Page 16 of Hollow House

I quickly grabbed and pulled my dress back on as we left the room and the Wraith led me to a new portion of the house.

“Here, drink this, love,” the Wraith said, handing me a skeleton chalice.

Where’d he even grab that from?

I took it, needing to quench my thirst after everything I’d just done. I also needed it to forget the sight of the blade in Ben’s hand.

I should’ve run the moment it happened, but I didn’t, and I couldn’t quite figure out why.

The Wraith held my hand, leading me up a set of stairs to a third floor and then a fourth I didn’t know existed. It was tiny, a room the size of a closet acting as a landing. The only thing in the room was a door.

The window on the wooden door was made of beautiful stained glass. I recognized the design worked into the glass, the same flower as the invite standing out.

I’d seen the same symbol throughout Hollow House.

“What is it?” I asked, and he followed my gaze to the flower.

“A rose,” he stated, like it was obvious.

I mean it was, but I didn’t understand how it fit into everything.

“It symbolizes respect. Most associate it with love, but here, it takes on new meaning.”

I walked forward to see the details of the symbol better. It was an exact replica of my invite.

“Come, love. I want to show you something.”

I blindly followed him, trusting him enough; he’d already had the chance to hurt me if he wanted to.

Something inside me warred against that, especially after what he did to Ben.

This was entirely unlike me. I always played it safe, followed the rules.

What had changed inside me tonight that all that went out the window?

I played it safe in my work, stayed local after school, applied for the safe job, even avoided any type of uncomfortable conversations with friends and family. This was so far outside my comfort zone.

It had to be the drinks.

Whatever was in those skeleton chalices, I needed to be sure I grabbed the name of before the night was over. Anything strong enough to make me abandon every rule I set for myself was worth noting.

For avoidance in the future, of course.

The Wraith tugged open the door and led me out onto a small balcony. It was tucked high up in the front of the gothic mansion.From our position, I could see the entire town beneath me, the Halloween festivities dying out. I could barely make out any lights still on.

I knew most would take a glance at this house that sat on the hilly outskirts and wonder what was going on inside. Little did they know…

“Has Hollow House been to your liking?” the Wraith asked, surprising me.

I took a sip of my drink before answering. “It’s definitely not what I expected,” I answered truthfully.

“And what did you expect?” he asked raising a brow.

I walked over to the edge of the balcony and set my chalice down. I tried to spot my house from where I was and failed.

“An exaggerated party and a bunch of rich people.” I shrugged.

“I’m sure there’s some of that here, but not all of it,” he mused, stepping closer.

He stood beside me, our bodies touching as we looked out to the town together. We stayed like that in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again.

“I want you to join our Hollow Society,” the Wraith said.

I searched his face for any hint that he was joking. The words that left his mouth made no sense. I’d known him hours, barely had a conversation with him, and now…

“I know you, Sloane,” he said, reading my mind. “It’s why I picked you. You’ve been cast out by society, passed up for every opportunity. You have no one in your corner.”

That wasn’t true. I had Felix, and—I paused, realizing that was it. My parents and I barely spoke anymore. They’d moved on from the small town, whereas I stayed trapped. Felix was my sole friend. I didn’t have siblings or any coworkers I enjoyed.

“I—” I started but stopped. “Felix is my friend.”

It was all I could think to say. My cheeks warmed, embarrassed by how secluded I’d let myself become with my work. Felix had his own life now. He would always be my best friend, but he had a partner now, amazing writing opportunities. Even the sex toy shop was a part of all that.

“Join us,” the Wraith offered again. “We can be everything you crave, every desire you’ve ever had…”

“What do you know of my every desire?” I snapped, throwing my hands over my mouth, unable to stop the words.

The Wraith barely flinched. Instead, a wicked grin curled his lips.

“I know you work at the local magazine. I know you’ve never once been offered a promotion or new opportunities.

You get passed over for the ones who suck off their boss.

I know the pig you work under. I know you wish to leave this town, to make it big, work for the top magazines.

We can give you that. Anything you desire will be yours if you accept. ”

“I don’t understand,” I said, the words barely a whisper. Not a single thing he said was false.

“How do you think the wealthy and powerful get where they are?” he asked.

“Nepotism,” I scoffed.

He let out a gentle laugh and pulled me closer to his body. The heat of him pressed against me, providing the perfect balance to the cool night air. I took a deep breathe, his scent something like bourbon. It was inviting, something I wanted to stay wrapped in.

“That is certainly one way, but there are other ways too. Powerful people pull strings. They work to put people in positions that serve them.”

“Are you saying that’s what you do?” I asked, spinning to face him, my brows raised.

Shit. If that were true, this was it. This was the single piece of information I needed to make sure my article was my way out.

“Those with power need lawyers, politicians, agents, journalists…”He trailed off, his eyes shifting from the town beneath us to me. Even in the dark, I could see him perfectly. His dark eyes settled on me, and I almost lost my train of thought.

“People like me make that happen,” he said. “I’m a ghost to the world, a shadow pulling the strings of power.”

“I barely know you. Why me? Why, after mere hours, are you offering all this to me?” I asked, a sinking feeling filling me as I suspected his answer.

“Because I’ve been watching you far longer than those hours,” he said.

A lump formed in my throat. All those times I felt watched …

“It was you in the bar?” I asked, and he nodded. “And in my house?”

He didn’t move, but his eyes gave him away. I backed away from him, taking him in fully. The man I’d spent my entire night with had been stalking me?

“It’s my job. I’m a shadow. I find those society gave up on, who deserve a shot at greatness,” he said.

I shook my head, unable to process it.

“Join us,” he offered, holding out his hand to join him at the edge.

I swallowed hard, weighing the option. If I took it, could he really give me a way out? It was what I yearned for and worked my ass off to find. It never came easy, and still, I hadn’t found that big break.

This could be it.

I knew I should take it. My boss would never actually give me what I wanted. He didn’t even have faith in me to write the article I promised—the article I now had all the information I needed for.

I hesitated, and the Wraith watched me with such intensity, I took a step back.

“I think I should go…” I started.

I hate the words the second they left my mouth, each one like poison on my tongue. The look of hurt that flashed across his face only made it worse. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I barely knew him.

“Sloane,” he started.

“Just let me go,” I interrupted, not strong enough to put up a fight if he argued for me to stay.

Before he could stop me, I turned and ran.