The club was
alive.
Ori and Sybilla flanked me, my teammates, and the best friends I had after these last few months. Syb' was dressed to kill in a floor-length dress that glowed softly, the color shifting with the light. She was towing Orias, who looked uncomfortable in his suit, but smiled at her all the same. I'd been right about them being a couple, and they made a great one. There was the same love there that Lucy and I shared, deep and abiding.
I made fun of them at every turn... If only to watch Syb's normally unflappable demeanor break as she blushed. Now she dragged Ori towards the dance floor, laughing and tugging him forward despite protests that I couldn't hear over the thumping bass. A mass of bodies gyrated to a remix that thumped out of a sound system most places would kill for. Lucy walked a little bit ahead of me, teasing me with a sway of her hips that was more than a little exaggerated, casting little glances over her shoulder that smoldered and promised a night to remember.
I tugged at my suit, the comforting weight of my rune-inscribed Glock, loaded with a staggered mix of Hellfire and Enochian rounds tucked against the small of my back, two more mags sat on my opposite hip, loaded with a full spread of each.
No point in being unprepared, right?
Even if this place was one of Lucy's, and ninety percent of the patrons were loyal demons. Some things were hard to put down. I gently pushed past an ethereally beautiful woman that smelled like cigarettes, whiskey, and my mom's cooking, tailor-made to suck me in. She was dancing with a college-age guy who looked enamored, and that was putting it lightly... I could almost see the little hearts floating around his head. I found the regular guy... and the poor bastard had found a Succubus...
From what I understood, take the worst hangover you've ever had and multiply it a few times; that was the aftermath of a Succubus "attack." But either way? It was the ride of your life. The guy was in for it, and he'd have a hell of a story... that no one would believe.
She smiled at me, inclining her head; I smiled back with a small nod of my own and kept moving, leaving her trail of pheromones in the dust.
I had bigger fish to fry.
Lucy was leaning against the bar smiling at me as I approached, her horns and wings on full display, regarding me like I was something to eat.
Unf.
She tapped the bar and held up two fingers as I approached; the bartender slid glasses full of some deep sapphire liquid to her. She plucked them up and held one out to me.
"For you, my darling. It is your night after all."
I smiled, feeling my trepidation drain away as I took the glass, gently knocking it into hers with a soft
clink; I
leaned in so she could hear me over the driving music.
"
To us," I whispered.
The blush she rewarded me with was worth the price of admission.
"To us." She answered with a rosy, fang-filled grin.
I smiled and took a swig of the unknown concoction...Hmm, smooth, but with an aftertaste that let me know it'd knock me on my ass if I wasn't careful.
"What is this? I'm getting blackout vibes."
Lucy giggled, "A house special, aged seven hundred years, with a few spices not found on Earth."
I regarded the glass suspiciously for a moment and downed the rest.
"That's amazing; any chance for another?"
She smiled, "For my Prince? Absolutely." She turned and grabbed the bartender's attention, "Malek? Another round, please."
"Right away, ma'am."
I felt someone coming up behind me, a paranoid quirk. I spun and was immediately wrapped in a hug.
"Alright, mate! Happy Birthday!"
I smiled and lifted the smaller demon off the ground, "Hey Ari! I didn't know you'd be here."
"Like I'd miss my brother's party! War or no war.
I smiled and set her back down, "Well, I appreciate it; how's Mom and Jen?"
She grinned toothily, "See for yourself." Ari stepped to the side to reveal my girls, dressed to the nines and smiling widely. I stepped up and gathered them both in my arms.
"Hey, guys."
"Hey, kiddo," Mom whispered.
"Hey, man," Jen added, "We ready to party with the Devil or what?"
I grinned, "Hell yeah, we are."
The music cut out abruptly, the DJ, a demon with jet black skin and shining red eyes, came over the mic a second later and chilled me to my bones.
"Alright, everyone! Clear the dance floor! Our Queen has made a special request! I now present her and the Prince-Consort!"
Oh shit.
I couldn't dance at all; Lucy knew this. But as her fingers intertwined with mine and she flashed me a blinding smile, I knew I had nothing to worry about. There was a crowd ringing us as she lead the way onto the floor, watching every move we made. But I only had eyes for her.
The music started slow and sensual, rolling guitars, gentle drums, and violins. Lucy let go of my hand and walked into the middle of the dance floor, her heels clacking softly, amplified by what could only be her magic. She spun and raised a hand, crooking a finger, silently asking me to join her, and I knew what to do; I saw every step, every move she'd make, and how to flow with her effortlessly. The exchange took a moment, and I knew she was keeping it quiet. A little birthday gift to keep me from making a fool out of myself.
But that was
her
, wasn't it? Ever since she blew into my life, she'd made me a better man, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether she was giving me enough money to take care of my family without any expectation of anything in return or holding me when my thoughts turned evil. I was hers, and she was mine, in every sense of it.
I tossed my coat into the ether and stalked towards her, playing the game. She feigned fear, backing up a few paces before I caught her, and she smiled seductively like she knew any other way to be... Our movements blended together as the music built, whirling faster and faster around the floor, our feet coming close to impact more than once only to miss by a hair. Her wild smile told me she was having the time of her life, and it was infectious. I gently took the lead, rolling her across my back and catching her under my arm, dipping her low and backing up as she let her heels drag along behind her, one elegant knee barely grazing the floor before I pulled her into an embrace, her leg riding high on my hip as the music came to an end.
For a moment, nobody breathed.
And then the applause started; demons and what few humans there were blew the roof off the club with thundering roars, cheers, and whistles for Lucy and me. She leaned in and kissed me softly, sending heat rushing all the way to my toes.
"Happy birthday, my love."