Chapter 19
The Ashmeed District comes into view from above, and I whip my head in all directions, taking in my surroundings and memorizing them. Carver keeps his eyes forward, looking down at me every so often, offering a soft, sinister smile.
The cracked roads below resemble shattered teeth, while flashing neon signs cast a chaotic light around the alleyways and the dark puddles peppering the streets. An obscure smog fills the air, making it nearly impossible to see far ahead, and the streetlights flicker, casting shadows everywhere.
This isn’t a civilized part of Halcyon City. This District is mainly used by humans for industrial purposes, with many warehouses, homes, and buildings appearing completely abandoned. This area is entirely different from where the Lyre Order is, and as we approach, my curiosity grows.
A large warehouse comes into view, perfectly hidden between two others, and Carver slows, signaling to the others that we’ve arrived. Before I can react, Carver accelerates us forward, and my stomach rolls, causing a yelp to nearly escape my throat.
I notice two dark figures standing on the roof, and I narrow my eyes to try to make out their features as we approach. The building is run-down, dark, and looks completely abandoned, but I know it’s a facade like our Order. Perfectly visible but flawlessly hidden to anyone who doesn’t know.
We land softly, and Carver maintains a firm grip on me, scanning the surroundings for someone or something. The two men advance as Lowell and Crew touch down beside us, bringing their features into view.
The men are in their mid-thirties—around Crew’s age—with broad black wings slightly smaller than the Bannermins’.
One has dusty blonde hair, ice-blue eyes, a large skull tattoo on his right hand, and a sly grin.
The other has dark brown hair, kind green eyes, a ring in the middle of his bottom lip, and wings made of rough black leather rather than feathers.
Who are these guys?
Carver gently places me on the ground, making sure to avoid touching my back whenever possible.
“I hope that wasn’t too miserable,” he says.
“I’ll survive.”
“Find me later,” the Elder says with a wink.
Carver walks forward, passing the two men as if they don’t exist. Lowell follows closely behind Carver while Crew lingers, heading toward them instead.
He quickly hugs them both, slapping their shoulders, and I hear laughter between them.
In all my years of hating Crew, I never thought of him as someone who would have friends, and that’s exactly what the men before me are.
They talk among themselves while I stand there, feeling incredibly out of place.
Oh, my god…. I’m the loser here.
I clear my throat, smoothing my dress and hair, and move to walk past, having no intention of stopping or acknowledging them. I’m here because Lowell made me, so I’ll follow the Elders over Crew and his annoying posse.
As I approach, Crew’s eyes land on mine, and a growing anxiety settles into my core, thinking about the scars that cover my back where my wings should be unfolded.
My heart thumps against my ribs, but I keep my head high.
Humiliation courses through me from having to be carried, and I don’t have the patience to let them mock me.
“Mara,” Crew calls. “Wait.”
I keep my steps steady and continue forward, letting my dress trail behind me like a pool of darkness. Two can play at this game, and I have a reputation to uphold here. I know those men know exactly who I am, and I won’t let Crew fluster me within a minute of arriving.
I enter through the roof door and am immediately met by an elevator. I’m taken aback by how similar it is to our Order. The halls are dark, but not at all what I pictured for the notorious Jade Order demons—yet.
I wait for the metal doors to open, and a growing unease moves through me. Carver and Lowell already made their way down, and I pray the elevator will arrive before Crew and his friends walk through the door behind me.
Relief floods me as the elevator chimes, and the doors swiftly open.
I waste no time stepping inside, pressing the only button on the shiny wall.
As my gaze lifts, a hand reaches out to prevent the doors from fully closing.
Crew and the men stand there as the doors reopen, but now their wings are folded in to accommodate the space in the small elevator.
“This thing going down?” Crew smiles as he steps inside.
I sigh. “Are you always this fucking annoying?”
The blonde man laughs wildly, nudging the other, and their gazes find mine.
“This is Locke Calloway.” Crew points to the dusty blonde-haired man.
Locke extends his hand, but I don’t return the gesture. I keep my arms tight against my body, and even though he may think it’s rude, I can’t lift my arms without searing pain radiating through me. Locke quickly lowers his hand, taking the hint.
“And this is Damien Whit.” Crew points to the leather-winged man.
I raise my brows. “A demon named Damien. Fitting.”
“My mother is a full demon, and my dad is a massive horror fan. I was fucked from the beginning.”
They laugh, except for Crew. His face remains harsh, and although I wish he would stop, he stares at me as if he’s desperate to ask a question.
“How was your ride?” Crew asks.
“It was fine,” I snap. “Carver was gentle.”
“That’s hysterical.” Crew barks a laugh. “That word has never been used in a sentence with my dad.”
“Until now.” I cut my eyes toward him. “There you go, acting jealous again.”
“When it comes to you, little angel, I’ll always be jealous.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I sigh.
The elevator doors open, and I push past them, desperate to escape the overwhelming feeling of being trapped while in a metal box with three demons. The laughter and taunting among the three of them continues until my back becomes the main star of the show, and they go silent.
I step out of the elevator, and my jaw drops.
The space opens before me, and the cathedral-like ceilings take my breath away.
I pause for a moment, taking everything in.
The gothic moldings and accents around the room fill the space with a warm, yet chilling environment.
Moonlight streaks through the dark stained-glass windows, and on every available surface, nightshades of all types sit in perfect crystal vases.
Two grand staircases wrap around, meeting in the middle and leading to various rooms and offices.
In the space below the stairs, another massive room is filled with demons in both their true and human forms. Wings made of feathers and leather rest upon their backs, and masks cover their faces.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.
This Order is stunning.
I sense the others approaching behind me, and Crew whispers as he leans down close to my ear, “I think shooting me softened you up a bit. You haven’t yelled at me in at least an hour.”
I curl my lip. “Then I suppose you are overdue.”
“You can yell at me whenever you’d like,” he admits. “I think I’m beginning to like it.”
“Is that your stupid ass kink or something?”
I shouldn’t have asked that.
“You want to know my kinks, Mara?” He nearly blushes as a sly grin spreads across his face, and his wings unfold. “I barely know you, but I’d be happy to show you.”
“You are a pig,” I groan, ignoring the sheer size of this man.
“And you are a grumpy ass angel,” he responds.
Locke and Damien pause for a moment, observing our interactions as they converse amongst themselves, glancing our way and pointing toward the lively party happening in the other room. Crew shakes his head at them and motions for them to keep moving.
“Are you alright?” Crew asks again, and annoyance fills me.
“I am fine. And like I said, if I wasn’t, there isn’t a goddamn thing you could do about it.”
He crosses his arms. “That isn’t true. You know that.”
“What would you do, Crew?”
“Murder absolutely everyone.” He shrugs. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?”
“Are you ever serious?”
“Depends on what I’m doing,” Crew responds.
“Not likely.”
“Follow me,” he says, sternly. “You two keep moving.”
Locke and Damien obey Crew’s orders and continue forward, disappearing into the larger room past the stairs where the celebration is kicking off.
I snap my eyes to him. “I’m not going with you.”
“Fuck. Here we go again.” His shoulders slack. “I’m going to take you to Lowell. Damn, Mara. Stop thinking I’m trying to deceive you all the time."
I glare at him.
“Seriously. You are the one who tried to murder me, and I defended myself.” His hands slide into his pockets. “I figured you needed to be shown the way. Have you been here before?”
“No.”
“Then either wander around like a lost idiot or let me show you the way.”
He walks ahead without checking whether I’m following him. I receive looks from the people around me, clearly signaling that I stand out. I step forward, trailing behind Crew as he leads me toward a doorway on the right side of the stairs.
“Lowell will want to introduce you to the other Elders, I assume,” he says over his broad shoulder. “And we need to get you a mask.”
“Why would I want to wear that?” I ask.
He shrugs, his annoyance with my snark obvious. “Because this is a masquerade ball, and you’re going to look fucking stupid without one.”
Anger swells inside me over this man, this day, and now this party. I watch Crew slip a mask from inside his tuxedo jacket and move it to his face. The dark mask, decorated with onyx crystals, glimmers in the light and covers his features, leaving his silver eyes to shine brighter than a full moon.
We approach the closed door, and Crew reaches for a nearby table filled with masks, picking one up.
He turns, extending his hand with another similar black one.
I stare at him, then at the table, and huff.
I reach around him and select a stunning gilded mask adorned with diamonds and golden crystals that drip from it like metallic rain.