I wasn’t surprised to find Kelsey waiting for me in the hallway. “Did you get it?”
I held up my hand and smiled. “It was easier than I thought it would be. I didn’t even have to fake being mad at her before the fight.”
Kelsey smiled. “She’s nothing if not predictable.”
We made our way back down to our room. Kelsey retrieved the box from under Matilda’s bed. I tidied up the clump of hair I had yanked from Brittany’s head and tried to make it look as much like the other clump of hair as possible.
Once Kelsey put the box back and I shoved the sample of my hair into my pocket I turned to her. “I told you this was a great idea.”
“So? What next?”
“I don’t have all the answers,” I laughed. “It took me days to plan what we just did.”
“You must have some idea.”
I did. “We have to start working on Matilda and Laura.”
“Work on them how?” Kelsey didn’t look impressed with the suggestion.
“We have to separate them from the sorority and we have to do it before Earth Day.”
“Why? What happens on Earth Day?”
“Whatever they’re planning is going down on Earth Day,” I explained.
“But now, whatever they’re planning can’t happen because we stopped it.”
“We stopped them from casting whatever spell they have planned for me,” I corrected her. “Whatever their bigger plan is, we’re still waiting on that.”
“What do you think their bigger plan is?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It can’t be good, though.”
“But why do we have to get them out of the sorority before Earth Day? You seem pretty sure about that.”
“Because,” I replied wearily. “If they’re with the sorority when this all goes down, the other supernaturals on this campus won’t hesitate to kill them with the others in the sorority.”
The color drained from Kelsey’s normally tanned face. “Kill them?”
“Kill them.”
Kelsey looked frightened but resigned. “Okay,” she blew out a sigh. “How do we get them out of the sorority?”
That was the ultimate question – and I didn’t have an answer.
Thirty-Three
“When they were thinking up bad ideas, this is what they had in mind.”
I glanced up at Kelsey to see her eyes watching me thoughtfully in the bathroom mirror, and tried to muster a smile. It didn’t quite happen.
“You have another idea?”
“We could stay here.”
“And do what? Wait to find out how many bodies are dropped today?”
“It’s Earth Day, let’s honor the Earth and go to the bar or something?” Kelsey looked desperate.
Part of me wanted to agree with her. The other part knew I couldn’t.
It was the day. THE day. We had spent the last few weeks trying to make amends with Laura and Matilda and find a way to talk them into dropping out of Delta Omicron. It was obvious that was a fruitless endeavor pretty early on. So, the past week, I refocused my efforts into trying to talk Matilda and Laura out of attending the Earth Day celebration.
That hadn’t gone well either.
Laura and Matilda were set on going, which meant Laura, Paris and I had no choice but to follow.
“I still think we’re making a really big mistake,” Kelsey pressed.
“I think we’re making a really big mistake, too.”
“Then why are we going?”
“Because, if we don’t, we’re always going to wonder.”
“Wonder what?”
“If we could have saved them.”
Kelsey frowned. “If you really think they’re in danger, you should call the police.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth to make sure no lipstick glommed there and then fixed Kelsey with a hard stare. “What are the police going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Kelsey shrugged. “Stop things?”
“How? We have witches doing spells, werewolves ready to ... wolf out and God knows how many other supernaturals ready to do something bloody. That’s all on top of Blake’s stupid monster squad.”
Kelsey frowned again. “You haven’t really told me much about them.”
“There’s not much to tell,” I said. “I actually don’t think they’ll show up today. They don’t believe humans are their problem.”
“Not even witches?”
“Not as long as they’re human. Evil humans are above their pay grade apparently.”
“So how are we going to stop things? How are we going to fix this?”
“I’m not planning on stopping it,” I admitted.
“Then why are we going?”
“To try to keep Matilda and Laura out of it.”
“And if that doesn’t happen?”
“Try to stop Aric from killing them.”
Kelsey shook her head angrily. “I can’t believe this is your life. I can’t believe this is my life.”
I moved away from her when I heard someone knock on the front door of the dorm.
I ushered Paris in. I was surprised when Paris suddenly pulled out her phone and snapped a photograph of Kelsey and me, throwing us both off guard.
“Why are you taking a picture?”
“Oh, I’m going to upload it to Wikipedia next to the word ‘stupid,’” Paris said bluntly.
“Okay. Let’s go see if we can get ourselves killed. At least I won’t have to take finals that way.”
I followed Paris into the hallway, stopping to watch Kelsey lock the door behind us.
“I really like finals,” she lamented. “We better not miss finals.”
She’s a little weird sometimes – although finals did sound markedly better than a supernatural showdown.
“WELCOME. The bar is over there and everyone is congregating on the lawn behind the house.”
One of Laura and Matilda’s sorority sisters greeted us on the front lawn of the house. I expected some form of recognition from her when she caught sight of me – even if inadvertent -- but it didn’t happen. As the three of us moved around the side of the house and headed toward the backyard, Kelsey blew out a sigh of relief.
“See! I don’t think anything is going to happen. That girl didn’t even act like she recognized you.”
“Maybe she doesn’t,” I replied wryly. “She could just be fodder here.”
“Fodder?”
“She means that she could just be one of the nameless and faceless idiots who is being drained to bolster Jessica’s power,” Paris explained.
“So, we’re focusing on this Jessica girl?” Kelsey asked.
“She’s the ringleader,” I agreed. “I don’t think she’ll be acting alone.”
“And what about Laura and Matilda?”
“If it looks like something is going to happen, I guess we try to wrestle them down and beat some sense into them.”
Kelsey’s face went blank. “You mean that figuratively, right?”
I remained silent as I moved past her and stepped into the backyard of the sorority house.
“Right?” Kelsey asked again.
“Just stick close to us,” I hissed, narrowing my eyes as I searched the area for a glimpse of Laura and Matilda. “Don’t wander away. Whatever happens, just don’t wander away.”
“Well that sounds just great,” Kelsey spat out. “This is going to be a great party.”
I ignored her sarcasm. “Don’t drink or eat anything either.”
“Why?” Kelsey whined. “That’s the only reason I was even remotely interested in coming. I won’t get drunk. Trust me, there’s not enough alcohol in the world to make me forget why we’re really here.”
“Because they may lace our food and drinks with something,” Paris answered for me. “And trust us, you don’t want that.”
“They wouldn’t really slip something in my food, would they? Oh, man, they have kabobs!”
“Don’t eat it,�
� I repeated. “It’s better to be safe than sorry. Trust me.”
“I like you, I really do,” Kelsey replied dryly. “I’m starting to wish I had never made friends with you, though.”
“There’s a line forming for that little club,” I replied. “You wouldn’t even be near the front of it these days.”
“And you wouldn’t be in very esteemed company,” Paris pointed out.
Kelsey sighed dramatically. “If I die today. I’m totally blaming you.”
“I would, too.”
Kelsey scanned the yard. “Where are all the guys?”
“What?” I turned to her questioningly.
“There are no guys here.”
I glanced back at the yard and realized she was right. The entire party area was made up of girls. Lots and lots of girls.
“Are these all sorority sisters?” Paris asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t know what the Delta Omicron sisterhood looks like, other than Laura, Matilda and Jessica, that is.”
“It’s not just Delta Omicron,” Paris interjected, her jaw tightening.
“Who do you see?” I tried to follow her sightline. “Oh, crap, you’ve got to be kidding me!”
Kelsey stared along with us. Her reaction was slightly different. She giggled madly when she realized who we had just recognized. “Why would Brittany be here?”
“Because she hates me,” I grumbled.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Paris countered. “Although, since you yanked that chunk of her hair out she has started plotting your death.”
“She’s the least of my worries. But why is she here?”
“What do you mean?” Paris asked.
“I mean, why is she here? She hasn’t been hanging around these guys, has she?”
“No.” Paris shook her head emphatically. “She’s never even mentioned them.”
“So why would she be here?” Kelsey asked curiously.
I had an idea. “Maybe she knows Will and his fraternity brothers are going to show up?”
Paris looked nonplussed. “He probably warned her to stay away and she did just the opposite because ... well, because she’s Brittany.”
“Knowing her, she thought he might be here hitting on someone else so she decided to make sure that wasn’t an option. She really is an idiot.”
“She’s going to freak out when things go down,” Paris said.
Well, that was one bright spot in a really depressing day.
“Okay,” I said grimly. “Let’s party.”
Thirty-Four
When you go to a party expecting to find evil people, even the simplest things can take on a threatening tone.
“I love your shoes.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The sorority girl – I had no idea who she was – looked taken aback by the sudden vehemence in my voice.
The girl took an inadvertent step back. “I mean that I like your shoes. Steve Madden?
I love Steve Madden shoes. Did I say something wrong?”
Paris sent the girl a sympathetic look. “We’re just a little uptight. They are great shoes. We just have other things on our minds.”
The girl still looked confused.
“Finals,” Kelsey interjected quickly.
The girl’s confusion melted away and, in its place, bloomed a look of utter understanding and compassion. “Oh, I know, right? College would be so much better if we didn’t have to pass classes.”
Kelsey frowned. “Then why would we go to college?”
“I don’t understand what you mean?” The girl looked puzzled.
I put a hand on Kelsey’s arm to stay her. “We’re just going to go over here and talk to someone ... anyone else.”
Once we moved away from the clueless sorority sister, Kelsey exploded. “She’s a prime example of why people make fun of sororities.”
“I’d rather deal with her stupidity than Jessica’s evil,” I replied pragmatically.
Kelsey considered my statement for a second and then shook her head. “No. I can deal with evil. Stupidity is just ... .”
“Stupid?” Paris suggested helpfully.
“Pretty much,” Kelsey agreed.
We spent the next hour standing next to the fence that cut the sorority’s backyard off from the surrounding houses. Conversation was at a minimum. We mostly just people watched. Paris broke the silence first.
“Have you noticed that there are three different groups of people?”
I glanced at her curiously and then turned to take in the crowd again. She was right.
“Yeah,” I said. “Some of the people here are just random people. There are only a few of them, though. I wonder if that will change things for them?”
“We need to see if they start trying to divert those people away from the party at some point,” Paris agreed. “That will be a sign that things are going to get under way.”
“Won’t they wait until dark?” Kelsey asked.
“I have no idea,” I shrugged. “What time is it anyway?”
Kelsey glanced at her watch. “A few minutes before seven.”
“It will be dark soon,” Paris said. “It’s staying lighter later because of Daylight
Savings, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“Which means that whatever they’ve got planned is probably going to happen soon.”
Kelsey didn’t look happy with my observation. “You said there were three groups of people,” she said.
“What?”
“You said there were three groups of people,” she continued. “What are the other two?”
“The second,” I said, pointing to a big clump of girls gathered around the grill and a picnic table with drinks spread on top of it. “I think they’re the sorority girls who are in this to be in an actual sorority. They’re all about the giggles and drinks.”
“And the third?”
“Over there.” Paris pointed in the opposite direction, to a smaller group of sorority sisters. They had their heads bent together and were whispering. Jessica was at the center of the group, dressed in an ankle-length purple skirt and simple black top.
She seemed to be the one doing the bulk of the talking. Then, as if she sensed us watching her, Jessica glanced up, an evil smile on her face.
I met her smile with one of my own, plastering my toothiest grin on my face – even though my insides were quaking.
“She isn’t even trying to pretend that she’s not evil,” Paris said.
“Nope.” I kept my gaze focused on Jessica. I didn’t want her to think I was afraid. Yes, it was nothing more than posturing, but it’s all we really had right now.
“Matilda and Laura are with the evil group,” Kelsey said, her voice low.
That fact hadn’t escaped me. “I know.”
“So, what do we do?”
“I have no idea,” I admitted, getting a small jolt of happiness when Jessica finally broke our stare-off first.
“We could sneak inside and set off the fire alarm,” Kelsey suggested.
“What would that do?” I asked.
“It would force them to evacuate the yard,” Kelsey replied. “It’s a sorority. They have fire drill rules they have to follow.”
“That would just delay things,” I pointed out.
“It would at least get the random people out of here,” Kelsey shot back.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Paris mused. “If Jessica is planning to use these people as fodder, then getting them out of here hurts her plan and saves us from having to try to save them.”
I thought about it for a second and then nodded grimly. “You’re right. It is a good idea.”
Kelsey looked smug.
“And since it was your idea,” I turned to her. “I’m nominating you for the task.”
Kelsey’s small smile flipped. “Why me?”
“Because it will get you out of the center of things, too,” I said.
> “What about you two?”
“We’ve been through this before,” I replied. “Paris can protect herself and I ... well, I’ll be fine.”
“Because you’re a mage?”
“Because I’m a bitch,” I countered.
“And she’ll have backup in the form of the wolves,” Paris added. “I hope they get here soon.”
There was that. Hopefully.
Kelsey still didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Pull it.”
Kelsey turned, resignation washing over her face.
“After you pull it you need to run.”
Kelsey froze, her back to us. I thought she was going to turn around and argue. Instead, she stiffened her shoulders and walked back toward the house.
I turned back toward Paris. “I had to send her away.”
“I know,” Paris replied. “She’s never been in a situation like this. It will be better if she’s gone.”
“You should go, too,” I said suddenly. “When she pulls the alarm. You can disappear with everyone else.”
Paris shook her head defiantly. “No.”
“You don’t have to be part of this,” I pressed.
“I do.”
“Why?”
Paris fixed her eyes, so full of remorse and self-recrimination, on me. “You know why.”
I blew out a sigh. “Laura.”
“Laura.”
“Laura’s getting into this is not your fault,” I reminded her.
“Isn’t it?” Paris didn’t look convinced. “Because from my point of view, if I hadn’t forced the situation last year this probably wouldn’t have happened.”
“How do you figure?”
“Laura wouldn’t have fallen in with these people if she hadn’t felt so isolated.”
“What?”
“Once she was separated from everyone else, she only had you to rely on,” Paris continued. “When she saw you bonding with Kelsey, it freaked her out. She needed to belong somewhere – she’s always needed to belong somewhere – and she was vulnerable and that’s how Jessica picked her.”
I thought about what she said for a second. “That’s crap.”
Paris raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“That’s crap,” I repeated. “Laura did this to herself. It wasn’t your job to make sure she didn’t feel vulnerable. It’s not mine either. Sure, maybe I should have been more ... aware of what she as going through. That doesn’t make it my fault – and it’s certainly not your fault.”
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