Page 22 of The Prince of Demons

“How do you know her?” the one on the left grunted.

“She met me under the mountain,” Aubrey answered. That must have been the password because the faeries stepped aside.

“Welcome, girls,” they said in unison.

Synchronized lights flashed. Psychedelic music played ahead. Whatever noise bubble was off-limits to us before burst.

“Let’s go!” Aubrey said.

Two shots later, Aubrey and I were dancing on an elevated surface deep in the mountain. The black dome of the cave above was painted in elaborate murals of Fae and Angels dancing in unison. Angels themselves flew above us. The Houses must have combined to throw this one.

So much for being bold. I fit right in. The guard must have been saying all that to make me squirm. How fae of him.

I kept sipping from my acorn filled with fae wine. Moth-sized pixies played in my hair, bouncing it about happily.

Hips swaying to the beat, I let myself loose in throngs of partiers. I was glad Gaksi was controlling my wings because otherwise, I’d never be able to swing them out of the way of the crowd.

They made me very popular too. Multiple fairies and angels alike commented on how much they loved them. I’d never been this pleased before.

“Angel dust?” Aubrey grabbed my shoulder, holding out a straw.

“I’ll pass, but thank you,” I laughed.

“Your loss!” she screamed over the music, inhaling the rest.

I hadn’t been this free in years. This must be why everyone wanted to be in a top-tier House. Parties soothed the soul.

Hacking and coughing next to me broke me out of my harmony. A boy abruptly jumped off the railing, rushing to the dark of the cave out of sight.

I recognized that sound. When my youngest brother Joseph was about to throw up, he sounded exactly the same.

“Hey Aubrey, did you see that guy?”

“The what?” It was hard to hear. Music too loud. “The guy throwing up. Do you think he’s okay?”

“Probably.” She grabbed my hands, and we jumped and twisted around to the beat. I was a little too sober not to be worried. “I’m going to go check on him. Wanna come?”

She shook her head.

“Be back soon!” I hopped off the platform and forced my way through the crowded bodies. Gaksi pushed my wings harder behind me, using wind gusts to move me a little faster. When I moved past the majority, I heard a kid hurling.

I located him throwing up in a dark corner of the mountain, surrounded by two bigger, brawnier guys. He clutched the trash can like a lifeline while they berated him.

“You’re banned for life, man.”

“This is pathetic.”

“Can’t handle your alcohol, huh, fish?” The biggest one reared his foot back and kicked the kid in the stomach, who grunted and collapsed.

“Hey!” I shouted. “Leave him alone!” The two guys’ heads snapped up.

“Party is the other way, pretty angel. We’re just taking out the trash here.” He bulldozed toward me. Scars lined his bald head, extending down his neck to his tattered clothing. “Come on, girly, party’s this way.” I slid past the blusterer and kneeled to the boy on the floor. I brushed his shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

He only moaned.

“He’s wasted,” the other guy said. Or maybe the biggest one. I didn’t care. I was angry drunk now. “What’s wrong with you? Beating up a little kid?”

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