“He’ll surely wonder why she’s auditioning,” Teresa says. “I can’t imagine anything she could say that would sound remotely believable. He’ll suspect her from the beginning—and he’ll be even more likely to kill her.”
“I could say that I want to become his queen,” I say softly. “Adriana moved here to find a suitable husband. Who could be more suitable—and of higher rank—than Ezekiel himself?”
“He’s narcissistic enough that he would probably believe it,” Marco says.
“Except he’s no longer looking for a queen,” Teresa reminds us. “Everyone knows that. He doesn’t think any of us are good enough to be his queen.”
“Unless I believed I could change his mind,” I say. “Like you said, Adriana’s beautiful. She’s a Gold. And not just any Gold—her father is the lord of one of the sectors. Why wouldn’t she think that she’s qualified to be queen?”
“She’s eighteen,” Teresa says. “She can barely take care of herself—let alone an entire continent.”
“She would hardly be the first teenage queen,” I say. “I’ve seen many queens crowned at her age—some even younger.”
“None of them married a demon king!” Teresa clenches her fists to her sides, her eyes wide in terror.
“True,” I admit. “But Henry the Eighth was horrible enough to his wives that he might as well have been a demon.”
She cracks a smile, but it’s gone quickly.
“I’m as scared as you are, but I think this plan can work,” I say, serious again. “I think you know that, too. But to make it work, I’ll need help and support—from both of you.”
“I don’t like it.” Teresa huffs and sits back in the couch.
“I know you don’t,” I say. “But do you think it gives me a chance to complete my mission?”
She sighs and runs her hands through her hair, staring out the window, her forehead creased in thought.
I say nothing, giving her time to process. Marco does the same.
“It does give you a chance,” she finally admits. “As much as I hate it, I can’t think of any other way that would give you more access to the Watchtower.”
“Then it’s settled.” I swallow and clasp my hands in my lap, the terrifying reality of the situation hitting me all at once.
But I have to remain calm—for all our sakes.
And so, I raise my head and say, “Next week at the ball, I’m going to audition—and be chosen—to be one of Ezekiel’s concubines.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The week before the ball was full of shopping and prepping. I needed a red dress, since everyone auditioning to be a concubine had to wear one. But Teresa didn’t want anyone to see me buying one, since a Gold purchasing a red ball gown this week would surely get the entire city talking. She wants everyone to be shocked when I show up to audition—including Ezekiel. So she hired a top-notch fashion designer—a Green named Flory—to create a gown for me. Flory jumped at the job, especially because Teresa paid her a hefty bonus of gold coins to ensure she kept our plan a secret.
It takes nearly an hour to get me in the dress and able to properly maneuver myself while wearing it. It fits snugly around my waist—so snugly I worry I might get short of breath while dancing—but it has to be tight since it’s strapless and needs some way to stay up. The corset is so intricately beaded that it sparkles in the light, and the skirt’s so full and fluffy that three people could easily fit inside. It reminds me of a wedding dress, but bright red instead of white. I have to hold my arms out to make sure not to smoosh it, and I fear it’ll be a miracle if I don’t trip over it at some point during the night.
Now, I sit at my dressing table while Flory does the finishing touches on my hair. She has me wearing it down—she claims it looks more youthful that way, and Ezekiel loves youthfulness. She’s curled it and is adding various sparkly gems to it. Meanwhile, I stare into the mirror at my face, which has been made up expertly, down to the fake eyelashes encrusted with gems. There’s no denying that Adriana is breathtakingly beautiful.
I feel like Cinderella about to attend the royal ball.
Except that instead of dancing with a prince, I’ll be dancing with a demon.
My heart flutters in anticipation. So much of this comes down to getting Ezekiel to like me. If it wasn’t for all the makeup covering my face, I’m sure I would have looked pale with terror.
“Make sure not to pull the tab too early,” Flory says. She’s been repeating it to me all night. “You don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“I know,” I tell her. “I’ll wait until they announce my name and I’m at the top of the steps. I promise.”
“He’ll be smitten the moment he lays eyes on you.” She arranges my hair over my shoulders and smiles. “You’re going to be the most glamorous woman auditioning. Not just auditioning—you’re going to be the most glamorous woman at the entire ball!”
Once I’m finished getting ready, Flory helps me into the back of the car. I have to sit in the center seat. The dress takes up so much space that it presses against both doors. Marco’s driving, and Teresa’s in the passenger seat. They both look incredible—him in a white-tie suit, and her in the purple gown I’d initially bought on my shopping trip with Sofia.
Flory waves as we pull out of the driveway. She’s wearing a beautiful dress herself—full and yellow. But there’s no room for her in the car—my dress takes up too much space—and according to Teresa, it wouldn’t be proper for Flory to arrive in a car with Golds anyway. She’ll walk from our house, and then take the trolley home at the end of the night with the other Greens.
We soon pull up at the valet in front of the Watchtower. The moment I step out of the car, two Gold guards rush to my side and stop me in my path. They’re both young, probably in their mid-to-late twenties. The first one—the taller one—eyes me, and his brow furrows in confusion.
“Only those auditioning to be one of Ezekiel’s concubines can wear red tonight,” he informs me. “You’ll need to go home and change. But you must hurry, because the doors close in an hour, and once they closed, no one’s allowed in.”
“There’s no need for that.” I hold my head high and arrange the skirt around myself. “Because I am auditioning to be one of his concubines.”
“You are?” The other guard balks. “But… you’re a Gold.”
“And your point is?” I try my best to sound irritated so he won’t pick up on how terrified I truly feel. Plus, this is practice. If I can’t convince Gold guards that I’m auditioning because I want to be chosen as a concubine, then there’s no chance that Ezekiel will believe me.
“I’m sorry, miss,” the first guard says, bowing his head. “It’s just that, as I’m sure you know, this is quite unprecedented. No Golds have auditioned since the very first selection.”
“I know,” I tell him. “And it’s no wonder Ezekiel has been unable to find a proper queen amongst all the Silvers, Greens, and Reds he has to choose from.” I scrunch my nose, as if the thought of him only having to choose from such “lowly” castes disgusts me. “It’s about time that someone who’s worthy of him steps up for the role. And who’s worthier than a Gold? And not just any Gold, but the daughter of the Lord of Sector Six?”
I look back and forth between them, daring them to contradict me.
“Apologies,” the first man says. “I was simply surprised, that’s all. I meant no disrespect.”
“But you do know that Ezekiel is no longer searching for a queen?” the second guard asks. “His concubines are for… entertainment. Nothing more.”
“That’s because he has yet to meet me.” I fluff the gown around myself, keeping the haughtiness in my tone. “Now, please step out of my way. I have a ball to attend.”
I glance at Teresa, and she nods at me. I must be doing a decently convincing job.
“We actually didn’t originally approach you to stop you from coming to the ball,” the first guard says. “We approach everyone who arrives in a
red dress, since all the ladies auditioning must come with us through the side entrance to the waiting room. Once there, you’ll be assessed, and if deemed acceptable, you’ll remain there until it’s time to announce you at the party.”
“Although you have nothing to worry about,” the second guard says. “You’ll surely pass the assessment with flying colors.”
I nearly chuckle at how flabbergasted he still is. Instead, I clear my throat to compose myself. “Obviously I’ll pass,” I tell them, as if I’m so confident that the thought of failing has never crossed my mind. “Now, please, lead the way.”
I take one last glance behind me at Teresa and Marco, and then follow the guards around the towering Watchtower, each step one closer to coming face to face with Ezekiel.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The side entrance is just a plain, unmarked door guarded by an older man. He’s wearing the black uniform of the guards, and I don’t even need to look at his wrists to know he’s a Gold.
He gives me a once over, his eyes widening when he sees my tattoos.
“Is this a joke?” he inquires. “We haven’t had a Gold audition—”
“Since the first year of the ball,” I interrupt, heaving a sigh. Am I going to have to go through this with every person I encounter? “And not having any Golds audition is clearly the reason why Ezekiel hasn’t been able to find a queen. Now, will you let me inside? It’s hot out here, and I don’t want to perspire in my dress.” I fan myself to further my point.
Playing the part of a spoiled Gold socialite is turning out to be far easier than I’d anticipated.
The man raises an eyebrow and glances at the guards on my sides. The taller one nods, as if confirming that I’m serious. I hold the man’s eyes and wait for whatever he’s going to say next.
“Very well,” he says, eyeing my gown once more. “You certainly meet the necessary requirements. Go ahead.”
He opens the door, and the two guards escort me inside a large waiting room. The door is barely wide enough for my dress, and the guards have to help me squish it down on the sides so I’m able to fit through. Once I make it, I re-fluff the gown and pull up the bodice, looking around.
The room is plain, and it’s full of about sixty other women in red dresses. Some of them are sitting, while others stand and examine themselves in the mirrors along the walls, doing final touch-ups to their hair and makeup. Most of them are chatting with each other, but a few sit alone in the corners, looking utterly terrified.
As I enter, a few of the girls turn to look at me. They whisper to the girls next to them, and soon enough, silence descends upon the room. They just stare at me, gaping as if I walked in naked.
My cheeks flush, and every bone in my body aches to turn around and run back to Teresa’s house. But I suspected something like this would happen, so I hold my head high and continue inside.
Looking around at their tattoos, I see a few Silvers and Reds, but most of them are Greens. They all wear beautiful red dresses, but nothing as extravagant as mine. I feel suddenly self-conscious, and I reach to tuck my hair behind my ears, but I stop myself. Because not only will Flory kill me if I mess up the curls, but I also don’t want any of these girls to see how nervous I am. I can’t risk ruining my cover.
Suddenly, a petite, round-faced girl stands up—a Silver—and walks toward me. Her form-fitting dress is mermaid styled at the bottom, showing off her curves. “Adriana Medina?” she asks, her arms outstretched and a smile on her face.
“Yes.” I take her hands, since she hasn’t given me any other option. “Have we met?”
“No, we haven’t,” she says, and her smile is so contagious that despite how self-conscious I feel, I can’t stop myself from returning it. “I’m Elizabeth Chavez—I teach arts and culture at the school for Golds. Your cousin Sofia is one of my students. I’ve seen you pick her up from school a few times.”
“Of course.” I nod, even though I’ve never picked Sofia up from school since entering Adriana’s body. Now that Elizabeth is closer, I can see a few lines around her eyes. Her height makes her look young for her age, but since she’s a teacher at the high school, I assume she must be somewhere in her late twenties. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“Come, sit with me,” she says. “We have so much dancing to look forward to tonight—we must rest our feet while we still can!” Linking her arm around mine, she leads me to a couch on the side of the room. She looks around at a few of the other girls—who are still staring—and smiles at them as we pass. “Your dress is so beautiful,” she continues. “Where did you find it? I searched nearly every store in the city and didn’t see anything close to this lovely.”
“My stylist picked it out,” I answer. “She has wonderful taste… although it’s so huge. I must admit I’m worried that it’ll be impossible to get through the night without crashing into someone.”
“I’m sure everyone will move out of your way to ensure that won’t happen.” She arrives at the couch and sits down, patting the cushion next to her for me to join. I do so. Once I’m situated, I realize the other girls have stopped staring and have resumed chatting amongst themselves.
For the first time since entering the room, I feel like I can breathe again.
“Thank you for saving me,” I say to Elizabeth, keeping my voice low so the other girls can’t hear.
“Anytime,” she says. “There aren’t many Silvers here—maybe five of us so far in all—and while our receptions haven’t been quite as icy as yours, they’ve been pretty close.”
“Why?” I ask. “Don’t Silvers audition every year?”
“Yes, but not many,” she says. “And the Greens and Reds think they deserve this chance more than Silvers. Which is unfair if you ask me, since they don’t know our personal stories…” She brings her hands together, sadness passing over her eyes. “But there’s no need to get into that.” She smiles again, her cheeks rosy, and continues before I can ask what she means. “I must say that I’m as curious about you as the rest of them,” she admits. “What made you decide to audition?”
“I moved to the city to find a husband,” I start, although I don’t want to give her the same reason I gave to the Gold guards, since she’s being so kind to me and I don’t want to insult her caste. So I decide to wing it, and hope what I’m about to say is believable. “When I heard the announcement that Ezekiel’s looking for new concubines, I got this feeling. It’s hard to explain, but something in my gut told me I needed to be here to meet him and have the chance to get to know him. I couldn’t ignore it. And so… here I am.”
“Ezekiel is handsome, isn’t he?” she says with a small smile. “The most handsome man on the continent, without a doubt.”
“I’ve never seen him,” I admit. “I only moved here recently.”
Before she can reply, I hear arguing at the doorway.
I turn to see what the commotion is about, catching sight of a young Red woman in a plain dress seconds before she clutches her hands to her chest and lets out a heart-wrenching wail.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“What’s going on?” I ask Elizabeth, my voice rising in panic. “What are they doing to her?”
“They’re not hurting her,” Elizabeth assures me. “Well, not physically, at least.”
“Then why is she crying?”
“She’s been turned down from the ball,” she explains. “From the looks of her dress, I assume that Ezekiel’s advisor—the man at the door who let you inside—didn’t deem her worthy of attending.”
Guards take each of her arms and pull her away from the door. As she’s dragged away, I notice that her dress is plain and homely, reminding me of something a poor girl from the prairies might wear to church than something fit for a ball.
“That’s hardly fair,” I say. “It’s probably the best she can afford.”
“The selection process has never been fair,” Elizabeth says. “Many girls tonight had gorgeous dresses, but were turned down
because they weren’t considered beautiful enough for Ezekiel. So you see, having an acceptable dress is only part of it.”
“But there are a few Reds here,” I observe. Although when I look around again, it’s impossible not to notice that every woman is extraordinarily gorgeous. “How do they afford their tickets and dresses?”
“The Reds choose a few of their own each year who they want to enter—usually the most beautiful women who want a chance of a better life—and pool together their coins and resources to buy them tickets and dresses,” she explains. “It’s not uncommon to see them wearing the same dresses that girls have worn in prior years. That girl must not have had the community behind her, but decided to try anyway.”
“It was very brave of her,” I say.
“I suppose.” Elizabeth shrugs. “Although I think you’re the bravest one of us all, coming here to remind Ezekiel why he started these selections in the first place—to find a queen.”
“I don’t see why it’s such a far-fetched possibility that he’ll ever find a queen,” I say.
“Half a century of his not finding one would say otherwise,” she says kindly. “Although… I’ve always believed in fate. Perhaps that feeling you had truly means something.”
“Perhaps,” I say, despite knowing she’s wrong, since that feeling I claimed to have had never existed at all. “But enough about why I’m here.” I rearrange my dress, angling myself back in her direction. “Why did you choose to audition?”
“My husband passed away a few months ago,” she says sadly. “Like many in the city, he had a bit too much fun at the casinos… although I didn’t realize how much until after his death. The debt he left me was exorbitant. More than I can ever pay off with a teacher’s salary, especially with two kids of my own to take care of.”
“I’m so sorry,” I tell her, my heart hurting for both her loss and her predicament. “What about your family? Have they offered to help?”
Demon Kissed (Cursed Angel Collection) Page 7
