by Jenna Moreci
“Whereexactlyarewegoing?”sheasked,skeptically.
“Toseemymom,duh.”
“Iknowthat,butwhere isshe?”
Hesmiled.“Home.”
“Wewerejust atyourhome.”
“No,she’s homehome.”
“Whatdoyoumeanshe’s homehome?”
“She’satourcondo—inManhattan.”
“WHAT?”Eveshrieked.“We’regoingto NEWYORK? ”
“Yeah.Wheredidyouthinkweweregoing?”
“Idon’tknow,notacrosstheentire country,that’sfordamnsure.”
“Relax,”heanswered,tryingtostiflehisspreadinggrin.“We’retakingmy
mom’sprivatejet.It’snotlikeyouhavetoflycommercialoranything.”
“It’snottheflightaccommodationsthatI’mworriedabout,Percy.”
“Thenwhat’stheproblem?”
“What’sthe problem?”shesnapped.“We’reflyingtotheeastcoast,andthe partyis tomorrow.”
“We’llflyin,snagadress,staythenight,andflybacktomorrowmorning.
Withthetimedifference,we’llbeback waybeforethepartyevenstarts.”
Evesuckedinadeepbreathandwatchedasasmallprivateairportappeared
inthedistance.Shecursedtoherselfandpickedathercuticles.
“Idon’thaveanything.Notoothpaste,nochangeofclothes…”
“Mymomhastoothpaste andclothes,”hescoffed.“WheredoyouthinkI’m
takingyou?Adesertisland?”
“Thisiscrazy.”
“Livealittle,Eve.”Hepunchedherintheshoulder.“Theplanisfoolproof.
What’stheretoworryabout?”
Evestaredattherowsofjets;theyweresleek,lineduplikeprizedponieson
display.
“I’veneverevenbeenonaplanebefore.”
“What? Are you serious? Where are you from, the nineteen hundreds? Does yourcarrunongasoline,too?”
PercyhauledEvefromherseatanddraggedherthroughthelotlikeaparent
withastubbornchild.Hisplanwascompletelyabsurd,butforwhatever
reason, be it desperation or the hint of elation buzzing inside of her, Eve decided to surrender to his will. She boarded the private jet behind Percy, admiring the luxury of the plush leather seats and ruby-red floors. The cabin was lit with a faint glow, the walls and ceiling the color of champagne and lined with a gold trim. She sat down in the seat across from Percy, who had already made himself comfortable, and just as she was getting acclimated to hersurroundings,awell-groomedstewardsquattedbesideher.
“Goodafternoon,Mr.LaFleur,MissKingston,”hebegan,hiswordsbreathy
andcool.“CanIinterestyouinabeverage?”
“Scotchontherocksforme,”Percychimedin.“Andahottowel,please.”
ThestewardlookedatEve,hiseyeswarmandalmosthypnotic.“Foryou,
MissKingston?”
“Um,”shestuttered,“waterisfine.”
“Seltzer,flavored,mountain,holy,orspringwater?”
Evehesitated.“Theregularkind?”
Percylaughed,leaningbackinhischairlikeaproudking.“Enjoytheride,
mydear.You’llthankmeforthislater.”
Despiteherapprehensions,Evequicklyadjustedtothecomfortandopulence
oftheLaFleurprivatejet.Theflightwassmooth,andtimeseemedtopassinan
instant,astherewereplentyofentertainmentstooccupytheirtime.AlargeHV
and gaming system adorned one of the cabin walls, and at Percy’s insistence, Eveallowedherselftopartakeinthefrivoloushologames.Theybattledninjas,
zombies,andninjazombies,andtheycheeredandlaugheduntiltheyweretired
andoutofbreath.Forthatshortperiodoftime,Evewasfreefromanyhintof
anxiety—sheandPercywerejustfriendsengagedinafoolish,thoughtless
adventure.
Uponlanding,EvefollowedPercythroughtheairport,tryingtocatchquick
glimpsesofthecitythroughthewindows.Itwashardtobelieveshewas
actuallyinNewYork,andwhileshewasn’ttypicallyeasilyexcitable,shefelta
rush of childish delight within her. Before she could relish in the moment, Percystoppedjustshortoftheexitandbeckonedhertohisside.
“Youready?”
“Readyforwhat?”
“Twothings:one,it’sgoingtobecolderthanshitoutthere.”
Evelookeddownatherlighthoodedsweatshirtandfrowned.“Thanksfor
thewarning.”
“Two,”Percycontinued,“bepreparedforbrightlights. Lotsofbrightlights.”
“IsthissometypeofmetaphorforthelightsofNewYork?”shequipped.
“Cute,Percy.Reallycute.”
Helaughed.“Actually,forgetthatlastpart.IthinkI’mgoingtoenjoythis.”
Withoutanotherword,Percyledheroutside,exposingthemtoafrenzyof
flashinglightsandincoherentshouting.Evegasped,hereyespractically blindedbytheincessantblinkingoftheshining,whitelights.
Percysmirked.“Havingfunyet?”
Evesquinted,strainingtodiscernthechaosinfrontofher.Ahordeof
photographerssurroundedtheduo,snappingpicturesandbarkingthemost
inane,mindlessquestionsshehadeverheard.
“PERCY!WHERE’SYOURMOTHER?”
“PERCY,ISTHATYOURGIRLFRIEND?”
“OVERHERE,PERCY!LOOKOVERHERE!”
EveclungtoPercy,whoappearedconfidentandpoised,completelyunfazed
bythemobofpaparazzi.Shelookedpastthecrowd,deepintothedarknessof
thestreet,andsawastretchlimowaitingonlyafewyardsaway.
Percyelbowedherintheribs.“Let’skeepitmoving,lady.”
HegrabbedatEve’swristandtuggedherthroughthecrowd,andthe
flashinglightsandwitlessshoutingsurgedaroundthem.Evethoughtthe
mayhemfeltvaguelyfamiliar,asifshehadbeentheremanytimesbefore,and
thensherememberedtheangryprotestersatBillington,withtheirpainted
signsandderangedchanting.Thepaparazzi,thoughequallyunyielding,
seemedinnocentincomparison;theysmiledasPercypassed,almost
completelyuninterested,foronce,inthechimeraathisside.
Percy shoved Eve into the limousine and slammed the door behind him,
quicklyrepositioninghishairandadjustinghisleathercoatattheseams.Eve shookhertousledlocksfromherfaceandwrappedherarmsaroundher
shiveringbody,tryingherbesttoshieldherselffromtheblisteringcold.Amid
alloftheinsanity,shealmostdidn’tnoticethewomansittingacrossfromher.
“Oh,dear,you’reshakinglikealeaf,”thewomancooed.Sheturnedtoward
asmallspeakerinherheadrest.“Aleksander,pleaseturnontheheater
immediately.”
Arushofheatpulsedthroughthevents,andEvesighedwithrelief.Settling
intoherseat,shetookagoodlookatthestrangewomaninfrontofher.
Herfacewasbeautifulandoddlyyouthfulwithrosycheeksandplump,pink
lips to match. She had shoulder-length, silky brown hair that shimmered like gold under the faint light of the limo. Her emerald-green eyes were sparkly andbright,offsetbytherichebonywrapthathungoverhermilkyshoulders.
EvecouldseehintsofPercyinherfeatures—theyhadthesamealmond-shaped
eyes,thesamepointedchinandhighcheekbones—andsheknewimmediately
thatthisstu
nningwomanwashismother.
“Thankyou,”Evemutteredshyly.“Notjustfortheheat,butforpickingus
up—foreverything.”
Percysmiled.“Eve,thisismymother,Alicia.Mom,thisisEve.”
“Ah,yes,theoneyou’vetoldmesomuchabout.Well,letmetellyou,
darling, any friend of Percy is a friend of mine.” She giggled to herself and glided her fingers through her hair, exposing several jeweled bracelets that hung around her wrist. “So, tell me about this party you’re attending. I hear
you’reinabitofapickle,yes?”
EveglancedbackandforthbetweenPercyandherhostessbefore
continuing.“Well,JasonValentineishavinghistwenty-firstbirthdayparty
tomorrow,andI’msupposedtobehisdate,exceptIdon’thaveadress.”
“Oh,youtwoareabsolutedolls.Irememberwhatitwasliketobeyourage
—soyoung,sofullofadventure.Flyingacrossthecountryonawhim,justfor
asimplegown.”Shesighed,hereyesdistantasshereminisced.“WhenIlook
atyou,Eve,Iseesomuchofmyselfinyou.Imean,really,Percy,”sheturned
towardhersonandpointedatEve,“don’twelookalike?Iswear,peoplecould
mistakeusforsisters.”
Percychuckled,glancingatEveasiftosay Itoldyouso.
AliciascannedEve,studyingherappearance.“You’reavision,darling.Very
statuesque,andsuchelegantfeatures.”Hereyeslowered,landingonEve’s
simplegreyandbluewardrobe.“Lovetheensemble,bytheby.Minimalismis
soinrightnow.Tellme,whatinspiredyou?”
Evehesitated.“Poverty?”
“Povertyison firethisseason.Waytobeonpointwiththetrends,darling.”
ThelimoglidedthroughManhattan,swervingpastbustlingNewYorkers
and yellow taxicabs. It was just as it appeared in the movies, the buildings stretchinglikegiantsintothenightsky,loomingoverheadinawaythatmade
Eve feel small. It was as if she had been transported to another time and dimension,awayfromBillingtonanditstheatrics.Justhoursagoshehadbeen
firing guns in Calabasas, and now she was sitting in a limousine with Alicia LaFleur,asimplewomanwithnot-so-simpletaste,discussingapassionfor
fashionthatEvewasn’tentirelysureshehadinthefirstplace.
Thedriverpulledovertothesideofthestreet,parkingthecarinfrontofthe
doubledoorsofamassivetower.ThebuildingremindedherofRutherford
Hall, though it was at least three times as tall and far more luxurious. The groundswerelitwithspotlightsthatflickeredagainstthelargeblackwindows,
makingthebuildingsparklelikeabeautifulgemintheheartofManhattan.
BeforeEvecouldadmirethearchitectureanylonger,herwindowwas
blocked,theviewcoveredbyaverystrangesight—acrotch,orratherthe
zippered fly of a pair of jeans, worn by yet another nagging paparazzo. In moments,theentirecarwassurrounded.EveglancedatPercy,whowas
fiddlingwithhissunglasses,unconcernedwiththesituation.
Aliciawrinkledhernoseandpouted.“Itlookslikethey’vecorneredus
again, haven’t they?” She turned to Eve and nodded her head at the blocked door.“Goaheadandopenit,darling.They’llmakeroomforyou—eventually.
Andiftheydon’t,well”—shewinked—“feelfreetobeabit aggressive.”
“Oh,okay,”Evestuttered.Shereachedforthehandleandgaveitaforceful
push,knockingitagainstthephotographersthatcrowdedaroundthe
limousine.
“ALICIA!”theyshouted.“ALICIA,LOOKOVERHERE!”
Aliciasteppedontothepavementandflashedagorgeous,toothysmileatthe
cameras.Evereluctantlystumbledoutafterher,followedbyamuchmore
gracefulPercy,andAliciaeagerlygrabbedbothoftheirhandsbeforesteering themtowardthehigh-rise.
“WHATAREYOUDOINGTONIGHT,ALICIA?”
Mrs.LaFleurgiggled.“Spendingtimewithmyhandsomesonandhis
delightfulfriend.”
“ALICIA,WHATISYOURFRIENDWEARING?”
“Poverty,”shesmiled,wrappingherarmaroundEveandsqueezingher
tightly.“She’swearingpoverty.”
Thethreesomeshuffledintothelobbyofthebuilding,saunteringpast
uniformedworkersandwealthyresidents,andallthewhileEvegawkedatthe
lavish conditions. They filed into a glass elevator that shot up like a bullet to theLaFleurfamilycondoonthethirty-firstfloor,andwhenthedoorsopened,
hereyeslitupwithawe.Theentrywaywasamazing:vanilla-coloredmarble
floors reflected the lights of the colossal chandelier hanging overhead, and beyond that, ivory staircases sat along either side of a single hallway, itself linedwithacrimsonrugintricatelystitchedwithflecksofgoldandbronze.A
massive,hand-paintedfamilyportraitadornedoneofthewalls,andbeneathit
stoodalineoftuxedoedservants.
Aliciascamperedtowardoneoftheservantsandploppedherwrapontohis
outstretchedarms.“Followme,darlings,”shetrilledbeforeheadinguponeof
thestaircases,leavingEvestandinginthemiddleoftheentryway,still
awestruck.
Percynudgedhershoulder.“Whatareyouwaitingfor?We’vegotdressesto
sortthrough.”
EveandPercyscurriedupthestaircaseanddownthehallway,following
Alicia to a large, open room lined with rows and rows of the most beautiful shoes,purses,andjewelryEvehadeverseen.
“Whatisthis?”sheasked,strollingpastatierofglitteringnecklaces.“Isthis yourbedroom?”
Aliciachuckled.“Don’tbesilly,darling.Thisisacloset.”
“YourclosetisbiggerthantheapartmentIlivedinforthreeyears.”
Alicia’schortleturnedintoanuproar.“Percy,you’reright,she ishilarious.”
Justastheheiress’slaughterbegantoebb,threemoreservantscame
bargingthroughthedoorway,pushingracksstuffedwithmoregownsthanEve
couldhavepossiblyimagined,allperfectlycolor-coordinatedand
overflowingwithglitteringappliqués,voluminousskirts,andrichfabrics.
Aliciadelicatelyranherhandacrossthedresses,admiringhercollection.
“So,wherewouldyouliketostart?Youhavesuchalovelyskintone—
eggplantorcoralwouldlookabsolutely remarkableonyou.”
“It’sablack-and-whiteball,Mom,”Percymuttered.“Ithinkyoucangather
fromthatwhathercoloroptionsare.”
AliciaturnedtoEveandfrowned.“Whatashame.Cherryredwouldreally
suit you.” She turned to her servants. “Gentlemen, please remove the colored gowns.”
Theworkersscuttledthroughtheroom,reorganizingtherackswiththe
speedandefficiencyofanassemblyline.Finally,onlyonerackremained, displayingthefinestblackandwhitechiffon,satin,andlacethatmoneycould
buy.Aliciaflippedthroughthegownsliketheywerepagesofabook,tryingto
findtheperfectlookforherprotégé.
“So,mydear,howwouldyouliketolook?”Shepulledoutawhiteball
gownwithafluffytulleskirt.“Belleoftheball?TheprincessalongsidePrince
Valentine?”
“Godno,”Eveblurtedout.Sheblushed.“Imean,I’mnotexactlythe
‘princess’type
.”
“Hm.”Aliciacontinuedtosearchthroughtheselections,landingonasexy
numberwithpanelsofblacksequinsandaplungingneckline.“Howaboutthe
dark,seductivetemptress?”
Percyrolledhiseyes.“Eveneedsallthelikeabilitypointsshecanget.
Paradingaroundasavillainousfemmefatalewillhardlyhelphercause.”
“Oh, I’ve got it,” Alicia chirped, grabbing a long, lace gown in ivory. “A delicatepearl—adamselindistress,yes?”
“Mom, please,” Percy moaned. “A damsel in distress? The girl’s a chimera ; she’sgeneticallyprogrammedtobeanass-kicking machine.”
Evewinced,asifPercy’swordsweredaggerspiercingherskin.Alicia
looked up, her eyes suddenly bright with astonishment and intrigue, and Eve feltapangofdreadinhergut.
“You’reachimera,dear?”
“Notjustanychimera,Mom.She’sthestrongestchimerainthe world,which makesheramega,über, superchimera—”
“Percy,”Evegrumbled,“Icanspeakformyself.”
“Sorry.Toldyouitwasabadhabit.”
Aliciawassilent,stillstaringatEvewiththegentlesteyesEvehadeverseen.
Eveheldherbreath,anticipatingthestormtocome,waitingforAliciatosnarl
withdisgust,ortobanishherfromherhomenevertoreturnagain.Thequiet
feltendless,andwithclenchedfistsandastraightenedback,Evebracedherself
fortheverbalassassinationshewassurewouldtakeplace.
“Thestrongestchimeraintheentireworld,”Aliciarepeated.“Wellnow,that
changeseverything,doesn’tit?”
Withonefluidmotion,Aliciareachedupandtuckedastrandofhairbehind
Eve’sear.Shesmiled.
“Awomanwithsuchpowerneedsapowerfuldress—astatementpiece.”
Eve’seyeswidened;sheopenedhermouthtospeakbutcouldn’tfindthe
words.
“Thestrongestchimeraintheworldshouldcommandattentionand
admiration.AndIknow justthedress.”Aliciabeamedwithdelightanddashed toward the rack, pulling out a strapless gown in jet black with a heart-shaped neckline.“It’savintagepiecefromthetwenties—twenty-twenty-seven,I