Page 43 of Dirty Little Saint

“Never,” Villette quips, grinning from ear to ear.

Thank God. I would have ordered one anyway but I’m glad I don’t have to drink alone. I order a whiskey old fashion while Villette opts for an ice-cold dirty martini.

“Have you seen Libra? She wasn’t there when I got home.” I scan the menu as my stomach growls again.

Villette shakes her head. “I don’t think she’s back yet. Her brother, Aries, said something about her staying a little longer in their winter villa.”

“She didn’t go with you to Ever Graves? Isn’t that where she’s from?” Another odd piece of information that didn’t sit right with me. These people have so many fucking secrets.

The server comes back before she can answer. We order our food and another round of drinks. I go for my usual sweet potato fries, grilled cheese sandwich, and extra ranch dressing, while Villette opts for a Cobb salad with balsamic vinaigrette instead of the creamy bleu cheese it comes with. All of which literally sums up our two very different approaches to life in a nutshell.

“Yes and no. Well, her family has a pretty cool estate in the mountains. But she was born in Raven’s Gate too. Her family moved back to Ever Graves when she was like two or three, I think.” Villette takes a sip of her martini and I fixate on the bob of her throat as I lose myself in my thoughts.

“Was anyone actually born in Ever Graves?” I ask, a little too accusatory.

She purses her lips, and it looks like she’s genuinely thinking. “Your mom, right? My brother was born there, and your cousin Draven. Libra’s brother too.”

I nod. “Sorry for all the questions. I’m tired and think I forgot how to have a normal conversation.”

Villette laughs and shrugs. “I missed you, Maur. Tell me, how was your trip? What shenanigans did the four of you get up to?” she asks excitedly.

A pit of dread forms in my stomach like a ball of lead. There’s no way I’m telling my only friend here how Riot’s depraved father stripped me naked and forced unspeakable acts on me while his initiates watched. Villette already thinks Nocturnus is dangerous and fucked up.

I smile after taking a big sip of my cocktail. “We just chilled at Val’s cabin. Drank too much, slept in late. You know the usual winter break debauchery.”

“Ooh, girl, thank you for not going into detail,” she teases. “I know how obsessed you all are with each other’s anatomy.”

I almost spit whiskey out of my nose. “Facts.”

We both fall back into our friendship with ease, spending the rest of the night like two normal college students excited about classes and upcoming events. We agree to go dress shopping together again for the Spring Equinox Ball. All while under the surface, secrets and lies simmer, threatening to boil over at any moment.

But the longer I live in this world, the easier it gets to shove the truth down.

The server drops the check, and we both scramble to pay. “I told you, my treat,” Villette hisses.

I concede, but only because she snarls at me, which is not a common look for my normally mild-mannered friend.

I admire her tenacity and spirit as she slaps down her credit card, satisfied with herself for beating me.

“Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Are you related to that new teacher, Professor Crane?”

Villette’s face lights up even more. “Felix! Yes, he’s my older brother. I’m so happy he’s at Tenebrose this year. I finally get to spend some time with him.”

“That’s amazing, Villette. I can’t wait to meet him. They put me in his poetry class.” If he’s half as nice as his sister, that class should be a walk in the park.

We lock arms again as we head out the front doors of the café. She gives mine a squeeze. “I told him all about you last night. The poor guy is staying in my room at the Nest because his faculty apartment isn’t ready yet. Anyway, he might pop into Swallow tonight. No one knows he’s a teacher yet.” She giggles.

“Well, you are a great sister for letting him crash at your place. And I can’t wait to see the looks on everyone’s faces in class on Monday after they realize who he is.” It feels good to talk like this again. Like some sort of semblance of me is a normal woman. The darkness surrounding me keeps getting more suffocating, but when I’m around Villette, I feel lighter. Less anxious.

“Is it cool if I get ready at your place, tonight? I’m sure Felix could use some space.” Everything about this girl is warm and thoughtful. I always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Villette is the poster child for sister of the year. I chuckle as I think of how Libra talks to her brother. I heard her on the phone once and felt so sorry for him, I almost sent him condolence flowers.

“Hell, yeah. I’ll chill a bottle of champagne for us. Gotta celebrate the first night out of the new semester.”

Maureen

“You want the usual?” The bartender asks Villette as she leans over the polished-wood bar. He looks at her like she’s a meal to be devoured. Who can blame him? In a tight, black, strapless dress and four-inch heels, she looks even more stunning than usual. Her dark-brown hair is loose in waves around her tanned shoulders. She tosses it as she winks at him and nods. A whiff of honey and patchouli permeates the gesture.

I don’t come here enough to have a usual, I guess.

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