One More

She was lucky to find an empty seat at the front. The person occupying it before claimed he wants to use the restroom the moment his attendance was taken and never returned. Ebony smiled as she settled in it. Most people will be using the restroom a lot during this one hour long anniversary ceremony. She opened her phone and smiled as her score for that quiz wasn't so bad. She scored a perfect ninety this time, and it was all thanks from getting help from the most annoying teacher in the world.

She smiled at him from where he was comfortably seated at the teacher's section of the hall. He was busy vibing with another arts teacher. His lips kept moving and the smile on his face told her he had a lot to say. She frowned slightly when he wouldn't stop talking. She shook her head and relaxed more on the comfortable chair with a sigh.

If not for the secretly an evil friend saga she had today, she would have declared today as the least horrible day of her life so far.

Ebony observed as more students from her faculty continued to fill up the seats around and behind her. Other faculties have had theirs earlier today. They were the last on the timetable sent to all platforms last night. Once it was fifteen minutes to four, everyone was settled in and the door was locked. Which means trouble for those who couldn't make it.

Soon the members of the student ambassador team, in their unique uniforms began to share papers itemizing what and what we should be expecting in this assembly. Ebony received hers and stilled when Violet and her other smart friends walked past her laughing at something before settling at the seats before her. They kept on laughing and whispering nonsense to one another. Which made Ebony wonder how she never noticed this side of her for two whole years since they resumed college together.

She decided it was best to ignore them and focus on the long list of events that will all fit in an hour. Ebony gazed through all and they were all boring. That list summarizes long talks of the school's history and historical backgrounds, views, aims and objectives, brags about their achievements so far…welcoming of one of their major sponsor…and… Ebony sat straighter as she found this the most interesting.

Awards.

The awards could be anything. It could be trophies, a big fat cheque or the best she has been rooting for…a scholarship to pursue her master's degree in any field of her choice in one of the top three universities in the states. She gasped, imagining how great her life would be if she was that lucky. But reality and her grades told her she couldn't. She tried her best not to feel discouraged. With tutor lessons with Hale (he offered on their little ice-cream date before the assembly, and she accepted), she could shoot her grades way up to the sky…so high enough to call for a scholarship and her education after final year in pursuit of her first degree is set.

She could just sit and feel inspired to those who would be awarded now so she could work harder and make it her turn in the next event.

As expected, it was a boring assembly. With more than half of her mates dozing and trying not to doze. Position holders in their school would mount the stage one at a time to read out their prepared speech and try their best to motivate us to be good reps of the institution. But no one was feeling it. Even her. Lights kept flashing from different cameras at them as they spoke, and three drones flew over their heads recording every single thing.

Finally, it came to the welcoming of the significant guest of today's event. It seemed to grab everyone's attention and woke those who had been sleeping the entire time.

Mrs. Evelyn Rose, a pretty and petite woman with glasses and brown shoulder-length hair, climbed the stage to welcome whoever this was.

''Good evening everyone, hope you are all ready to join me to welcome a special guest that will be joining us in our midst to celebrate the institution's twentieth anniversary? The person I will be calling in shortly is a well-renowned and respected demon lord.''

Everyone sat straight and whispering among themselves in shock.

A demon…and not just any demon. A demon lord? Ebony couldn't help but breathe in the air of intimidation surrounding them the moment she spoke.

''He owns…'' Someone quickly ran up the stage to whisper something hurriedly in her ears, and everywhere became silent when she said ''oh'' and ''alright then.'' The person left and Mrs. Evelyn returned to all of us with another smile. ''It seems our guest would be very busy to join us today…''

''Great. Now let's all go.'' Someone whispered impatiently beside Ebony looking drained and hating every bit of this assembly.

''…but…''

The girl groaned almost pulling all the brown hair on her head.

''…someone he trusts so much will be attending in his place to represent him well. This person has been very charitable towards our institution in ways you can never imagine. And in all his good deeds has always preferred to stay anonymous until this moment.''

Ebony was surprised to see even the VC nodding his head with the rest of his team, smiling in appreciation.

''Boys and girls…''

''We are all almost twenty years for hell's sake.'' The girl murmured again with an eye roll.

"…please all stand up as I welcome in…'' She paused when no one stood. Everyone is either still shocked of a powerful demon being involved with the affairs of the school or too exhausted to stand.

Is Hale aware of this? Ebony turned to see his reaction to this but was surprised when his chair was empty.

''Huh? Where did he…''

''All stand please!'' Mrs. Ironwood, the head of department of sociology stood from her seat and demanded with a glare thrown at each and every one of them. And they all did as she was someone known not to be messed with in the school.

Ebony felt like she was the last to rise from her feet as she was still searching around for any signs of Hale. How could he disappear when the entrance is locked to prevent that in the first place? Is that a demon thing?

Mrs. Evelyn cleared her throat satisfied to see even the most rebellious of them standing straight on their feet. ''Thank you very much, Mrs. Ironwood. So, boys and girls, please join me as I welcome in his well-respected representative…redeemed demon, Damon Alexander from the house of Mammon, third rank minor two.''

Everyone had their jaw dropping as they all looked around not knowing what to do. Until one of the members of the student ambassador's team began to clap, causing two to three of them clapping and everyone followed suit.

The heavy doors of the hall was quickly opened by two students and he walked in.

☆

The person who walked down the aisle with a heavy aura and so much composure and calmness was Damon but Ebony thought that mask on his face was strange and familiar. He walked silently passed them while they all held their breaths, and it was a bit strange. Once he was seated on the seat designated to him with the VC himself, they were all permitted to seat, and it felt like they were suddenly having their meeting close to a cemetery than the school hall.

No one said a word.

It must have been everyone's first time of seeing a full-blooded demon and one with a rank and representing another powerful demon lord who has been anonymously helping their school financially for how long? No one could tell.

This wasn't Ebony's first time. She has been introduced to a group of them once at a party, she is starting to regret ever attending. Her eyes went to Violet, and she didn't look surprised as the rest of their mates. She must have seen quite a lot of fallen angels in different ranks, categories, and status of redemption. Even met with their offsprings like Hale for example, and it might be starting to feel like a normal thing for her and her family.

''This school is full of surprises. Selling off the school and their souls to a demon. In return, they invite him or his representative to sit among us just to waste our time?'' The girl beside Ebony whispered in disbelief and shaking her head in disappointment.

Ebony cocked her head to the side in thought. Isn't this about charity, or it is deeper than that?

''Thank you so many students for giving Lord Damon a warm welcome in our midst. Lord Damon is and has been…'' Then the long story started and everyone was forced back to boredom except Ebony. She listened or tried to listen if not the bugging feeling of being stared at until the point of becoming uncomfortable. She faced him the third time and wondered why he wouldn't stop staring or make it that obvious that they've met before. Well…just a quick glance at each other as she left the party to go after his brother. But could still be considered as meeting each other.

The voice of Mrs. Evelyn faded in the background as well as the murmurings around them as they maintained eye contact. His dark eyes almost like midnight never straying from hers which sent Ebony to an edge thinking if she did anything to upset him. They haven't even met properly for her to do anything to him. She was the first to look away, gulping, sitting straighter and trying to focus more on what Mrs. Evelyn was saying.

''Now, coming to the awards…''

''Ah, finally. We get to leave soon.''

''…I get to give nine special students each something as they have all been noticed for their hard work, excellent academic performances and good behavior. Permit me to call on…''

Ebony watched with longing as they called out the lucky students giving each of them presents for different reasons, and they all thought it was over.

''Oh, wait. There is one more person.''

Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats, silently praising those who escaped by using the restroom as an excuse. It was obvious on everyone's faces that they wanted to be done with this now.

Mrs. Evelyn read the name on the paper before looking up with an interesting smile. Her eyes searching for a person before falling on her.

''Miss Ebony White, please come up here for a moment.''