Page 14 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

AURORA

A ll three of us are getting ready in Claire’s bedroom, we’ve got music playing and a bottle of wine already open. We’d set up stations for hair and makeup around the room but it quickly becomes a chaotic mess.

The wine has had less effect on me than I’d like but the buzz from my two best friends has got me excited about tonight. This holiday has always been a favourite of mine, a night where you can look different, adopt a new persona, and no one will question it.

“Anyone seen my wig?” Bree asks rifling through clothes strewn on the bed.

“I think it’s on the dresser,” I reply, twisting to answer her as I try to tame another piece of my hair around the curler.

I’ve already dropped my glamour enough to let my natural colour show, although I’m using magic to make it look more lush and voluminous than it currently is naturally.

It feels like the right time to bring my colour back, I don’t regret my choice of character for tonight.

Tacita is from before the veil fell. Most of the stories state she was one of those morally grey badass goddesses, who collected souls, dragging them to the underworld so they could never reincarnate.

She was fierce, and protected the underworld single handedly with her fire power.

I love the version where she’s painted to have known a secret truth, that the heavens were the real hell, and she was in fact saving the souls she reaped.

Hell was a serene place with a smoke screen.

“Where’s the eyeshadow palette?” I ask a while later after finishing my hair, ready to start my makeup.

“On the window ledge,” Bree replies, black wig now in place.

It makes her alabaster skin even more porcelain, like she’s breakable.

A total facade if you know her at all. She’s dressing up as Elsadeera, the Fae princess turned spy from one of the most famous ballet productions.

I know it's a dream of Bree’s to one day play her for real on stage.

I hop and skip my way over to the window, stepping over the piles and piles of clothes, fake wings, bombs of glitter and capes that now cover almost every inch of the floor.

Claire has changed character four times, for some reason she can’t stick to one, which is not like her.

Normally she has her outfit nailed weeks before, but this year she can’t settle on one for some reason.

Making it in one piece to the window I find the palette easily, perched on top of a few books on the ledge. As I go to turn away, however, movement catches my eye. My head whips back to the street below.

It’s dark already and barely anyone is out. The clear wintery skies leading to the temperatures dropping to near zero already. There are two men strolling down the pavement opposite the house. My brain immediately locks onto the one on the left, the taller one. It’s him.

I blink a few times. Surely not. But indeed as my eyes readjust to the low light it’s definitely him.

I’ve seen his figure enough times now I could easily pick him out of a line up.

Both men pause. They’re gesturing wildly with their hands, clearly in a debate of some sort.

Maybe they’re arguing. I wish I could open the window to hear what they’re saying but I don’t want to draw their attention.

I watch them for a minute before the man I don't know storms off leaving my guy standing there. Shoving his hands into the pockets of the long coat he’s wearing, I see the cloud of his exhale as he huffs out a breath.

Then he looks up. Our eyes lock and I’m scrabbling backwards. I knock the books flying before tripping over some clothing behind me, landing on my ass with a thud. Shit.

“Ow,” I groan, yanking the offending fabric away from my feet.

“Oh my gods, are you ok?” Claire launches from her bed, and starts shoving stuff in a corner, a little too late.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I rub my sore coccyx with my free hand.

“Did you see a ghost?” Bree chuckles.

“Very funny,” I respond with sarcasm.

Although that damn guy may as well be a ghost.

“You girls ok?” David’s voice rings out over the music. He steps round the door, which is ajar. “I was heading downstairs and heard a bang.” He pauses to survey the room. “But I guess it was Claire’s closet exploding,” he deadpans at his sister.

She rolls her eyes. “Rory fell over.” She turns back to me. “I’m sorry by the way, I should have tidied as I went.”

“Yes, it's rather unlike you to allow us to get this messy in your room.” I smile and everyone but Claire laughs. “And I’m fine, I think I saw a spider, that’s all.”

David looks me over for injuries before stepping into the room to offer me a hand up, which I gladly accept.

Those butterflies are back as his eyes rake over me again. I might have my hair finished and have my make up half done but I’m currently wearing a robe, not wanting to get my dress crinkled. His eyes linger on my bare legs.

He breaks contact and quickly steps back as soon as I’m on my feet.

“Will you all be ready soon? People will be arriving any time now.”

“Yeah I’m almost done,” Claire says as she steps back away from me and picks up the mascara she was applying before I fell.

“I’m done.” Bree twirls, the skirt on her black dress flying out around her.

It's gorgeous - a tight corset with black beaded detail that catches the light and a rough hem skirt of multiple types of fabric patchworked together. She’s added black diamond studs up her Fae ears and dark makeup to complete the look.

“I’ve got my makeup to finish, and of course the dress. What about you, you’re not in costume?” I say after taking in David’s casual jeans and a slightly smarter black button down.

“I am.” He looks offended.

“Well, what are you?” I say, confused.

“I’m a Fae.” He points to his ears. He’s bought some prosthetic ear pieces to give himself pointed tips.

“That’s not a costume,” Claire retorts.

“It’s all I had,” he counters.

“Are you at least a famous Fae?” I ask, my eyes on him in the mirror as I now finally start my eye makeup.

“I don’t know, who do I look like? Any hot actors I can pass as?” His gaze burns into my back.

Bree stutters a choked laugh from across the room. We’ve both caused Claire a bit of pain before, taunting her about her hot brother.

“Go, now!” Claire grabs his arm and shoves him out the door. Me and Bree burst into fits of giggles.

“Do not say a word,” she mumbles.

The party is getting underway when I finally go downstairs. My makeup took longer than I thought, and I found a gold diadem amongst Claire’s dress up items, to add it to my hair. It sits comfortably around my crown, the gold leaves and swirls a great finishing touch to my outfit.

My dress fits perfectly and I feel confident for the first time in weeks as I descend the stairs.

The gold floor length gown mimics armour plating with its geometric shapes.

The halterneck with sweetheart neckline hugs my body from chest to hips before flowing out in a looser full length skirt.

The thigh high slit up one side makes it easy to walk in and gives me a sexy edge.

Even though I know my body is currently glamoured, I’m a bit more like myself tonight, like the me before the accident.

Claire had also gifted me a beautiful chain to wear my dad’s ring as a necklace. I’d told her the fit was a little loose on my thumb and she surprised me with it tonight. The metal loop was now sitting just below my clavicles, on full show with the dress’s low neckline.

The music blares and more people arrive through the front porch as I walk into the main lounge area to grab a drink of vodka and lemonade. I try to nibble on some crisps but I’m not hungry.

Bree is already on the makeshift dance floor, of course, and surrounded by a few of her classmates. I swallow the rest of my drink and shoot another vodka before joining her, we let loose for several tracks. This DJ is on fire.

A hand lands on my waist which makes me jump sideways before I realise it’s just David. He’s brought me another shot, this time a double, which I take gratefully.

“Your costume is amazing,” he leans down to speak in my ear, the music making closeness a necessity to hear him.

“Thanks. Afraid I can’t say the same to you.” I grin up at him. He chuckles, rolling his eyes. We start dancing together, he grabs my free hand to twirl me round making my dress shimmer in the disco lighting. For once I don’t feel the weight of people’s stares.

He stops me when I’m facing him, pulling me closer with his other hand on my lower back. I almost stumble into his embrace which makes me giggle. Maybe I’ve had enough alcohol.

His scent drifts into my nose, sending me lightheaded. The warm and earthy mixture messing with my equilibrium even more than earlier. I notice how my mouth salivates.

We continue to sway to the music but all I can hear is David’s heartbeat above the base blasting from the speakers. The feel of the heat radiating off his body has my own tingling.

All of a sudden we get jostled by the crowd. Three or four other guys push forward shouting David’s name - clearly his friends from the med school are here. We break apart and he offers me a small smile before turning to greet them. I drift away from the crowds towards the entrance.

Today has been strange with him, flirting isn’t our usual vibe.

I know Bree and I have joked about David’s good looks but I’ve never felt any chemistry with him.

He’s my best friend's brother. We've always had an easy banter but those looks he keeps giving me, my body certainly reacts to his nearness.

Claire finds me at that moment, halting my train of thought. She brings more drinks which I gladly accept, using the alcohol to wash the scent of David off my tongue. We continue to dance but I find my eyes keep drifting over the crowd hoping for another glimpse of him.