chance to live. It was the least she deserved.

  “Maya. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I must say, those eyes of yours are thoroughly bewitching.” His hand smoothed down my spine, coming to rest on my lower back and I struggled not to bristle. I hated being this close to him, hated having his hands on me.

  Over his shoulder I caught sight of Vas watching us from the edge of the dance floor, silently urging me to strike before the dance ended and I lost my chance.

  “Thank you,” I replied, trying to figure out a way to slide my hand from where it rested on his shoulder and into the fold of my dress without appearing suspicious. There wasn’t an obvious opportunity, but then suddenly his date marched across the dancefloor and angrily tapped him on the shoulder.

  Armand gave her his attention, his hands falling away from me.

  “This is humiliating. You’ve been ignoring me all night,” the woman complained.

  “Now, now, Orlena. I’m merely being polite and having a dance with some of the lovely ladies here at the ball. Surely, you wouldn’t deny them that?”

  My hand was already inside my dress gripping the handle of the dagger. I approached Red Armand from behind as he dealt with the woman, but just as I was about to sink it into his lower back, his date shrieked, “Watch out! She’s got a blade!”

  Quick as a flash Armand disintegrated into his wraith form, the dark shadow filling the air before he solidified again. His face contorted with rage when he saw my weapon. He tried to grab for it but I was faster, slashing him across the face. All around us, the crowd gasped, some running for the exits. It seemed to dawn on him that I’d cut him with no ordinary blade when he yelled, “Get her! I’ve been poisoned! I need a doctor this instant!”

  Several guards began to surround me, and up ahead I saw the Dicteps and his family being ushered out to safety. Then, familiar arms came around me, Vas’ voice a low rumble, “Not quite what we were aiming for but let’s hope it does the trick.”

  A second later, he teleported us from the ballroom.

  16.

  When we landed we weren’t where I expected us to be. Vas and I stood just outside the city limits, several hours’ walk away from where Belinda’s portal would open.

  “This isn’t the right spot,” I said in panic. Vas’ features were strained and I knew immediately that something was wrong. “Vas?”

  “My teleportation magic is too low. We’re going to have to walk the rest of the way.”

  I glanced at my watch. “But there isn’t enough time. We won’t make it.”

  “We have to try,” he said just as an echoing squawk sounded high above us.

  A chill crept into my bones as one of the giant flying demons sailed overhead, circling us. “We’ve been caught,” I whispered in terror. “They must’ve sent all those beasts out searching for us.”

  Weirdly, Vas didn’t looked frightened when the demon landed before us, its weight causing an explosion of dirt to fly up into the air and spatter us in the face. It was a ferocious looking beast, part bird, part dragon, part something else entirely. Its dark, scaly skin had a shimmery gleam up close and I’d be entranced if I wasn’t so terrified. It also had massive, sharp, fanged teeth that did little to assuage my fear.

  “She’s not a demon,” Vas said, distracting me, his eyes tracing the beast’s massive wings. “At least not entirely.”

  I frowned at him. She? “What is she then?”

  “Part demon, part gargoyle.” Vas motioned down to the claw-like feet that were adorned with…wait, were those shackles? “And just as much of a prisoner as all the other poor souls we left down in the mine.”

  I blinked, a wave of sadness crashing over me. “Do you mean to tell me she’s enslaved, too?”

  “The Dicteps and other High Demons control them. The clamps around their ankles contain the same trackers Red Armand implanted into me and Sven. They also give a painful electrical shock if they try to fly outside the bounds of the city.”

  I returned my attention to the demon gargoyle, suddenly seeing her in a completely different light. She wasn’t a watcher prowling the skies for victims. She was a victim herself, forced to do the bidding of those who kept her captive.

  Vas made a move to approach the beast but I grabbed his arm. “What are you doing?!”

  “Trying something.” His voice was shockingly calm. I released my grip, heart racing as I watched him step closer. Vas turned his eyes away and held out his hand. The demon gargoyle reared back, her features drawn in suspicion. She threw up her beak, giving another loud squawk and I worried she was calling to the others, communicating that she’d found the escapees.

  Vas continued to avert his gaze, holding his palm up and then the most unexpected thing occurred. The demon gargoyle lowered her head, warily eyeing Vas as she sniffed his hand. Slowly, Vas lay his hand upon the beast’s forehead and a strange vibration went through me. Some sixth sense told me they were communicating.

  Finally, Vas withdrew his hand then bent to his knees to inspect the clamps. I watched, holding my breath as a whisper of magic swept through the air. Vas was casting a spell, a smaller, more manageable one than the sort required to teleport.

  Suddenly, the clamps fell away from the beast’s ankles and she lowered her body, making a chirping sound as though in gratitude.

  Vas turned to me, holding his hand out. “Come. She’s going to fly us to the portal.”

  I gaped at him. “She’s what now?”

  “I promised to remove her trackers in return for a short trip upon her back. It will take minutes where walking will be hours. Now come, before she changes her mind.”

  Trembling, I allowed Vas to take my hand. He assisted me up onto the beast’s back before climbing on behind me. His strong arms encircled my waist, making me feel grounded while the beast flapped its wings and seconds later gracefully ascended into the air.

  My breath caught as we rose high above the city, the wind in my hair. I turned my head, staring back at Treyu, the buildings getting smaller and smaller as we flew away.

  One sentiment filled me then, not of relief to finally be away forever. No, I was filled with a determination to come back.

  “I thought teleporting was a rush,” Vas said, his mouth at my ear. “But this is something else.”

  He wasn’t wrong. If the Oreylian terrain below us wasn’t so hellish I’d almost describe this moment as magical.

  A shiver tiptoed down my spine at his closeness, his scent surrounding me, and my mind returned to our kiss. It had taken me completely by surprise but I had to admit to myself that it wasn’t unwelcome. I’d enjoyed the kiss far more than I wished to contemplate.

  A few minutes later we began our descent. In the distance I could see three small figures. As we got closer, I recognised Sven, Demi and Ren, all three of them gaping up at us like they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. I gripped Vas’ wrists when we finally landed. The demon gargoyle waited for us to climb off then flew away swiftly, eager to claim her newfound freedom.

  We were in the very same spot where Ren and I had arrived five days ago. Our friends ran up to us, short of breath. “How did you convince that thing to fly you here?” Ren asked, eyes wide with amazement as he took in my outfit. “And where did you get that fabulous frock?”

  In the craziness I’d completely forgotten that I was still wearing the glamourous ball gown.

  “Never mind all that,” Sven cut in. “What of Red Armand? Is he dead?”

  Vas and I shared an uneasy glance.

  “We can’t be certain,” Vas replied. “Darya managed to cut him across the face with the dagger. If they don’t have any antidote to hand he’ll be dead by now.”

  “Then what should we do? If he survives he’ll be able to track us. Maybe we should return to the Blaze,” Sven said, his features drawn and tired. All five of us were exhausted.

  “No,” Ren argued. “You can’t go back there. We’ve come this far. Besides, by the sounds of it Red Armand is going to die. What are the chances they’ll have an antidote?”

  “Sepial daggers are extremely rare,” Vas said. “So rare they’ve almost been forgotten about. Ren is right. There’s only a tiny chance they’ll find the antidote.”

  “So, we’re going?” Sven asked.

  Vas nodded. “We’re going.”

  Right after he said it, a hole appeared before us. It grew and grew until it revealed my bedroom at home. Belinda hovered by my dresser. “Oh my goodness! You’re there! I was so worried you wouldn’t be able to get back!” she exclaimed. “Come on. Hurry through. I can’t hold this portal open for very long.”

  With that, all five of us stepped through, landing in my bedroom with an almighty racket. I panicked, worrying my parents would hear, but Belinda reassured, “It’s okay. They aren’t home yet.”

  “Did they notice I was gone?”

  “I don’t think so,” she replied and I looked out the window. It was still dark. The clock next to my bed said it was almost three in the morning. Being mostly nocturnal, my parents wouldn’t be home for another hour or two. Relief allowed me to flop down onto my bed just as Belinda closed her portal.

  “Who’s the kid?” she asked, eyeing Demi curiously.

  “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”

  Then Sven was before her and Belinda’s ghost form began to judder. I took this as a sign that she was unhappy in his presence. She might’ve helped me get to and from Oreylia, but that was a favour to me, not to Vas and Sven.

  “I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Sven declared. “And whatever bad blood might be between us, I’ll endeavour to repay you in kind.”

  “I don’t need any favours from you,” Belinda replied evenly then disappeared from my room.

  “Well, don’t say I didn’t try,” Sven muttered to himself.

  I turned to Vas. “What now?”

  He stepped close, taking my hands in his. “Sven and I must stay on the move in case Red Armand survives and comes after us.”

  My heart sank because I didn’t want to part with him. Not now. A deeper connection had formed between us and I’d grown attached. “But you can’t stay on the move forever. Think of before. It took years for him to come after you. You’ll need to be on the run for such a long time before you can rest assured that he’s truly dead.”

  Vas bent his head, holding my gaze. “Darya, even if we knew for a fact he was dead, I still couldn’t remain in this city. Sven and I aren’t just escaped prisoners in Oreylia. We’re wanted here, too.”

  A lump formed in my throat. He was right. If he stayed in Tribane the Guard would recapture him and send him right back to the Prison of Thorns. I suddenly felt all twisted up.

  I searched his eyes, not knowing what to say. Sven cleared his throat. “What of the girl? Who will provide for her?”

  Our attentions went to Demi who clung to Ren’s side, her lip quivering like she wanted to cry. I didn’t blame her. She’d been through so much, and now she found herself in a strange new dimension with people who in the grand scale of things she didn’t know very well.

  Ren put his arms around her small shoulders. “She can come live with me and my Gran.”

  My eyebrows lifted at his offer. I hadn’t expected it. “Really? But what about your grandmother? Will she not want to know where Demi came from?”

  “Yes, but it’s impossible to lie to Gran. She might’ve already had a vision of my trip to Oreylia. And if Demi is meant to be in our lives she’ll already know that, too.”