by S. L. Stacy
“And I’m a little teapot,” I snap. I try to keep my voice steady even as my insides are churning. I can almost hear the voices of the Sigma Iotas chanting: O Master of darkness, blood and carnage…“Tell me your name.”
“There it is!” he barks in triumph. He doubles over, shaking with laughter. “I knew she’d be feisty! I knew it! I knew it!”
While his hysterical laughter ricochets off the walls and ceiling, I sigh and get shakily to my feet. The heel of one of my shoes is broken. I take them off. “Just give me something to call you.”
He smiles wickedly and puts his hands on his hips. “Master.”
I guess I set myself up for that one. “I’m not calling you that.” I glance around at the walls without moving my head, looking for a way out, but all I see is charcoal gray rock.
“I am master of this place, and you are mine. Kneel before your master, human scum!”
“I’m not exactly human.” And I’m not scum.
“Ah, I see it now.” I feel naked as he studies me. His eyes pierce straight through to the place where my soul used to be. “You’re a demigoddess. One of Nike’s descendants. Now, kneel, halfling.”
I keep my bare feet planted firmly on the floor. “No.”
He pouts. “Kneel…please?”
“This is ridiculous.” I turn and walk up to the wall behind me. I press my palms to it and feel around for cracks in its cold, bumpy surface. There has to be a way out of here.
Suddenly, he presses his body into me, shoving me up against the wall. His hands smack the rock on either side of me. The metal clasps and chains of his vest bite into my back. Something hard brushes up against my tailbone. His chilly breath tickles my ear. He smells like—well, I’m not exactly sure. The scent reminds me of being outside after it’s just snowed—fresh, sharp and slightly bitter. It’s not unpleasant.
“Kneel,” he whispers in a voice that, for a moment, makes me want to sink obediently to my knees.
The heat welling up inside me quickly turns to frost. I know what’s coming. I try to disappear into the wall. “Please let me go.”
He instantly backs away. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and turn to face him.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says, chuckling nervously. “I like my women alive and willing.”
Lucky me. “Let me go home,” I plead.
“Yeah, sorry, can’t do that.” He doesn’t sound very sorry. Then again, there’s a heaviness in his gaze that doesn’t match his casual tone or playful smirk.
“I want to go home,” I demand, louder this time.
“But you just got here!” he says, stomping his foot. “You don’t really want to leave so soon. You were just starting to like me! Yes, you were,” he insists when I shake my head. “Come on. You know you like me.”
Dangerous and unhinged really isn’t my thing, is what I want to say, but, as tears sting my eyes, all I can manage is: “Please. I just…want to go home.”
His eyes dart away from my pleading face and back again. “You were a gift. I can’t just let you go.”
“I don’t know what you expect of me.” I push my unruly hair behind my ears. “I’m never going to have sex with you, if that’s what you want.”
“Never say never. I can be quite convincing. But like I said, I would never make you do anything you didn’t want to. I want you to be comfortable while you’re here because…well, you’re going to be here for a while.”
“How long is ‘a while?’”
“Forever. Give or take a few hundred thousand years. So, tell me what it will be, Carly. Tell me what you want.”
“My freedom,” I persist, my voice quiet but firm.
Spinning on his heel, he swaggers back toward his throne, head bowed.
“I suppose I could give you a chance to earn your freedom,” he finally says, still with his back to me. “Yes. Yes, this could be fun,” he adds almost to himself, nodding eagerly. “Let’s play a game.”
Oh, crap. This is just like that horror movie. What was it called again? That’s right—Saw. There’s no way he could have seen those movies, right?
“A series of tests.” He faces me. “Three tests: one of the mind, one of the body and one of the heart. If you pass all three, you will be free of me. Otherwise, we will be together. Forever.
“And if at any time you give into your most carnal desires”—he grins and winks—“you automatically forfeit. I can promise you only one thing, Carly: I will not be making this easy for you.”
I close my eyes and sigh, defeat already weighing heavily on my shoulders. When I open them again, I almost dissolve into a puddle of taffeta and sequins.
I’m standing in an empty meadow, a warm breeze kicking up my hair. My new “master” and his dark, icy palace are gone.
Chapter 13
“Hey, Siobhan.”
Rebecca walks up to where I’m sprinkling foil confetti over the buffet table. She extends her hand toward the bag. “Here, let me help you with that.”
“I don’t need help,” I insist, keeping the bag out of her reach. “It’s not like it’s hard.”
Rebecca takes her hand back. “Okay. I was just asking.”
I walk over to one of the round dinner tables and toss another handful onto its glass surface. Rebecca hovers behind me.
“Please, tell me more about how you and your sisters had absolutely nothing to do with Carly’s disappearance,” I say without looking up at her.
“We didn’t have anything to do with it. Unlike you and that sex tape getting posted.”
“I don’t get why you care so much. It’s not even you in the video, remember?”
“It isn’t. But everyone thinks it is.” Rebecca grabs my forearm, forcing me to look up at her. “We made your plumbing malfunction because we wanted you to have a crappy rush. I’ll admit to that. But we would never hurt anyone or…or worse.”
I shake off her hand. “I’ll feel better when Carly comes back in one piece.”
“Let us help you—”
“I think it’s better if you don’t. Just…leave me alone.” Turning my back to her, I set the bag of confetti on the table and run out into the lobby of the Willow Park Hotel to gather my thoughts.
Every time someone says Carly’s name, my stomach hurts. Not just because I’m worried about her, but because I feel guilty for snapping at her last week. As if it weren’t bad enough that Carly was supposed to be here this afternoon, helping us decorate for tonight’s masquerade ball, Rebecca has to remind me that we really have no idea what happened or where she is. Sure, it’s easy pinning it on the Alpha Rhos—and I still swear they must have had something to do with it—but just because Samantha had Carly’s phone in her pocket doesn’t really mean anything. I don’t think Samantha would be dumb enough to carry Carly’s phone on her if they had her tied up in their basement or something. How or when someone could have planted it on her, I’m not sure. Maybe while they were all distracted by Apate’s hallucination. There’s no way I’m telling Samantha or Rebecca any of this, though. I want them to be wary of us—at least for a little while longer.
Tonight, we find out whether the girls we extended bids to accepted or not. The last two days of recruitment were devoid of unnecessary drama. Ever since Carly went missing, the Alpha Rhos have backed off their revenge spree. Our attention has been split between trying to find out what the hell happened to Carly and convincing Nike’s legacies to join our house—among them, the blonde former cheerleader Tanya talked to the first night and the always awkward and contrary Harriet. After the third night, we were left with only fifteen girls that wanted to come back for our preference ceremony. We couldn’t afford to drop anyone.
After her night of drunken table dancing, Anna has sobered up—or at least she sounded like she’d come to her senses when we talked on the phone the other night.
“Thanks for taking me home,” she said to me, sounding like her usual levelheaded self. “You were right—I wasn
’t acting like myself. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be,” I told her. “At least I didn’t see anyone taking pictures or taping it or anything like that. You won’t become another victim of The Grapevine.”
“Oh, God. That would be humiliating.”
“Just promise me you’ll lay off the ambrosia. You don’t need it.”
“I know. I will—promise. I don’t have anymore, even if I needed—I mean, even if I wanted some. You ruined my stash, remember?” she joked. I thought I detected a hint of annoyance in her laughter. Maybe I imagined it. I hope I did.
Once we’re finished decorating the ballroom at the hotel, I return to the house and get ready for the dance with my sisters.
“Whoa,” Tanya says. The chiffon skirt of her pale pink halter dress flutters around her knees as she plods barefooted into our room. She eases a rose-colored rhinestone stud through her earlobe. “I thought we were wearing pink tonight.”
“I didn’t get the memo.” I crane my neck over my shoulder so I can see the back of my dress in the mirror. It’s strapless with a deep purple bodice and a plunging back. The skirt is covered with wispy black feathers. “I guess I’m going for a more…sophisticated look.”
“Well, you look hot!”
“Thanks.” I turn around and adjust the bodice. “I just wish I had the boobs to fill it out. Maybe I can borrow yours?”
“Why, of course.” Tanya mimes popping them off and handing them to me. We both laugh. “We should go downstairs. The buses are here.”
“I’ll be down in a sec.” I look at my reflection one last time. There’s something missing. I brush a hand across my collarbone—it feels naked.
I’m rummaging through my jewelry box when I remember Carly’s necklace.
I go over to my laundry basket and pull out the jeans I wore to the Sigma Iota party a few days ago. Fishing the necklace out of the pocket, I unclasp it and string it around my neck. The clasp closes again with a tiny, metallic click.
Putting on the necklace feels anticlimactic. I don’t feel any different. I have no idea why Liz freaked out at Carly so much or why I imagined I was somehow inexplicably drawn to it. Carly was right.
It’s just a necklace.
Outside, a small fleet of school buses has pulled up to the Greek Quad, waiting to take everyone over to the Willow Park Hotel. The rushees accepting bids are leaving from the Student Union and will meet us there.
At the hotel, Tanya and I stop at the powder room in the lobby. Tanya snaps on a baby pink filigree mask. I put on a sparkly black butterfly-shaped one. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and think about the wings lying dormant underneath my back. I summon them to the surface. Muscle rolls and shifts as they break through, unfurling like a velvety black, purple and blue flower.
“That’s a little risky,” Tanya says.
I shrug. “It’s going to be dark, and almost everyone will be drunk.” Now that I’m in control of my wings, I’ve kind of missed them. For so long I lived in fear of those moments of overwhelming emotion that would awaken them, dreading the day my secret would reveal itself to everyone. I never really appreciated how beautiful they are—never really showed them off.
Tanya smiles. “I like this idea.” She shuts her eyes, concentrating, then her own pair of broad, feathery white wings emerges. The powder room door opens, and a girl stops short of the tip of Tanya’s wing.
“Oops. Sorry,” Tanya tells her. “We’ll get out of your way.” Tanya has to maneuver sideways to get through the door. I follow her and hold the door open for the girl. She’s a Delta Chi.
“You guys really went all out!” she gasps in admiration. “They look so real!” She tugs on one of my wings.
“Thanks,” I tell her, biting back a yelp of pain.
Tanya and I join the herd of elegantly dressed, masked girls and boys flooding into the ballroom. The lights are low, the crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling glittering darkly. We spot Victoria in the far corner surrounded by eight or so girls I recognize from rush and walk over to them.
Victoria sees us and crosses her arms, looking pointedly at our wings through the eyeholes of a plain black mask. “Nice costumes.”
“We thought they were perfect for the occasion,” Tanya says. She ignores Victoria’s exasperated sigh and pulls one of the girls into a tight hug. They both start jumping and squealing. “Yay! I’m so glad you accepted your bid!”
“Of course I did!” The girl beams, blonde ringlets bouncing around a gold mask. I think she’s the pigtailed cheerleader. “There isn’t any other house for me.”
“You haven’t met my roommate! This is Siobhan.” Tanya releases her and gestures to me. “She’s our social chair. Siobhan, this is my twin.”
I bring a hand to my chest, feigning offense. “I thought I was your twin.”
“You know what I mean. She’s going to be my little sister,” Tanya declares.
“Well then, it’s nice to meet you, Tanya’s future little,” I tell the girl, shaking her hand.
She giggles. “You, too! And it’s Madison. Or Maddie.”
Someone taps me on the shoulder. “I accepted my bid, too,” Harriet says, holding up her ivory bid card. In khaki pants and a white blouse, she looks ready to give a class presentation, not dance the night away at a masquerade ball.
“Oh. Oh, yay!” I cry, recovering from my initial surprise. I snap my fingers, grinning eagerly. “We’re excited to have you! So, where are the others?” I wonder, looking around the ballroom.
“The others?” Victoria repeats.
“The other girls we gave bids to.”
“Oh, well, I think…I think we’re all here!” Victoria tries to say it with enthusiasm, but her voice cracks nervously on the last word. “Yay!” she cheers weakly. Tanya meets my gaze, her mouth falling open.
“Great! Awesome!” My cheeks are starting to hurt from all of the fake smiling I’m doing. I turn back to Harriet. “Where’s your mask?”
She shrugs. “I don’t have one.”
“We can fix that! They have some extras over here.” I take her by the shoulders and push her toward the buffet table. On the way, we pass a cluster of Alpha Rhos with their backs to us, taking a group picture. I recognize Samantha’s short hair. Rebecca stands in the middle, blue-black hair piled up in a bun, the back of her silver floor-length dress cut out to reveal pale skin and a tramp stamp on her lower back.
I look away quickly, the curly, black lines of the tattoo etched on my retina. I can’t remember if the girl in the video had a tramp stamp. I’m pretty sure she didn’t.
In another corner, there’s a group of Delta Chis jumping up and down, singing one of their chants. A girl in a blue dress lifts up her peacock mask and waves to me. It’s everybody’s favorite doomsayer, Vanessa. I flutter my fingers in her direction.
I spot a red and gold mask on the table. “Ooo, try this one.” I start sliding it over Harriet’s face before she can respond. She flinches as gold glitter peppers the front of her blouse.
“Thanks,” she says, trying to brush the glitter off.
“Hey, you.” Jimmy comes up behind me and slings his arm around my shoulders. “I haven’t heard from you in a few days.”
And he’s surprised by this? “I haven’t heard from you, either.” I duck out of the embrace. His playful smile falters. “Wow!” I exclaim when I notice the suit he’s wearing. “You’re—”
“Devilishly handsome?” Jimmy finishes for me, pretending to adjust his black bowtie.
“I was going to say fully clothed, but devilish works.” Jimmy tries to elbow me in the ribcage. I hop back a few steps to evade him, almost bumping into Harriet. “Oh, Jimmy, this is Harriet. She’s one of our pledges. Harriet, this is Jimmy. He fronts the band playing tonight.” Harriet mumbles a greeting and gives a short wave. Jimmy nods at her.
“I think I’m going to go back to the group,” Harriet tells me.
“Okay. I’ll be over soon.” Jimmy a
nd I watch Harriet scurry away. “So, what do you think?” I ask him, twirling in my dress.
He grimaces and lightly touches one of the black feathers. “I’m not sure. You kind of look like a Muppet.” I narrow my eyes at him. “A sexy Muppet?” he corrects himself.
“Don’t listen to him,” Peter says, coming up beside Jimmy. “He doesn’t understand fashion. You look beautiful, dahling.” He takes my hand and pecks a kiss on it.
“Why thank you, sir.” I fan myself with the hand he’s just kissed. “And I must say, you look quite dapper yourself.”
Peter tips his top hat toward me. There’s a red feather tucked into its black silk hat band. “Thanks, love. Come on, Jim. We need to finish setting up the glitter cannons.”
“The what?” I cry.
“I was just kidding, love!”
“See, I told you. We embarrass her.” Jimmy shakes his head sadly.
“Really, though,” Peter insists, cocking his head toward the stage.
“I’m coming,” Jimmy tells him. Peter walks back over to the stage, where the rest of their band, Search and Destroy, is setting up speakers and tuning their instruments. “We go on in an hour. I guess there’s a deejay first.”
I nod knowingly, grimly. “Ah yes, DJ Jazzy Jack from Eta Tau Upsilon. I know him well.”
Jimmy laughs. “Anyway, I really should go help them. Maybe I’ll catch you later.” I give a start when he kisses me briefly on the cheek.
“Yeah…maybe.”
He pulls away from me and saunters toward the stage.
“So we’re okay?” I call out after him.
Jimmy tosses me a huge smile over his shoulder. “Of course!”
“Okay. Well, break a leg!”
“Thanks!”
“Welcome, one and all, to this year’s Bid Night Dance: the Masquerade Ball,” a low voice bellows into the microphone just as I rejoin my sisters. “And a special welcome to all of the new members of the Greek community. Now get ready to shake your tail feathers to the smooth sounds of DJ Jazzy Jaaaaack.”