Page 104 of Phantom

“I’ll be there. Without you. This… it has to be over.”

I reach for her, attempting to console her one last time, but she dodges me, evading my touch. Instead, I carve my hands into my hair and exhale deeply.

“Look, Scarlett, if you really believe I’ve only hurt you and have never had your best intentions in mind, then you should go.” The words rumble out of me like thunder in an approaching storm. “But if you leave now, I’ll know you’re done with me. And I… I’ll be done with you. Like you want.” The last words burn as they come out of my mouth and I have to swallow.

Her shoulders heave with her breaths and I know she can sense me so close to her. She shakes her head slowly.

“I’m sorry, Sol. I have to go.”

And she walks away.

My muscles, my heart, my very being screams at me to follow her, to pull her back to my chest and never let her go.

But even after everything, she chooses to believe the man whose family tried to ruin mine. Who tried to ruinme.If she doesn’t trust my instincts on Rand and insists on thinking this is all some pathetic feud, then I can’t change her mind. I thought my actions would speak louder than his accusations, but I guess I’m nothing more than some evil creature to her now.

I slide down the wall and sit on my haunches. My heart aches as I listen to her soft footsteps finally make it safely to the mirror door in her room. Once they’re gone, it’s just me and the soft sounds of the runoff channel in front of me.

My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket and answer it, already knowing who’s on the other side.

“No,” I say, not waiting for Sabine to ask.

“So you…don’twant anyone else on her? You’reactuallydone?”

“She wants to be left alone, I’ll leave her alone.” But a thought crosses my mind. “But get me Jaime Dominguez. I need an explanation.”

Scene 27

DEMON IN WHITE

One Week Later

Scarlett

Masque is busy again tonight, as usual, but the same thrill I had the night I was here with Sol is gone. All of it is gone.

The music. The roses. The notes. The comforting feeling I’m not all alone in this world.

Gone.

I know I shouldn’t care, that I should be grateful he’s leaving me alone. Hell, Iaskedfor this. But even though it’s exactly what I thought I wanted… it still hurts that he truly did just let me go. Our time together was like a match held between two fingers, effortless to light, glorious in the darkness, and painful when it was snuffed out in my grasp. It doesn’t matter how long we burned together, I still can’t alleviate this sting under my skin.

No matter how hard I try to forget him, I miss my demon of music.

“Ordered your favorite,” hot breath whispers against my ear and I shudder before turning to give Rand a bland smile.

He messaged me incessantly after my falling out with Sol. When I finally texted Rand back the next day, Sol’s warning was heavy in my mind. But Sol hadn’t been able to give me more to go off of aside from what happened a decade ago with Rand’s older brother,notRand. And I was so lonely that day, I needed someone—anyone—and my childhood friend seemed like my best option. Frankly, myonlyoption.

Ever since, Rand has been trying so hard to cheer me up. He’s never left my side, always asks me if I’m doing alright, and makes sure Sol hasn’t “bothered” me again. At first, I was grateful to not be alone, but now I can’t help but be annoyed with his perpetual charm.

“Thanks,” I reply and accept my Cinderella mocktail. He frowns from behind his red devil mask when I set it aside, but I told him I only wanted my bottled water and he hadn’t listened. My nerves are too shot to hype up with sugar, so I’ll have to wait to enjoy it after I sing.

“I saw Jaime at the bar,” Rand offers before straightening the lapels of his all-bloodred suit. “Looks like hereallymisses you.”

The sarcastic tone has me turning in the direction he just came from.

Sure enough, Jaime is standing at the bar in a dapper silver suit, with a shining silver mask over his eyes, surrounded by members of the cast and crew. Everyone breaks into laughter over something he says, and that gnawing loneliness in my chest digs deeper.

I guess I really was a job to him.