Banquet

The SUV pulled up to a large building with concrete stairs down the front of it. A red carpet had been laid out for the guests that were said to attend. Damascus took a deep breath before exiting the SUV. He walked around to the other side of the vehicle and opened Gabriel's door after surveying their surroundings. 

Gabriel stepped out and patted Damascus on the shoulder. "Relax," Gabriel said under his breath with a smile. Both knew it was a joke to think that Damascus could ever relax. Especially in an environment outside of the Kingdom with too many unknown variables. 

Gabriel walked ahead and made his way up the stairs. Others were arriving at the same time as well and camera flashes were going off on their side of the stairs. The photographer and journalist were held back by a string of black ropes, that did not stop them from calling out Gabriel's name and trying to ask him questions as he ascended the stairs. 

Most of the human world only knew Gabriel as a millionaire and politician. A mayor of a small town, so to speak who gave money to charities and non-profits. Very few knew his identity and those that had an idea, kept it to themselves or were on the King's payroll. 

Gabriel stopped twice and answered a couple of the journalist’s questions. Damascus was close to his side each time and watched the crowd for any threats once more. Gabriel answered their questions quickly and moved on. Before he knew it, they were standing at the top of the stairs and greeting the ones who were hosting the event. 

"Gabriel Eros, we were so happy to get your acceptance of our invitation," a man with grey hair and a black suit said as he extended his hand for Gabriel to receive. Gabriel shook the man’s hand and thanked him and his wife for thinking of him. Damascus looked around the large ballroom and all the guests that were currently standing or dancing. A few people turned at Gabriel's entrance, but most seemed to be preoccupied with themselves and the conversations they were in. 

In a few minutes, Gabriel was moving into the large area and Damascus was close to his heel. Gabriel grabbed two drinks from a nearby waiter and handed one to Damascus. Damascus could not stop the surprised expression that crossed his face. 

"It is a drink, D. I think you could use one," Gabriel laughed as he handed the glass to Damascus. Damascus took it and a sip of the drink. He almost gagged at the sweetness that touched his lips. He was not one for sweet drinks. He much preferred a stiff whiskey to whatever they called this. 

Gabriel laughed at Damascus's reaction to the drink and began to sip his own. Gabriel turned around and looked at the sea of faces before him. He had a picture of the marketing manager he wanted to meet but had yet to see her in the crowd. He moved over to one of the small tables that were at standing height and set his glass down. Damascus did the same and was back to surveying once more. 

Gabriel watched his friend. He took his job seriously, as did his father, but Gabriel also knew that there was more to life than just duty. He had yet to find it himself, not for lack of trying. He hoped that Damascus would be able to find someone who might fill that void that both of Damascus's parents had left in him. 

Gabriel did not know the extent of Adrian's brutality against his own son, but what he had been witness to was the degrading and belittling in front of others that Damascus has endured. There were a few times that Gabriel had to talk Damascus down after a bout with his father. 

There was time that Gabriel had run after Damascus and found him punched at a large tree trunk. His knuckles were bruised and bloodied from the bark that bit back with each swing that Damascus has taken on the timber. 

"Do you have something you want to ask me, or do I have something on my face?" Damascus asked Gabriel without looking in his direction. Gabriel wasn’t surprised that Damascus had felt his eyes on him without even looking at him. 

"Just wondering if any of the lovely drakaina in the Kingdom had caught my friend’s attention as of late," Gabriel said. Referring to the term used for female dragons. Damascus scoffed in answer. "I thought as much," Gabriel chuckled and took another sip of his drink. He was not the biggest fan of sweet drinks either, but it seemed to be the only thing circulating this evening. 

What Damascus did not admit was there in fact was one who had caught his attention, but their meeting had been so fleeting in the night and he had never seen her again. Not that he got out much to try and find her.

The angel whose image kept replaying in his mind. She stopped to check on him after his accident. She had even argued with Ebony about taking him to a hospital. Who was she? The question had kept him awake a few times these few weeks. 

He could not get her beauty out of his thoughts. Her blonde hair that cascaded around a perfectly shaped face. Her bright blue eyes that had seemed to stair a hole right to his soul, and her heart shaped lips that looked like they needed a good kiss. 

Damascus shook his head quickly trying to bring his thoughts under control. He needed to be on his game tonight and keep watch over his King. That was his duty, and he would always see it through. But his movement had not gone unnoticed by Gabriel either. 

Was there someone that Damascus had not told him about? Gabriel wondered. Damascus was not the sharing type, but he and Gabriel had a brotherly bond and Gabriel hoped that Damascus knew he could always confide in him. Gabriel made a mental note to have a heart to heart with his friend soon. If nothing, then to just reassure his friend that he was not alone. 

Gabriel looked around once more. He still had not seen the woman who he had made it a point to meet. "I am going to walk the room," he said to Damascus who nodded and picked up his drink. Although he had no intention of taking another sip. 

Gabriel walked halfway around the ballroom before he finally spotted a small blond head bobbing in and out of the ballroom and what he assumed was the kitchens. Gabriel smiled at some of the other guests as he passed. One managed to stop him and ask him how he was enjoying the evening. Gabriel responded politely but was quick to end their conversation with the excuse that he saw someone that he needed to talk to. 

Gabriel made it to the door that he had last seen the woman entering. He hoped that he would not miss her again. Damascus had his back to Gabriel and was watching the large crowd. Gabriel smiled as the door opened and the blond he was seeking walked right out and straight to him.

"Hello Miss Amara Hayes," Gabriel said with a bright smile firmly in place.