Page 36

PIPER

I ’ve never been to Odie’s house before.

We really only started to get to know each other when Josephine and Roman got together.

Initially, it was one of those our-friends-are-a-couple-so-we-should-be-friendly-too situation, but the more I get to know Odie, the more I like her.

She has a very calming presence. That doesn’t mean she can’t get hyped up about things, but there’s something almost magical about the way she makes me feel.

As though I’m the best version of myself and I should be proud of it.

“Ava and Josephine are going to meet us at my place,” Odie signs before turning on her car. Music blasts through the speakers as the car turns on, and Odie gives me a sheepish grin.

We pull up in front of a modest sized house.

The style is midcentury modern, with cool architectural details.

It’s full of angles, a steep, pitched roof, and windows everywhere.

Her house is at the end of a private road, so I guess she doesn’t worry about people peeking into her windows, but I think I’d get scared out here at night in the middle of the woods.

I follow Odie inside. She gives me a brief tour, pointing in different directions as she shows me where the bathroom and bedrooms are. There’s a knock on the door and a few seconds later Odie’s ushering in Josephine, Ava, and Stellan.

“I tried to make this a girl’s only event.” Ava points at her twin brother. “But someone can’t stand being left out.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know getting ready and pre-partying was just for girls. I like to have fun too,” Stellan says, pouting a little bit.

“How did the challenge go?” Josephine asks me. I know there’s no way Roman hasn’t already called her, but I tell them the details of the trial and who didn’t make it.

“Good,” Josephine says. “Fuck Anastasia,” she spits out, with more fire than normal. She hates Anastasia for what she did to Roman. Rightfully so.

Ava and Josephine are armed with bags of makeup, an assortment of clothing options for the night, and huge grins on their faces.

“I always wanted to go to Heathen.” Ava wiggles her eyebrows. “I heard they have orgies there.”

“That’s not true,” Josephine says. “Is it?” She looks over at Odie, who grins and shrugs.

“You never know what could happen,” she signs.

“I don’t want to talk about orgies with my sister in the room,” Stellan says as he sits on the couch and turns on the TV as if he’s been here a hundred times. Maybe he has.

I look around at my friends, seeing their excitement and happiness.

“I don’t have anything to wear.” I suck on my bottom lip. I guess I should’ve gone back to the chateau. Still, I’m not sure I have anything sexy enough for an angels and devils party.

“I’ve got you covered,” Odie signs and grins at me. I look her up and down. Odie is several inches taller than me and has an athletic body, slim and muscular. I don’t know what she has in mind, but if it has buttons or a zipper, there’s no way it’ll fit.

“Trust me.” Odie points to Stellan. “You stay here.”

She shouldn’t have even bothered. He’s already asleep on the couch. I swear to the Maiden, any time that man sits down, he’s out like a light. Must be nice to be so unburdened, you can sleep anywhere at any time.

We follow Odie into her room, which is as light and tranquil as the rest of the house. She throws open the door to a closet that is probably as big as the rest of the bedroom.

“Holy shit,” Ava gasps as we walk inside.

“My brother works in fashion. He gets me a lot of samples,” Odie signs.

She starts to walk down one side of the closet, her hand gliding over one piece of fabric to the next as though she’s looking for something just right. The closet is color coded, and she shakes her head at the white. She looks me over before moving over to the black side of the closet.

A sly grin tips up her mouth. “You are definitely going to be a devil.”

I gulp when she brings over the dress.

When we walk up to Heathens, I feel like I’m in a girl gang.

Except for Stellan, who’s bringing up the rear like a bodyguard.

All of us have fully embraced the angels and devils theme of tonight’s outing.

I pull at the hem of my skirt, wishing it were a little bit longer, but I’m trying to embrace a new bolder side of myself.

Odie put me in an outfit I never would’ve picked out for myself.

It's more daring and absolutely gorgeous than anything I have ever worn. It’s a tight black dress with a sweetheart neckline and tiny straps.

It doesn’t even reach mid-thigh. Over the top is a lace overlay with a deep plunging neck.

The lace overdress is delicate to the touch, but there’s a stiff collar that makes me feel like a vampire.

The lace goes all the way down to my wrists, so I feel both covered and bare at the same time.

Even my makeup is dramatic. With dark eyes and a blood red lip that nearly matches my hair, which has been curled and left to tumble down my back in a mass of waves.

Odie and Josephine both opted to be angels tonight.

Odie is wearing an incredibly sexy white suit with wide leg pants and no shirt underneath the jacket.

Even her hair is up in a bun. She’s like the naughty mistress of heaven or something.

Josephine’s dress is a sweet A-line dress with a short skirt.

It has a high boat neck, but besides the clasp at the nape of her neck, her back is almost completely bare.

Ava’s wearing a blood red dress that hugs her curves.

The color compliments her complexion and makes her skin glow.

Stellan shucked his flannel for the night and he’s wearing a red suit.

Red slacks, red button-down, red tie. Where the hell did he get a red suit?

His beard has been trimmed, and he’s combed his dark hair back.

“We look so sophisticated,” Ava says as the doorman holds the door open for us. People groan as we bypass the line, but when I suggested getting in the back, Odie glared at me and signed, “This is a Roth club. You’re a Roth. You do not wait in line.”

The thought never even occurred to me.

I’ve never been to Heathens before. I’ve heard about it, but it’s on the wrong side of Mystic Hollows.

Or at least it was. That’s not to say my friends and I haven’t ventured over into the Tenebris side of town in the past–since they seem to have all the good bars over here–but we never made it to Heathens.

The second we walk inside, the air changes.

It’s as if everybody in the place is turned on.

You feel it as soon as the heat of the packed club hits you.

Heathens used to be a church, but it has been heavily remodeled inside.

The only remaining glimpses of what the building used to be are the stained-glass windows that line the walls.

It makes you feel like a sinner doing bad things in a forbidden place.

There’s a dance floor in the area that used to hold the altar.

It’s raised almost like a stage so everyone can watch the dancers.

Dangling above the floor are three cages where half-naked men and women writhe and grind to the beat of the music playing.

It’s barely after ten, but the party must have started early because the club is already packed.

It’s the witching moon.

Beams of moonlight shine through the stained glass, and it calls to me.

I want it to paint my skin in moonlight.

It feels incredible, but also dangerous.

It would be easy to lose myself to the pull of the moon if I’m not careful.

Although, Ambrose will be here. He’ll look out for me.

Or he’ll be the reason I get into trouble.

It’s hard to say which way the night will take us.

I’ve kept Ambrose at a distance for the last few days.

After Amanda showed up, I was overwhelmed with emotions.

Jealousy that he’d kissed her. Sadness that she was reduced to such a desperate state.

Fear that I could so easily become just like her, and I’m not sure Ambrose would even have to kiss me for that to happen.

None of my reactions are fair to Ambrose.

He didn’t ask for his curse and I can’t blame my emotions on him either.

After tonight’s trial and nearly seeing Roy die, it’s a reminder that for the first time in my life, I’m free to do what I want.

Well, almost. I’m still cursed in two different ways, but I’m not going to think about any of that tonight.

Standing tables fill most of the floor, but around the edges are black tufted velvet couches.

Curtains separating the couches into small groupings give an appearance of privacy, but it’s not hiding anyone from view.

There are several people already making out without a care that people might be watching.

The walls have been papered in a black and red brocade.

Venetian masks are interspersed with ornate mirrors and gold crucifixes, making it feel like a high-end gothic brothel.

To the left is the bar, which spans nearly the length of where the pews must’ve been set up once upon a time.

Red lights provide enough illumination to see, but everything is coated in a layer of sensuality.

“The guys are upstairs,” Odie signs and heads toward a set of spiral stairs that lead up to the balcony.

I imagine this is where a choir used to sing. I laugh to myself as I carefully take the stairs in four-inch heels.

“This will be dangerous after a few drinks,” Josephine says behind me.