Page 26 of King

“Yeah, Jo?”

“You haven’t heard anything about my parents have you?”

She searches my face for clarity before shaking her head. “Not besides what you told me, why?”

“Damien said everyone knows what happened to them except me.”

“Sick fuck,” Allie scoffs. “He’s probably just fucking with you for not getting his way. You alright?”

If he’s fucking with me, tonight, I’m going to find out.

“Yeah,” I turn my eyes to the sky. “I’m perfect.”

Eight

“How do I look?” I toss my phone on the bed, turning to Willow.

Allie just texted she’d be here in five minutes and I’m already getting second thoughts.

She’s right. I’m about to set foot in the lion’s den.

In Damien King’s house.

In hell itself.

What am I thinking?

“You look like you.” Willow stands in front of me in an oversized white shirt, giving me a once over. “Which is good. You can be yourself!”

Holly filled our closet with fancy labels in our sizes. Pink. Pastels. Lots of white. Willow squealed at having an assortment of clothes to choose from but there’s no way they're going on my body.

For tonight, I’m in an old pair of cut off jeans from the garbage bags we brought. A Bob Marley shirt hangs off my shoulders, black bralette peeking out through big holes on the side. “I’m not so sure about this.”

“Well, I am.” Willow gets on her tippy toes to fluff out my head of curls. “You haven’t done a good job at flying under the radar anyway. You’re already blacklisted. Plus, I want to hear all the stories about the King mansion when you get back.”

Allie’s name lights up my phone as Willow hands me mom’s rings. I slip all chunky gold rings on eight fingers before I turn to look at her. “You’ll be okay alone? Here?”

I'd love it if Willow came along, but Allie told me there’s a strict 'No Freshman' policy. I didn’t want her to be the joke of the night. That's my job.

Willow nods, “It’s late. I’m just going to curl up with GossipGirl on StreamFlix. Can't believe we have our own StreamFlix now."

“So that’s why you know so much about Eden’s elites.” I throw on my leather jacket, taking one last look in the mirror. Willow laughs, turning me around so she can dab under my eyes with a tissue. I hold out my pinky which she takes. “Text me and lock the door. Don’t answer to anyone except me.”

She smiles, kissing her thumb in unison, “Deal.”

With a kiss on her head, I leave my bedroom door, taking the key for the room with me along with my phone. While I’m sure it’s not the only key for the room it gives me a little sense of security that I value after moving so often.

I’m halfway down the steps before I hear Nancy’s voice, “And where do you think you’re off to?” She’s near the second-floor landing, in a black silky gown.

“Damien King is having a party tonight and I…”

She scoffs, waving me off with one hand, a copy of Bridget Jones’s Diary in the next. '“You’re not going anywhere. Especially not looking like that.”

“Don't you think it’ll be good if I get to know the kids I’m going to school with?"

“That wasn’t a suggestion.” She doesn’t take her eyes off her book, walking down the stairs into the kitchen.

When I return to my room, my sister’s already comfy in my bed. “What happened?”

---