Gods Help Us

In an empty ballroom, after all others had gone to bed I came back. I don't know what possessed me to leave my chambers, or even why I went back to the ballroom. But there, my poor demon stood amongst the room which but an hour ago had been full of life. Now? It was like the room played a haunted melody of voices laughing and talking. "Casper? Sweet one what are you doing here all alone?" I called out to him as I made my way to his side.

He looked to me with sad eyes "I displeased you. I did not attend tonight. I-I'm sorry Lady Helen but those awful people stare at me like I'm some sideshow---" I stopped him, running my hand along his cheek. His scars meant little to me, he was far more beautiful than the others. I wager even more than Hex. "My lady?"

All I could do was smile. This poor creature needed kindness, love, someone to look past his altered form. "Dance with me." I saw his eyes turn to a warm, happy thing as he slowly put his hand against mine. "Sweet one, share a dance with me. You had promised me this morning you would do me the honor of a dance."

At the moment, in one fleeting moment I loved him as a man loves a woman. Without guilt or hesitation I looked into his eyes and saw the face I had been dreaming of since I was a child.

Am I wrong, heart to wish I could make both my demon and my prince happy? How I wish life would have even me an easier road. If Hex had fallen for Lady Callum, or if I had never found Casper half-dead on that cold morning.

As we spun I lost myself to my thoughts. My moment of happiness turned into a tornado of dread. What had I done? I couldn't keep this game forever. At some point very soon I would have to choose which path I was meant to take instead of dancing between. When I died and the gods of old came before me, how could I answer for this crime?

"Helen, stop." Casper called, pulling me out into blissful silence. Concern flooded his face as he pulled me into an all-consuming embrace. I felt my face turn hot, flushed as I smelt the almost burned wood musk of my sweet demon. Gods, forgive me but I'm in love with him.

-Helen


To honor the third birthday of this story, I've decided to dedicate the month to drawing my three beloved characters: Helen, Hex, and Casper.

This was drawn with prismacolor markers, prismacolor colored pencils, and a white pen

Helen, Hex, and Casper are copyright to me, Anzabelle.