by Jenna Moreci
supple appearance of her full red lips. A large diamond necklace hung from her neck, a perfect match for her teardrop earrings and the glittery bracelet
adorningherwrist.
And then there was the dress. God, the dress was perfect. It was simple yet statelywithaheart-shapednecklinethatplungedever-so-subtlybetweenher
small breasts. The material followed the shape of her body, accentuating her narrowwaistanddelicatecurves,thenflowedawayfromherfigureatthemid-thigh,creatingashorttrainthattrailedbehindher.
Evecouldscarcelybelievethereflectionstaringbackatherwasherown.
Theelevatordinged,signalingtheirarrivalatthethirdfloor.Percy
scrutinizedEve’sensembleonelasttimeandthennoddedattheopeningdoors.
“Ihavetoruntomyroomforaminute,sothisiswhereIleaveyou.”
“But—”
“Go,”heurged,“crotch-breath.”
Andwiththat,Percyshovedheroutoftheelevatorjustbeforethedoorsclosed
again.Evecursedtoherselfasshestumbleddownthehallway,nearlytripping
overtheliningofherdressbeforeregainingherbalance.Shetugged
thefabricfromunderneathherheelandsmoothedherhairintoplace,andjust
assherecoveredahintofconfidence,shelookeddowntheseeminglyinfinite
hallwayandimmediatelyfeltfaint.
WaitingforherattheendofthecorridorwasJason.
Theireyesmet;Jasonfroze,hislipsslightlypartedasifhehadbeenstunned
intosilence.Evetookonestepforward,andthenanother;thewalkdownthe
hall felt endless, like a perilous journey, and all the while Jason watched her, his stare sincere and penetrating. Finally, his chest rose with one long, deep breath,andhesmiledthebiggest,mostjoyfulsmileEvehadeverseen,andshe
couldn’thelpbutsmileback.Shemadeherwaytohisside—helooked handsomeanddignifiedinhisblacktuxedoandmatchingsilktie—andbefore
shecouldnervouslysquirmorfiddlewithherbracelet,hetookherhandand
broughtittohislipsforasoftkiss.
“SorryI’mlate,”shemurmuredbashfully.
“Don’tbesorry.Goodpartiesneverstartontime.”Hiseyesdancedacross
her,andagainhesmiled.“Youlook…incredible.”
Sheblushed.“Thankyou.ItwasPercy—”
“No,it’syou,Eve,”heinterrupted.“Percyhasnothingtodowithit.”
Hestaredatherforamomentlonger,thencockedhisheadtowardthe
doubledoors.“Youready?”
Eveapprehensivelylinkedherarmwithhisandstaredatthedoorswith
wide,fearfuleyes,asifshewerelookingatthegatesofhell.
“IhavenoideawhatI’mdoing.”
Heofferedheraplayfulwink.“NeitherdoI.”
“You’relying.”
“Iknow.”
Eveheldherbreathasthedoorsopenedinfrontofthem,revealingalarge,
grandballroom.Longsheetsofivorysilkweredrapedacrossthewindows,
securedwiththickgoldentasselsthatmatchedthegoldplacesettings.Crystal
chandeliershungfromtheceiling,reflectingtwinklinglightsacrossthefloor,
andlushbouquetsofwhiterosesadornedeverytable.Alarge,hardwooddance floorlayinthecenteroftheroom,accompaniedbyawell-dressedstring
quintet.Andatthebackoftheroomshuffledalineofreportersand
photographers,allvyingtogetaglimpseofthemanofthehour—themanat
Eve’s side. As the two of them walked into the room, arm in arm, a sea of exquisitelydressedguests,allinblackandwhitetuxedosandgowns,rosefrom
theirseatsandapplaudedtheguestofhonor.
Jasonassumedahalf-smile—Evecouldtellrightawaythatitwascontrived
—andhumblynoddedtohisguests.Ashedid,Evenoticedtwofiguresinher
peripheralvision—Jason’sparents,headedstraighttowardthem,bothwearing
toothygrinsthatreekedofartificiality.Mrs.Valentineglidedacrossthedance
floorlikeaghoulishdemonandnudgedherwaybetweenEveandJason,
breakingtheirholdandwrappinghersoninanembracethatmadehisbodygo
rigid with discomfort. Mr. Valentine patted Jason on the back and raised his glassofchampagnetohisguests.
“Tonight, we celebrate the coming of age of a fine young man.” He paused, turning to look at Jason. “A good, hardworking member of society. A man I am proudtocallmyson.Jason,doyouhaveanywordsforyourguestsonthis veryspecialday?Aspeech,perhaps?”
Jasonlookedoutatthecrowd:camerasflashed,andsmallclustersof
reporters inched their way closer to the dance floor, eager to hear what the nowinfamouschimerahadtosay.Hetookhisglassofchampagnefromhis
father’shandandraiseditslightlyandwithlittleenthusiasm.
“Thankyouallforcoming.”
Andwiththat,heshoulderedpasthisparents,steppingoutofthespotlight.
HehurriedtowardEve—shehadmadeherwaytothesideofthedancefloor,
astherehadseemedtobenoplaceforherbesidehisparents—andgrabbedher
hand,escortinghertotheirseatsatthecentraltableashortdistanceinfrontof them.
“Howyouholdingup?”
“Ishouldbeaskingyouthesamething,”Eveansweredoutofthecornerof
hermouth.
Jasonleanedintoher,whisperingintoherear,“God,didyou hearhim?‘A good,hardworkingmemberofsociety.’Iswear,iftherewasonenightwhereI
wishIcouldgetdrunk,tonightwouldbethenight.”
Eve’seyespannedacrosstheirtable.Theyhadbeenseatedalongsidetwo
othercouples,bothmucholderandclearlyuninterestedinEveandJason’s
company.Theyarrogantlyliftedtheirchinsandturnedtooneanother,
mumblingmostlikelyaboutthescandaloussenator’ssonandhisundoubtedly
classlessdate.
“Hello,mutants,”Percyinterrupted,approachingJasonandEvefrombehind
withaglassofchampagneineachhand.HekickedoutachairbesideEveand
tookaseat.“Whatare youtwodoinghere?Ithoughtthispartywasforhumans only.”
“Thank Godyou’reatourtable,”Jasonsighed.“Ithoughtitwasjustgoing tobemyparentsandtheirhorriblefriends.”
“Anditis,becausethisisn’tmyseat.I’mjuststoppingbytoletyouknowI
won’tbestayinglong.”
“What?Why?”
“Youknow,thiswasn’treallywhatIhadinmind.Stuffypartiesfilledwithhalf-
dead,elitistbuttplugsaren’texactlymything,”hescoffed.“I’mskipping
outearlytohituptheMeltdown.”
Evewrinkledhernose.“TheMeltdown?What’sthat?”
“It’sanundergroundchimeraclubdowntown,inthealleyacrossfromthe
newPierLorentHotel.”
“Achimeraclub?”Jasonasked.“Thoseexist?”
“Ofcoursetheydo.God,shouldn’tyouofallpeopleknowthesethings?”
“But,whyare yougoing?”Evepried.“You’renotachimera.”
“Iwanttoperusetheselectionofchimeramen.They’rebroodingand
damagedwithdaddyissues.”HeglancedatJason.“Likeyou,exceptyou’re
kindofaboyscout.”
“Soyou’regoingtobailonmybirthday?Comeon,youcan’tleaveuswith
thesepeople—”
“Thencome with.”
“Ican’t.”
“Sayswho?”Percylookedfromsidetosideandgotupfromhisseat.
“Look, the king and queen of misery are headed this way, so I’m going to makemyselfscarce.I’llstickaroundforalittlewhilelonger,butifyoucan’t
findmelater,youknowwhereI’llbe.”
Percysaunteredawayfromthetable,jokinglywavingatMr.andMrs.
Valentine as they passed him. Eve couldn’t help but study their perfect poise andphonygrins.Theyseemedsoanimatedandevencheerful,butasthey
nearedherandJason,theairintheroombecamechillyandtense.
“WasthattheLaFleurboy?”Mrs.Valentineasked.
“GoodGod,thekidhassomanyballsandhooksinhisears,helookslikea
damnChristmastree,”Mr.Valentinemuttered.
Jasonrolledhiseyes.“Eve,you’vemetmyparents,CynthiaandDonald.”
Jason’smotherpursedherlips.“YoumaycallmeMrs.Valentine.”
“AndyoucancallmeSenator,”Jason’sfatherordered.Helookeddownat
Jason,hisgrinneverwavering,thoughhiseyeswerescathinglycritical.“What
the hellwasthatallabout?”
“Whatwas whatabout?”
“Yourspeech,”hehissedthroughgrittedteeth.“Look,everygoddamnnews
stationonHVishere,plushalfofCongress.They wantyouto speak—”
“Idon’t carewhattheywant,”Jasongrowled.
“They’reexpectingyoutofail—”
“You’reexpectingmetofail.”
“Andyou’redoingahellofajobofit.”
“Whatyourfatheristryingtosayisthatyoushouldtryandmakean
impression,”hismotheraddedcoolly.“Apositiveone,preferably.”
“Show’emnothing’schanged.Show’emyou’restill—”
“Human?”Jasoninterjected.“Isthatwhatyouwant?”
Thesenatorglancedatthepress,tryingtokeephissmileintactasthey
observedfromafar.“Therearealotofimportantpeoplehere,son.Go talkto them.”
“I’llgetaroundtoit.”
“Areyoudeliberatelytryingtohumiliateme?”
“I’mactuallytryingtoshowmydateagoodtime,somethingyou’remaking
extremelydifficult.”
CynthialookedoveratEve,hereyessquintingintoaglower.“You’rethe
tutor, aren’t you?” she asked, her words as toxic as venom. She turned to Jason.“Aninterestingchoice,son.Youknow,MadisonPalmerlooksbeautiful
tonight.It’sashameshe’sherewithherboyfriend.”
“Whatanunfortunatehammer,”Jasonmumbledunderhisbreath.
DonaldgrabbedJason’sshoulderandsqueezedittightly,digginginwithhis
fingers.“Mingle. Now.”
Jasonrippedhisshoulderfromhisfather’sgraspandstoodfromhisseat,not
botheringtohidehisfrustration.HeturnedtoEveandextendedhishandto
her.
“Comeon,Eve,”hesaid,stillscowlingathisfather.“Let’smingle.”
EvehurriedalongsideJason,makingherwaythroughtheballroomand
weavingthroughtheswarmsofguests.Whenshelookedbackoverher
shoulder, she saw Jason’s parents still watching them, their expressions cold andcritical.
“God,yourfolksare awful.”
“Yourememberwhenyousaidmyparentswereassholes?Youwereright
onthemoney.”JasonledEvetoaquietplaceinthecorneroftheballroom,far
fromthesocialitesandpoliticiansthatdrankandfraternizedwithoneanother.
He ran his fingers through his hair, his expression heavy and drained. “This wholethingwasaterribleidea.Inevershould’veforcedyouintothis.It’snot
fairtoyou.”
BeforeEvecouldrespond,cameraflashespoppedaroundthemas
photographersandreportersinchedcloserandcloser,desperateforasound
bite or shocking photo. Unfortunately, the press wasn’t the only nuisance in closeproximity—MadisonPalmerwasalsoheadedtheirway.
Cynthiawasright:Madisonlookedbeautiful,almostangelic,herwhite,off-
the-shouldergownacomplementtohergenerousbreastsandivoryskin.Her
golden hair was tied to the side in a low ponytail and fastened with diamond pinstomatchthelavishdiamondnecklacethathungacrossherdécolletage.As
shesashayedacrossthefloor,shepausedtoposefortheflashingcameras,then
turnedtoJason,foldingherarmsacrossherchestandsqueezinghercleavage.
“Hello,Jason.You’relookingawfullytastyinthattux.”SheglancedatEve
and sneered. “And you, Eve—how appropriate of a black sheep to choose a blackdress.”
Everolledhereyes.“Where’syourboyfriend?Didhecometohissenses
andleave?”
Madisonpouted.“He’shere,justabitshy,that’sall.He’snotlookinghisbest
and is trying to keep a low profile, because unlike some people, he has a reputationtouphold.Wouldyouliketomeethim?”
“Notespecially.”
“Lionel,sweetheart,”Madisoncalledout.“Comemeettheguestofhonor
andhis… sheep.”
Atallmanwithbroadshoulderstrudgedtowardthem,dragginghisfeetasif
theywerebrickshangingfromhislegs.Hissuitwasdistinguished,histawny
hairstylishlygelled,buthishazeleyesweretired,resentful,andbruised.Eve
gasped. His face was badly beaten, covered in yellowed contusions and thick scabs,allthewayfromhisheavybrowtothebridgeofhisbrokennose—and
evendowntohiscleftchin.
“AssFace?”
“ChinDimple?”Jasonlaughed.“You’reLionelVandeveld?”
MadisonglancedbackandforthbetweenJasonandherglaringboyfriend.
“Haveyouallmet?”
“Never.”JasonsquintedhiseyesandsardonicallyexaminedLionel’s
injuries.“Wow,someonereallywenttotownonyourface.”
“ComeonMadison,thisparty’sasuckgasm.Let’sgetthehelloutofhere,”
Lionelgroused.
“We’re staying.Getmechampagne, now.”
Lionelwalkedofflikeanobedientpuppywithawoundedego,andMadison
turnedtoJason,wigglingherhipsandflashingagorgeouswhitesmile.
“Didyouseehisring?”Shenoddedherheadinherboyfriend’sdirection.
EvelookedoveratLionel;amassivediamondringadornedhispinkyfinger
likeagaudy,miniaturedogcollar.
“Agiftfrommetohim,”Madisongloated.“Itreatmymenwell—didyou
knowthat,Jason?”
Jasonignoredher,stillsnickeringtohimselfashewatchedLionelfrom
afar.
“Jason,”Madisonrepeated,“canIspeakwithyouprivately?”
“Um,”JasonfinallytorehiseyesfromthefootballerandglancedatEve.“I
don’tknowaboutthat—”
“It’sokay,”Evereassured,takingastepback.“I’ll…mingle.”
JasonreluctantlywalkedoffwithMadison,glancingbackoncemoreatEve
before weaving his way through the crowd of reporters. Eve’s eyes darted from side to side: there wasn’t a single soul in the entire ballroom who was interested in her company, and so she stood by herself and watched as Jason disappearedfromsight.
“Youseethat?That’sMadisonPalmergettingwhatshewants.”
HeathermadeherwaytoEve’ssideandfoldedherarms,staringatthespot where Jason once s
tood. Her red hair was tied into a tight, knotted bun at the topofhercrown,andherfitteddresswastwo-toned:apanelofwhitedownthe
centerandtwostripsofblackrunningalonghersides.
Evesighed.“Idon’tthinkso,Heather.Youassumetheworstinpeople.”
“Andyoudon’t?Whendidthatchange?”
Eve tried not to meet Heather ’s gaze, as if such action would render her vulnerable.“Itrusthim.Hehasn’tgivenmeareasonnotto.”
“That’sadorable,truly,andyouprobablyhaveeveryreasontotrusthim,but
that won’t stop Madison. In fact, it’ll just fuel her fire. She’s only begun to makeyousuffer.”
“Andyou’rejustbrimmingwithexcitementoverthewholething,aren’t
you?”
“Iam,actually.It’llbelikeaShakespeareantragedy,Iimagine.I’m
absolutelydelightedtowatchitallunfold.”SheleanedtowardEveand
whisperedintoherear.
“Youneedtorememberthat,Eve:I amwatchingyou.Always.”
***
JasonfollowedMadisonthroughthegrandballroom,trudgingbehindher
until she parked herself behind a marble pillar. She turned to Jason, her face suddenlydistraughtandconsumedwithemotion.
“Allright,”Jasonsighed,“what’sgoingon?”
Madisonleanedagainstthepillar,apparentlytooovercomewithfeelingto
standonherown.“Haveyoueverfeltlikeyouwereinsomuchpainyoujust wantedto die?”
Jasonlookeddownathischest—atwherehisscarsatbeneathhisclothes—
andlaughedunderhisbreath.“Madison,doyourealizewhoyou’retalking
to?”
Sherolledhereyes.“Ohplease,Jason,I’mnottalkingaboutthestupid
dissection.”
“Ifigured.”
“WhatImeantwas,haveyoueverwantedsomeonesobadlythat,Idon’t
know,youcould feelit?Like,inyourchestandinyourbones—you achefor them.DoyouknowwhatImean?”
Jasondidn’trespond;instead,hestaredoutattheparty,hiseyesscanningthe
roomasifheweresearchingforsomeone.ForEve.
Madison’s face dropped. “Barf,” she groaned. “Please don’t even bother answeringthat.”
