Page 91 of Dark Captivation

“Hey, how are you doing? Oh look, Malek is calling for me. I’ll be right back.” I pretended to see Malek in the crowd and walked past Elias.

Ferina had just gotten into the groove. I didn’t want to third wheel her and Elias.

I turned back to make sure she was playing. Ferina blinked furiously, her eyes saying, ‘where the hell are you going?’

“You got this,” I mouthed giving her the thumbs up,

She and Elias continued chatting. The party was really starting to hype up as I searched for Malek.

The band on stage stopped playing and the vocalist ended her song.

The ballroom doors opened, and the guests quieted, seeming to wait for something to happen.

A band of drummers stormed in, a troupe of leotard clad dancers twirling in after them. Half the dancers were demons, the other half demonesses. They made the open space near the door their own, twisting and twirling to the infectious beat.

The guests looked on, mesmerized by their fluid effortless movement. It was the kind of synchronized motion that could leave you feeling utterly hypnotized, especially if you’d had a bit to drink.

The dancers formed four neat lines of five each. The front line performed water element aerobatics, shooting geysers of liquid into the air in intricate patterns that left the audience in jaw-gaping awe.

Up next was the second line who used their air element to fly through open space above the guests. They were twirling and rhythmically twisting all the way to the ceiling. I’d never seen anything like this, the absolute control they had over their elements was so great I envied them.

If I could control my chaos element half as well as they could, I would be unstoppable. Not even alpha wolves would dare challenge me.

The fire elementals came last, stealing the show by juggling fireballs. The higher the balls went, the louder the audience cheered.

A finger tapped my shoulder, and I turned to face someone. “Excuse me, Lady Sunny. I don’t mean to interrupt you. I finally caught up with my daughter, Vanessa and I’d love for you to meet her.” An older mustached male with breath that smelled of wine and whiskey said.

I recognized him. Malek had introduced him to me earlier. He was the friendliest demon I met tonight. The one with the most genuine smile.

“Sure, I’d be happy to meet her.” My head tilted to peer behind him.

A demoness in her early twenties sidestepped the man. She had striking good looks with high sharp cheekbones, a tiny button nose and a figure that would make a model jealous. Her long brunette curls spiraled all the way to the hem of her frilly, yellow nightgown.

“Nice to meet you.” She offered me a hand.

Her father was as warm as summer, but his daughter was as cold as ice. From the tone of her voice to the way she scrutinized me from head to toe.

“The pleasure is all mine.” I took her hand and shook it.

“Where did King Malek run off to?” Her eyes scattered about.

“I’m not sure. I’m looking for him.” I said, and her brow raised with visible interest.

“Interesting that he would throw a party in your honor just to leave you all alone.” she said with a smile that didn’t touch her eyes.

There was something in the way her dark eyes pierced me that told me she was looking for any weakness in me for her to exploit.

“The princess and I were just separated. Malek would never leave me alone at a party.” I said gingerly.

“Good to know.” She curtseyed like a cute little princess, but I wasn’t fooled. I’d seen the devil in her eyes.

The elemental performance ended and the dancers left the room.

Malek appeared on the platform, borrowing the vocalist’s microphone. “I hope you all enjoyed the show.” Malek’s gaze skimmed the masses, searching for someone.

Cheers rose in the room.

“Excellent! Then you’ll be happy to know there’s much more entertainment in store.” He said before looking at someone by the door and saying. “Bring in the baskets. It’s time for the games.”

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