Cecily jams two fingers against her childhood friend’s temple and pushes her. “There’s a loose screw in your bloody head. Why would you want to see that?”
“Because it’s fun, duh.”
I lift a shoulder. “I don’t really know the exact location for that. It can happen on the whole property.”
“No, I heard the last one happened in the forest surrounding the mansion.”
“You want to go to the forest at night?”
“Yes! That should be so fun.”
“You’re crazy.” A rush of adrenaline seeps beneath my skin. “I love it.”
“No, no.” Cecily stops in front of us, hiking a slightly shaking hand up onto her hip. “We’re not going to some doomed forest in the dark. That’s where all the predators are.”
“Oh, come on, Cecy, you’ve been studying so much psychology that you see the worst before the best. Besides, this is private property. No predators are allowed, isn’t that right, Anni?”
“If you don’t count the ones inside, sure. I mean, I’m not a big fan of the dark myself, but I’m open to adventures.”
“Yes to adventures! Come on, Ces. It’s going to be loads of fun.”
“But—”
“Nuh-uh. Two to one, democracy wins.”
Cecily looks like she wants to say something, but she slides her black-framed glasses up her nose and follows us down the path to the forest.
The music and chatter from the main house wanes and eventually disappears as we wander down the dirt path.
The tall trees watch our every movement like scowly guards. Due to the cloudy sky, no light illuminates our way and we have to use our phones’ flashlights.
The leaves crush beneath our shoes with every step and this is seriously the worst occasion for heels.
“See? There’s nothing interesting about roaming through the forest at night. Except for bad vibes and weird mojo,” Cecily says fifteen minutes after we wander in. And is it just me or has she been trembling the whole time?
I’ve always known Cecily to be more badass than demons, so it’s weird for her to shake. Maybe I’m imagining things due to my own paranoia.
“The weird mojo is probably because of all the blood that was spilt here at the initiation,” Ava whispers, her tone spooked. “I heard a few participants had to go to the hospital because of how brutal it got. Maybe some even died. Do you think their souls might be here waiting for someone to possess? Boo!”
I jump and Cecily flinches.
Ava tips her head back in loud laughter. “You guys are such wimps, haha.”
“You scared the bejesus out of me,” I breathe out. “Also, isn’t this scene too familiar? Oh, it’s like in those horror movies when they wander into a desolate place and get killed one at a time—”
“Who’s there?”
The three of us freeze at the older male voice coming from a short distance away.
Heavy footsteps crush leaves as they head in our direction.
“Shit, it must be the guards,” Ava whispers.
“Run,” I murmur back, and we do.
Or they do, because I’m the one with the highest heels of the bunch.
I fall behind in no time, struggling to keep up. Cecily stops and turns around, then offers her hand. “Remove the shoes.”
“No way in hell. These are Gucci.”
“You can just carry them, Anni,” Ava says.
“But I’ll hurt my feet.” The thought of suffering any sort of injury and killing my potential ballet future gives me nightmares.
Though I shouldn’t have worn heels in the first place. In my defense, heels are a rare indulgence, and I only own three pairs.
“I would rather be locked in my ivory tower for a few more days instead. You guys run. He’s one of my brother’s guards and won’t do anything to me.”
Cecily grabs my hand and pushes me forward, a weird expression on her face. It’s how I look when I try to be brave. “We can’t just leave you here.”
“Jer might tolerate you now because I beg and stuff, but he will really ban you from entering the property if he finds out about this.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, I do. Heathens’ parties are the shit. But they’re not more important than Anni.” Ava grabs at my other hand and I almost cry.
Due to my gilded cage and mafia princess status, most girls are simply scared to get too close to me. Not Cecily, Ava, and even Glyndon. Yes, they’re scared of Jer, but not to the point where they’d avoid me because of him.
Renewed energy pulses through me and I run the rest of the way with their help. Cecily takes the lead in guiding us back to the house. She’s so good with directions that she can find the way after one trip to the forest.
That and she’s the only one wearing sneakers, so her movements are easier than ours.
The moment the music fills our ears again, we breathe in relief in unison. No more forest for a lifetime.
We sneak back into the main mansion and mingle with the crowd.
The King’s U’s students are hardcore party people with a distinguished taste for debauchery. REU students love to party, too, but not in this extravagant way.
Almost everyone has shown up to this party held by the Heathens. It’s even considered a privilege to be get in. Usually, Jeremy doesn’t even allow me access, let alone invite my friends, but he’s been somewhat lenient ever since I started showing depression signs.
I’ve had some growing up. Whenever I felt too suffocated, too sheltered I’d get these gray days where I can’t see colors no matter how much I try.
Usually, ballet or a chance to wander outside is enough to lessen that burden.
The three of us huddle near a wall, catching our breaths, and that’s when I catch glimpse of Jeremy across the room talking to Nikolai and his most trusted guard.
I hold my breath in preparation for when he’ll barge in, disclose that he knows all about our sneaking about session and ground me like I’m twelve-year-old. However, he doesn’t move. The gray of his eyes narrow, darkening on me.
No, not me.
Cecily?
I stare back at her and she’s still slumped against the wall, breathing harshly, and completely oblivious to how my brother is looking at her as if she’s at the top of his shit list.
Oh, no.
The look disappears as fast as it appeared and Jeremy climbs the stairs with his guard and Nikolai. That’s when I actually release a breath.
We’re safe. For now.
“No more wandering in the forest at night,” Cecily grumbles. “I swear I lost a few years of my life.”
“We’ll do it in secret,” Ava whispers to me.
“I heard that and it won’t be happening.”
Ava makes a face and Cecily just stares back. “Very mature.”
“Sorry I want to live my youth to the fullest, Mum.” Ava huffs and takes a glass from a passing waiter.
Yikes. That was probably a guard, considering the glare he threw her way. If I weren’t around, he would’ve grabbed her by the neck and threw her out for the insolence.
She drinks a little, then stops and groans. “Holy shit. This is strong. What is it?”
“Probably pure vodka meant for Jer or Nikolai.”