As Wicked As They Come

by Emma Dean

  “Your Homecoming court!” Dean De Rosa declared, holding her hands up like some kind of sorceress. And who knew, maybe she was for making the petition go through, for deciding to make the right choice for her branch of the university and screw everyone else.

  Mika smiled at Ethan and then at Audrey.

  Ethan leaned over. “You look delicious in a crown,” he whispered.

  “I’m still annoyed,” she whispered back. “This is not funny.”

  Lucien and Corbin were standing and clapping, one pair of red eyes and one pair of gold. Selene was drinking more cider, fist in the air.

  But among them, the Head Witch glowered at the crown on Mika’s head.

  30

  “I can’t believe you’re the Homecoming queen,” Audrey snorted, adjusting Mika’s black diamond crown. “And I get to be one of your princesses.”

  “It’s not funny.” Mika crossed her arms over her chest and glared at nothing in particular.

  What were the Fates thinking?

  Not that Selene knew what had happened with the Morrigan. She couldn’t have possibly known when she nominated Mika what it would do. Only her ‘court’ knew what had gone down that night and the power the goddess had given her.

  But something had triggered Cassandra’s memory, whether it was the crown or the title, Mika wasn’t sure, but she had seen the Head Witch in that moment and had known – the battle was about to begin one way or another.

  Too bad she didn’t know how to summon the goddess for an instant appearance, or how to truly expose Cassandra and everything she’d done. Mika had already looked. No one on the Council was older than Cassandra Jadis. There was no one from that time period who could stand witness.

  Smoothing the fabric of the dress eased some of her jitters. Mika could prove what Cassandra had done with blood, but that would mean exposing what she was to the Council. If they even considered sanguimancy to be a valid form of proof like they did necromancy.

  The Council laws were convoluted, but she’d asked Kenzie to hack into their files again and see what laws, ancient and new, might be there to help her fight Cassandra without losing everything.

  “Are you ready for the ball?” Audrey asked, adjusting the black lace around Mika’s neck.

  “No.” Mika glowered at her reflection.

  Being the center of attention was another reason she wasn’t a fan of all this. Right now, she was still learning not to rip a door off its hinges when she opened it. She was still trying to figure out how to shapeshift – to no avail. Though, knowing her luck it might just happen at the most inopportune time, say the ball during their first dance.

  At least they’d made it through the parade and the dodgeball game without any issue.

  Cassandra had been bitchy and rude, avoiding Mika at all costs, but also constantly watching her.

  Other than that, the homecoming events had been almost fun. Standing on the float, that literally floated thanks to magic, with Audrey and Ethan hadn’t been as awful as she’d thought it would be.

  Mika got to wear a pretty, burgundy dress that had matched Audrey’s navy one and waved to the students lined up along the parade route from the main university buildings to the coliseum. The band had marched first, followed by the dodgeball team – Malachi at the front with the new captain.

  There had been drums and violins, something old and wild played as dancers came up behind the dodgeball team. Their movements had reminded her of the Morrigan, of the ancient ways she’d seen in the queens’ memories. Their costumes were leather and armor. They stomped and spun and ululated.

  It had made her skin tingle – it had made her want to rip off her dress and put on her own armor to join them. Mika couldn’t understand how no one else felt it as they stood on the sidelines, clapping and cheering. She’d watched the others closely and they all smiled like true royalty, waving like they were nothing more than fairy tale princesses.

  Ethan had been the only thing that had kept her grounded, his large, warm hand on her lower back as he too waved at Corbin and Lucien following along behind the crowd.

  Audrey finished fussing and Mika considered the black dress she wore. It was brand new so there weren’t any memories attached to it which she was grateful for, considering all the funerals she’d attended over the last year.

  The skirts were full and brushed the floor even with her Prada’s on. But the corset top was what she’d fallen in love with. It made her waist look tiny and pushed her boobs up without making them look absolutely ridiculous. The lace around her neck was connected to a lace piece that went down her spine like some sort of elegant skeleton before it connected to the inside of the corset.

  Her lips were bloodred and the smoky eyeshadow made her blue eyes pop. Mika pulled out a few pieces of hair from her elaborate updo and let them frame her face, the white blonde a stark contrast to her red lipstick. Rubies dangled from her ears and her wrists.

  Each stone housed a blood beast.

  Mika could create them from her own blood, but wearing an army…

  She didn’t trust Cassandra or the Council.

  Audrey adjusted her own dress as they shared the floor-length mirror. Mika couldn’t help but admire the way the silver gown hugged every curve, exposing Audrey’s entire back with the front hanging off her perky breasts like the whole thing might fall at any given moment.

  She looked like a goddess in her tiny black crown and silver eyeliner. Her eyelashes were dark and lush, but she wore only Chapstick on her lips. Somehow it enhanced her natural peachy tones and Mika sometimes wished she could pull off the natural looks Audrey could.

  “You look like a high society princess at her coming of age birthday celebration,” Mika murmured. “Did you ask about switching your escort for a female?”

  Audrey shook her head and took Mika’s hands in hers. “It doesn’t really matter who escorts me since you’re my date.”

  “True, but we have to start off the dancing with our escorts first.” Mika wished they didn’t have to do any of this.

  “Well, then I get the second dance with you,” Audrey said, always the optimist. Her constant ability to look on the bright side of everything and make the best out of shitty situations never ceased to impress Mika. “At least the princesses didn't have to do the dodgeball performance, or I would have been screwed.”

  Mika let go of Audrey’s hands and grabbed her phone from her vanity to hide her blush. “I wish I hadn’t had to. It was embarrassing.”

  Audrey laughed. “I don’t know why you think that.” She grabbed Mika’s coat from the hook on the wall and held it out to her. “You’re an amazing singer. I didn’t even know you could.”

  Turning, Mika slipped her arms into the coat and then buttoned it over her dress. “Yeah, well. It doesn’t matter how good you are when you have stage fright. I’ve never sung in front of anyone but my mom before. But it was that, or something even more embarrassing.”

  She covered her eyes with her hand, just imagining the situation all over again. Mika hated performing. But the dean wouldn’t let her wiggle out of it because ‘it was tradition.’

  The only other thing she could do was grow a plant so poisonous a person could die from just breathing in its fumes, or she could summon Excalibur and a blood beast. She didn’t think either of those would have been good choices.

  Audrey pulled her hand down. “You’re going to ruin your makeup.” The other witch adjusted the white-blonde waves framing her face and smiled slightly. “Singing the original University of Morgana anthem in Gaelic with the band was a good choice, and you were very good. No one was making fun of you, I promise.”

  “I’m sure you would have done something far more entertaining,” Mika muttered, pulling Audrey’s coat over the witch’s shoulders. “Everyone was looking at me.”

  “Because you’re beautiful and talented.” Audrey wrapped Mika up in a hug. “Now stop or I’ll spank you the next time you insult yourself.”

  It was hard no
t to laugh at that mental image.

  “Well, I’m proud of you for winning,” Mika murmured. She pulled back and studied the shorter witch, smoothing down a flyaway. “You and Malachi destroyed the other team. The game was so short and brutal. I think the British were about to start another war.”

  Audrey laughed and linked her arm through Mika’s. “They wouldn’t have, not after how badly we beat them.”

  “It’s a shame they’re already gone. It would have been fun to have them at the ball.” Mika smirked. “Ready for your first Samhain as a Marshall witch?”

  Audrey’s face grew solemn, but she nodded. “I am, and I wanted to tell you I’ve already filed my paperwork with the human government. I’m keeping my human name, but I’m adding yours.”

  Mika hugged Audrey hard. “Hyphenated?”

  “No,” she said with a laugh. “I’m just forcing the government to give me another name.”

  “One of the only witches I know with five names,” Mika teased, poking her in the side as they left their room. “It’s going to be impossible to hex or curse you now.”

  Oleander House was empty. They were a bit late, but mostly Mika suspected everyone was excited for the booze and to see what the alumni had put together for them. They picked up their pace and laughed as they burst through the front doors.

  “Thank you, Mika,” Audrey said as they stood on the front steps for a moment to admire the dark sky, stars twinkling like diamonds. “For giving me a family again, for making sure I found my place and learned the nuances of witch society…for all of it. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Mika took her hand and squeezed. “Thank you for being the family I never really had.”

  They looked at each other and Mika felt a lump form in her throat.

  “If you cry,” Audrey warned. “I’m going to cry, and then both of us will have ruined makeup.”

  Mika laughed and blinked back her tears. “I won’t cry if you won’t.”

  Audrey hugged her again before pulling her toward the main buildings. “Come on, date. We can’t miss our first dance as royalty.”

  They ran as best as they could in heels through the paths, feeling a bite in the air that promised snow. Mika could feel the hellhound’s invisible presence as he followed them toward the school. Armad was high above in the sky and Mika ran faster, pulling Audrey along.

  A few other gaggles of late witches and hunters made their way to the dining hall. It had been completely redone for the ball. Mika and Audrey were breathing hard when they clambered up the steps, heels clacking and breath making clouds in the air.

  “What took you guys so long?” Ethan asked as he came forward. “It’s almost time for our dance.”

  “We had to make sure we looked perfect,” Audrey declared, taking Mika’s coat off before Ethan could. “Back off lover-boy, she’s my date tonight.”

  Lucien snickered as he melted out of the shadows. “Yeah, back off lover-boy. You’re mine tonight.”

  Mika felt heat make her skin flush, tickling the back of her neck as she watched Lucien slide his arm around Ethan’s waist. “Audrey’s got this under control, prince.”

  She had to turn to hide her smile, helping Audrey with her coat. The other witch took them both over to the coat check and Mika inspected the hall.

  Food was laid out on groaning buffet tables. The areas where they usually picked up the food on a normal day were covered by shrouds of black and purple silk. Twinkling lights were everywhere, as were candles and pumpkins and apples.

  The Samhain decorations were extravagant and gorgeous. They reminded her of the Bay Coven’s Samhain and Mika knew Selene had had a hand in most of this.

  Shiny gold and black plates were on each of the circular tables that surrounded the dance floor. Glasses made from black crystal sat on scarlet linens. There was nothing but the candles and twinkling lights to see by, casting a warm glow on everything.

  Apples and pumpkins on every table held fat black candles that flickered and danced, casting shadows on the walls and ceiling. Fog hugged the floor and an unseen band played a haunting melody as students and faculty and alumni started to gather for the ball.

  There was already a crowd at the tables where fancy drinks had been laid out. Shot glasses full of red liquid, rims covered in red sugar. Black smoking drinks, purple glowing drinks, poisoned apple cider cocktails that shifted with glitter, orange drinks with black sugar dripping down the sides of the glass – all of them decadent and delicious.

  Chandeliers tinkled above and dead branches and twigs had been tied together to frame the silk that had been hung along the walls. Signs of the harvest were everywhere. The black and purple and red and orange made Mika feel warm inside.

  Samhain was her favorite night of the year, and it always somehow felt like…

  It felt like coming home.

  The music came from everywhere and nowhere, amplified with magic so each note was clear. It was mysterious – taunting everyone, begging them to move and sway, to dance on this night the veil between realms was thinnest. Each note trembled and strained, haunting and dark and perfect, promising secrets if you only listened closely enough.

  A candlelit path led from one of the doors to the quad outside where a shrine had been set up. Hundreds of candles had already been lit in memory of their ancestors, paying their respects and saying their prayers.

  Mika felt the urge to go out now, but she didn’t have time. She’d have to wait until after the first dance, and then the one she’d promised Audrey.

  The song changed and the dean swept out in a gown that looked fit for a queen. It was floor-length with billowing skirts in an emerald green so dark it was nearly black. The tight bodice framed her still youthful figure. The long sleeves ended in points over her hands, and Mika couldn’t help but admire the emeralds glimmering with power at the dean’s throat.

  Dean De Rosa clapped her hands once and all the chatter stopped. “Your queen and her court,” the dean stated, sweeping her arm.

  That was their cue.

  Mika tried to ignore the words the dean had chosen and placed her hand on top of Ethan’s. He led her out onto the dance floor with confidence and Mika couldn’t help but sneak looks at him.

  “Do you know the steps?” she whispered as they took their places.

  “Eisheth taught me,” Ethan murmured. He looked amused and smug all at the same time. “I didn’t know who else to call. He’s been around forever and has excellent taste in clothes. He procured this tux for me too.”

  Mika smiled. “It fits you perfectly and looks absolutely amazing.”

  Ethan smiled, clearly pleased. “He sends his regards to his daughter.”

  The music rose and he stepped forward. Mika followed him, the Viennese waltz familiar and soothing. Ethan was an excellent lead and Mika had no issues following him as they spun around the room. Holding her skirt in one hand, she arched her back, trusting Ethan as they swept around the dancefloor with the others.

  “That crown suits you,” Ethan murmured as he spun her and then pulled her in close, so her body was pressed to his.

  “I almost wore the other one,” Mika admitted, suppressing a smile. “Just to see what would happen.”

  “You do like to cause drama,” Ethan laughed, dipping her with nothing but his hand on the back of her neck to support her. “I think you get it from your demon father.”

  “Probably, though it seems he taught you a few of his extra tricks.” Mika stared up at Ethan, feeling her heartbeat quicken. “I didn’t know you could dance like this.”

  He yanked her up and managed to stay on beat, spinning her into the steps like a pro. Ethan cleared his throat and wouldn’t look at her. “We may have all asked for lessons which Eisheth was more than happy to give. We’ve been practicing on each other since.”

  Mika dug her nails into his shoulder as she kept her back straight, looking to the crowd for Corbin, Lucien, or Malachi. “I hope you videotaped that. I’m pe
eved I didn’t get to see.”

  “We were uh, a tiny bit self-conscious,” Ethan admitted, laughing a little. She could hear the tinge of embarrassment.

  Mika loved them all the more for this.

  “Thank you, for making this special,” she told him, following the steps he led her through as easily as breathing. “I’m still annoyed I had to be Homecoming queen after everything, but you’ve made this almost fun, despite the performance.”

  “Your singing was beautiful. I hope to hear it again someday.”

  The song came to a close and Ethan dipped her low. She stared into his eyes and smiled. “I almost threw up, but I pretended you were the only one there.”

  Then he kissed her, and Mika had never felt more in love with him.

  She’d never had a perfect moment, but she was pretty sure this one would be close. It would be a moment she would remember her entire life, pulling it out like a treasured jewel to cherish.

  “Okay lover-boy,” Audrey said. “My turn.”

  Mika laughed as Ethan lifted her up and spun her towards Audrey with a gracious smile.

  Audrey caught her like a pro, leading her into the next step as the song swelled, just as easily as Ethan had. Mika let herself be swept away by the music and the dance. She breathed in the taste of Samhain and let it feed her soul.

  31

  Mika stood before the shrine covered in red candles. She held four in her hands from the nearby basket and considered the flickering flames.

  The veil felt thinnest here, and Mika almost felt as though the Morrigan was going to walk through a door right then and there. Maybe Eisheth would show up, or Jess. But Mika wondered most about those who were dead.

  Would she see her sister? What about her mother?

  She adjusted her skirts and knelt before the shrine. Holding out her first candle to the flame on a black candle that burned just for this, Mika murmured a prayer for her mother as the wick caught fire with a flare.

  Setting it next to one of the hundreds of unmarked candles, she remembered the way her mother used to smile at her while they worked together in the greenhouse. Those were Mika’s favorite memories of her.