The Dance of the Hours || Crowley & Abaddon
Crowley took a deep breath to steady himself as he looked up at the Palace. It was alight with the glow of festivity, banners and streamers slung between the poles lining the paths through the courtyard gardens to the wide red steps leading to the looming archways through which demons were entering the ball. He could hear the music from here; in fact everyone in Pandemonium could hear that there was a ball going on tonight, although not everyone in the city was invited to this, the ball which marked the beginning of the yearly social season of the upper ranks. The music was just loud enough to taunt everyone who wasn't invited with the fact of the party. Crowley's eyes roamed around the crowd to look at everyone.
Each of the female demons was wearing a fashionable and pale colored dress; the more muted and pearly colors were in this season, as opposed to the bright, fiery colors that sometimes became popular. They ranged from icy blues that reflected the cold eyes of the demoness wearing it, to a delicate pink that set off the skin while they greeted each other and smiled and curtsied, taking the arms of their partners and friends.
As Crowley looked at them with a little awe in his gaze, he made his way through the gardens alone. He was one of them, now, but he had no particular group of friends, no confidants among the royalty and the ranks to which he aspired. He could watch them, but he was forced to watch from afar while they formed their circles and groups, all of them amorphous groupings of demons with the finest hair-thin borders separating them from the others, although mixing with other groups did happen on occasion. He supposed they had to keep up with the goings-on of the others in their class, as well. He had a difficult time keeping track of who was friends with whom; there were so many and they all changed so quickly that it was almost impossible to keep up.
Eventually he walked up to the announcers, his little piece of parchment which was his invitation clutched in his hand as though it were a lifeline; if he lost this, he would lose out on this opportunity to meet the demons of the highest ranks whom he knew would be here. The announcer took his paper and he was announced; and to nobody's surprise not a single head turned to look when his name was called out to the room below them. He made his way through the anteroom and then to the top of the stairs where he could see the jewel-bright mass of demons below him, swirling and dancing to the music that he could hear from outside.
Tables were set up in the back for the peculiar appetites of the demons; living human infants were in supply, and there were at least two demons consuming them; one of them had an assistant who ducked and bowed and held up for him a funnel and a long hose, into which he was channeling the blood of a live child directly into his mouth. Crowley thought he had seen him in portraits; he must be none other than the Duke Valefor.
VI. VALEFOR, a powerful duke, appearing as a many-headed lion. He leads those with whom he is familiar into theft.With the head of a hunter or a thief, says Wierus. He shews friendship to his familiars till they are caught in the trap.
The Lion of Hell. Known for his fickleness and his deceptions and his thievery. Crowley really was seeing the big and the famous of hell here tonight. A little ribbon of excitement ran through him as he descended to steps into the fray of the ball, looking around at the splendor for the first time.
