As the night progressed, the Demons got louder, rowdier. It was a party and they were excited. Couples were groping and kissing in corners, fights were breaking out. The Dead Men sat glued to their seats, each one calculating the quickest escape route, how to get there and how they would get through the horrendous group of heathens. The tall dark skinned boy with the mass of dread locks walked up, wearing a bleached white mask. It was a beautiful contrast. "Master would like it if you followed me, please." He said. Skulduggery had analysed him, in his detective way. To the rest, perhaps not Valkyrie, he seemed dull and bored. But Skulduggery noticed the small downwards turn as he said Master, and the way his voice rose ever so slightly as he said please. His eyes stayed down cast. He was not a happy Demon. The Dead Men all got up, tucking in their seats, walking behind him. "What's your name?" Ezra asked, her voice dreamy, her words slurred. The man shot her a curious look then looked forward, his jaw set.

"Kaden. Kaden Rushwell."

No one said anything else. They walked through the crowd that parted for Kaden Rushwell, and through a hall that was dimly lit in comparison to the grand ballroom. Kaden got to a large set of double doors and took a deep breath. "Good luck." He said lowly, then threw them open. Valkyrie shared a look with Skulduggery as Ezra slipped her hand into Dexter's. Kaden stalked in and stood next to Blaise, Noah and Banshee, Macon sitting in a rather large chair that looked suspiciously like a throne. He was laughing at something one of them had said, and The Dead Men walked in cautiously.

"Hello! My guests! Have you enjoyed yourself tonight?" He asked, smiling.

Skulduggery tilted his head slightly. "It's been most pleasant, and I am happy to speak on behalf of my friends-"

"They're more brothers, wouldn't you say?" Macon interrupted.

"Yes, I suppose you're right… I'm happy to speak on behalf of my brothers that we are grateful for your hospitality."

Blaise walked up to Ezra like a cat on the prowl, brandishing a gold knife. She held it out in front of Ezra who looked up her eyes wide, her mind scattered.

"Take this and stab The Originals. All of them." She said smirking as Macon laughed. Noah grinned as Banshee looked away and Kaden shifted, staring at his feet. Ezra moved so fast that no one had any hope of stopping her. She plunged the knife into Ghastly's thigh, then into Skulduggery's shoulder and lastly into Saracen's side. Then she plunged it into her bicep. Hisses, moans and cried of pain rang out as the blade clattered to the ground, Ezra's mouth open in the shape of an "o". She covered her mouth with her hands. Blood dripped from the wound. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, I-"

Macon laughed and then Dexter ran forward towards him but Anton and Valkyrie grabbed him by an arm each and hoisted him back. "You bastard what're you trying to prove?!" He yelled and Macon only laughed harder, his belly bouncing, his face red, spittle flying from his chapped lips. Blaise grinned and swayed back to her spot beside the throne. Valkyrie was helping Skulduggery, Dexter was helping Saracen and Anton was adding pressure to Ghastly's thigh while Ghastly swatted Erskine away. "Come here, Ezra," Blaise said. Ezra's feet moved before she could even process what was happening. She stood in front of the five Demons, shaking, her stomach in knots. Macon stood and pulled her close. He whispered something in her ear. Then Ezra lurched back, falling over the knife and she stayed there, on the floor, as Macon sat back down. He waved his hand.

"Show them to their rooms." He said, loud enough for the frantic men to realise they were being spoken about. Kaden picked up Ezra as The Dead Men helped the wounded walk. "This is Holly," Kaden said, tilting his head in the direction of the small brunette beside him. She looked no older than twelve. Ezra gasped in Kaden's arms and Dexter tensed as Noah snorted. They walked down another dimly lit corridor until they came upon four intricate doors. The Dead Men paired off and went in them while the Demons left silently. They stitched the wounded with the medical kit that was sitting on each bed then changed into the jammies that were folded and laid out.

Ezra woke up in the middle of the night. She stretched and winced as the pain tore through her arm. She frowned but got up, taking in the beautiful white and black room, very chic and modern. She opened the door and padded out, trying to remember where she was.

She was in a mud and wood hut, surrounded by sisters and brothers, her mum and dad laughing. Dexter's muscular arm cocooned her as covers laid upon her. Nathanial's hand gripped hers as she ran from a burning building as Valkyrie threw her into the ground as water filled her lungs. Ghastly collapsed as she tumbled and slid down the white wall as she went to another foster home as Macon branded her as she screamed on the ground, clutching her head and shaking violently. Lights turned on as Erskine plunged the knife into Ghastly and Fletcher ate another spoonful of gelato and China begged on her knees for refuge with Ezra, as her sister clung to her leg and her brother clapped his hands and her nephew screamed once then went silent as Dexter got to one knee and his back started bleeding from being whipped as a wraith wrapped it's hand around her neck as she was carried carefully and laid into bed and then she was alone, so alone and so cold and no one was there and then Sanguine was there and they were kissing, smelling like smoke and alcohol and then he was Dexter and she was grinding on his lap, his hands tugging her hair and then a fist connected with hers as she shrieked and fell asleep.

Thanks for reading! Pretty please with a cherry on the top review!