Cassian Legacy: The Vampire Prince
Chapter 19

After I scrubbed out thetrash-juice stench, I dried myself off and picked out some form of outfit thatscreamed classy but not too formal. My long sleeved evergreen silk blouse stuckout of my closet like it was the perfect night for me to wear it. I matched itwith khaki Capri’s and let my hair fall where it may, because it tended to dry inlong silky waves and currently the trend mimicked it. I hated styling my hairand avoided it if at all possible.

I slid my feet into a pair of goldballet flats and grabbed my card and the house key right as Finn knocked on mydoor. I figured it was him, because I wasn’t expecting anyone else. Also, hisscent wafted through the minor crack near the keyhole, confirming that my guesswas correct.

The first thing he said once I opened the doorcracked the lid on my anger tank. Even though it had emptied earlier withEmily’s near death experience, it filled again once more like it sat underneatha waterfall.

“You’re not fancy enough.” He stoodthere, gawking at my outfit of choice, while I stared back at his black tuxedoand navy blue bowtie that matched his eyes.

I crossed my arms in defiance. “Younever stipulated a dress code.”

“The green looks good on you, butthat outfit won’t do where we’re going.”

I frowned. Where was thatcompliment beforehand? “What, are you taking me to a ball?”

He didn’t answer but instead pickedup a box lying on my front porch. The postal sticker had my name and address onit, shipped directly from a store here in town. I had missed it in all theconfusion with Emily and the garbage. I grabbed the thing and opened the top withoutbothering to slice the tape on the ends. I wondered who had sent me something.But once my eyes fell on the indigo material, I scowled and closed the box.

I met his eyes. “That’s not funny.”

He shrugged. “I never said it was.”

I left the dress inside the box onthe table and went up stairs to change, leaving the front door open like amoron. But once I arrived back at mycloset and armoire, I realized I didn’t have anything dressy enough to matchhis tux, which put me right back downstairs snatching up the box withannoyance. While I muttered incoherent words to myself, Finn took the libertyof slipping inside and shutting the door, though he remained in the nook,leaning casually against the wall looking as normal as was possible. I was surehe laughed at my actions inside his head.

I yanked off the top and pantsquickly, before sliding the slinky dress over my skin. Sad thing was my brashowed between the spaghetti straps that I was forced to remove it. I was gladI had a small chest, so I could pull this off. It annoyed me when I caughtgirls with dresses like this that had their breasts bouncing all over the placebecause they didn’t want to wear their strapless bras. I made a mental note togo buy some new underwear. If odd items of clothing kept appearing at my doorlike this I would need all of those fancy lingerie pieces. I glanced down at myfeet and realized that my gold shoes oddly looked perfect, completing theensemble.

While I admired myself in themirror, I inspected the way the dress fit, because it was tight around my chestand waist, but flowed out around my hips and legs. The style itself wasgorgeous, and the material colored indigo and filled with purples and bluesthat mixed into the fabric making it look shimmery yet dark. On the bottomright of the hem, a small array of silver studs hand been stitched into thedress, resembling a star.

The sight of this piece on me wasbreathtaking that I nearly forgot about who sent it. Sylvia didn’t do this. Sheknew about the date, but not where we were going. My mind rested on Finn and Ifroze mid-gaze. He obviously had been in here while he got my paper for English- he knew my wardrobe and my sizes, if he was paying any attention at all, andmy guess was that he was. I wanted so much to punch him in the nose, but Iresisted the urge and went back down stairs. I didn’t have a place to put mykey or card, so I just took them with me.

Finn’s smile greeted me from thekitchen. “Better.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m only wearingthis cause you had to pick someplacefancy. Don’t get any ideas.” I passed him on the way out the door. He followedme into the night. “Just because you know my dress size doesn’t mean you cankeep buying me clothes.”

He shut the door behind him, and Iheard the lock click into place. That was a good thing about this door. Itconstantly remained locked even when you used the key to open it.

“You look refreshed,” he stated onthe way out of the iron garden gate. His parked yellow car was right by thecurb.

Once we were inside, he opened theglove box and gestured to it. I stared at him, not fully understanding what itwas I was supposed to do.

“You can put your key and card inthere. I won’t take it, and you won’t have any need of it where we’re going.”

I didn’t really trust him, but Ihad no other choice. I placed them inside, on the top perch, separated from therest of his papers. He closed the box and locked it with his car key, beforestarting the engine with a smaller grey key. He pocketed the real car key andsmiled. “Valet keys can’t open the box.”

So we were headed somewhere with avalet. I should’ve known, judging by our dress.

The drive was smooth and I paidattention to where we were headed. It was out on the bay, not far from where Ilived, but away from downtown. I hadn’t been to this side of the city much, anddirected most of my attention at the window so I could see the attractions.

“I’m surprised you didn’t go withyour friends tonight.”

His words caught me by surprise. Heknew about that? I allowed myself to look at him briefly before focusing myeyesight back on the willow tree that grew in a park beside us. The park soondisappeared and was replaced with a row of neatly kept houses. “I had otherpriorities.”

He didn’t say anything more aboutthe topic.

I thought about the events leadingup to tonight. Since he left my house the first time, odd incidents hadoccurred, leading to more unanswered questions and weird circumstances in whichmy brain had enough trouble filtering through. Foremost at the front of my mindwas Emily’s well being. It was strange that a creature would pick this time ofday to go after her, especially since there were people returning home fromclass and work at those hours. Besides that factor, just what had she done todeserve a break-in and why was that particular creature there in the firstplace? Once Finn had told me that he knew Sylvia, and the woman was one of them, I figured the vampires knew enoughto not stray into that part of town because it was on his orders that they left me alone and those that I knew. Butthinking about Sylvia brought another question to my mind, one that scared meif the answer turned out to be a yes. I had a hunch that she knew, but didn’tvoice her feelings about it openly.

“Does Sylvia know about me?” Isuddenly asked him, wondering if he knew the answer.

He stole a look at me briefly,before turning his eyes back on the road. “Not that I’m aware of. Why?”

My question made him suspicious. Ishook my head. This didn’t make any sense. If Sylvia didn’t know my secret, thenwhy did she arrive at Emily’s house and scrutinize me in the way that she didthe first day we met. Even though she didn’t question my neighbor’s thoughts onwhat transpired with the man who broke into her house, I got the feeling likeshe knew what really happened. But it made me wonder if Sylvia was createdbecause Finn implied that she was one of the born like him. “Is she a vampire?”

He sighed. His hands relaxed on thesteering wheel, and some of his suspicion faded away from his eyes. “She wascreated and raised upon our principals. Her husband, when he was alive, was aborn vampire. He created her. After he died, she blamed us, mostly because oneof our own tore off his head in a feud. It took another century for her to comearound us once more and show her face, but even then she frowns upon those ofus whether born or created visiting her haven. She takes care of several youngadults in those apartments, and all vampires are forbidden entry into thehouses. I’m amazed she let you in, but I figured that she had no idea what youwere at the time.”

I grimaced remembering that day.Sylvia had tried her hardest to keep me out, but she eventually let me in. Ifshe knew what I was, then why did she allow me to live here? Like Finn, sheescaped my radar. I should’ve known from day one that she was created. The lackof a heartbeat gave them away, but I wasn’t paying attention that day. “I wasshocked too.”

The car’s speed slowed. “Didsomething happen between you two?”

He pulled up into the parking lotof a fancy restaurant where several luxury sedans and SUV’s were alreadyparked. He didn’t approach the valet, giving me time to answer him if I chose.

I swallowed not knowing how much Ishould tell him. He obviously didn’t involve himself in Sylvia’s affairs, butknew enough that there was something wrong. “Emily, my next door neighbor, hadan attacker earlier. I pulled the guy off her. But Sylvia didn’t show up untilafter I started bandaging her wrist. She’d cut it on a vase.”

His eyes bored into mine. “Was itone of us?” he whispered.

I shook my head. At least I thinkit wasn’t a born vampire. I couldn’t really remember because I was quite upsetwith the man at the time. I knew it was a vampire, and it was one that was eviland deranged from the bite marks on the girl’s chest, but I wasn’t telling himthat.

He relaxed after I answered him.“It’s unusual for anyone to attack that area or even go near it. It’s carefullywatched and guarded, not just by Sylvia and the police, but by us. I’ll havesome of our guards come out there and add more protection until the area’ssecure.”

My eyes flickered back to him. “Youdoubt my safety?”

He smiled. “It’s not that. Sylviawould want protection for all her charges.”

The car moved forward again,heading straight for the curb where the valet stood alert and ready. “Youshould see this place at sunset.” He changed the subject and stepped out of thecar just as the valet opened my door.

He was there beside me, offering mehis hand before the valet could mimic the gesture. I climbed out of the car,gracefully, and took his arm as he led me indoors. Other couples arrived, andthey all strode up the wooden walkway towards the platinum gold doors.

I gazed at the attire of theothers. They were dressed as formally as us. Some wore tuxedos, some woresuits, but all the men wore black tie garments. The women matched them inadornments. Several autumn and wintry colors of dresses and gowns flitted pastmy sight. Sequins and diamonds glitter and sparkles, twinkled in the low gas lightsthat lined the bridge. We crossed over a small moat of some kind, but the waterwas clear instead of murky. Fish swam in the shallow pool, lazily.

The smell of salt reached my noseas I recognized that we were on the beach next to the ocean, but once we walkedinside the salty smell faded, overpowered by stronger scents of lavender,jasmine, and rose. Bright fresh flowers were arranged in the vase of thecenterpiece, laden on an antique wooden table on the far wall of the goldendoors. The hallway cut to the left and right, but didn’t continue onward. Thefoyer was darker than I’d thought it’d be, mostly because the walls werecovered in a Victorian pattern of maroon and burgundy. A thin sheet of dark redcarpeted the floor, casting the area in a tint of crimson. All it was missingwas a darkroom light and then the expression would be complete.

Obviously the red was a symbol forblood, or life. Humans missed the metaphor, but it hadn’t escaped me. Already Ifelt like a cell moving through an artery as Finn steered me inside. If it wasFinn’s parents who owned this establishment, then I figured that the vampiresvalued the symbolism of blood as the humans revered love and God. It stood outwell here.

We approached the podium, where themaitre d’ conducted the reservations. The man didn’t announce the place for usto go to like he had with the other waiters and waitresses who led theircharges off into the adjoining hallways. He snapped his fingers as someone tookhis place, and he personally led us down the left hallway.

Finn followed him with ease, notbothering to stare at anything but the man’s black coat. I on the other handgazed around me, wondering where it was we were. The hallway steeped downwardand curved to the right. Eventually we traversed onto a set of stairs andsteadily descended. The dim light from the gas lanterns brightened from a newsource, and I stepped into a room I didn’t think could exist.

We were below sea level. The wallstraight ahead of me was covered in a sheet of thick glass, creating anaquarium with the sea bed. Electric lamps were hidden in the sands of thelagoon, lighting the water for us to see the creatures in the tank. Colorfulfish like the ones in the moat swam around, though there were too many to nameor recognize all at once. Sea turtles and stingrays strayed among the mix. Afew lobsters and clams covered the sandy outcropping on the right of theaquarium. And at one point I thought I saw a whale or a dolphin as we descendedmore stairs. I couldn’t be too sure, because the shadowy form was far away inthe distance. But there were other large animals like otters or walruses thatcaptivated my attention, though they weren’t close enough to identify easily.

The glass encasement took my breathaway. I was glad I took Finn’s arm, because I didn’t think I’d make it down theset of stairs to the bottom without making a spectacle of myself. Once I toremy eyes away from the monstrosity, because it covered the entire wall, floor toceiling, in a cavern like style, I found that the tables and booths werelayered around the room on tiers, forming a crescent of sorts. The walls wererichly decorated in the dark reds from the foyer. Gold bars lined the wallsthat barricaded sets of booths and tables, keeping the patrons from falling offthe balconies. Up in the ceiling, glass chandeliers that looked highlyexpensive, hung down, casting their candlelit crystal glow upon the rest of theroom. Even though they were dimly lit like the gas lanterns, the room was verybright. Couples dancing waltzes like the old ballroom style took up the centerof the floor.

Finn and I headed for one of thetables on the bottom of the tiers. We only went up two or three stairs beforewet were seated at a round table too big for just the two of us. Heavy redcurtains adorned the little corner, making it look like a canopy above me. Achandelier hung from the ceiling in here, smaller in proportion to the onesoutside, but still expensive looking. Gold ropes held the curtains back awayfrom the stairs, and I knew then that we could have our privacy if we wishedto. On the opposite side of the room, there were two other tables like ours.One had the curtains open, awaiting patrons, the other one was closed.

Finn followed my gaze as the maitred’ left us. “That’s Atria’s table.”

I glanced away, not wanting to knowwhat occurred within the curtains, but guessing silently in my head.

“This is a really big table. Are weexpecting someone else?” I asked him. If there were additions to our party Ifelt like I needed to know right now.

He frowned. “You don’t like beingalone?”

I clamped my mouth shut. “Nevermind.”

I stared out at the other couplestwirling around. Watching them brought back memories I had buried a long timeago. I looked away, wishing I wouldn’t have to see them anymore. After a fewminutes Finn sighed and stood up. He went over to the curtains and starteduntying the gold ropes. But he only let the curtain by my side fall. He didn’tundo the other one on his side.

“I saw the look on your face.” Hereturned to his seat across from me in the booth. “Why aren’t you telling meabout your life?”

I shook my head. “I don’t likesharing.”

“I’ve told you about mine, myfamily.”

A waiter appeared then with twowine glasses and a bottle I didn’t recognize. He poured us some of the redliquid and disappeared once more.

“Isn’t there a menu in this place?”I mumbled.

Finn smiled as he took a sip of hiswine. In about two seconds he had drunk the entire glass. He poured another.“It’s good today.”

I frowned. “You went from sparklinggrape soda, to wine?”

He swirled the liquid in his glass.“It’s a cabernet. And if you recall the conversation we had much earlier thisday, I’m not actually eighteen.”

I shook my head and looked awayremembering that he was far too young, but older than I first perceived.

“You don’t like wine?”

I looked back at him. “Not unlessit’s white.”

“But how do you drink your blood?”

I scowled. He still stuck to thenotion that I drank blood like he did, disguised in a bottle like a genie. Ipurposefully licked my front teeth with my tongue and let him see the action.

It was his turn to scowl. “Thecoven doesn’t allow that, you know.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not a partof the coven.”

He set down his drink and leanedforward, lowering his voice perceptibly. “To them you are. This is all aboutyou becoming a member. You didn’t come to us the way my parents expected andthat is why they are wary of you. If you take the oath and become a protectoryou will have to abstain and start drinking like the rest of us. Besides, alcoholdoesn’t affect our brains.”

My eyes nearly went up into myforehead from his sanctimonious speech. I stood up. “This,” I gesturedfeverishly, “is all about you making me a member?”

He sighed in response.

I couldn’t believe he said that. Icouldn’t believe this was why he even talked to me. “You know I actuallythought you were taking me out for a nice night, after all the crap that you’veput me through, but if this is about your coven then I can’t be a part of it.”

He arose in a flash and stood nextto me quickly. He lifted my glass and handed it to me. “Drink it. Otherwisethey’ll know.”

I grumbled, but lifted the glass upto my face.

He leaned into my ear and his lipsbrushed my skin, leaving me breathless like earlier when his hand touched my arm.“This isn’t just about my safety, it’s also about yours.”

Again I understood completely,however upset it made me. He was hiding my identity to the others. Theycouldn’t know about my tragic past, even though I’d already lied to hisbodyguards about a tragedy of sorts. I took a sip and nearly dry heaved. Ihated this. It was mixed with human blood like the grape soda, plus I alreadydidn’t like red wine.

He watched my reaction, but neversat back down. He reached out of the curtain and snapped his fingers. A waiterappeared immediately. “Bring the zinfandel mix.”

The guy disappeared at once.

He took my glass and drained thething. “We’ll try something else, something you like.”

I sat back down and covered mymouth, trying to keep the stuff down and not from coming back up when it reallywanted to. “Can’t you just get me real wine and forgo the blood mix?” Isuggested, hoping that this night didn’t end up with a wine tasting. At thispoint I needed a really strong drink to get the taste of the mixed cabernet outof my mouth. “You know scratch the wine, just get me a shot of Everclear.”

He frowned. “You don’t like donorblood?”

I shook my head no and averted myeyes from his indifferent gaze.

When the waiter returned he gaveout new orders, and the guy disappeared after a brief glance inside at me.

Finn sat back down, lookingflustered and uneasy now. He removed his jacket and hung it on a bar behindhim. “Try the zinfandel.”

I poured a glass and sipped at it.The red stuff was sweeter than the cabernet, but still it had blood in thebottle. I shook my head and pushed the glass away from me. “It’s has to bewhite, pure white.”

Finn’s face tensed. This was anunforeseen problem.

“Can’t you just let me drink thewine, and not worry about the blood?”

He grimaced. “It’s hard to get awaywith that here. Almost all of our supply is a mix.”

Familiar laughter echoed fromsomewhere outside. I peeked out behind the curtain, searching for the source.Krista wrapped a mink wrap around a chair on a tier to the right, directlyabove me. I didn’t have to glance at the others to know who else was seatedthere.

I whipped my head back to Finn,completely alert now. “Where are we?”

He pulled the glass away from hismouth as he was about to take another drink. “The Blue Lagoon.”

I closed my eyes and mentallybanged my head against the table.

“What’s wrong?”

“Krista,” I groaned.

“Is she bothering you?”

I shook my head. “They’re here. Myfriends. She extended the invitation to me tonight but I told her I had othererrands, back when I had to feed.”

Finn surprised me by smiling.

I caught the look of his amusement.“You knew that…” I accused him. “You knewthey’d be here.”

“I did know,” he admitted.

The glass I was holding shatteredin my hand when I squeezed. Thankfully the wine and blood mix didn’t get on me.

Finn jumped to his feet in alarm.He grabbed my hand hurriedly and turned it over to inspect the damage. Butthere was none. His touch sent all these electric sensations through my palmthat I didn’t understand. And just like the day he touched my shoulder, Iwanted him to keep caressing the untainted area, no matter how much I hated thefact that he was touching me. No one touched me.

He released my hand as the waiterarrived bringing a tray of drinks. The guy was alarmed by the mess, and hecleaned it up easily and thoroughly, apologizing profusely as though it was hisfault I broke the thing. He left to retrieve another wine glass for me, and Itook the opportunity to grab the bottle of clear liquid on the tray and chugit. Two swallows of the alcohol and the taste of blood disappeared.

Finn watched my behavior, with noexpression on his face. He obviously didn’t know how to react to thissituation.

“I’m sorry I’m not like your otherdates,” I apologized knowing I wasn’t living up to his standards.

“I don’t usually have dates.” Hesat back down.

“Finn’s not allowed to date,” agirl stated from the curtain. I recognized her as Atria, the girl from the clubthat I had used my compulsion on. She approached me with an expression thatlooked both loathing and curious while she crossed her arms along the front ofher fiery dress.

From across the room I realized thecurtains at her table were open once more. Several girls and boys around herage emerged from the cave and hurried onto the dance floor. They were allexquisitely dressed as she was. The silky material hugged her figure, but shedidn’t have any bumps or rolls. Her skin was smooth sailing. She wasn’t evenbony like the anorexic teenagers I spotted at the dress stores. Her blond hairwas pulled up into a bun of some sort with fly-away’s that framed her pointedface.

“I came over here to meet the girlwho has my brother so enchanted with her presence.”

I didn’t like the way she phrasedthat. I don’t know why. I think it was that she implied that Finn and I weresomething more than we ought to be, but that didn’t make any sense at allconsidering the way we both treated each other.

“You look…” she struggled with theword, “Lovely. Next time, you should let me do your hair.”

“I like her hair,” Finn interjectedbefore I could launch a rebuke. “There’s wildness to it.” He eyed his sister.

Atria scowled. She threw him alook. “You like a lot of things you’re not allowed to.” Her eyes found mineonce more. “You’re incredibly lucky to be given another chance to meet ourfamily. If you hadn’t known Finn, you’d be dead by now.”

I hated that she already threatenedme. Did she not remember what I did to her at the club? Was my compulsion thatpowerful with them? But her actions mirrored Finn’s in a way. She felt onlyselfishness when directed at someone of a lower class than her rank. If she hadonly known what I was truly capable of she’d shut her mouth and quit chastisingme.

“If you don’t like me, then why areyou here?” I threw my question at her as one of both sarcasm and truth.

She raised an eyebrow and smirkedat me, like she was impressed by my gumption. “Clearly you’re not completelyignorant. I’m Atria Tierney, Princess to the coven. But then again, you alreadyknew that thanks to my baby brother. It’s so nice to know that you will be apart of his bodyguard squad once everything’s been arranged. Emery and Thalianeed an extra pair of eyes, because they completely missed you.”

I cocked my head at her. “If yourecall we all missed the obvious facts, not just Emery and Thalia. Finn figuredit out, but if I had my way none of you would know.” I turned on the compulsionthen and let the power drain out of me. I had felt stronger now that I fed, andfor some reason it was working better than it had before when I last used it.“Please don’t come back here again, unless you have something nice to say.” Ishut off the connection and waited to see what she’d do.

She turned and walked away withoutanother word.

Finn chuckled in his seat. “I’m goingto enjoy this later.”

I crossed my arms. “If I keepreceiving any more welcomes like hers, I might have to persuade my way in orleave the area completely.”

Finn’s smile widened, but he didn’tshow off his teeth. “She’s going to be mad when she figures out what you did.At least you were nice about it.”

I shook my head. They were sospoiled. “You two are so privileged you don’t know the first thing aboutmanners.”

The grin faded. “That’s notcompletely true.”

“Maybe, but you’re far too arrogantto have any friends or people who respect you.”

He swirled the wine in his glass.“I don’t need friends.”

I met his gaze then, actuallymeaning for the first time what I was about to say. “That’s what I used tothink.”

We sat there staring at each otherfor a long time. The waiter returned with real white wine, a chardonnay, and anew glass. He poured it and took the zinfandel bottle with him. I took a sip ofmy wine and savored the flavor. It was honey to my taste buds. I closed myeyes, letting the wine soak my tongue.

“Abel!” Mallory exclaimed fromoutside the curtain suddenly. “I thought I heard your sultry voice down here.”

I nearly spat out the wine, butcaught it at the last minute and swallowed. “Mallory,” I greeted her, clearlysurprised she was right here, standing in front of me. “What are you doinghere?”

She walked into our booth. “Oh it’sour monthly girl’s night out, but we invited the boys once we decided where wewere headed.”

Finn crossed his legs and watchedthis play out.

“So they’re here too?” I questionedher, already knowing where they sat.

She nodded. “You should join us.Finn can come too.”

“How about you join us?” he offeredbefore I could object.

Her eyes went wide and shedisappeared. When she returned, she had her shawl and purse in her arms. “Scootover,” she commanded me.

I slid across the leather seat ofthe booth that we occupied. But as soon as I moved, I was moving again. Kristamade Mallory move over, and then came Nate and Seth, followed by Seth’sgirlfriend. By the time I had scooted around, I sat next to Finn, who hadn’tmoved at all during the commotion. He still sat with one leg crossed over theother and had his arms draped over the back of the leather seats. Now, becauseof my close proximity, it looked like he had his right arm draped around myshoulders.

In a matter of seconds, my shotglasses were commandeered as Krista poured a mixture of something that I didn’tthink she needed to be drinking into them. Secretly, I was glad I had a bottleof wine to myself. And Finn had his, because sharing at this point was not anoption.

“Abel, you look absolutely gorgeousin that dress,” Nate slurred slightly.

I looked over at Krista. “Don’tgive him anymore of that stuff.” He had already taken two shots while theyadjusted in their seats, and the alcohol clearly affected him quicker than whatI perceived to be the usual.

Krista shrugged. “It’s payback.”She swallowed her shot and poured another, offering it to Seth and hisgirlfriend.

“This is really swanky,” Mallorycommented as she inspected the enclosed booth. “It’s like my mom’s canopy bedat home.”

“Think of the things you could getaway with in here,” Seth mused aloud while winking at the girl from Chemistry.

Mallory turned to Krista. “Ithought you said you invited her out with us.”

Krista nodded. “I did, but she haderrands…” she looked at me and then at Finn.

I covered my face in my hands,trying to hide the blush that formed. I did have something to do - I justdidn’t expect it to take about ten minutes.

Finn thankfully responded. “She ranthose errands, and I asked her out with me never knowing that you guys hadplanned to go here. But it’s a good thing that you did, because now you’re alltogether.”

Mallory squealed in her chair.

Finn’s arm dropped from behind me.I snuck a glance at him through my fingers. He stood up and put on his jacket.“Excuse me for a moment; I need to have a word with the chef.”

As soon as he left, the othersbroke out in a multitude of questions that I couldn’t answer right away.

“Oh my gosh girl, Finn Tierney? Youcould’ve told us!” Krista squealed excitedly.

“How long have you guys been goingout?” Nate asked merrily.

“He knows the Chef?” Sethexclaimed. “I wonder what kind of dish you guys are getting. A bowl of shrimpis about forty bucks!”

“This is so romantic,” Mallorysighed. She straightened and glanced over at Krista. “I wonder why he’d ruintheir perfect date by asking us to join them.”

“Maybe he thought you wouldn’taccept,” Seth’s girlfriend answered. “If it were me, I’d want the privacy.”

Mallory blushed and looked back atme. She had been talking like I didn’t exist in this booth and only now justrealized it. “I’m sorry Abel, I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, you could’ve told us,” Krista stressed.

I rolled my eyes. “We’re justfriends.”

Nate grinned and smiled. “LikeKrista and I were just friends?”

I eyed him while Krista blushed. “Sincewhen?”

Krista giggled guiltily. “The dayafter we returned from the Red Curtain.”

I leaned back into the seat. I hadknown it was moving in that direction. “Congratulations you two.”

“I feel like a fifth wheel, orseventh in this case,” Mallory blurted out.

“For the last time, Finn and I arenot dating!” I said through clenched teeth.

Her eyes perked up. “Can I have himthen?”

I frowned.

“You’re not his type,” Krista toldher. “Finn is Abel’s type, and vice versa.”

Mallory nodded. “Yeah I know. I wasjust hopeful for a second or two.”

I cut across them both. “We’renot…” I started but she cut me off with a look.

“Oh you so are,” Krista stressedagain. “Hide it all you want, deny it if you wish, but you are. You don’t understand Abel. You haven’t seen him moping aroundthe cafeteria and in classes since he started going to our school. He didn’tlook at anyone but those two friends of his. He’s never truly acknowledgedanyone the way he stares at you. Ask around. The girls and guys will tell youall you need to know.”

“Haven’t you ever thought it’sbecause he’s not allowed to date?” I whispered to her. Only Krista and Malloryheard me. The other three were talking about something else, not related to oursubject.

Krista nearly choked on her drink.I forgot she carried a martini glass in here. “Ha! Funny one. Not like Ihaven’t heard that excuse before.”

She didn’t believe a word of it,and nor would she at this point. Mallory agreed with her, and the subjectclosed as Finn returned. He pulled aside the other half of the curtain and tiedit back into place. He turned to me.

“Would you do me the honor of adance?”

I froze and shook my head slightly.No, no, no. I had not danced in… years.

Mallory nudged me from behind. “Goahead. Have some fun,” she snickered.

Krista and Nate both raised theirglasses in a toast to us.

I sighed and swung myself out ofthe booth, defeated. We traveled down the few stairs to the dance floor.

“Surely you know this will painme,” I mumbled to him.

“Don’t worry,” he said as he placedhis one of his hands on my waist while taking my left hand with his right. “Ineeded a way to talk to you without looking conspicuous.”

I scowled. “Oh please, I know youheard their conversation. You could just ask to escort me to the bathroom and thatwould confirm their statements.”

He smiled. “Bathrooms are not forconversation.”

“That didn’t stop you in the café,”I retorted.

“Well, we technically weren’t inthe bathroom. We were outside of it.”

True. “So what is it you need?” Ididn’t pay attention to the surroundings but let him lead me. The less I lookedaround the better. I was already having trouble dancing as familiar and painfulmemories returned for more quickly than I thought they would. I don’t know howlong I could keep a straight face.

“They’re going to stay with usuntil you’re ready to leave. The chef is cooking up an order for them and you.I don’t normally get food.”

I smiled. “Of course.” My smiledfaded as the music switched. I nearly froze when I recognized the waltz. ButFinn didn’t falter and he kept me twirling around with him, when all I wantedto do was run out of here.

“One more?” he asked withoutstopping. “Just to make them think I truly like you?”

I wondered how much of this was anact. Already I caught Atria staring over at us with a look on her face thatmade me think he cared more for me than he let on. With my friend’s statementsto back up the present situation, it really did seem like we were dating. Ididn’t want it to go over like this. It could end badly, both for him and me.Surely he knew what he was doing in how he was portraying our relationship.

But he didn’t seem to care at themoment. He didn’t look at anyone but me throughout the waltz. Even when themusic slowed to the final cadences, I stumbled over my feet and he never lookedaway from my face. The memory I relived was too much for me to handle at themoment. I thought I was past this, that I wouldn’t remember unless I wanted toopen that locked secret, but my brain had other ideas.

He noticed the change in me quicklyand pulled me aside near the glass wall where we couldn’t be disturbed. “Youalright?”

“No,” I breathed. It was no usepretending anymore. There wasn’t a way for me to hide this. I was on the vergeof tears.

“Is it the waltz?”

I nodded, not trusting myself tospeak.

He took my arm and looped itthrough his. We headed back to the table as the song ended. Another replacedit, this one a tango, but the damage had been done.

“As soon as you’re ready to gohome, say the word,” he whispered.

I heard the concern - it was entangledin the words and soaked in his tone. As soon as I was back in the booth, Ipoured myself another glass of wine. He did the same, but he let the curtaindown, shielding the view from my eyes. He was protecting my emotional feelingseven though he didn’t know the reason behind why I was shaken.

Mallory glanced at me, realizing atonce that something was wrong. “Are you alright?” she whispered low enough thatno one else heard her.

They had received a tray full ofappetizers while I was gone, in addition to water glasses and wine bottles,each specific to their tastes.

She pulled on a shrimp tail beforedipping it into a garlic sauce.

I nodded. “I don’t like dancingmuch.”

She grinned, mostly to herself.“You put up with it for him,” she muttered.

I pretended not to hear the commentand glanced away. Finn’s eyes were back on me as he sipped his red wine. Iignored his stares and picked up some fried crawfish. It smelled good, but thesecond I lifted it up to my mouth, my stomach clenched. I didn’t want the foodtonight. I put it back down, separated from the others and looked at Finn.

“Do you need to go?” he mumbled toolow for the others to hear.

I shook my head slightly. I reallydidn’t want to leave, especially my friends even when I was in such a horridstate. I suddenly grabbed his wine bottle and lifted the thing up to my mouth.I chugged the entire thing down. And right after I did, I regretted it. Theothers stared at me, shock plastered all over their faces, as the tears startedfilling my eyes. The shock from his choice drink should’ve kept my mind focusedon what was in the wine and not the memory I currently experienced.

I didn’t wait for a response fromthem - I crawled over Finn and fled the booth. I made my way up the stairs andinto the hall. He found me outside in the cool night air, breathing heavily. Iwas sure I made a scene leaving the party, but I didn’t care. It had been solong since I felt the sting of what had been done to me that night. I had triedmy best to push it out of my mind and take charge of my life, but in one secondit was back, haunting me.

“I wish you would explain what justhappened,” he stated quietly.

I shook my head and let the tearsfall. “You can’t understand,” I whispered.

He pulled me over to him andwrapped his arms around my body. I wasn’t expecting the sudden hug and it shookme to my core. “Does it have to do with your creation?” he muttered in my ear.

I didn’t answer. No, he couldn’tknow about that. Not now, not ever.

“I told your friends you weren’t feelingwell. Do you need to go home now?”

I nodded, not daring myself tospeak, because I knew what would happen if I did talk. He released me, butdidn’t stop holding my hand. He signaled for the valet to bring the car, and weboth got in. He opened the glove box and I retrieved my things. I didn’t speakat all, but stared at the dash not really seeing it.

Once we were by the curb outsidethe gate of my home, he looked over at me, but I didn’t meet his stare. “Areyou going to be alright?”

I nodded once more. “I’ll be fine.I just need to be by myself for a while.” I opened the door before he couldleave the interior of the car. “I’ll see you later.”

He didn’t look exactly happy that Iwas feeling so miserable, but he didn’t question my thoughts for which I was grateful.As soon I was beyond the gate, I waited for him to leave. It took a fewminutes, but his car departed the area. I sunk to the ground against the hedgeand sobbed quietly.

Itwas the waltz that did this. That select piece of music had this effect on me.I hated feeling weak, and right now I was weak. Gathering my strength Ireturned to my cottage.