BK93: I RETURN TRIUMPHANT! (giggling uncontrollably for no apparent reason)
Blackheart: (slowly backs away) Okay, that's scary…even to me…
Johnny: Agreed…
BK93: BK stands for BlackKnight, but it also stands for BURGER KING!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Johnny: Who gave her sugar?!
Angel: Not me…(hides sugar)
Johnny and Blackheart: (glares)
Angel: What? It was Mephistopheles' idea!! (points at Mephistopheles)
Mephistopheles: I had nothing to do with it.
BK93: (shivers) I am freezing to death in my own home!!! (steals Blackheart's duster/trench coat/whatever it is and wears it to warm up) Cold cold cold cold cold…
Johnny: It's not cold in here.
BK93: Easy for you to say flaming-skull-man.
Blackheart: Really, it's not.
BK93: Whatever. Either way, I checked the word count on chapters 1-3 and calculated the differences!
Blackheart: (sighs) Hope you didn't burn out your tiny human brain.
BK93: I most certainly did not! I had a calculator. Anyway, chapter 2 had 60 more words than chapter 1, including my babbling. Chapter 3, however, had 610 LESS THAN CHAPTER 2!!
Johnny: And the big deal is…?
BK93: 610 WORDS LESS!!! MY READERS DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT! WAHH!
Blackheart: WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY?! GET TO THE FREAKIN' STORY!!
BK93: (sniffle) Okay…(readers hug) Thanks guys, I love you too…
REVIEWERS OF CHAPTER 3!!
piratewitch92 and angel-for-rent! piratewitch, you are such a doll, coming back every chapter! LOTS OF LOVE!
CHAPTER 4: The Ball
"My Lord." Johnston appeared behind Blackheart and Angel. Blackheart rounded on him.
"Yes, Johnston?" He said.
"Your father would like a word with you."
Blackheart growled, not really wanting to talk to his father again. "Fine. Accompany Angel back to my room, if you would." He said.
"As you wish, Sir." Johnston said with a bow. Blackheart gave him a small smirk before vanishing. Johnston turned to Angel. "Follow me, Milady."
Johnston led Angel through several large corridors and up several flights of stairs she had forgotten about since chasing Blackheart. Finally, he opened a great black door back into the familiar black room. Johnston left Angel alone in the room again. Angel decided she was in need of a shower, still being slightly sticky with cold sweat. But what would she wear afterwards and where was the bathroom? Angel looked around the room and noticed two doors on either side of the bookcase. She opened the one closest to her, the one on the right. She had found Blackheart's closet. It was large and a walk-in closet, she noticed. That didn't really help, as Blackheart was larger than her and probably wouldn't be too keen about her wearing his clothes. "Looks like I'll just have to wear the same thing over again." She sighed, closing the closet. "Then what's the point of taking a shower?" She muttered. She then walked away from the closet and towards the bed, deciding to fix it after she had messed it up, but found it already made and a note on it.
"Look in the closet- door on the right of the bookcase- right side- put some things in there for you. –Blackheart." Angel looked a little confused. She had just looked in there…quickly, she looked in the closet again, on the right side, and indeed, this time there were items other than dusters and black slacks visible in the closet.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
The black fountain pen in Blackheart's hand vanished as he chuckled. "She's probably totally confused right now." He laughed before entering Mephistopheles' office and regaining a stony, dark composure. "What do you want?"
"Is that any way to speak to your father?" Mephistopheles chuckled. Blackheart promptly ignored his comment.
"Well?" He said rather boredly.
"I'm hosting a ball tonight. You are expected to be there." Mephistopheles said, well prepared for the reaction that followed.
"For what purpose?! You're always having your fancy boring parties, and I'm ALWAYS expected to go! You know how much I despise your parties!!!" Blackheart raged. He really did hate parties. Especially the stuffy, boring, formal ones his father held, filled with swooning girls and older demons that never shut up. And then there was Lord Matthias, the only high-status demon close to his age. They hated each other. But, because he was a high-ranker, he was always invited. This just wasn't Blackheart's day.
Mephistopheles, of course, knew just how much his son hated parties as well. "I want you to bring Angel with you. She may need to adjust to life here, seeing as she will be here for a while." Blackheart groaned. Now he was dragging the girl into this mess, too?! This really wasn't his day.
"Is that all?" Blackheart asked, more than slightly agitated.
"Don't forget to tell Angel." Mephistopheles said. "But yes, that is all."
Blackheart vanished, headed back to his room.
"At 7:00!" Mephistopheles called after him.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
Angel had managed to find an outfit to wear and the bathroom. It had taken her a minute to turn the shower on before undressing and hopping in. She leaned against the wall opposite the faucet, letting the hot water hit her back and slowly work away the ache found there. She sighed heavily. She was confused as all get out. First, Blackheart had tried to kill her and had kidnapped her. Then, he had been somewhat gentle with her, then he seemed almost crazy. She should have hated him for doing this to her, for dragging her here, dragging her to Hell, but something deep inside her felt different. It was like a schoolgirl's crush. When he gave her that semi-smug smirk(1) of his, she got butterflies in her stomach. Just a gaze and she felt helpless. When he touched her, she melted.
Sound's like somebody's in love. A voice said in the back of her mind.
With him? Yeah right. He's cruel, heartless, probably insane…
You don't know that. If you do, you refuse to actually acknowledge it in your heart. Face it. You're in love.
Angel didn't bother to fight the voice, for she knew it would end up winning. She had fallen for Blackheart, hard. She sighed again and turned off the water, ringing whatever droplets remained from her hair.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
As Blackheart reentered his room, Angel was nowhere to be found and the shower was running. Putting 2 and 2 together wasn't very hard. The water cut off and Blackheart selected a random book from the bookshelf to distract himself from thinking of her.
That amazing beauty, that grace, you want her, you know you do…you want to take her, break her, make her yours, make her scream…
Blackheart ignored the voice and read. The bathroom door creaked open and Angel tip-toed out, trying not to disturb him, although the book held very little interest to him.
"Hello." He said, turning the page boredly.
"Hello." Angel responded, looking around for something. "You wouldn't happen to have a brush, would you?" She asked.
"On the dresser." Blackheart said, putting the book back in its place. Angel found the brush and ran it through her hair until it hung straight and around her face. Even hair wet and limp, Blackheart thought, she still looks like a goddess…back to the real world. And the ball. "My father's hosting one of his silly balls tonight, and he wants us both to attend. I was hoping you'd accompany me, seeing as he's forcing us both to go anyway." Blackheart said, looking like he'd just been forced to eat castor oil(2) after the sentence was complete. Angel gave a small smile.
"I'd love to. I've never been to a ball before." Angel said sincerely.
Blackheart returned her smile awkwardly. It was like a guy asking a girl to the prom. He now had a reason to actually go. And that reason was Angel.
"I'll need a gown, though." Angel said, breaking a slightly awkward silence.
"That won't be a problem. Adriana and Melissa will help you. Adriana! Melissa!" As soon as Blackheart called, two demonic maids rushed in. Thankfully, these were not the same two maids Angel had overheard talking about her. They were on the older side, both seeming around Johnston's age, around sixty(3). The two women seemed like twins.
"Yes, Prince Blackheart?" They said at the same time with a deep curtsey.
"I need you ladies' help. Angel needs a gown for tonight's ball. Could you help her find one?"
"Certainly, milord!" Adriana spoke up with a toothy grin.
"Perfect. Angel, just follow Adriana and Melissa. They'll help you get ready. It's-" Blackheart looked at his watch- "-5:30. The ball begins in an hour and a half. You better hurry." Adriana and Melissa didn't miss a beat.
"Come along, dearie, let's get you gussied up." Melissa said, taking one of Angel's hands and leading her out of the room. Adriana took the other.
"Yes, we must hurry!" She insisted, and both women pulled Angel out of the room. Blackheart chuckled.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
Adriana and Melissa had led Angel down several long corridors, up a flight of stairs, and into a room filled with rack upon rack of gowns. Now, the two women had left Angel alone and were rummaging through the racks, calling back and forth to each other.
"What about this blue one, darling?"
"Certainly! It would bring out the blue in her eyes! How about the green?"
"Simply lovely! Just like her!"
"Have you ever seen such a lovely child, Adriana?"
"No, Melissa, I don't believe I have! And those eyes! Simply exquisite!"
Angel beamed on the inside at such praise, and then decided to look through the gowns herself. Each gown was as lovely as the first. Soon enough, she came across one that simply took her breath away. It was satin and a deep plum red color, strapless, and would trail the ground when she walked. The skirt billowed out at the waist. It was almost regal-looking. Silver embroidery decorated the top, and places in the skirt were gathered and sprinkled with small crystals.
"What about this one?" She asked the two women, holding the gown up for them to see.
"It's beautiful my dear." Adriana said with a smile.
"Lovely." Melissa agreed. The two women rejoined Angel. Adriana took the gown from her and Melissa led her to a vanity, directing her to sit down on a squishy cushion.
"Hair and make-up first, to avoid getting hairspray and powder on your gown." Melissa explained. Angel nodded in understanding. Adriana hung her gown up on a folding changing screen before rejoining them, giving Melissa a swift whack to the upper arm.
"Jewelry first, Melissa." She said, shaking her head.
"Of course! The other essential element to a dazzling first appearance at one of His Highness's balls!" Melissa pulled Angel back up and the two women once again led Angel to another room with a heavy steel door. Adriana quickly typed in a code on a small keypad on the door and it slid open to reveal what appeared to be a vault. "Go on in, dearie. Find something that will match your gown."
Angel considered the color of the gown against the color of a gem. "Diamond, silver and garnet." She said.
"Naturally." Adriana said. Angel found a few perfect pieces, including a choker, earrings, and a bracelet.
"One more thing." Melissa opened a glass case and gingerly picked up a diamond and silver tiara from its resting place on a cushion.
"Why not go all the way?" She smiled. Angel stared in awe.
"I can actually wear that?" She asked.
"Of course, dear. What else is it going to do? Just sit there and collect dust?" Adriana said with a smile. Angel was beaming.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
Angel sat at the vanity once again, Adriana combing her fingers through her still-damp hair. "What shall we do with it?" She asked, twirling a strand around her finger.
"Know how to do a French twist(4)?" Angel asked.
"Of course." Adriana said. "What about your make-up?"
Melissa answered that question. "Maybe a light rouge on her cheeks, dark red eye shadow and dark red lipstick?" She said.
"That would work." Angel agreed.
"Wonderful. Now, we just need to get you ready." A clock chimed in the distance. 6:00.
-------------------------------------------FAST FORWARD 54 MINUTES
Blackheart, having found his way to the room Adriana and Melissa had taken Angel to, was now pacing outside the door. They had six minutes to get to the ballroom before they were late. He pounded on the door. "Angel, we're going to be late!!"
No answer.
"Angel!!" He pounded on the door again. This time, it opened, revealing Angel, looking the most radiant Blackheart had ever seen a woman. She looked like a queen. Even the voice in the back of his mind was stunned silent.
Wow.
Blackheart grinned on the inside and out. Maybe bringing Angel to the ball was a good idea. She certainly looked the part of royalty.
"You look…" Blackheart had to search his brain to find the appropriate word to describe her. Everything was scrambled. Finally, he found a word. "…Amazing." Even that wasn't enough. Angel giggled.
"Thank you." She smiled.
"Shall we?" Blackheart offered her his arm. Angel accepted it with another pretty giggle. Blackheart's other arm snaked around her waist. "Hold on." Angel's arms wrapped around Blackheart's neck as both vanished from sight and reappeared in front of the grand ballroom.
"That was fun." Angel said, letting go of Blackheart. He let go of her but stayed facing her.
"Just a few quick instructions." He said. "You will be addressed throughout the ball as Lady Angelique. Let no one call you any different. If anyone asks, you were escorted by the prince. Not very many will question if it's true. Understood?" Angelique. Angelique. He loved the way her full name rolled off his tongue. But he had to make sure she understood. It was dangerous in there, a human among so many demons. Angel nodded. "Good." With that, he opened the door.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
The beauty of it all astounded Angel. It took her a moment to realize she was standing on a balcony above everyone else. Demonic ladies swirled about on the dance floor with their beaus(5) in beautiful gowns as a great orchestra played. Lords chatted with one another about different things, and girls swooned over the younger lords. As soon as she had stepped onto the balcony, time seemed to stop. Lots of people were staring at her now, or glancing up in wonder at who she was, but continued their activities. Blackheart joined her on the balcony and several female eyes were upon him. He began to make his way down a staircase, and Angel quickly followed. At the bottom the pair found themselves surrounded by several giggling girls. They were all talking at once, many asking who Angel was, or trying to separate them. Finally, three girls pulled Angel away from Blackheart and dragged her toward a group of talking lords.
"You have to meet Lord Matthias, Lady Angelique!"
"Those eyes! I've never seen that color! Are they natural?"
"C'mon, Lady Angelique!"
"Now, who have we here?" Lord Matthias had spotted them. The girls released Angel.
"Lady Angelique, Lord Matthias!" One said with a grin. Matthias took one of Angel's plum-gloved hands and kissed the back of it.
"Charmed to meet you, milady."
"Same." Angel said with a fake smile. He was a very handsome demon with very dark eyes and light brown hair that hung around his shoulders, smartly dressed in a dark blue tux. He was handsome, but Angel certainly didn't care much for him. His eyes held such a lustful expression that it made her sick.
"Don't tell me a lovely beauty such as yourself is here unaccompanied." He still had a hold on her hand. Angel tugged it away.
"No, sir, I was escorted by the prince." She said firmly, standing proudly before him, praying she could get away somehow.
"The prince, milady?" Matthias didn't seem to believe her. Angel nodded. Matthias looked skeptical. She knew he didn't believe her. Before she was subjected to any more questions, someone came to her rescue.
"Champagne, anyone?" It was Johnston, balancing a tray of glasses of champagne on one hand. He handed a glass to Angel and leaned in as he did so. "Everything alright, milady?" He asked in a hushed voice.
"Not quite. Thank God you're here; this guy won't believe I arrived with Blackheart. And I don't like the looks he's giving me. Will you find Blackheart for me?" She asked in an equally quiet voice. Johnston nodded. "Thank you." Angel turned back to Matthias and smiled. "Champagne?"
-------------------------------------------BREAK
Johnston made his way through the ballroom and to Blackheart.
"Did you see Angel? Where is she?" He questioned immediately.
"She's over near the entrance to the western gardens. She said she is in need of your assistance. It appears Lord Matthias has found her." Johnston answered.
"Thank you." Blackheart disappeared in the crown to find Angel.
-------------------------------------------BREAK
"The prince is hardly someone worth your beauty, milady, if I do say so myself." Matthias said.
"Really?" Angel replied, not sure if to be flattered or disgusted. Matthias annoyed her.
"Angelique! There you are!" Blackheart walked over to Angel, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her to him. "Matthias."
"Your Highness." Lord Matthias and Blackheart acknowledged each other, but it was anything but friendly. "Lady Angelique and I were just talking about you."
"Really now?" Blackheart said, his grip around Angel's waist tightening.
"Yes. And I was just saying how you're not worthy of a prize so beautiful. I'm sure you had to steal her away from someone else."
It wasn't a complete lie, but it hadn't been from another man. "Is that a challenge, Lord Matthias?" Blackheart questioned, growing angrier by the second. Angel wasn't just some prize to be dueled over!
"You read my mind. The western garden. Now."
-------------------------------------------BREAK
Blackheart and Matthias stood out in the garden. A crowd had formed around them. Angel was seated on a bench, trying her best to remain composed. She was failing miserably.
"Choose your weapon, Matthias. This duel will be your last." Blackheart was very angry by this point. Matthias had spoken treacherously against his prince, and for that, he would die.
"How about a sword duel, then? Winner claims Lady Angelique as his own. No use of your powers whatsoever." Matthias smirked. Blackheart glared.
"Very well." Both produced swords out of thin air and took their stances. Matthias took the first move, lunging at Blackheart, who dodged easily. "Missed." Blackheart grinned, and Matthias swung his sword at Blackheart's head. Blackheart quickly ducked. "Missed again." Blackheart wore his normal smug smirk. Lord Matthias thrust at him, narrowly missing the back of his head. "You're horrible at this, you know?" Blackheart hit Matthias in the chest with the hilt of his sword, knocking him backwards. Matthias had underestimated his prince, believing all of his power lie in magic. Now, he was just getting more and more pissed off, which was exactly what Blackheart wanted. An enraged opponent was half as efficient and twice as fun to duel. Matthias roared in anger.
"Fight me!"
"You want a fight? You got it!" Blades met in the air with a loud CLANG and Angel covered her eyes. Matthias quickly spun and almost got Blackheart's left side. He brought the sword up and chopped downward, but Blackheart quickly blocked it, holding his blade flat against his left palm over his head.
"She will be mine! You can't stop me!!" Matthias had a crazed look in his eye now and an evil smile plastered on his face. By this time, Adriana and Melissa, who had been working inside, had found Angel, now on her feet out of fear, and were trying to comfort her.
"Angelique is not just some prize to be won!" Blackheart said angrily. Suddenly, Matthias was gone.
"He…disappeared…" Melissa said, and Angel uncovered her eyes. She saw something totally different.
"BLACKHEART BEHIND YOU!!" She cried. Blackheart spun around fast enough to see Matthias lunging at him, but not fast enough to block what happened next.
Matthias's blade pierced Blackheart's right shoulder all the way through. The tip protruded out the back near his shoulder blade. Matthias ripped his blade out, rendering Blackheart's right arm, his dominant one, completely useless, leaving him vulnerable. Blackheart groaned in pain and Angel gasped. Blood had always made her queasy, but not as much as the substance now oozing from the wound, blacker than midnight, thicker than blood with the consistency of slime. It sickened Angel so she wanted to vomit. Blackheart held his left hand over the wound to try to restrict the blood flow, still determined to fight. Matthias laughed.
"You really are pathetic, aren't you?" Matthias slammed Blackheart backwards and into a wall. "I stab you one more time and the girl belongs to me." Matthias raised his sword to kill Blackheart when a monstrous roar reverberated through the garden.(6)
"ENOUGH!!!" It was Mephistopheles, angry at the commotion. "What's going on out here?!" The King of Hell was very angry by this point and his eyes swept through the crowd for an explanation. Angel ran to him and held on to the front of his coat.
"Please, Your Majesty, don't be angry, they were dueling and things almost got a little out of control…" Angel was all shaken up and looked ready to cry. She had never seen anyone get stabbed before, so it had scared her. Mephistopheles hugged Angel in a fatherly way to try to calm her; she was shaking all over. "Lord Matthias would have killed Blackheart had you not come, sir." Angel said.
"The bitch lies!" Lord Matthias shouted, releasing Blackheart. "Kill my lord prince? Never!!" Matthias was a good liar, but Mephistopheles saw right through him.
"Do not lie to your king, Lord Matthias. And quit that shouting, you're scaring the poor child." Mephistopheles indicated to Angel, still holding her in a safe embrace.
"Your Highness, I would never lie to-ARRGH!" A sword tip protruded from Matthias's stomach. Blood leaked from the wound as Blackheart angrily pulled his sword out and the lord fell over, dead.
"That was for stabbing me." He said, glaring at the body.
"Blackheart!!" Angel squirmed away from Mephistopheles and ran to him, hugging him tightly. "I was so scared…I thought he was going to kill you!" Blackheart, though a little surprised, hugged her back. He tasted her sickeningly sweet fear in the back of his throat and couldn't stand it anymore. He kissed Angel sweetly, still holding her, putting all of her fear to rest. She tasted amazing and he never wanted to let her go, but knew she had to breathe at some point and separated himself from her reluctantly.
Angel had been shocked at first, but surrendered herself to him, her eyes drifting closed. The kiss, she thought, was entirely too short as Blackheart pulled away. Her eyes opened half-mast and she had completely lost her train of thought.
"I wouldn't have let him kill me. Never." He whispered to her, resting his forehead against hers. He wouldn't fight it anymore. He had fallen in love with Angel, and she had fallen equally hard for him. He kissed her again and she returned it and people started to cheer. Blackheart ignored them. The Price of Hell had fallen in love.
BK93: AND CUT!
Entire cast except Blackheart: AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
BK93: Lil Blackheart fell in wuv!! (baby voice)
Blackheart: Shut up stupid woman! (ignoring)
BK93: Blackheart's in love! Blackheart's in love!! (grin)
Blackheart: Don't make me kill you!!
Johnny: Blackheart, we've already had that discussion. NO KILLING THE AUTHORESS!
BK93: Ha! You can't kill me!! My readers will kill you!
COMMENT TIME!
(1) Dare ya to say that ten times fast!
(2) Okay, I have no idea what castor oil is, but by the cartoons I'd say it's pretty nasty.
(3) THEY ARE ACTUALLY MUCH, MUCH OLDER. They just look like they're in their sixties.
(4) It's a hairstyle I learned how to do in a cosmetology class two years ago. You basically take the hair and twist it in vertically against the back of the head.
(5) SOUTHERN NOUN! It means anything from boyfriend-husband-guy blah blah. Used a lot in the South, where I live.
(6) SCARY MEPHISTOPHELES! Had to!
AND…
I have no idea how to write a sword fighting sequence, so I just tried my best. It probably sucked. This chapter may or may not have a part two, because I kinda wanted Angel to make a big fuss over Blackheart's wound and then have them do a waltz, so chances of a part 2 are pretty good right now. We'll just have to see, now, won't we?