by Jenna Moreci
as if it were a part of his body. The Interloper flailed and pulsed his wings, tryingtobreakEve’shold;andjustashadhappenedonlymomentsbefore,one
legslipped,andthentheother,andtheonlygripshehadwasonearmaround
thealien’sneckandonehandthattuggedatthedevice.
Eveclawedatthebeacon,hernailsdiggingintothefleshbeneath,the
musclesinherarmscreamingfromtheforceoftheeffort.Grittingherteeth,
shemusteredonelastsurgeofstrength,andpulled.
Withabloodyrip,thebeacontoreloosefromthecreature’sskull,bringing
with it a thick chunk of grey flesh and a flood of pus. The alien let out a piercingshriek,andEvereleasedhergrasp,fallingtothefloorbelow,landing
onherbackwithapainfulthud.
Butshehadthebeacon.
“DOIT!”shescreamed.“KILLHIM!”
Jasonmeltedinstantly,pullingtheInterloperfromthewallandsendinghim
poundingagainsttheoppositesideofthewarehouse.Againhebashedthealien
intothewall,crackingthefoundationasdustbillowedoverthegroundbelow.
Finally,Jasonsentthecreaturehurtlinguptowardtheceiling.Foramoment,
he left him there, floating limply, looking down on the tiny, though far from feeble, chimeras beneath him. Then, with all of the power he could summon, Jasonthrustthealientotheground,blastinghimdownwardatincredible
speed,sendinghimcrashingdirectlyintotheconcretefloor.
Theentirewarehousewasstill,envelopedinacloudofdustthatfloated
fromtheceilingandhungintheair.Ahandfulofpatronswerefrozenonthe
staircase,clutchingoneanother,strugglingtocatchtheirbreath.Percystoodin thecenteroftheclub,wipingthebloodfromhisbrow,andJasonstaredatthe
fallencreaturewithfixed,hatefuleyes.
It was Eve who ended the stillness. She hoisted herself from the ground, dustingthedirtfromherruinedgown,andhobbledtothealien’sside.Itsbody
was limp—bones jutted from its flesh, and yellow blood oozed from each
contusionontothefloor—andEveknewwithoutadoubtthatthecreaturewas
dead.Shekneltdownbesidehim,runningherfingersthroughthedebrisuntil
shefoundwhatshewaslookingfor:herwhiterose,nowgreyandfilthy.She
placed it in her hand next to the glowing beacon and stared at the destruction beforeher.
The club began to stir just the slightest bit. Jason rushed to Eve’s side, scoopingherupinhisarmsandsqueezinghertightly.Evegapedatthelumps
ofconcrete,thebrokenglass,thepoolsofyellowblood,andthenshesawit—
somethingoutofplace.ShepulledawayfromJason’sgraspandcrouched
down,tuggingasinglepieceofparchmentoutfrombeneaththeInterloper’s
body.
“OhmyGod.”
“What?”Jasonasked.“Whatisit?”
Evereadandrereadthecalligraphy,butnomatterhowmuchshewishedit
wouldchange,theraised,embossedcharactersremainedthesame:
ANightBestSpentinBlackandWhite.
“Hewasatyourparty,Jason.Hefollowedushere.”
CHAPTER12:FLORENZAGALLO
Eveslappedthebeacondownonthekitchencounter.
“Hereyougo,”shemuttered.“Haveatit.”
JJstaredwide-eyedatthedevice;shegracefullypickeditupandexamined
theintricaciesofitsdesign.
“You actuallygotone!”shegasped.“Howthe helldidyoumanagethat?”
Everolledhereyes.“AnInterloperfellintoourlap.”
TheentiregrouphadagreedtoreconveneinPercy’ssuitethedayfollowing
Jason’s birthday disaster. They all huddled around the kitchen counter: Percy sippedhisBloodyMaryandcursedhishangover,JJstaredinaweatthebeacon
whileSanchostaredinaweatJJ,andEvesatbesideJason,stillstrugglingto digestthechaosfromthenightbefore.
“Canyouworkit?”Sanchoasked.“Canyoufigureouthowitfunctions?”
“OfcourseIcan,don’tbestupid,”JJscoffed.“There’sareasonI’mwanted
infourcountries.Iworkedhardformybadreputation.”
“Speakingofbadreputations…”
Percy slid his scratchpad in front of Jason. A digital magazine graced the screen,splashedwiththeheadline CHIMERALOSESCONTROLand
accompaniedbyaphotoofJason,hisarmswrappedaroundEveasasingle
rosehoveredintheair.
“Congratulations,Jason,you’veofficiallygraduatedfromnewspapersto
tabloids.”Percysmirkedandflippedthroughthepages.“Onceyoubecome
gossipfodder,you knowyou’vemadeittothebigleagues.”
Jasonshookhishead.“Idon’tneedtoreadthisgarbage.”
“Yousure?BecauseI’vegotatleastthirtyotherstoshowyou.”
“It’snotsobad,”Eveadded.“Really,itcouldbealotworse.”
“Idon’tknow,man—youmeltedinpublic.”Percyraisedhiseyebrows.
“That’sprettydamngutsy.Maybeyou’renotasbigofaboyscoutasI
thought.”
“Canwejustdropthis?”Jasonmoaned.
“Noway,thisistoojuicytopassup!”Percysnatchedhisscratchpadandbegan
readingfromthearticle.“’Theentirenight,thesenator’ssonappeared
uninterested,disenchanted,andaloof,’”hereadaloud.“God,Jason,theymake yousoundlikearealass.”
“I’dbe alooftooifmyparentsweresuchhammers,”Sanchoteased.
“’Valentinecommittedseveralboldactsofrebellion,includingopen
displaysofaffectionwithanunnamedwomanandpublicuseofhisgiftforthe
entire party to witness. Guests were reportedly shocked and disturbed,
speculatingthathisrecentemergencemayhavewarpedhissenseofdecency.’”
Helaughed.“HeyEve,atleastyou’vebeenpromotedfrom‘ ChimeraBitch’to
‘ UnnamedWoman.’That’sanimprovement.”
“Okay,Percy,you’vehadyourlaugh.Ithinkwe’redonenow,”Jason
mumbled.
“‘Chimerarepressionactiviststheorizethathismeltingofasinglelong-
stemmedrosewaspartofaritualisticmatingcall,thussymbolizinghisdesire
tocopulatewithhisdancingpartner—’”
“Enough.”
“Laterinthenight,Valentine,theunnamedwoman,andtheirunbelievably
attractiveassociatesavedapackednightclubfromasavage,violentalien.”
TheentiregroupturnedtolookatPercy,theirfacestwistedwithskepticism.
“Okay,itdoesn’treallysaythat,butitshould.”
Evesighed.“Thisisterrible.”
“Iknow!Notasinglearticlementionsmeonce!”
Again,thegroupstaredatPercyinsilence.
“What?WhatdidIsay?”
“Look,wekilledanotherInterloper,andwehaveabeacon,”Jasonsaid,
eagertochangethesubject.“Let’sjustcountlastnightasasuccessandmove
on.”
“WealsoknowwhytheInterlopersdisappearedforsolong,”Eveadded.
“Theywerewaitingforyourbirthdayparty.Probablyknewwe’dbothbethere
andfigureditwastheperfecttimetoattack.”
Sanchopoutedandslumpedinhischair.“Someofusmissedallthe
action…”
“ForGod’ssake,Sancho,letitgo,”Jasongroaned.
Per
cytookaswigofhisdrink.“Man,talkaboutakillerguestlist,right?”
“Nokidding,”Evescoffed.“Theworld’sworstparents,anarmyofpress,
andontopofallthat,agoddamn alien.”
“You’reforgettingaboutourfavoritehomicidalheiress,MadisonPalmer.”
Evecringed;thenamealonesentherbodystiffwithdiscomfort.
“Hasshementionedanything?”Sanchoasked,pokingEveintheribs.“You
know,aboutthedeaththreat?”
“Notspecifically,”Evemuttered.“ButIdidspeakwithherbeforetheparty.”
“Whatdidshesay?”
“Thatshewantsmy head. ”
“Andyou’restillroomingwithher?”JJtorehereyesfromthebeaconlong enoughtocastacriticalstareinEve’sdirection.“Howdoyousleepatnight?”
Percychuckled.“Withoneeyeopen,I’msure.”
“She’sirrelevant,”Evegrumbled.“Justathorninmyside.”
“Acrazythornwithmurderoustendencies,”Percycorrected.
“Sheprobablyalreadyhasalockofyourhairhiddeninherpurse,”JJ
added.
“AndanEvelynKingstonvoodoodoll—”
“ISAIDshe’s irrelevant.”
Evestoppedherself.Herwordswerebitter, toobitter,andhercheeksreddened withchagrin.Shegazeddownatthepalmsofherhands,butinstead
ofheroliveskin,shesawpilesofashsiftingthroughherfingers.Shequickly
shooktheimagefromhermindandglancedattheothers,onlytoseethatthey
wereallstaringather.SheclearedherthroatandturnedtoJJ.
“Howquicklycanyougetthebeaconworking?”
“HellifIknow.It isanaliendevice,afterall.”
Evebitherbottomlip.“Fine.Letusknowwhenthere’sprogress.”She
noddedattheothers.“Untilthen,westayarmed.Westayprepared.”Shefiddled
withherfingernailsandletoutanaggravatedsigh.“Look,Ihavetogo.”
“Metoo,”Sanchoadded.“I’vegotthatprojecttofinishup.”
“Allrightthen,meeting’sadjourned.”Percyeagerlyfiledtowardthedoor
andswungitopen.“Nowgetyourassesoutofmydorm.Ihaveahangoverto nurseandanafternoonnaptotake.”
ThedoorslammedshutbehindEveandtheothers.JJscuttleddownthe
hallway with Sancho trailing behind her, leaving Eve and Jason alone in the middleofthecorridor.Shecouldfeelhimwaitingbyherside,andthoughshe
sensedtherewassomethingonhismind,sheremainedsilent.
“Youdon’thavetopretendthatMadisondoesn’tbotheryou,”hewhispered.
“Shedoesn’t.”
“Shedoes.”Heturnedtofaceher.“Icantalktoher.”
“Don’t,”Eveinsisted.“I’llhandleit.”
“YoucanstaywithmeandSancho—”
“Jason,I’mnotscaredofher.”
Jasonsighed.“Look,justtellmewhatyouneed.”
Shelookedupathim—hiseyeswerewarmandcaring,pleadingforherto
betheslightestbitforthcoming—butsheforcedatransparentsmile.
“WhatI needisashower.”
Evehurrieddownthehallwaytotheelevators,leavingJasonstandingin
front of Percy’s dorm room. A shower did sound refreshing, possibly even cathartic,achancetowashawayheranxieties,tocleanherbodyoftensionand
worry—andthick,blackash.Shegroaned.Thewords DIECHIMEflashed
beforeheronceagain,foreveronhermind,justasJasonhadfeared.
Whenshereachedthewashroomonherfloor,sheangrilyshovedopenthe
silverdoorsandstompedpasttheshowerstalls.Theroomwasempty,with only the sound of a dripping faucet to accompany her, and she welcomed the seclusion. With a relieved sigh, she plopped her belongings onto the center benchandshimmiedherhoodedsweaterfromhershoulders,adjustingher
shirtatthehemline.
Shestoppedherself.Theroomhadsuddenlybecomewarm,stale,andfull.
Shewasn’talone.Eveloweredhershouldersandslowlyturnedtowardthe
doorsbehindher.
Madisonstoodbytheentrance,herarmsfoldedandherlipspursedintothe
nastiestscowlEvehadeverseen.Haydenstoodbyherside,mimicking
Madison’sbodylanguagewithherchinheldhighandhereyesbrightwith
excitement.SevenotherRutherfordiangirlshoveredaroundthepair—girls
Eve had seen many times before, loathing her from afar. All told, nine girls stood before her, a line of soldiers with hate in their eyes. She was being ambushed.
“Wow,”Evemuttered.“You’recertainlytakingapageoutofyour
boyfriend’splaybook,aren’tyou?”
Madisonignoredtheremark.“IheardyouandJasonareofficialnow.”
“Weare.Maybesometimewecandoubledate.”
“Youthinkyou’resodamncute,don’tyou?”Madisonspat,approachingEve
and leaning her neck forward. “But what you don’t realize is that Jason just feels sorry for you. You’re cute like an injured puppy is cute—pathetic and sad.”
Eveforcedasmirk.“Ihappentolikepuppies,injuredornot.”
“You’reanimpoverished orphan.Youshouldn’tfeelsogoodaboutthat.”
Eve’schestbecamehot,asifsuddenlylitwithaflame.Shecockedherhead.
“Andwhataboutyou,Madison?Areyou proudofyourself?”
“Oh absolutely, becauseunlikeyou,Idon’tdragpeopledowninthegutter.
You’reJason’sgirlfriendfor,what?Thirtyseconds?Andalreadyheturnsinto
acompleteembarrassment?”MadisonleanedinclosetoEve,herblueeyes
likeshardsofglassassharpasherwords.“You’relikesewage,Eve.
Everythingyoutouchturnsto shit.”
“So, that’s it. This is all about Jason? Everything you’ve said, everything you’ve done to me, is because of him?” Eve stared back at her foe, looking deepintohereyesasifsearchingforsomething.“Ijustdon’tbuyit.”
“No,Eve,thisisabout you.ThisisabouthowmuchI hateyou.Ihateyourugly face,yourcheapclothes,yourstupidcomebacks,andyourgod-awful
presence.Everything.Youandyourkindcanallgostraightto hell.”
Eveglancedattheothergirlsforthefirsttimesincetheirambushbegan.
Theyglaredather,fueledbyananimosityEvehadlongsincegrown
accustomed to. She turned her gaze back to Madison, and her body tightened withrepugnanceandhate.Hervisionbecamefoggy,hermindslowlyengulfed
byapulsingblackness—
Sheblinked,andhervisioncleared.Madisonstoodinfrontofher,her
perfectlyglossedlipsquiveringwithrage.Eveturned,weavingthroughthe
Rutherfordiangirlsassheheadedforthedoor.
“We’redonehere.”
“Runningaway?”Madisonsneered.“Areyouafraid?Youshouldbe,you know.ItoldyouIwouldmakeyourlifemiserable.”Shelungedforward,
hovering behind Eve like a shadow. “I keep my promises, Eve. I will destroy you.”
Evelingeredbythedoor,turningtolookathernemesisoncemore.“Isee
you,Madison.Iseewhoyoureallyare.”
“WellIcanseeyoutoo,andyou’renothingbutaworthless CHIME—”
Darkness surged through Eve in an instant. The group of girls shrieked as Madison’sbodyflewacrosstheroomandslammedagainstthebackwall.
Eve’slungsheaved,herentirebeingimmersedinapowerthatradiated
throughherlikeheat.Theothergirlsscatteredtothesidesoftheroom,nearly
tripping over one another as they clung to the shower curtains and porcelain sinks.Evepaidnoattentiontothem;allshecouldseewasaswellingblackness
—and the blond Rutherfordian helplessly pinned to the tile wall. She charged forwardandthrustherred,furiousfacejustinchesfromMadison’s.
“DidyoureallythinkIwouldn’t findout?”shehissed,bringingherfacein evencloser.“You’renotsogoodathiding secrets,Madison.”
Madison’sjawdroppedopenandhereyeswidenedwithhorror.Therewas
nothinglefttobesaid;herexpressionwastheonlyconfirmationEveneeded.
Inthatmoment,Madison’sfacehadspokenmoretruththanherlipseverhad.
Eveendedhermelt,sendingtheheiresstumblingtothefloorand
scramblingintoaballatEve’sfeet.Astherageinsideofherwaned,Evebolted
forthesilverdoors,stoppingforjustasecondtolookbackatherroommate.
“Neverunderestimateyourenemy,”shegrowled.“Mycombatprofessor taughtmethat.Andyouknowwhat?Ihaven’tlostafightsince.”
***
“WAKEUP!”
SanchopouncedatopEve’ssleepingbody,joltingherawake.
“Sancho!”shebarked,pushinghimfromherbedandontothefloor.“Whatthe
helldoyouthinkyou’redoing?”
“You’vegottocome, quickly— ”
“How’dyouevengetinhere?Ialwayskeepthedoorlocked.”
“Ipickeditopen.”
“Where’dyoulearntodothat?”
“Jasontaughtme.”
“Jasontaughtyou?”Shescowled.“Youknow,youcould’vejustknocked.”
“Iknow,I’msorry,it’sjustallsoexciting—”
“What’sexciting?”
“The beacon,”heyelped,nearlybouncingwithglee.“JJ’sdoneit!Shegotit working!”
Suddenly,Eve’sentirebeingbuzzedwithenergy.Ithadbeennearlytwo
weeks since they had found the beacon, and the wait for progress had felt agonizinglyslow.JJhadlockedherselfinherdormroom,skippingclasses
andavoidingallhumancontact,slavingawayoverthealiendevice.Now,
finally,adevelopment.Anddeepinhergut,Eveknewthateverythingwas
