Today is the day; the day of the formal. After six days have passed since Mal’s death, there has been nothing but calm. Asmodeus is planning something big. He wants my powers, but I hope it is enough to stop him. Who knows what he has been doing these past six days, probably had a meeting with his new number two and talk about how to get me this time.

Focusing back on the date, Liana and I just basically talk about the upcoming dance that is just mere hours away. I promised her that my mom will bring us not a cab driver. Speaking about the dance, I ponder about the tuxedo.

I open my door and walk to the living room where I see a suit bag; and as well a note.

“Here’s something special for you today.Enjoy! – Mom”

I take the suit bag and walk back to my room. I throw the bag on top of my bed. I unzipped it to see a nice tuxedo jacket, vest, shirt, and pants inside. I got to say, my mom got taste. It looks amazing. I grab hold of my phone near the desk table, and I realize there are no messages. So far, Liana has not been texting me lately. Either she is afraid or maybe she wants to remain secretive until we pick her up in four hours.

A few minutes later, I begin to get ready. I hop into the tub and take a shower. After a minute or two, I run the water out; I reach to the bathroom window where I begin to wash my face and brush my teeth.

***

I begin to put on my tuxedo attire. Putting the black pants on then button up the white dress shirt; I then put on my tuxedo vest. Then I put on the jacket. I fit the jacket so I see it is good on me. After polishing up my hair, I give a smile, and I look closely to see a black vine line near left eyelid. I hope it goes away soon.

I then realize I missing one important attire; a black tie. I head out in the hallway to get to my mom’s room, but she is in the living room wearing her sea green robe while working on some hospital files. I proceed forward.

Mom looks at me and is very happy. “You look great.” She says as she gives me a smile afterwards.

“Thanks.” I say.

“I’m getting ready myself, but I just need to work out one more things for work.” She says.

“Hey mom, I wonder where’s tie?” I ask.

“Oh!” She reacts surprised; “I’m sorry sweetie, I totally forgot.”

“That’s okay. I’ll see if Mr. Francis across the street has a tie.” I say; as I reach to the door. I then see a bowtie appearing out of nowhere. I grab it from the floor, and I’m so confused. Was this Desmond? Or was this Oxley’s doing? Whoever did it, I’m thankful for them. I walk back to my room, but want to show my mom I’m ready.

“Hey mom, I don’t have to go get the tie from across the street.”

“And why’s that, Caden?”

“I got a bowtie.” I show it to her. 

“That’s great!” She exclaims. Before I can head back to my room, my mom seek me again. “Son, can you come back for a minute.”

“Sure.” I say as I walk back and sit on the couch right beside her. She then closes her work folder, and soon cris-cross her legs.

“I’m really so proud of you.”

“Thanks.”

“It just that adopted or not, you’re my child. And to see you grow up is a blessing not just for me but for your birth parents as well.”

“Yeah, it’s been rough time discovering I’m this Devos, I’m destined to be the light to darkness; demons are after me; and yeah I have demonic powers and an essence that nearly took control of me.”

“Well forget about that; think about the good times. The good times with me and your friends.”

I start to think about those good times; and mom’s right again. I feel better than I am when it comes with my family and friends.

“Tonight, forget about being a Devos. Be a normal sixteen year old teenager who is going to take his best friend to the Formal; and have a good time.”  She soon smiles.

“I will.” I say smiling as well.

We both hug, and then mom kisses me on my right cheek. She then gets up, takes her work folder, and heads to her room. I see her enter and closing the door; as I think about it, I hold tight on the bowtie and maybe mom is right. Tomorrow I can worry about stopping Asmodeus; tonight, I’m going to be that normal teenager who hangs out like I used too way before all this Devos and demons info been taking over my life.

About an hour later, mom wearing a nice, burgundy dress; her long hair is rolled up in a bun I believe that I what its call. My bowtie fits me well around my neck. She soon grabs her keys and purse. I get out my phone to call Liana to make sure I’m on my way.

***

We reach to the Madison Street block and finally pull up to Liana’s residence. I open the back passenger door of the suv to get out and then I approach the two story plantation-inspired house. I about to knock on the red door, but I notice the door is already open to where Liana is on the other side. She is wearing a beautiful pearl one strap dress; her great brunette hair is pushed into a hairstyle you typically see for the Prom.

“Hi.” I say.

“Hi.” She says.

After a minute of looking at each other, I soon bring out a violet tulip corsage and put it on her left arm.

“Thanks.” She says.

“So you’re ready?” I ask.

“Like I never.” She replies.

I bend left arm allowing her right arm to come across mines. We walk towards my mom’s suv. I open up the back passenger door allowing Liana to enter first; and then I follow as well. I soon close the door.

“You two ready.” My mom says.

“I am Ms. Abele.” Liana says.

“Let’s go, mom.” I say.

Mom presses on the gas pedal and soon we are on our way to the school gymnasium, the host of the Oakston High Winter Formal. Fifteen minutes later, we ride in front of the gym. A lot of classmates and other students appear with their dates; the males wearing tuxedos like me; the girls wearing beautiful dresses.

Mom stops the car, where I open up the back passenger door. I step out first and then I hold out my hand to help Liana exit out of the car. She holds part of her dress fabric so it would not get mess up. I bend my left arm allowing Liana’s right arm to come across mines. We both start to walk to the center of the building. As we walk on the red carpet, the teachers and the Formal club put together.

We then enter the gym with the doors already open as other classmates follow us through the gym’s foyer. Eventually we walk further inside the gym where inside looking around; what looks like a basketball court and aisles full of stadium benches are decorated to a ‘Winter Wonderland goes Moulin Rouge’ theme.

Checking with Liana, I wonder how she thinks of this. “Like it?” I ask her.

“Cool theme.” She simply smiles after replying, yet then looks at the others starting to dance wild. The music the local DJ is creating is absolutely rad.

I look forward to see Megan, one of the members of the formal club that came up with this theme. She looks hot like she usually does in that wicked navy dress and dancing with a teammate from the football team. She glances and waves at me; then go back to her date. Great to see that she tends to remember the guys she dated, because I always heard rumors that after a date with a guy, she forgets them.

Whatever the reason, I let her go. For Liana, we are friends, but can we go beyond that level? After a few minutes of dancing with wild music, I tap Liana’s shoulder to tell her something. She looks at me.

“Yeah?!”

“You want some juice?”

She shakes her head up and down acknowledging a yes while she continues dancing. I proceed to the banquet table. There on top the white cover sheet are finger food sandwiches, frosted snowflake-theme cookies, and a large glass bowl full of light blue fruit juice. I grab two cups and start putting the juice in the cups. I turn completely around to see Eric in a snazzy white and coral attire.

“What’s up man?” I say.

“Nothing just chillin’ with Susie.” He says.

“Wait, Susie Woods, the cheerleader co-captain.” I say that knowing the only sophomore whose name Susie is the cheerleader team.

“Yup.” He continues as he smirks a bit. “Who’re you with?” He asks as he grabs a cup of juice for himself.

I then point him to Liana still dancing with other classmates, still dancing wild. I see Eric somewhat surprised. He then looks at me kind of impressed and confused.

“You and Liana.”

“Only as friends.”

“I know that, bro, but I always thought it was Megan after that date you two had.”

“I liked the date, but there was nothing there.” I continue. “Liana was the only other girl I had to ask because she knows me.”

“If I was in your position, I would kiss her to make sure there are feelings between you two.”

I look at him flabbergasted from what he said. However, in a bizarre sense of truth, he may not be wrong. There is something between me and Liana. I do not know if she knows, but clearly I’m lost. But to kiss her, that could be the only way to reveal whatever hidden feelings I have for her.

“Hey after the dance, Jake is hosting an after formal party at his place.” Eric continues, “Do you think you and Liana are going to be there?”

I hear what he is saying; I glance by my right to see near the gym wall is most of the chaperones. Coach Hansen is one of them and looks damply with his plaid suit and coaching hat; Principal Chassion and other teachers are there; and then I notice my mother. She spots me and tries to wave hi. I nod making sure I got her message. I look back to see Eric. My mother told me earlier today that for one night be a teenager; there is no harm.

“We’ll be there.” I respond to him.

“Great!” He states; he then hears someone calling his name. “I got to see Susie. See you guys there.” Before he left, he layers his arm on my shoulder, and tries to whisper something in my ear.

“Make sure you give her that kiss.” He whispers and then pats my back for good luck. When Eric heads to his date, I look to see Liana. So will a kiss reveal anything between us? Eric seems so hopeful that there are real feelings between me and her. Do I love her more than a friend? Can we take that next step?

Then suddenly, the DJ stops the dance music and starts playing a slow song. As the lights up in the ceiling recede to a dim light, the guys and the girls who are dating; even a gay couple begins to dance slowly. And Liana comes walking to me.

“Come on!” She says.

“Why?” I question.

“Because, it’s a dance.” She replies cynically and then grabs hold of my hand. She soon pulls me as we rush on to the dance floor as the song continues to play. As everyone on the floor who has their date gets closer, I look back at Liana. I place my hands over her waist; as she places her hands over my neck.

Reacting to the music, we begin to dance slowly. I glue to her hazel eyes as locks on mines. I sort of smile as we continue to dance. Then she rests her head on my chest. I kind of reacting a bit nervous. Thinking about what Eric said about the kiss, my nerves are reaching to a state of unease.

Do I really need to do this? The same thought echoing in my head countless of times. I look down to see Liana still having her head resting on my chest, and I lean my head down to see her eyes close. It seems like she is happy about this particular moment.

I start to think about how my father, Dantailon, start to see something from my birth mother. Mal told me my father fallen in love with her. Knowing the fact he is a demon, a creature of evil. Somehow my birth mom never knew about his true nature until it was too late.

Returning to the present, I glance back at Liana and then I say her name. “Liana.” I say softly. She listens as she regains her balance as her heads leans back.

“Something’s wrong?”

“No, everything is fine.”

“Okay.”

“Listen, I know…” Before I can really finish my statement, I look at her eyes. It is like she is putting me in a spell or something. Her eyes are so hypnotic to see. I do not want to look away.  I have the kiss still rambling in my mind. This could be the time to prove what our relationship really is; I begin to lean my head forward. I can see her look helpless and stunned; she cannot figure out why I am doing this. I think she wants to stop me, but she feels paralyzed. As I lean closer thinking about doing the kiss, I stop.

Before I do the kiss, she needs to know everything. Before I can explore what our relationship is now, I recall the promise I made to Mal. I said that it could be time for others to know me. The real me. That is what I need, no what I half to do.

“I need to tell you something important.” I say.

“What you mean?” She asks unaware of what I am doing.

“You need to know the truth.” I state.

“Truth?!” She says.

“The truth about me.” I say.

She looks absolutely dumbfounded because she is not getting it; she probably is thinking I’m crazy or something. This dance was supposed to be just a night to act as a teenager, but I know by now. I can act as a teenager no matter what, but it’s time for her to know who I’m really am. Something more than a teenager.

“Caden?”

“Follow me.”

As the slow music continue to play, I take hold of Liana’s hand but before I do that I speak to her again. “Do you trust me?”

“What?!” She says, “Caden…”

“Do you trust me, Liana?”

Not hearing anything for a few seconds, she gives me an answer. “Yes!”

I take her hand, and we soon walk away from the dance floor. I could see my mom looking confused, but I see Liana wondering what I’m doing. We soon leave the gym floor for privacy.

Privacy that is not intimacy, but more secured where no one besides my mother knows who I am. And tonight, Liana will finally learn the secret I been hiding her months. It is time for me to reveal to her my true nature.