Chapter 11: A Shadow

Ara

Several things happened at the same time, too quickly for Ara to react.

When the man grabbed Princess Lila’s arm, the music came to an abrupt stop. Someone from the crowd yelled “Now!” and some of the Fae dressed as entertainers, who had been displaying their shows with fire above them in the balconies, cut the ropes that held up the chandeliers.

The massive one over the dance floor came down first, crashing onto the ground and bursting into flame. Thankfully, no one was directly under it, but the explosion let out sparks that caught on to the dresses of people standing nearby. The smaller ones came down next as people panicked, running in all directions.

Someone’s hair was on fire. Others were putting out dresses as Prince Acheron’s soldiers, who had come to the ball all dressed like buccaneers, drew their swords. For a few seconds, no one seemed to understand what was going on until the entertainers, and several Fae who had been among the guests drew their weapons too.