The music hall was magnificent. At the center was a raised stage where a piano sat, prepped for the upcoming performance. Plush seats surrounded the stage in a half circle with balcony seats above them. Beautiful crystal chandeliers bathed the hall in soft light, giving it a peaceful and holy feeling. I glanced at Sebastian through a curtain of hair. He looked positively bored out of his mind. Maybe only I felt this way about the music hall. Ciel was speaking with an older man who was sweating uncontrollably. At first, I thought he was hiding something, but I soon learned that the poor guy just had a medical condition. The snowy Prince was walking among the seats with a young woman in a sky blue evening gown. I forgot what her name was, but she was one of the people performing tonight. She was also flirting hardcore with Damion. The girl was batting her eyelashes and laughing just a little too hard when he cracked a joke. I snickered when I caught Ciel burning holes into her back. Didn't he know Damion only had eyes for him?
"So, these singers disappeared shortly after they performed?" he confirmed, his eyes never leaving the girl.
The man nodded.
"Did anyone see anything strange?"
"No, nothing. Nobody was here that wasn't supposed to be, and everyone had an alibi that checked out."
I watched the lovesick girl purposely stumble into Damion. There was a flash on annoyance on his face, but he remained polite. Mossy eyes peered back at us, begging for someone to intervene.
"Is she the only girl going on tonight?"
"There are others, but she is the only solo singer. The rest are part of a band or duo."
"Sebastian, I want you to speak with everyone who was there when those girls went missing. Can you handle that?"
The Demon inclined his head with a smirk.
"Of course."
He vanished while the man wasn't looking, though he did look rather confused when he couldn't find the butler. Clearing his throat, Ciel motioned for me come forward.
"I want to replace Ms. Diaz with Taylor for tonight's performance." He held up a hand as the man began to object. "Ms. Wilson is an integral part of learning these women's fate. She will perform, and allow herself to be captured. The tracking device sewn into her clothing will allow us to find her and the other women if they still live."
The man mopped his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Only woman with the loveliest voices have been taken. Will your agent fit the bill?"
Ciel smirked.
"Of course. What kind of agent would she be if she couldn't do that much?" he looked to me. "Please, give Mr. Whitter a sample of your voice."
I stared at him in shock. Sing? Right now? The look on the boy's face said yes. My mind raced as I tried to recall at least one song from my library of music. I couldn't choose something too Pop-y; my voice just didn't sound right with it. Nothing too explicit either. Seeing Ciel's impatience, I settled on the song I sang in the garden. Thank god I looked up the lyrics.
Wild flower blossoming,
I beg of you tell me this so I know too
Why do people fight?
They all act as if it's right
Don't they know, that's no way to live?
Valiant flower blossoming,
What can you see, when you look down on me?
Why can't people say
That they're sorry for the way that they fought
I thought we once could
When the sky has cleared
And rains have passed
I still won't forget the past
You are not alone on your own
I remember you back then
Trembling in front of me,
Crying deep inside silently
When you see loved ones withering
What do you do with your remaining time
When your lips can't speak a word
And your thoughts cannot be heard
How do you convey your love?
When the summer's sun is hiding and
Winds are harsh against our backs
Everything seems to overlap
I'll sing in your memory
All the times you've spent with me
We've lost your name but I'll sing for you
The silence that followed the fading of the last note was deafening. Was it really that bad? Ciel stared at me blankly, speechless. The man beside him was opening and closing his mouth, but no sound came out. Blood rushing to my cheeks, I looked down at my feet. Sebastian thought my singing was good, at least. Whitter regained enough of his composure to finally squeak out a question.
"Will she be opening?"
Blinking, Ciel nodded slowly. He seemed to be in a trance. The sound of someone clapping snapped him out of it, and we turned towards the sound.
"Brava, my sister!" Damion called from by the stage, earning an icy look from the singer. "You truly have a talent!"
Blue eyes met mine
"He's right, you know," Ciel said reluctantly. "I've never heard a voice quite as stunning as yours."
Oh. So, they all liked it. I looked for Sebastian, but he still hadn't returned. Pity. I was hoping he heard me. Well, I had an idea of what song I wanted to sing. I would need to mess around with the piano to see if I had the skill to play it and find something fitting to wear. The thought of asking Alex for help made me shudder, but I texted her all the same while Ciel finished with Mr. Whitter. I couldn't help but feel the girl's (Day? Diaz? Something like that?) eyes drilling holes into the back of my head. When I looked up from my phone, I saw the petite blonde storm off. Fury rolled off her in waves, though I wasn't sure if it was from Damion ignoring her or me replacing her. Honestly, she should be grateful. With me taking her place, she wouldn't be the one kidnapped; I would. My eyes narrowed at her retreating back. Was it possible that she had something to do with this?
"Hey, Ciel?"
The two Demons paused their discussion to look at me.
"Just out of curiosity, why haven't the police been called if these girls have gone missing?"
The boy blanched at this, giving Damion a "you-tell-her" look. The Prince rolled his eyes before putting a hand on my shoulder.
"All the girls who vanished were human," he said softly.
"Oh."
Of course they were. What was it Damion said? Haven cities like Starfield are places where Supernaturals and humans can co-exist peacefully. That doesn't mean they do. That was a pretty accurate description. While they weren't slaves here, like in Rubanix City and the other realms, humans were still seen as second-class citizens. If a couple died or went missing, nobody cared. Had even one of the missing girls had been a Supernatural, the city would have been torn apart to find them. This blatant racism against humans was the major reason I didn't want to move to Rubanix City after Shay died. Widowed princess or not, it was only a matter of time before I was killed, enslaved, or worse. A chill ran down my spine. I had to be some kind of idiot to be going along with this plan. Hell, I was surprised Sebastian agreed to it. He didn't want me to come at all, and it was odd that he would so easily go along with letting me get captured. I studied Ciel and Damion with a frown. Unless…he hadn't.
"Does Sebastian know the plan?"
The two exchanged concerned looks. Oh, joy. I could only imagine what Sebastian would do to me after this was over. Though, the two in front of me should be more concerned. Intentionally going against Sebastian's wishes would not end well, even if I willingly chose to go along with it. At least now I know why Ciel waited to explain the plan until after sending the Demon off.
"You owe me big time for doing this shit."
Damion instantly brightened.
"Of course, dear sister! Anything you want!"
So, he thought I would refuse to go through with this. Silly Demon. Hadn't he learned by now that I had little to no self-preservation?
"Yeah, yeah. I'll met up you guys right before the performance. I've got shit to do."
With that I turned on my heel and walked away. From behind me, I heard Damion whispering to Ciel.
"You know we're fucked, right?"
"Mhm. Can you outrun him?"
"Nope. You?"
"Of course not."
"So, fucked?"
"…Royally."
She was gorgeous. Sebastian resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the thought. She was always beautiful, but there too few words to describe how striking she looked tonight. Taylor had withheld the title of the song she would be singing, but her dark attire reflected the nature of her choice. He had to hide his grin when he saw her dress; it was the replacement of the one from when he sketched that picture of her so long ago. Sebastian admired her choice of boots, the black leather taking his mind places he rather enjoyed. A smirk appeared on his lips. Perhaps later he would make his fantasy reality.
Taylor paced fluidly in her heeled boots. It amazed him how well she could walk in them with her track record with heels. Normally, she would teeter perilously before falling, but it seemed that the knee-high boots gave her ankles the support they needed. Not once did her ankle give out in the thirty minutes she paced, her heels clicking rhythmically on the hardwood floors. That had to be a new record for her. The woman suddenly stopped, her steely eyes finding his.
"I'll be okay, right?"
He gave her a gentle smile. She was nervous, poor thing. A kiss to her forehead calmed her, and he took a minute to inhale her scent. Even under the layer of that awful perfume, he could still smell the light scent that was hers. It was intoxicating. He restrained himself from sighing. It reminded him of a meadow, but there was something else. Something that turned such a soothing scent into a drug. Wide eyes peered up at him, drowning with fear.
"Will you come if I call for you?"
"Of course," he reassured her.
Nodding, the girl hugged him and buried her face into his chest. He rumbled contentedly. She was so cute when she clung to him like this. He grinned down at her. How she would hated to be called that. It was an insult to her, but her anger only made her more adorable.
"Ms. Wilson? You're going on in five."
Taylor nodded, never lifting her head.
"You haven't told anyone your real name?" he asked.
"No," she said, her voice muffled. "I didn't know how to bring it up, so I kind of just let it go."
The girl pulled away with a sigh.
"You better go find your seat. I'm sure you're just dying to see me make a fool of myself."
He smirked.
"Not at all, Ms. Wilson."
"Oh, fuck you."
"Later, darling. Later."
With a hiss, Taylor threw her hands up and followed a young man with a headset towards the stage. Sebastian watched her leave with a smirk. Teasing her was so amusing. With a final glance at the woman's retreating back, Sebastian's eyes turned pink, and he ran to his seat. He wouldn't miss her performance for all the souls in the world. The slight wind he created alerted Damion to his presence, but the Prince only raised an eyebrow at him before motioning to the stage. Whitter had finished his opening speech and was introducing the first singer. Taylor nervously stepped onto the stage before freezing in front of the large crowd. Panicked, her eyes searched wildly before landing on him. Smiling, he gave her a small wave, mouthing words of encouragement. Taylor visibly relaxed and strode towards Whitter with her head held high. She stood proudly as she was handed the microphone by the manager. With a curtsy to the room, Taylor sat at the grand piano. Whitter scuttled off the stage and the woman took a deep breath. Fingers hovered above the keys for a moment as they eyes met again. With an uneasy smile, Taylor turned her head towards the microphone. Trembling hands began to play a sad melody that filled the room. Eyes closed, Taylor's head bobbed to the song. With a final glance towards him, the young woman's eyes became distant as she began to sing.
I've been looking in the mirror for so long. Take a breath and I try to draw from my spirits well.
That I've come to believe my soul's on the other side.
All the little pieces falling, shatter.
Shards of me,
Too sharp to put back together.
Too small to matter,
But big enough to cut me into so many little pieces.
If I try to touch her,
And I bleed,
I bleed,
And I breathe,
I breathe no more.
Yet again you refuse to drink like a stubborn child.
Lie to me,
Convince me that I've been sick forever.
And all of this,
Will make sense when I get better.
But I know the difference,
Between myself and my reflection.
I just can't help but to wonder,
Which of us do you love.
So I bleed,
I bleed,
And I breathe,
I breathe no...
Bleed,
I bleed,
And I breathe,
I breathe,
I breathe-
I breathe no more.
As her haunting voice sang the last note, Sebastian shuddered. He had heard her sing before, but it was nothing like this. It left him with an indescribable feeling that made him want to hear more of the unearthly sound. Sluggishly turning his head, he saw that the two Demons beside him were staring at the young woman with a mixture of wonder and astonishment. Not even they had been aware of this. The music hall was silent, as if its inhabitants were afraid of breaking the spell that held them all captive. Mistaking the silence for failure, Taylor's head drooped, her eyes glistening with tears. That wouldn't do, he determined, rising to his feet. A voice as lovely as hers needed to be cherished and showered with approval. His clapping woke the audience from its stupor, and thousands of people shot to their feet to join him. The young woman's head shot up, and she looked petrified from the raucous cheers. Steely eyes found him, begging to be saved. He only shook his head with a smirk. Surely she could handle basking in praise for a little while. Rising to her feet, Taylor dropped into a hasty curtsy before bolting off the stage. To his amusement, the people behind him were chanting 'encore'. Whitter looked dumbfounded as he returned to the stage. These were supposed to be people from the upper echelons of Starfield society. They were the epitome of refinement and culture, and yet, here they were, acting as if this was a rock concert. The Demon looked down at the Prince and his young master. Damion was staring intensely at his phone, his mossy eyes focused on the screen. Curious, Sebastian leaned over to see what he was doing.
A red dot moved along a map of the music hall. It paused briefly near the door to the back, and Sebastian looked up to see Taylor poking her head out the door. Seeing him, she waved and vanished back inside. The dot began moving again.
"Is that what I think it is?" he growled.
"Mhm. We're tracking her movement right now. It will let us know where she's being taken once she's kidnapped." Damion explained, his eyes never leaving the screen.
A hand rested on his shoulder and Damion flinched under the Demon's glare.
"I don't recall agreeing to my fiancée being kidnapped," Sebastian said darkly, gradually increasing the force of his grip.
Wincing, the Prince ineffectively tried to remove Sebastian's hand.
"She's not in any real danger," he grunted, "While we're tracking her here, Lacey is tracking her at the manor. No matter what happens, we will find her."
"Taylor agreed to this, knowing everything it entailed," Ciel piped up.
Of course she had. That stupid, idiotic, stubborn woman. He released Damion's shoulder with a growl. They were going to have a nice, long chat after this was over.
"If anything happens to her, I will kill you," he reminded the Prince.
"Get in line," Damion grumbled. "Lacey already called dibs."
Ciel let out a disturbed noise.
"Hey. She stopped moving all of a sudden."
Studying the screen, Sebastian saw that the young woman had stopped in front of a dressing room. The dot stayed there during the next singer's performance. Suspicious, Sebastian was about to go check on her when the dot shot into the room, then in the opposite direction. Before Damion could stop him, Sebastian was gone. Sighing, the Prince continued to watch the dot flee from the dressing room. He assumed she was being chased by the kidnapper, and prayed that Sebastian didn't scare the guy off. The red dot had just about reached the door next to the stage when it vanished. The two Demons blinked at the screen in disbelief. Had the tracking device been found already?
Cursing under his breath, Damion motioned for Ciel to follow him outside. While the young boy searched for the young woman or the butler, the Prince called Lacey. The Witch answered on the first ring.
"You lost her already?" she asked incredulously.
"Do you know where she is?"
Sebastian had reappeared beside them, clutching a scrap of black cloth in his fist. The woman on the line sighed.
"Give me a minute."
There was a pause.
"What the hell? Why is she in Rubanix City?"
While Lacey cursed in a multitude of languages, Damion went back to his app. Switching the map to one of Rubanix City, he was relieved to see that the red dot had reappeared. He studied the map for a moment, trying to recall where exactly she was. It had been awhile, but he was convinced she was near the Bazaar of the southern area. The Prince mused over this as Sebastian loomed threateningly over his shoulder. Why would she be taken there of all places? He zoomed in on her position, realizing that she wasn't in the Bazaar; she was under it.
"Shit."
Lacey paused in her angry rant that he had clearly tuned out.
"What's wrong?"
Damion groaned.
"She's in the Slave Market. Taylor is going to be auctioned off."
