As soon as he'd made sure that Liraz and Hazael were gone, he took off to the devil's dance to meet his guardian... devil... once more. Luckily, this was a masquerade ball, so he wouldn't have to use glamour to disguise himself - other than his wings, of course. He wore a leather horse mask formed from magic, covering all of his face. His hands were gloved, to hide his marks and protect against the revenants' hamsas.

Once more, he flew over the Adelphas Mountains and its hidden Kirin caves, veiled by thick white fog. Through the mask's eyelets, he could see the guards posted outside the city's cage. They had increased the security by a few dozen, but they were broader, brawnier than the last. Still, it was worth the risk to Akiva, and he slipped silently through the bars into Loramendi.

The sound of music floated across the city, along with the smells of rich food, foreign spices and sweet delicacies. The lights twinkled like fireflies and the moons had both become half full, shining down onto the pavement. It looked to be that every chimaera was out for the night's celebration. Those with the head and torso of a human were considered high human aspect. Those with minor human features were creature aspects. Snake women; antlered jackal-headed giraffes; human aspects with lion haunches, frog-webbed fingers and eagle wings, amongst others who could only be identified as just a combination of scales, fur and talons, made their way in the direction of the Serpentine.

Akiva had learnt to suppress fear, the hard way. But being surrounded by thousands, perhaps millions of the enemy was enough to make him a little edgy. Mostly, he was surprised at the warmth and joy that surrounded him, the laughter that rang through the entire city. Back home, he had never really been to a proper celebration. There had been one a few years back, but it had been grim and lifeless, everyone weary with the return from battle.

He descended behind a row of barrels next to what seemed to be a bakery, and removed his invisibility veil. He stepped out from behind the barrels and scanned for any that may have seen him. No one glanced his way, and continued on their way the Serpentine. He waited for a group of high human aspects to pass and followed.

His wariness faded when no one cast him any notice. As he followed the group to the Serpentine, the creatures spoke in excited conversation, gossiping. Akiva understood the language, ironically, but terribly, which he'd learned from the slaves back in Astrae.

"- I heard Thiago has claimed her! That he is to engage her tonight."

"That girl is lucky... She might even grow old in that body! Won't they be such a delightful couple?" At this point, the other giggled in agreement. "What are we going to wear to their wedding?"

The conversation wore on, and finally they reached some part of the Serpentine. Lines of dancers had already begun down the pathway, keeping up with the upbeat, celebratory music. Akiva knew there would be no use to look for the girl, when millions of chimaera were out on the streets. He would have to work his way down the line. With a sigh, he made his way toward the dance.

Yet somehow, amongst the dancing chimaera, he spotted her instantly. She was a full head above the rest of the dancers. Her smooth black gazelle's horns curled behind her, her soft dark hair as short as fur, or swan down. Her large brown eyes that reflected the warm yellow lights decorating the cage, were bordered by a black bird mask, covering her whole face except for her lips and chin. She shimmered in the light like a diamond, and the thin blue dress she wore left little to the imagination. Bat wings protruded from her back and her long smooth legs shifted at the knees from flesh to gazelle's fur and hooves.

She was beautiful.

But she danced alone, and didn't look to be enjoying herself in the slightest. Her unmarked hands swayed at her sides, and her legs did the dancing for her. She looked around nervously, as if she were looking for someone she didn't want to meet. Still, Akiva had somehow found her in the midst of millions. He felt giddy with relief, or even amazement.

As the song finished, and changed to the next, Akiva decided to to take a chance. He swooped in and took her by the elbow, his hand seemed to glide over her skin seamlessly. The touch gave him a warm, fizzling sensation. She was even more lovely up-close. Her eyes were warmer than a summer night in Astrae. She looked up at him, her head cocked to the side like the bird her mask depicted. She put her hand on his shoulder and nudged his mask with hers, like he had seen the other partners do. Following the lead of others, he spun her once around and moved them along in the line of dancers. He protected her from the shoving of the larger creatures, and danced with her even after the other partners had changed.

She didn't move away, and proved to be a wonderful dancer. When the song slowed, they found themselves near the end of the Serpentine.

She peered up at him with her sparkling brown eyes, her cheeks flushed beneath her mask as she smiled a dazzling smile.

"Thank you," she said, breathless. Her voice was like music to Akiva's ears. Soft and melodic, just as it had been two years before.

"My lady, thank you. The honour is mine," he said in the chimaera tongue. It was a harsh and guttural language, but it rolled off his tongue easily from years of practice.

"You're braver than the rest, to dance with me."

"Brave? Are you so ferocious?" Akiva cocked his head to the side and grinned.

She laughed. "Terrifying. Apparently."

Akiva still didn't understand.

"You don't know who I am," she said, disappointed. It was more of a statement than a question.

Beneath his mask, he smiled. He bent toward her, so his mask muzzle brushed her ear.

"I know who you are. I came here for you."

"Did you? Tell me then, Sir Horse. Who am I?"

"Ah, well, that's not entirely fair, Lady Bird. You never told me your name."

"You see? You don't know. But I have a secret," she tapped her mask with a smile. She whispered, "This is a mask. I am not really a bird."

Akiva feigned surprise and reared back, never taking his hand off her arm. "Not a bird? I am deceived."

"So you see, whatever lady you're looking for, she is all alone somewhere, waiting for you." She paused, and with an air of resignation she said, "Go on. Go and find her."

Was she sending him away?

"I've found who I am looking for," Akiva said. "I may not know your name, but I know you. And I have a secret too."

She hadn't seen his eyes yet. She would recognise him for his eyes, surely, but he had been careful as to not let anyone see them. It would practically scream, angel alert!

"Don't tell me. You're not really a horse?" she asked with a quirk to her lips.

He smiled, though she could not see. "It's true. I am not really a horse."

Now she was curious. Her eyes roamed over him, possibly to see if she knew him, or remembered him from some place. "And what are you?"

"A seraph angel," he said quietly, but his response was engulfed by the sound of trumpets nearby.

She was very close now, and she felt the heat emanating from him. She flushed and pulled away, but the dance continued with them, pushing her back onto his chest. His arm took the brunt of the bustling crowd of dancers as they were pressed forward.

With his voice low, he said, "I came here to find you. I came here to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?"

Akiva could see the agora up ahead. This was where the actual ball took place. Those who were there already swayed a slow dance, and the music was harmonic, the piping soothing, creating a serene setting. Typical, for the celebration was for a man that mutilated angels and kept their wings for trophies.

He leaned closer, so he could speak quietly without being overheard. "I came to thank you for saving my life."

She was still fitting the puzzle together, when he said something else.

"I took your recommendation. I lived."

She whipped around to look at him. Then he lowered his head, his eyes finally meeting her gaze, and she figured it out.

"You," she whispered.