I was going to kill the Pumas. One by one. I had to keep myself in check, however. I knew that any wrong move could result in everyone here being killed. But Gods, it was all I could do to stop myself from tearing these miserable excuses for humans limb from limb.

Soon, I promised myself as I scanned everyone around me.

Considering Myra and Levi were the guests honor, I was surprised how little they were missed.

In fact, few people noticed that they had disappeared at all. The music, drink, and refreshments lulled everyone into a sense of timeless happiness. Dash and I stood shoulder to shoulder, scanning the crowd as we stood outside the guest bedroom. The sun was well set and the moon hovered high in the sky, visible through the windows. Men dressed in black peppered the women dressed in colors of ever shade. Every person was a captain of industry, art, and business. The room hummed with the pressure each of them gave off.

And they were all completely unaware of what danger lurked among them. In servant's attire no less.

I noticed all the staff were handing out champagne glasses to everyone in attendance. Even Zachariah was enlisted to pour glass after glass to fill the silver trays. Everything in me wanted to go to him and explain what was happening, but I knew I couldn't. It would be too obvious, and I didn't know how the Pumas would react.

The party drummed on, everyone waiting patiently with their drinks. As I gazed over the crowd, I felt like I was watching a storm of fire coming over the plain, and there was nothing I could do about it except meet it head on. That begged a more a important question.

What were the Pumas waiting for?

Why not just storm in guns-a-blazing? To them, this was just a party with a bunch of pigeons ripe for slaughter. Why all the covert methods?

A glass was pressed into my hand, the sparkling crystal glimmering in the light of the chandelier. I turned to where it had come from, only to find Matron Beaufoutonte looking at me with narrowed eyes.

"Vhere eez my daughter and her betrothed?" she asked without preamble, her spine as straight as an arrow and a hand going to her hip. Not in the mood for her usual bitchiness, I mirrored the posture.

"Well hello there, Matron Beaufoutonte. Yes, I am having a good evening. The music is lovely. Thank you for asking," I said with undue brightness. Oh, if looks could kill I would have been mince meat. Alas. Thankfully, Dash came to the rescue.

"Good evening, Madame. I believe Miss Beaufoutonte is in one of the guest rooms addressing a," his eyes slid to the drink in my hand, "problem with her dress. Master McAlister is assisting her with the matter. She was rather distraught," he said smoothly. Not quite a lie, but the Matron was having none of it. Several waiters and maids sent us sidelong glances, clearly listening.

"Ve are going to begin zhe toast! Zhey must be 'ere," she said, more of a command than a statement. Dash only shrugged his massive shoulders, his face calm.

"By all means, go fetch them, my lady. However, I must respectfully question the wisdom of disturbing a couple at a party when they have found some alone time together."

A significant lift of his eyebrows.

"Gods only know what you'll be interrupting."

At this, a flush crept into the Matrons cheeks. She paused, glaring at Dash for entirely too long.

"I do not care. Get zhem out here, and in proper attire," she said tartly. And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

"Bollocks," Dash utter once she as out of earshot.

"I prefer to say fuck. I find it's more succinct," I replied in the same tone, to which Dash snorted.

"In Burland, they mean essentially the same thing in this context," he explained, glancing sidelong at me.

"What now?"

I sighed, swirling the bubbling liquid in my hands as I spied yet another maid taking undue interest in us. So much for keeping Myra and Levi sequestered in a safe room.

"We do the best we can, and ready ourselves for anything."

*******

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lord Beaufoutonte called over the crowd, holding his glass aloft. He stood on the grand staircase, surrounded by the bridal party. Myra and Levi clung tightly to one another, and Dash stood sentry behind them. I kept at the back of them all, trying to appear relaxed. I struggled to not look at the line of waiters and maids at the back of the room too often. Even so, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Addie, face pale, standing among them. How the old maid had managed to keep the Pumas from killing her, I didn't know. Maybe the Gods kept watch over some people after all.

The rest of the party attendees were spread in the balconied second floor and lower ballroom. All attention was trained on the lord of the manor.

"In the past several years, the world has know much darkness. War, sickness, and fear. So much fear," a significant pause to let the words settle in, "And that is why it is essential to celebrate any amount of light and happiness."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

He turned, his eyes lingering on his still-beautiful wife, before settling on Myra and Levi. His expression was jubilant, his eyes dancing as he beheld them.

"The union of two young people, and the combining of two powerful families. That is why we are gathered here tonight. All of you here are essential in that process. To have such an event witnessed by so many Deified and people of influence is a blessing to which I cannot express my gratitude for. Furthermore, I am honored to be uniting with the McAlister family permanently."

A nod to my father, who nodded back. My father's customer-service smile was painted on his face as he motioned for the lord to continue.

Lord Beaufoutonte's last statement caught my attention, and a wrinkle formed on my brow. How many Deified were here tonight? Gods knew I was introduced to them all, but it hadn't occurred to me until now. Silently, I reviewed each person's history in my mind.

Shit.

Every Deified in the town was here tonight. Together, they made a veritable treasure-trove of people whom human traffickers would love to have. Human traffickers like the Pumas.

A shiver went up my spine, gooseflesh crawling over my skin. I looked at Addie, whose face was white with fear. She did it then, even with a waiter's hand tight on her arm in silent threat.

She gave barest shake of her head as her eyes lingered on the champagne.

My eyes refocused on Lord Beaufoutonte as he turned back to his audience.

"So I will ask everyone here tonight to raise their glasses as we salute a prosperous future for these two, and for the town of Tumblend," he said as he glanced back at Myra and Levi. Ignoring everything else around me, I inhaled the scent from my glass. An unusual tingling spread through my nose. It wasn't like the normal tingling from champagne. This was more subtle, like mist settling on your skin.

I knew that sensation.

Looking down, I noticed something else as I peered into the liquid. Years of study as a healer flew back to me as I saw a slight shimmering. Like a spider's web on water.

Magic. Poison magic specifically.

That final piece of the puzzle snapped into place at the exact time I heard Lord Beaufoutonte finish his toast.

"From here to Far Shore, may your paths be blessed forever and more," he said and before I could do anything, he tipped his glass back.

"Forever and more!" cried the crowd as they too drained their glasses.

*******

This was a nightmare. A Gods-damned nightmare.

I lunged forward, knocking Myra's glass from her hands as I used the other to send Dash's and Levi's flying. Dash's glass was a fraction of an inch from his lips before I batted it away.

The effect was immediate for everyone else. Body after body hit the floor. Myra's mother was the last to succumb to the magic's effects as she slumped over the railing. The lord wasn't so lucky, as he tumbled limply down the stairs.

"Run! Poison!" I yelled as I pulled my pistols out. Levi and Myra hesitated for the barest of seconds before turning and making for the guest room, Levi's arm tucked protectively over his bride-to-be.

That darkness... No. My darkness coursed through me, making my senses sharper. I felt it crawl under my skin again, darkening my eyes. I rounded back to the Puma's, who were already charging toward the steps. I heard a click as Dash cocked the trigger back on his gun.

"Protect them," I muttered to him, not taking my eyes off the approaching Pumas. He nodded, and ran up the stairs to follow Levi and Myra.

"Now then!" I called over the Pumas, giving them the full benefit of my demonic glare. A few of them were wise enough to stop, and one even took a step backwards. I stood between them and their goal, and they knew it. They recognize me though, and I was prepared to use that to its full advantage.

"Who's first?" I called to them, letting tendrils of darkness expand around me. Gods, why did I ever hold back before? This felt so good! Nineteen of the people I hated most stared at me, various weapons drawn from hidden pockets and slits.

Let the slaughter begin, I thought, a sadistic smile pulling on my lips.

Four of them leveled their guns at me, pulling their triggers as the others began to charge up the stairs. I sent a spear of shadow through each shooter's hearts, and they dropped like stones.

Four slashes of pain went across my back in answer.

More of them still came toward me and I whirled, sending a wave of shadow at them. They hit it like a battering ram, throwing them down the stairs again. I didn't follow them instead allowing myself to recover. Already the magic was draining me. I had to pace myself. It was like trying to use a muscle that hadn't exercised in several years.

After a moment, I descend the stairs to give myself a bit more room, but no further. This was a fight for territory. If I let even one of them past me, I knew the others would die.

I had to hold my ground.

I was still panting when one of the Pumas reached me, a viscous pair of glowing daggers in his hands. I wasted no time, and redirected the shadows to pull him closer. It coursed around him like a snake, binding his arms and legs in a tight grip. I met his eyes, savoring the fright he gave of as I slowly pressed a knife of shadow into the soft skin under his chin, and slowly into his brain.

Needless to say my dress was now ruined. Thoroughly.

A few more of the Pumas paused in shock in horror as I let the body drop. It still convulsed with spams as their gazes went from it, to my blood-covered face and torso. Another bolt of pain went across my back again, but I ignored it. Part of me knew I should be horrified, but the demon reveled in the blood. She was driving my body, and I was along for the ride. A willing passenger. The morality of it was like a person screaming underwater. Distant and indistinct.

"I'm not holding back tonight!" I cried to the rest them as they recovered. They raced toward me again, bullets already flying. My shadows formed a shield around me, but a few managed to get through. I flinched as one met my left shoulder, another grazing my side. The pain was blinding, and I felt myself sway on my feet before I raised my pistol again, and fired three quick shots.

One.

Two.

Three.

A body fell with each shot, a hole now between his or her eyes. I didn't take the time to look at them, even as that quick pain went across my back with each death.

My Chosen power radiated inside me at full strength now, stitching the wounds together. They were getting closer, and I retreated a few precious steps, sending more spears of shadows. My vision was getting hazy at the edges, and my aim was off. The spears missed the vital spots, but it was enough to hold them off.

Just as I raised a pistol again, another Puma fired his gun at me, a cunning smile on his lips.

His shot hit it's mark. Not my head. Not my heart.

The bullet hit the cylinder of my pistol, and it exploded in my hand.