THE HARMONY OF the violin and piano echoed in my ears, the deep rumble of the cello and the cry of the trumpet felt in my chest as I walked through the throngs of wealth. Visions spun from golden velvet, ruby red silk, and onyx chiffon fluttered in the air on every side, the gemstones around every lady's neck and watches on each gentleman's wrist flashing my eyes as though they demanded my immediate attention just like their owners.

Lords, Ladies, Dukes, Duchesses, and Council members bit at my heels whichever direction I walked, hunting me as they followed my footsteps to cut me off before I could escape. Whatever requests they were too afraid to ask Parisa were always directed to me.

"Is the Queen available to attend my daughter's wedding?"

"Could I sit down with her for tea? It's been so long since we last spoke!"

"Queen Parisa would simply adore my dinner party. I'm throwing it to support this darling charity..."

When they came to me, my answer was always no. Parisa didn't participate in any social functions that she didn't throw herself. There would be no weddings, tea parties, or charity dinners in her itinerary, and the people had yet to catch on to the fact that their Queen preferred to remain a hostess instead of a guest.

I declined invitations left and right, trying my best to be polite though I knew I must have sounded cold in their minds. Already I wasn't the people's favorite, the wings that decorated my back earning resentment left and right.

Under their kind words of regret for losing Parisa's company was their distain for me, their widened nostrils out of disgust for my feathers. They were captivated and horrified by me, a royal and a beast. 

Winged creatures like the Fairies were servants in our world, a society dominated by Sylph creatures who put the winged creatures in chains. Putting my own wings on display was risky, but Parisa was always one to never back down. She was the first person to tell me that my wings were not monstrosities; they were beautiful. For the time being, I escaped ridicule because of my relation to the Queen, but if I'd been anyone else's daughter I'd be a maid or sent out into the fields.

To remain under her care as an heir, Parisa had to debate with the Council to accept my new birthright. They were forced to accept based on my extensive education under her care as well as with her recommendation.

In her words I wasn't a fairy, but no one had any idea what type creature I was. This only made them more weary of me; the unexplored possibility that I could be a new breed frightened people more than if I had been a fairy all along.

Only a few members of this community of elites were immune to this repugnance, and Nora Waldorf gliding towards me with a wide smile was a member of this minority.

"My angel!" Nora giggled as she came close, enveloping me in a warm hug before I could stop her. "How are you? I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too." I said softly, glancing around. Parisa wasn't around, and I indulged her hug for a moment before pulling back. "I'm well. How have you been?"

"Fabulous! My parents are on vacation at the coast so I've been at the summer estate on my own. You should come and visit me sometime soon." She hinted with a wink, "Bella comes frequently."

I knew about the events that had been taking place at the Waldorf estate, the grand parties that raged there into the next morning. Bella had come back to the palace and told me the stories, ones that mesmerized me.

Inside the palace everything was orderly, tame and sophisticated like the members of the upper class that attended each of its galas. The children of the elite were the suspects that attended the Waldorf estate to tear it apart from the inside out with music juxtaposed to an orchestra and dances where two separate bodies became one without the flow of a waltz. The parties were raunchy, the air as Bella described it full of sweat and sex.

I'd wanted to sneak out with Bella for just one night to see it for myself, but Parisa apprehended me before I'd even made it down the stairs. It became law that I was never to attend one of those parties or so help my life she'd make me regret it, and I believed her. She always kept her promises.

"If I can sneak out, I'll come next time." I said under my breath, hoping that she couldn't read my lie. "Parisa found out the last time, and that went poorly for me."

"You better learn to be sneaky, Princess." Nora teased, brushing her dark hair behind her ear. "You need live a little from time to time, and being in this box all your life is far from living."

I nodded my head, biting my lip. It wouldn't ever happen, but I couldn't tell her that. It took a moment for me to realize that some of her words made my feathers bristle, prodding me like a thorn. She and the others always referred to my home as a box, a cage.

Couldn't she see that I was content? That I was needed here? It was my duty to serve and to follow Parisa's guidance in order to live for my country. I was happy here if I kept myself focussed, and one day I'd get to make my own rules. It would all be worth it in the end; I was raised to live my life in the palace so why leave it?

"I'll try my best." I replied with a small smile, a familiar figure behind her catching my eye. My muscles stiffened, the chatter of the ballroom beginning to die as a heavy darkness seemed to settle in the room. "Nora, I'll be back. Ater is here."

Her eyes widened, turning to look over her head. Duke Kristopher Edgefield approached Nora, wrapping an arm around her tanned shoulder to slide her behind him as I walked forward. The people began to bubble back, a ring forming around Felix de Ater just as a walkway was created for me.

In these moments the Sylphs put their faith in me. They stood behind me, hiding behind my wings as I walked towards Felix with a hard expression on my face that I'd trained to remain stiff like a stone. It wouldn't waver no matter what he said or did to me, and I clenched my jaw as I neared him.

The room was ghostly silent like an old graveyard, Felix de Ater holding a cigar between his fingers as he blew out a trail of smoke that looked like dragon's breath. His dark eyes trained on me, flashing a vexing smile as he saluted me.

I narrowed my eyes, nodding my head to the door as he shrugged his shoulders. Once I'd gotten closer, he laughed, "Princess, how's it going?"

His words made me clench my jaw, and I stopped in front of him, my blue eyes trained on his grey irises. He was shorter than me when I was in heels but he was more muscular, dressed in a black tux that hugged his strong shoulders. The golden crown on his head only made him look more foolish than respectable; any monarch who felt the need to remind you of their wealth was one who never felt secure of it.

Raising an eyebrow, I let my wings stretch, using my wingspan to remind him that I too wasn't as weak as I seemed. After keeping his gaze for a few moments, I cleared my throat, "Felix, let's go outside."

I walked forward and he shifted his weight, strolling beside me as I hooked an arm in his. Our footsteps echoed against the floor, and I held my breath. Hopefully he wasn't too angry with me. The doors were opened for us by one of the servants, and I reached out, touching Baron's shoulder as I gave him my thanks. He returned my smile with a nod of his own before I proceeded into the hallway.

The door creaked as it shut behind me, and then I released my hold on Felix. We both turned to look towards each other, his fiery eyes locked with mine as he blew cigar smoke into my face. I coughed, using my hand to wave it away as he snarled.

"Cut the bullshit. Cybele, you've never intimidated me our whole life, and those people in there definitely don't see you as their guardian angel. Stop pretending you're stronger than you really are, baby bird."

"I am stronger than you think." I snapped, narrowing my eyes. "Why are you here? You aren't welcome and you know it! You put my people in danger by being in this room, and I'll do all I can to make them feel safer."

He chuckled, "cute how you think they value you as more than just a shield, you fairy."

"I'm not a fairy."

"With the wings, they don't care what the hell you are. You're fairy even if your wings don't look like the breed. That's their greatest strength: they don't discriminate." Felix chuckled, tucking his hand into his pocket and pulling out a flask. He knocked his head back, taking a long sip before looking at me, "and I'm welcome here. Parisa let me in the front door herself. I think she likes seeing you squirm around me. I'm a challenge, your charming nemesis."

He flashed me a nefarious smile, and my lip twitched. "She wouldn't let you in here."

"You know just like I do that I'm invited to all the big parties. It may be out of formality, but I still get a lovely handwritten letter with my name on it. I'm Prince Felix de Ater of the Pixies, and that means something."

"You're of the night children." I spat, "don't act more noble than you are. You're Noxia's breed, plain evil. You aren't ever welcome here even if you get an invitation because light and darkness don't belong together."

Felix only laughed with amusement. "You're more naive than I remembered. Darkness and Light are lovers, don't forget it." He stepped closer to me, his hand resting on my throat. "We could be just as intertwined if you'd let me have you."

I jerked my head out of his hold. "You'd sleep anything that moves! Don't put your vile hand on me again."

"What would you do about it?" He sneered, "pat me with your wings? That can't stop me, and you know it. Give into me. Make this easier. The good girl can't ever resist the dark prince..."

Both his hands locked around my waist as he yanked me against his chest, his sour lips taking mine roughly. I froze for a moment, shocked by the suddenness of his touch and how disgusting his fingers felt on my body. When he bit my bottom lip between his teeth hard enough to draw blood, I snapped awake from my moment of fear.

I pushed back, my wings snapping around my body as they slapped him across the face and shoulders. Felix flew backwards, his body cracking against the marble floor. He let out a snarl in his anger, a darkness seeming to fill the room as his eyes began to glow with his rage.

From his back he shifted onto one knee, eyes black as night as his dark wings unfolded from his body. They were smaller than mine, weaker and thinner in comparison to my full bodied wings. I spread my feathers, eyeing him as he rose to his feet.

"Go back home." I snapped, "or would you like to kiss the marble a second time?"

"Leave, Ater." A second voice echoed in the hall, making me clench my jaw.

Felix narrowed his eyes before cursing at me under his breath. Fire exploded into the air around him, a woman appearing beside him before the two were gone in a flurry of ash. 

The grey snow settled onto the floor, Maven his special pixie with her meraki of teleportation coming to his rescue once again. She had a power, a meraki, that allowed her to appear anywhere on the planet, and Felix used her as his personal chauffeur. When the smoke drifted away, I knew that he was gone for the night.

I shifted on my heels, turning to see who had spoken for me. At the opposite door leading into the ballroom stood a tall man with curly brunette hair and stunning blue eyes. In a black suit he was dashing, and he walked down the hallway towards me "I came to your rescue, but it seems you didn't need me."

I looked him up and down from head to toe before dipping into a curtesy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."