Page 26 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Seraphina

O nce again, I was getting all dressed up for a fucking party I did not want to attend.

This was like the theme of my life. Pretty clothes, hot guys, and maybe some people die.

Well, definitely people would die. But the jury was still out who would die tonight.

I was voting not me. Were ghosts real? If I did die, maybe I could haunt the stupid Obscuritas Kings and destroy the cult from the other side. Fingers crossed that was an option.

Pulling the fancy dress from the closet, I whistled aloud.

It was really fucking pretty, damnit. I hoped Andras picked it out again.

Then I could like it even more. The dress was actually two pieces.

I stepped lightly into the fitted gown and pulled it over my hips.

The black velvet was stunningly soft. I pulled the thin straps over my shoulders.

Silver was threaded into the velvet, creating an illusion of vines laced throughout.

It looked more like lightning crackling, and I rather loved that.

There was a high slit down the center, reaching almost to the apex of my thighs.

I quirked a smile. That was going to drive the Princes wild.

I cupped my tits to hold the dress up and awkwardly moved to the mirror, turning to see the backside of the dress.

I frowned, staring at my reflection. The back of the dress had about fifty buttons, and there was no way I could get them all done up on my own. What was I supposed to do, hobble through the halls and ask for help? I missed having a fucking cell phone, for once.

A quiet knock on the door had my head whipping around. I grabbed the steak knife I stole after the last family meal with the Kings and prepared for whoever was coming.

The door opened, and a stunning woman walked in, her head held high and her eyes guarded. My first thought, she was not human. No fucking way.

“Who are you?’ I decided being aggressive was best.

She smirked at me, her eyes glowing silver. “Someone who won’t be harmed by that little blade.”

I glanced at my stupid knife and shrugged. “I could probably stab you in the eye. It would hurt, I bet.”

She rolled said eyes. “I’m here to help you dress.”

“And why the fuck would you do that?” This was annoying. Although, I did need help with the dress.

The woman moved closer to me and crossed her arms, the silky fabric of her cerulean-blue dress swishing against the hardwood floors. “Well, Laszlo was going to come and dress you himself, I can leave, if that’s what you prefer?”

Bile threatened to ruin this odd moment, and I made a puking face. “Pass. Did he send you then?”

She snarled, and I was starting to trust her. “Hell no. I created a distraction he had to deal with personally. I sent someone to help your sister with her dress and created a similar distraction for Samuel Delano.”

Tossing the knife on my bed, I mulled over her words then shrugged. For now, I was going to trust she wasn’t part of the cult. “Alright then, weird gal. Do me up.”

The gorgeous woman let out a snort, and her eyes widened, almost as if the sound surprised her.

Her mask of indifference returned, and she stomped toward me a little less gracefully.

She shoved me around to face the full-length mirror and began expertly looping each silk button from the edge of my ass and up my spine.

“So, again…who are you?” I tried to sound casual, but the suspense was killing me. If Tibby was in my ear she’d have the information at the tips of her fingers. Thinking of her made my heart ache.

“My name is Nuriela.” Her words were soft, the next spoken barely above a whisper. “Your sister called me Nuri.”

I froze, and the woman behind me stopped moving too. Her eyes met mine in the mirror.

“Lailah?”

She nodded. Her eyes hardened, glowing silver again. “I am here to avenge her. No matter who gets in my way.”

Well, I wasn’t going to disagree with that. “You’re not human, are you?”

She shook her head and continued with my buttons. “I am a lumen. Like your sister. We were best friends before you were even born. We were soulmates.”

I stared and stared at the woman behind me. A million questions rattled my brain. She knew the real Lailah. She was around when my older sister was still free to use her powers. Nuriela stepped back when she finished, and I turned toward her.

“When we get out of here, will you tell me about her?” The emotion in my voice was embarrassing. But I couldn’t help it. She was the closest thing to my dead older sister, and I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. And so would Michaela.

Nuriela’s eyes narrowed, and she looked at me, assessing. “I wanted to hurt you. For a long time, I blamed you for her death.”

Returning her scrutinizing stare, I squared my shoulders. “So did I.” Because she was right. It was my fault. The Obscuritas wanted me, but they got Lailah and things didn’t go as planned. At least that’s how the Princes thought it went, after the first ritual failed.

The beautiful lumen turned away from me and picked up the second piece of my dress.

It attached around my waist like an extended train.

The black fabric was a mix of silks and chiffon.

Hundreds of tiny silver crystals adorned the chiffon pieces, making it look like an endless starry night.

Nuriela deftly carried the mass of fabric to me and easily attached it to the dress, covering the buttons with pieces of fabric until the extra skirts looked seamless with the original dress.

The entire ensemble really was stunning.

We looked at each other for a long moment. I was almost the same height as Nuriela in my three-inch heels.

“Well. Shall we go to this party full of pricks and figure out how to kill them all?”

Her lips twitched, attempting to hide her smile. “I suppose. I will be around, but out of sight. There are some who may recognize me.”

I nodded, desperately wanting to ask my questions.

But I knew they would have to wait. She left the room first, and I schooled my face, straightened my shoulders, and prepared to face the the fucking Kings once more.

There were no guards at my door. Whatever distractions Nuriela created, they gave me time to myself, which was rare, and I was grateful.

I walked through the halls, hearing the beat of music muffled by the many walls between me and the ballroom.

When I turned the next corner, I nearly ran over Michaela. “Shit!” I shouted, and she yelped, jumping back.

We stared at each other, eyes wide, until a smile broke across her face.

“You look gorgeous, Sara.”

My insides warmed at how happy she sounded. “So do you, Kaela. Like a fucking princess!”

She truly did. Her dress was brilliant white silk with a sheer gold overlay. The sweetheart neckline suited her frame, and the dainty sleeves hanging off her shoulders were very Helen of Troy. Her heels were shorter than mine, so we were almost the same height now.

“Well, you look like some kind of dark queen. A goddess of the night, even.” She giggled, and I noted her flushed skin and extra cheeky smile.

I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you so happy?”

Her mismatched eyes widened, and she flushed. “What do you mean?”

I grinned. “Did you just get laid?”

“No!” she squealed, and I laughed. Kaela smacked my arm. “It was just…stuff.”

I giggled and threaded my arm through hers, forcing her to walk with me. “Well, you can tell me all about the stuff later. Right now, we have to meet the fuckers who shat all over our family and maybe kill them all.”

“No big deal.” She shrugged, and we grinned.

This was the most I’d smiled in days. Having her at my side was melting the icy cage around my heart just the smallest amount. I couldn’t let her in completely, though. If I did, and they took her from me, I don’t think I would recover.

We walked in companionable silence, turning the final corner to see the main entrance of the ballroom. The massive double doors were closed, and standing before them with several armed guards were our two most dangerous enemies, Laszlo Blackbyrn and Samuel Delano.

I sneered at the wannabe kings. Fuck them. Samuel’s bored expression annoyed me. I pictured his face screaming in agony, and my spirits lifted slightly.

“Michaela, don’t you look lovely.” Laszlo uttered the words with a deadly smirk. “I much preferred you naked and chained in my bed. But there will be many more of those nights to come.”

Fuck this. I snarled and started at him. Before the guards could move in front of him, Kaela pulled me back.

“It’s not worth it, Sara.” She whispered the words, and I fumed, knowing she was right.

“If you’re jealous, Seraphina, you can always take her place.” Laszlo arched an eyebrow.

I smiled and let him see the devil in my gaze. “I’d love to. Just to see the bedsheets painted red with your blood as the sun rises.”

Laszlo’s dark eyes filled with rage, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned away from us, and a guard stepped forward with a pillow in his arms, two sparkling collars resting on it. Samuel picked up the first one and walked toward Michaela.

“A gift.” Samuel smiled, his eyes dancing with pleasure.

I was immediately uneasy. Michaela lifted her hair, and he clasped the strange necklace around her throat.

He took the next one and presented it to me.

I lifted my hair and allowed the slimy prick to lock the necklace in place.

We watched as Laszlo pulled a tiny remote from his pocket and pointed it at my throat.

“What the fu—” I gasped as a painful shock of electricity shot through my body. I stumbled, and Michaela grabbed my arm to steady me, her eyes wide with fear.

Laszlo smirked. “Neither one of you will have anything to say this evening. Unless you’d like to feel that again?”