Page 17 of The Curse of Eternity (Descendants of Helsing #1)
“It’s on the house for any friends of Eve’s.
” Brown eyes—darker than I would have expected for someone with such light blonde hair—met mine in answer.
She was a couple of inches taller than me, towering over Everly who appeared dressed to impress in a very tight, sparkly green number.
Meanwhile, the sleek black skirt and ruffled blouse showcasing the woman’s figure seemed more fitting for a high-stakes business meeting than a nightclub.
“Guys, this is Courtney,” Everly said, giddily waving her hand with the introductions. “That’s Caleb, um—Tsosie, right?”
“Yep.” He raised his shot glass in salute, and Everly beamed.
“He’s a mechanic, and Maria’s other best friend.” She giggled, her focus swinging to my cousins. “Olivia and Ethan Harker are siblings, and of course I’ve already told you about Maria.”
“Harker?” Courtney blinked, and a curious smile froze across her delicate pale features.
“That’s our name,” I affirmed, and her gaze once again met mine.
An odd feeling swooped in my stomach that had nothing to do with Courtney’s good looks. Thankfully, her attention immediately returned to Everly when my best friend exclaimed, “And here’s Addison! Addy, are you having a drink? Courtney said she’s buying!”
Addison shrugged her thin shoulders, moving between partiers like a fish through water until she reached us. Her slender forearms rested on the bartop, eyeing up Courtney with suspicion until she caught me looking. “Sure.”
Olivia had only taken a small sip of her drink when she spluttered, sending tomato juice flying all over my top. “What are you doing?” she shrieked at Ethan, who’d taken a hearty swig of his drink. “You’re not even twenty!”
“Bartender didn’t know that.” He winked, leaving Olivia gaping at him.
Ignoring her aghast expression, he backed up into the crowd.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m here to actually have fun .
” Under the flashing lights, the music heralded by Addison’s stand-in, Ethan disappeared from view.
Olivia set her drink down, about to storm after him, but I caught her arm.
“He’s an adult, Liv,” I reminded, but Olivia’s eyes narrowed.
“He could get hurt ,” she argued.
“He’s not stupid!” I shouted over the music. “Besides, Caleb isn’t drinking legally, either—”
“That’s different.” Olivia’s mouth twisted, her face red and sweaty even before Caleb intervened.
“It’ll be okay, Liv. Who hasn’t snuck into a club before and got someone to buy them a drink or two?
” His genial, easygoing grin was hard to argue with.
While Olivia visibly deflated, I had to chew on the inside of my cheek to keep from continuing the issue unnecessarily.
Of course, she’d have listened to anyone but me.
“Oh, I love this song!” Everly chimed, her bottle only half-emptied when she took Courtney’s hand to lead her onto the dance floor. “Come on, guys!”
“Oh, man,” Caleb murmured before downing the rest of his shot. His hand extended to me, but I managed a smile and shook my head.
“I’ll catch the next one,” I said, giving Olivia a little shove his way.
Suave and unsubtle, Caleb caught Olivia and spun her around.
They moved into the crowd, Olivia’s expression mixed between elation and terror, and I returned to the bar.
Addison accepted a drink from the bartender, raising the glass of pink liquid in thanks.
“So,” I called out over the noise, and Addison hesitantly turned my way. Shit, I sucked at small talk. “Uh, the music sounded great before, when you were up there.” I pointed toward the raised stage, and Addison lifted a brow.
“Thanks.” Gaze averted, Addison downed her drink in one swallow. A flush blotched her cheeks pink, peeking through the layer of goth-white foundation. “Well, I’d better get back to it.”
“Right…” I winced when the glass hit the bartop hard, feeling strangely awkward as she rushed off, soon out of sight.
I was such an albatross… Seemed like nobody could have fun or relax with me around.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned against the bar.
The person next to me ordered a glass of red wine, just audible over the noise, and I closed my eyes.
It was impossible not to think about last night.
The whole evening had become my obsession all day long, wondering why Drake had done or said this and that.
Indebted as I felt for his rescuing me, I hesitated to return to the Two Fools Tavern.
He’d said he went there most nights, but would it be reasonable to purposefully run into him?
Even if it was just to express my gratitude…
A heavy sigh passed my lips, and my eyes opened.
Several feet away, my friends and family danced—except Ethan, who occupied the far corner where his attention was focused on a good-looking man.
It was one thing to keep Drake a secret from them because it was the right thing to do.
If Drake wasn’t hurting anyone, didn’t want any trouble, then I’d give him that—protection.
To keep seeing him would only fracture things further, creating more gaps in my stories.
After everything, if my family eventually found out…
I wouldn’t be able to face them, let alone myself.
My brow furrowed when Olivia light-heartedly laughed, watching Caleb attempt the robot.
How much longer would it take to prove myself to her ?
What did it mean that she was still suspicious of my ability to stay sober?
Did the rest of my family feel that way, too, and were just better at hiding it?
Drake hadn’t pushed the issue when it came up, trusting it when I told him I was fine.
Lost in thought, I jumped when someone bumped my shoulder.
At first, I figured it was an accident, so I moved aside.
When a warm hand wrapped firmly around my arm, I turned to face the asshole trying to assault me.
My left hand fisted, teeth clenched as I stared up at a tall, silvery blond man whose hair fell straight past his shoulders.
Pale green eyes bore into mine, and I was about to shove my fist into his nose—
“You are Maria Harker?”
Spine straightening, my hand uncurled to rest on my machete’s handle. “Who wants to know?”
“I come bearing news. Ignatius Drake needs your help.”
Stunned, I glanced over to make sure my family was still out of earshot before I faced the stranger full-on. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“He is in danger, resigned to a fate not yet sealed—”
“Who are you?” My eyes narrowed when exasperation crossed his features.
“Someone who has known him well for much longer than you.”
“If you’re such great friends , then why don’t you help him?” I searched his severe face for tells of a lie, but the resentment behind his unflinching gaze seemed legitimate.
“Because Ignatius will not listen to me. He may listen to you.”
“W-Why me? How did you even—” Shock, confusion, and concern racked my brain—cut short when the man opened his palm.
His grip on my arm fell slack while I blinked down at the old bottle cap keychain, every nick and scratch identical to mine.
I took it with shaking fingers, and the man slid a note across the bartop toward me.
A small golden marble lazily teetered at the paper’s edge.
“Here is the address. If you care for him an ounce, for what he has sacrificed for you, then you will take this to him.” He pointed to the orb, his index finger inches from its reflective surface. “Quickly, before it’s too late.”
I glanced down at the paper and sphere. “What is—” By the time I looked up, the stranger was at the other end of the room. As he disappeared behind a door, his hair shifted, revealing the sharp points of his ears.
Breath caught, and my heart pounding, I gathered up the note and golden orb in my palm.
My steps toward the exit faltered when the music shifted, and I looked over my shoulder.
On the stage stood Addison, selecting the next song for the tipsy, high-riding audience.
Between her and the bar, my friends and family were grouped together, laughing, soaking up each other’s joy.
Just how different had I always been from the best people in my life?
They lived without shame, while guilt and humiliation followed my every step. As bad as Andrew’s personal rain cloud he carried with him everywhere. Only one person in recent memory made me forget to hurt—to be ashamed of who I was, what I’d done…
So I turned my back on them, and walked outside into the night’s breeze. Stars glittered overhead while I ran toward Copper Avenue, my car keys in hand.