Dream with a devil

Valleyr climbed up the old, creaky stairs and opened the door to a dark and dusty attic. She was going to be shown some kind of surprise by someone she... knew. She didn't remember who, but knew she could trust them.

Her elven eyes adjusted to the darkness to see with perfect clarity, even though she felt she wasn't supposed to. She saw the young man waiting for her: dark skin, hair shaved to the base, welcoming smile and brown eyes shining with excitement

"Finally, you arrived! Come on, we don't have all night." The young man moved to one of the wooden walls around them and removed a loose section of it. The pale moonlight shone through the gap, illuminating the rooftops around outside, as well as the sharp drop downward into the crowded streets.

"Wait, wait, wait," Valleyr backed away from the wall. "I'm not taking another step until you tell me what the hell this surprise even is."

He looked at her like she had just said something very obviously stupid.

"If I told you what it was, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore now, would it?" He then laughed. But it wasn't a mean laugh. it was warm, like he was inviting her to laugh alongside him to his very bad joke.

Vallyer took the bait.

"Hardy har mister. Still doesn't tell me why I'm jumping through roofs alongside you in the middle of the night."

"Like this was going to be the first time, right?" Without waiting for an answer, the young man leapt through the gap straight to the roof of the building on the other side of an alley. He then looked back at her, defiantly.

Valleyr had a wild smile on her lips. Without fear, she followed the strange young man that, for some reason, she trusted.

"Wow, impressive." He remarked sarcastically. "Almost makes me forget the time you were still afraid of heights and couldn't jump for shit."

"Wow, great retort." She answered, equally dry. "Almost makes me forget the time you were so shy you didn't know the first thing to say to a girl."

"Tush, young miss." He made a mocking bow.

"It's touché, dumbass."

They both cackled in the moonlight. The night breeze carried their laughter and soon drowned it with the sound of the festivities happening on the streets below.

"Come on, you took too long to get here, let's hurry." He prepared his next jump.

"What are we even hurrying for?" She asked, dying of curiosity.

"You'll see it when we get there! Or it. Wouldn't. Be. A. Surprise!"

They ran across rooftops into the night effortlessly. Valleyr noticed the partying crowds below were all moving into a single direction, the same direction they were headed. The duo eventually got to the side of a towering temple and the young man started climbing upwards.

"Careful with your step now. Wouldn't want you to fall from this high on such a special day, would we?"

"It wouldn't be my first time falling from a building, and don't forget, I have a pair of win..." Valleyr began responding, but it felt like the wrong thing to say for some reason, so she just stopped.

"What was that?"

"Nothing... nothing." She answered, confused.

They arrived atop the temple, one of the tallest buildings in the city. The young man got to the very edge of the roof and pointed downward to the gigantic courtyard below.

"Surprise!"

The palace was right across the street from them and they were throwing a humongous celebration. The sultan's daughter was getting married and he had spared no expenses. A gigantic pavilion held the celebrations, where the band played a lively tune and the many guests were having a blast. Countless attractions happened simultaneously on the courtyard, from animal shows, to fun competitions, entertainers, musicians and party goers alike were having a great time. Color and music engulfed the air, many beautiful clothes, decorations and fireworks enchanted the view, and the incredible music enhanced the amazing experience.

"This is so beautiful..." Valleyr was flabbergasted.

"I knew how much you wanted to go to this awesome party. Even if we knew they wouldn't let us in." He looked at the palace's entrance, where everyone in town was bringing presents to the bride, but only a select few were allowed in. "So I did the next best thing: got us front row seats to the entire spectacle."

Indeed, when the people at the crowded party had to decide where to go and which attraction to see, one at a time, the duo could simply see them all from their vantage point. Not to mention listen to the enchanting music while they're at it.

The young man sat at the edge of the roof, Valleyr sat beside him and hugged him around the neck affectionately. "Thank you."

After a few moments of silence, she added, "it's a good life we lead, isn't it?"

"The best... may it never change. And may it never change us." He placed a kiss on her arm. "Happy birthday, lil' sis."

Then Valleyr woke up from her dream.