Half (3)

The bouncer nodded and stepped aside for us to pass. He didn’t leave much space because he was so large and we had to shuffle past him in the narrow corridor we were now in.

I could hear music and voices and could see the red door that opened into the bar up ahead. Rusty pushed it open and we entered, my eyes immediately scanning the packed space for Emmy. I didn’t know what she would do when she saw me so I kept my head bowed slightly, although I knew my hair would give me away.

We went to the bar and Rusty ordered a shot of whisky for himself and a red wine for me. I hadn’t been in the place for years, I used to sneak in when it was illegal for me drink but it hadn’t changed, it smelt musty and the constant flashing of demon eyes now unnerved me rather than excite me like it did a couple of years ago. I felt my wings quivering slightly with nerves and I saw Rusty’s head turn to watch them for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” he asked after swallowing his second shot.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” I said.

“Of course it doesn’t, this place is full of Paras,”

“I have been here before,” I reminded him, he nodded turning round and surveying the place,

“Yeah, but there are more Demonics here tonight than usual, messes the atmosphere up” he said. I took a sip of my wine, I wanted another cigarette.

“I can’t see her,” I said looking into the crowded bar again.

“There’s a VIP area round those curtains,” Rusty said motioning to the heavy black curtains at the back of the bar.

“Why would she be in there?” I snorted, “I don’t even get how she got in,”

“She’s obviously with someone important,” he replied. As if to prove his point the curtains were pulled open by another large bouncer and we watched as a procession of fashionably dressed people entered the bar.

I frowned when I saw Emmy being led by the hand by Aaron Jaymes. Rusty glanced at me and nodded. There was a stage near the back of the bar and Aaron walked up the few steps to the microphone waiting in the centre, still leading my sister by the hand. Everyone had stopped talking now and looked towards, or turned, to watch Aaron, as the people with him took seats around the bar.

Rusty put down his shot glass and I saw his eyes flash as he took in everyone around him. My wings twitched nervously and stomach knotted, I knew something was going on here and also that Rusty and I were not welcome guests because the people with Aaron glanced at us every so often, their eyes flashing in the dim blue lights of the Ice Bar. It had to be something to do with the uprising but I hadn’t even realised Aaron was a Demonic, he always wore a gold pin at the school.

I looked towards the stage, trying to catch Emmy’s attention but she was too busy gazing admirably at Aaron Jaymes’ face. He tapped the microphone to check that it was on and cleared his throat.

“Thank you everyone for joining me tonight,” he began. Rusty leant back on the bar and watched Aaron closely; I was still trying to get Emmy’s attention. “I chose this place because it is the safest place for us...” he pulled his hand away from Emmy and she stepped back into the crowd of people that had gathered on the stage behind them. She didn’t look fazed that he had pulled away but carried on gazing at him with that simpering look of complete adoration. Rusty leant in close to my ear,

“He has wings,” he whispered, “There’s no Demon there,” I nodded and he moved away again, watching Aaron the stage.

“Demonic Paras,” Aaron now spat, “we know how much they just want to call us Serps, throw us in jail, chuck us in some sort of… concentration camp. This new Prime minister is discussing it, this descendent of Michael…” he sneered, “well he can think again!”

There were cries of agreement, murmuring and quiet discussion going on now, I glanced at Rusty, worried now, and he nodded at me in a knowing way. He took my hand and squeezed it lightly sending me a thought- Emmy needs help. I frowned at him ignoring the sound of Aaron’s childish voice riling up the Paras in the bar, planting Demonic supremist thoughts into their heads as my sister stood gazing as though she’d been Driven.

She probably is, I thought to myself and Rusty nodded. I glared at him for reading my thoughts and he smiled a little to himself.

“You’ll need to get her back,” he muttered, “she’s definitely been hotwired,” I rolled my eyes at him for using that stupid word.

“…the riot on Tuesday was just the beginning! We need to stand up for what we believe in, for what our ancestors suffered to get us, that is slowly being taken away again! We haven’t hurt anyone!” he took the microphone from its stand and began to pace up and down the stage,

“My cousin is four years old and he wants to go to school, but he is not allowed to go with the Purists! The humans and those fucking Angelics! No! He has been put in a poorly run, poorly supplied school for Demonics!”

People were shouting angrily now in agreement, discussing their own disgruntled stories amongst themselves. Emmy did nothing but stare at the back of Aaron’s head as he continued with his speech. I was confused, why was he referring to himself as a Demonic when the wings and the shadow they cast were plain to see on his back.

“…this new Prime Minister wants to strip us back, treat us like animals and put us in cages! I say no and I think we all need to stand together now!” There were cheers and wolf whistles and the room was full of flashing eyes. Rusty raised an eyebrow at me and I snorted into my wine glass.

“stay together!” Aaron was finishing now, “stand your ground and we will beat this prejudice…this mistreatment of our kind!” People banged their hands on the bar and on the tables and cheered loudly.

Aaron Jaymes was leaving the stage now, Emmy followed. Rusty took my arm and steered my out of the bar, I glanced over my shoulder to see Aaron and Emmy exit the bar through the curtain to the VIP area again. When we got outside I immediately shoved my hand into my jacket pocket for a cigarette,

“What the hell?” I began,

“Shh,” Rusty hissed, “We can talk about it later,” I wanted to scream, why would he say that he was a Demonic? Why would he rile up those people in there when a pair of Angel wings fluttered on his back? He saw the mistreatment I received at school, the way all Demonics are thought of in our society.

He’s an Angelic, I thought to myself, why would he get involved at all?