So, there is a song to this chappy, awesome I know. It starts with Annabeth's second dance of the evening and I shall provide my loyal readers with the YouTube link for it (: .com/watch?v=1uFF1Ru8-HQ&feature=related enjoy! (:
The carriage ride to Hyde Park was silent. I was thinking about what Larten had said, and Gabriel seemed rather infuriated. When we arrived, all signs of distress left Gabriel and he threw me a charming smile. I couldn't help but blush. The door opened and he stepped out, then held out a hand to assist me out of the carriage.
I shivered a little in the cold air, pulling my coat around me tighter. "I'm glad I brought my coat, it's chilly out." I noted. Gabriel smiled. "Worry not, my dear. See where the people are dancing?" he asked me, pointing over to a brightly lit clearing. I nodded. "Yes, they seem to be having fun…without their coats." I said, surprised. He nodded.
"This is one of my father's parties." He explained. I nodded, my heart quickening. "Ah, I see. So there are Downworlders there?" he nodded, seeming to be a little annoyed at the thought. "Yes, a few warlocks put an enchantment on the meadow, keeping it warm." He explained as we started walking.
"Which warlocks are attending?" I asked, praying that Magnus or Ragnor would be attending. Gabriel looked at me strangely. "Why do you ask?" he questioned. I shrugged. "I have connections with some Downworlders, most being Warlocks such as Magnus Bane." I explained. He snorted at the mention of my brother. "Ah, yes. Madame Belcourt's pet." He sneered. I ground my teeth together.
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut when regarding Downworlders in such a manner here. Shadow hunter party or not, they will not stand for being disrespected, Gabriel." I said just as we entered the clearing. He stared at me, shocked that I would speak to him in that manner, no doubt. I just smiled and inclined my head to the familiar Downworlders.
A few minutes into the party, I saw Ragnor Fell. We made eye contact. I smiled at him and inclined my head. He did the same. The werewolf standing next to him, Woolsey Scott, looked over at me and grinned. "Ah, if it isn't my favorite pink haired girl!" he laughed. I smiled and pulled Gabriel to follow. A few of the Downworlders around snickered at his obvious discomfort.
"Hello, Woolsey." I said, extending my hand. He grinned and took my hand, pressing his lips to it. "Fancy meeting you here, isn't it?" he said. I nodded. "I could say the same. As you can see, I was invited by Benedict's son, Gabriel." I said, smiling at Gabriel. He smiled back at me. Woolsey smiled and laughed.
"Lucky man, getting you to go anywhere. I remember when I first tried to take you out, you almost had Magnus turn me into a pumpkin!" he laughed. I giggled. "Well, you were trying to take me to the Devil's Tavern." I reminded him. He smiled mischievously.
"We will let you get back to your date." Ragnor said before Woolsey could say anything stupid. I smiled and gave a slight curtsy. The first song of the evening started playing. Gabriel turned to me. "May I have this dance?" He asked, bowing. I smiled and nodded, letting him lead me to the dance floor.
"I must warn you, I'm a better fighter than I am a dancer." I said, blushing lightly. He smiled. "It's fine, I'm a good dancer." He replied with a brag. I smiled and tried to enjoy the dance more. Don't get me wrong, I was having fun but…my thoughts kept returning to a certain vampire at the Institute that wasn't too far away…
"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" he asked me. I looked up at him, confused. "Who?" I asked, confused from being brought back to reality. "The vampire." He replied. I shrugged. He tightened his grip slightly. "Annabeth, there's no use thinking about him like that. He's a vampire and you're—"
"I know." I cut him off, before he could finish that sentence. "But I can't help it. He's kind and…he's different from other vampires." I said, blushing lightly. He looked at me with disgust. "You fancy him? That's…repulsive." He hissed. I glared at him.
"Oh really? And this little party that your father is hosting isn't? You hate all these people so much, and yet you would dine with him?" he glared at me. "What does dining have to do with this?" he hissed. I glared at him. "One doesn't dine with his enemies, for he who dines with his enemies is eating poison." I said.
He laughed at me. "Making a book reference to The Count of Monte Cristo? I swear, you are becoming more like that wretched Herondale every day." He snorted, I glared at him. "And what is wrong with that? William Herondale is a great man." I said defensively. Gabriel laughed at me again, loud enough that a few dancing couples looked over at us.
"William Herondale a great man? He isn't even a real Shadow hunter yet! He's a stupid boy who will get everyone killed, he's weak and a cowardly fool." He sneered. I stopped dancing immediately. "Gabriel, if this is how you treat every woman's friends, I wish you great luck in finding a woman to marry." I said angrily.
Before he could say anything in response, a man came next to us. "Excuse me, but might I have this dance with the lady?" he asked kindly. "Yes." I said when Gabriel said "No." I turned to the stranger. "I would be delighted to have a dance with you." I smiled. He smirked. "Lovely, I wouldn't have taken no for an answer anyways." He said, offering me his hand.
He lead me to the outskirts of the dance floor and gingerly laid one hand on my waist and took my left hand with his right one. I laid my right hand on his shoulder and we began to dance. I looked this man over.
He had jet black hair and a small silver ring through his right earlobe. He was tall and wore all black. I looked into his eyes and saw that they were a deep, dark pink. Then I noticed something on his neck. Markings…but they weren't the Markings of a Shadow hunter. I gasped. "You're a demon." I whispered, starting to tremble.
He smiled at me, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "How could you tell?" He asked. I glared at him. "The Markings on your neck." I said, sliding my fingers over the Markings. He tensed. "I thought I had those glamoured." He muttered. I frowned. "You probably do, considering that no one else has noticed." I said, looking around.
He stared down at me curiously. "And will you try and scream?" he asked, pulling me closer to him so he could whisper in my ear. I shuttered. "Maybe." I said. He laughed softly. "And why is that? I haven't done anything wrong." He said. I shrugged.
"You're still a Demon. And if you haven't done anything wrong, then what are you doing here?" I asked him. He smiled. "Looking for someone." He replied. I frowned. "Anything else? No vicious attacks on the Institute? Not eating the hearts of beautiful virgins?" I asked. He laughed. "I am not some pitiful Lesser Demon! And why would I attack the Institute? There is a reason I am at this party. I'm looking for a Shadow hunter." He answered, looking down at me with amusement.
I stared at him. "Might I know who? I could be of assistance if you tell me what your plans are." I said. He smiled at me. "I don't know their name, but I'm sure I shall know who they are once I see them." He replied. I frowned. "Are you going to hurt the Shadow hunter?" I asked quietly. He stared at me. "I am not sure." He said honestly. I shuddered.
If I don't kill this man, then someone I know could die. "I would not worry about it… I do not think that I will want to hurt them." He said gently. I nodded. "Do you swear?" I asked. He nodded. "Sure." He said, his haughty manner put back in place.
"Strange, I smell vampire on your lips." He said, changing the subject. I stared at him, shocked. "How can you smell vampires? They have no scent." I asked. He smiled. "Exactly, your lips don't have a smell, it's been smothered by a vampire." He laughed. I glared.
"Well, it's none of your business." I snapped. He laughed again. "I see I have struck a nerve." He smiled. I rolled my eyes. He stared at me for a long time. "Well, I believe it is time for me to leave, I think I've gotten all that I can get here." He said as the song ended. I frowned as I realized that I would be stuck with Gabriel all night.
"Sir," I began. He smiled. "Please, call me Judas." He said. I snorted. How ironic, this Demon named himself after the man who betrayed Jesus. "Okay, Judas. Do you mind escorting me home? I really wish to leave because there is a certain Shadow hunter that I accompanied here that I am not obliged to give another minute of my time to." I said wearily. He smiled, amused.
"Ah, that boy you were dancing with?" he asked me. I nodded. He shrugged. "I suppose, though I must warn you that we will be walking, I haven't a carriage. Horses aren't very fond of me." He mused. I smiled. "I'm a Shadow hunter; we're used to physical effort." I said with a smile.
He stared at me for a long time before offering me his arm with a kind smile. "Of course, my dear." He said. We kept up a steady conversation on fighting techniques against enemies and what we each thought of the Lesser Demons. It seemed that we were very much alike in our views. He walked me up to the Institute gates and smiled sarcastically. "Ah, the beautiful London Institute." He muttered. I shrugged."It's better than the Silent City." I stated. He stared at me, slightly taken aback. "Yes, I suppose it is." He kissed my hand and smiled.
"It was nice meeting you, my dear. It has been a long time since I have communicated with anyone." I stared at him, confused. "Don't Demons speak with each other quite often?" I asked. He nodded. "Yes, but I'm a Greater Demon who prefers to stay on the Down Low." He paused for a minute and wrinkled his nose.
"In fact, I am certain that there has only been one Shadow hunter who knew my Demon language, and even then they didn't know as much as you do. It is curious how you can speak it fluently without having been taught by me." He said. I stared at him, even more confused.
"I beg your pardon? We were just speaking in English." I said, confused. He stared at me. "No, we weren't, my dear. We were just speaking in Judic, my Demon Language. We have been speaking in it since we first started dancing." He said. He stared at me before his eyes widened and his mouth formed a little o. "After you saw my Markings through the glamour…" He said, trailing off.
I stared at him as he started looking all around him. He took a necklace with a Demon Marking off and handed it to me. "Take this." He ordered. My eyes widened. "I can't take this! I'm a Shadow hunter!" I squeaked. He growled and fastened it around my neck and then pulled back the top of my dress, letting the necklace fall below the neckline. I gasped at the intimate touch.
"And you are also a Warlock, so this Marking will have no negative effect on you. Besides, that's a Mark of protection. Now, don't take that off or there will be bad consequences." He said. He started walking down the side walk and then stopped. He turned back to me and grinned mischievously. "And be sure to stay away from that Lightwood boy, he's a brat and no good for you."
And then he left with me staring after him, wide eyed and open mouthed as a million questions ran through my head, the most important one being…
Who is this Greater Demon Judas?