The room was pretty full already, some of the partygoers dressed in seasonal outfits. Masses of female elves gyrated with Santas on the dance floor. Others had gone with the more formal approach and were wearing suits and dresses. Many of the girls had abandoned their dates, opting for the safety of their friends. Several glum looking boys were sat on chairs sipping cups of coke and stealth vodka. I saw Grace look at me from her group of friends. We held each other’s gaze for a moment and then she looked away. I felt a moment of shame for never getting back to her.
Within a few seconds of entering the room, most of the girls had gathered around Gabriella like glammed up piranhas. They all gushed over her hair, her dress and — I noticed with a swell of pride — her necklace. I wasn’t on my own for long as Elliot, Richard and some of the other football lads made their way over to me. A torrent of words were thrown in my direction.
“Mate you look dapper!”
“Where’d you get the suit?”
“Are you here with Gabriella?”
“So are you guys together?”
“Are you going out after the ball?”
I tried to answer the questions as best I could, but it just provoked more. I gave Gabriella a glance, who rolled her eyes in a ‘what can you do’ way. I pointed towards the bar and did the motion of a glass to the lips. She nodded and gave a smile. I noticed some of the other girls cast looks at me. Then they span back and babbled even more at her, probably about whether or not we were seeing each other.
“I’m going to get a drink,”
We all headed over together. As I reached the bar and several of the guys were trying to talk to me at the same time, I realised something.
Being popular is bloody hard work.
Later, Gabriella and I managed to steal away some time together. We were standing outside the side doors, where a little marquee tent which doubled as the smoking area had been set up. We were standing next to the heater, sipping mulled wine from little red cups — courtesy of some fake ID that Gabriella had in her bag. The rain was coming down in torrents. It pattered angrily against the fabric roof, threatening to rip it down.
I took a sip of the spicy red liquid and savoured the warm glow in my chest. I pointed with my cup towards the party, which was still going strong inside.
“What do you think?”
Gabriella’s smiled. “I’m really enjoying it.”
“I have to admit they’ve really pulled the stops out. I mean I thought it would be some white spray on the window and a couple of balloons. I’m pretty impressed.” Gabriella looked away, with a knowing smile on her face. “What?” “Let’s just say that a certain Mr Farris found out and arranged for a little extra effort to be made.” I burst out laughing. “Really?”
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of her wine. Then she turned and pressed her back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and together we swayed gently to the faint music coming from inside. At the same time a boom of thunder growled from overhead. I cast my eyes into the distance and saw several jagged burst of lighting descend from a blood red cloud.
“Alex, does it look like it’s heading this way to you?” Gabriella asked, but I didn’t answer. I was distracted by Terry stepping outside. He was wearing a tatty looking suit. The collar of his shirt had black marks on it. Not noticing us, he fished a packet of tobacco and Rizlas out of his pocket and tried to roll a cigarette. He couldn’t manage it, because one hand was wrapped in plaster. He kept dropping the tobacco and swearing under his breath. Eventually someone else offered to do it for him. Terry took the cigarette with a nod and lit it up.
“Are you okay?” Gabriella asked me.
I thought about it and realised I felt… nothing. Not anger, not hatred, not even pity. Compared to what I’d been through over the last few weeks, compared to all the incredible people I’d met…and lost, Terry didn’t even register any more. He was nothing but a distant, bad memory.
“I’m fine. Let’s go back inside.”
As we moved past Terry, he noticed me for the first time. His eyes widened and the cigarette tumbled from his fingers. It fell close to my foot. I picked it up and handed it back to him.
“Err…thanks Eden,” he said, looking down.
“No worries,” I replied and we carried on inside.
The music had slowed a little. Gabriella took the opportunity to pull me onto the dance floor. We slow danced, her soft cheek pressed against mine. Other couples swirled around us, alcohol helping them to re-discover their confidence. Most of the faculty were standing in a group near the entrance. They were all laughing at a joke Mr Hanley was telling in an animated manner.
Everything went off. There were gasps of panic as we were plunged into darkness. The music screeched into silence.
“No one panic,” I heard Mr Hanley shout. “Just stay where you are.”
A few seconds later the backup generators kicked in and the emergency lights flickered on. They were barely able to fill the large space. Looming shadows appeared in every corner.
“Okay everyone, only a power cut. Nothing to be frightened of.”
“I beg to differ,” said a cold voice from the gloom.
We all turned to look. A dark figure stood just inside the doorway. He was shrouded in darkness. He took a step forward and my stomach heaved.
It was a Soldier of Sorrow.
The Rogue’s face was hidden underneath the large red cowl of his cloak. The rain had matted it to his skin, which made it look like he was covered in blood. There were nervous whispers at the new arrival. Gabriella gripped my arm so hard it hurt. “This can’t be happening.” Mr Hanley separated himself from the other teachers and moved towards the intruder before either of us could react. “Now listen here, if this is some kind of joke?”
The Rogue removed a hand from the folds of his cloak. Clutched in his fist was a blade. Mr Hanley’s eyes went wide. He raised his hands and backed away — but not far enough. As though he were nothing more than a lump of butter, the Rogue slid the sword through his chest. A sickening gurgle escaped from my teacher’s throat. Staggering backwards, he collided with a drinks table, which collapsed under his weight. He fell silent.
There were screams and people started to run for the patio doors. They were chased back in by at least a dozen more SOS, all wielding deadly weapons. I couldn’t believe what was happening.
The Rogue leader wiped the sword on his robe. “As you can see, we are deadly serious. Now, two of you know why we’re here. Step forward or everyone suffers the same fate as this pathetic human.” There were whimpers from around us. Gabriella looked at me and together we stepped forward out of the crowd. “Ah, there you are,” he chuckled. “These are innocent people you bastard!” Gabriella shouted. The man shook his head. “Tut tut, such language.” “What do you want?” I demanded.
“You know what we want. You.” He pointed the sword menacingly at us. There were gasps of confusion from my schoolmates. I heard Tim whisper from behind me.
“Alex, what’s going on?”
“Tim, not now,” I answered. To the leader I said, “fine if you want us then we’ll go with you. But leave everyone else out of this. They’re not a part of it.”
“I couldn’t care less,” the Rogue answered. “They stay where we can keep an eye on them.”
“So now what?” I said.
“First things first, slide over any weapons you’re carrying. And don’t try and trick us. For every one we find, we’ll kill another human.” The crowed whimpered in response.
I raised my hands out. “We’re at a school ball. We don’t have any weapons!”
Gabriella cleared her throat. “Err…actually…” She opened her clutch bag, pulled out three Apotrope daggers and slid them along the floor towards the Rogue. He stopped them with his boot. I cast her a look. “Like I said before, a real girl is ready for any situation,” she whispered. “Check them!” he ordered.