Page 10 of The Curse of Eternity (Descendants of Helsing #1)

“It’s a bit bland for meeting up with such an ‘interesting’ guy.” Ethan’s short laugh clued me into his teasing, and I rolled my eyes.

“Stop smoking in the house, or I’m telling Olivia,” I warned, and Ethan grinned over his shoulder, displaying a sliver of the Metallica print on his T-shirt.

“No, you won’t. Close the door, thanks, Maria.”

Before I had a chance to build up any steam for a good comeback, we both flinched at the sound of Aunt Susan’s voice calling down the hall.

“Ethan! The washing needs hanging up. I’m going out for groceries, have it done before I’m back!

” Her words were followed by the kitchen door closing shut, the closest path to the little parking lot out back where we kept our cars.

A grin spread across my lips when Ethan sulked, hurriedly putting out his cigarette so his mom wouldn’t see the smoke while she was outside.

Grumbling to himself, he passed me in the hall with a grimace.

As he turned into the doorway for the kitchen, I couldn’t help but look down at my zipped-up jacket and jeans.

The combat boots were a must, but if I was really going out on reconnaissance—to a bar, no less—maybe Ethan had a point and I should work harder to blend in.

What the hell did people who drank on Sunday nights usually wear? Car keys in hand, I ditched my idea to scope out the location ahead of time. Butterflies tumbled in my stomach for absolutely no reason. What the hell was I doing…

The Sun Pointe Apartments complex where my best friend lived wasn’t new, as evidenced by its faded beige exterior under the harsh Albuquerque sunshine.

Heat hit my face first when I exited my Taurus, forcing me to shade my eyes with my palm.

Squinting, I strode up to the light blue door on the ground level.

Identical windows rested on either side, the blinds drawn, but a black cat lounged on the sill to the right. Since it was still light out, I didn’t worry about banging on the door to make sure I’d be heard over the heavy music playing inside. I scoffed at myself while I stood, waiting.

Because I shouldn’t have let Ethan’s comment get to me.

Especially since it was so far from a ‘date’ that it wasn’t even funny.

Who cared how I dressed? Oddly, my thoughts turned to the vampire—Drake, if that was even his real name.

What the hell did going to a bar have to do with proving his innocence?

If he thought he’d be able to slip a sedative into my glass, then he would be sorely disappointed—emphasis on the ‘sore.’

The door opened, pulling me from my internal concerns into external reality. Equally worrying considering the bright smile plastered across Everly’s freckled face.

“Hi,” she said, stepping aside so I could escape the slow sunburn to my neck.

“Hey,” I replied, a bit stiff while I glanced around.

The place was cozy, with a brown suede couch and boxy television that I’d help Everly carry in two weeks ago. Although her roommate had been living here for a few months, the tall goth woman was exceptionally minimalist. At least, she hadn’t deigned to decorate anything outside of her bedroom.

By the sly expression on Everly’s heart-shaped face, the direction of her thoughts was obvious.

With Olivia at work putting together bouquets made of flowers or fruits, and Andrew inside the church this afternoon—lurking around for someone to annoy, probably—my phone call with Everly had to be brief before I left, giving her the same vague story I’d told Ethan.

Which meant that my best friend thought she was helping me get ready for a date. Oh, how this would really put a rock in her cauldron, or whatever modern witches used.

“Listen—” I started, but promptly stopped when the music cut off, and the door at the end of the hall opened.

Dressed all in black, sporting a Type-O Negative T-shirt, Addison Dawkins emerged from her room.

Short black hair shifted along her defined jawline, framing her extremely pale face where silver piercings reflected light off her lips and nose.

Hazel eyes lazily glanced my way before she disappeared behind the partition which hosted the kitchenette.

Everly opened her mouth, probably about to loop in Addison, and anybody that would listen, about my epic conquest for love.

“Come with me,” I said, grasping Everly’s hand and pulling her up the short hallway.

Across from the full bathroom was Everly’s room, small compared to mine, but she still managed to cram a million books on witchcraft into the space.

Once inside, with Everly gamely following along, I closed the door behind us and exhaled.

My gaze found Everly’s bright green eyes, and her smile vanished.

“What’s wrong?”

“I couldn’t tell you about it over the phone, but I’m not ‘going out’ going out tonight,” I said, and dropped my voice to a whisper. “I’m meeting with the vampire.”

“What?” Everly took a step back, her eyes widening as she plopped down onto her turquoise bedspread. “The one that gave you his phone number? You finally called him!” A hint of righteous glee returned to her voice, and I groaned.

“Alright, yeah, all of my research tanked so I went with Plan B,” I bemoaned, shuffling over to drop into Everly’s white desk chair. Swiveling back and forth, I rubbed my temples. “It’s probably a huge mistake, but I agreed to meet him at some bar tonight.”

“A bar? Sounds cozy,” Everly chimed in. When I glared, she giggled. “Come on, you’re the one who agreed to meet with him, so why the long face?”

“Because I still haven’t told my family what really happened,” I said, grumpy, and Everly’s vindicated teasing eased into sympathy.

“Then why are you here, talking to me? It’s not like I can be your backup, or whatever it is your family could contribute to a hunt.”

“That’s the thing, strictly speaking, I’m not going hunting tonight.” Face hot, I straightened up in the desk chair. “Stupidly, I sort of agreed to hear him out.”

“Wow, that’s a bit of a change in tune,” Everly said, her short legs absently kicking the air, several inches above the patterned rug she’d laid over the tiled floor. “What do you think you’ll do, if he’s telling the truth, after all?”

“I don’t know…” Truthfully , I couldn’t even conceive that outcome. The only thing I had any mental effort to focus on was— “But I-I’ve never dressed up to go to a bar. Or a ‘pub,’ as he called it. What’s even the difference?”

“Pubs usually serve food, too.” Everly nodded wisely, but I wasn’t surprised by her sage knowledge.

She’d met more foreigners in her lifetime, moving around as often as her family had.

Suddenly, she clapped, startling me. A suspiciously satisfied smile pulled at the corners of her full lips.

“Never fear, Maria. There’s no way I’d let a friend go anywhere without dressing their best.”

I nearly choked. “I have my doubts about slipping into any of your clothes, Eve.” Her flat chest and narrow hips meant she still fit into outfits from our high school days.

I, on the other hand, got my curves from Mom and height from Johann—Dad, whatever.

The mental distinction made me frown, but Everly must have thought I was still mulling over my clothing conundrum.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got an idea.” Everly hopped off the bed, her strides jaunty on her way to open the door. She peeked out into the hall, and called out toward the front door, “Hey, Addison? Do you have any dresses that Maria could borrow for the night?”

The blood drained from my face as Addison’s quiet footsteps preceded her appearance at Everly’s doorway.

“Uh, sure, I guess. What’s the occasion?”