Page 71 of Beautiful Prey

“I was going to say stunning as hell…but, yeah, maybe a little too much.”

She grinned. “That’s the point. So, pick your poison. Autumn princess?” She lifted the skirt of a deep red dress with velvetleaves stitched along the waistline and across the breasts. “Evil fairy queen?” She showed off a black and green dress with a sequined top and a large skirt with little gray butterflies on the hem. “Or, oh, this one.” She lifted another. This was less ball gown and more sleek. A black number with the skirt flowing longer at the back and a slit to one side at the front. The waist had a leather corset-like belt that pointed down in a V, and above, on the heart-shaped top, it had tiny red flowers stitched together with twisted, thorny vines which were etched along the breast-line flowing down to a point. On the hem of the skirt were more of the same design as if the wildflowers were growing up the dress.

Lena saw my expression and grinned. “Yup, that’s the one. Go on, take it out and try it on.”

I brought it out and set it on her bed. She turned around as I changed out of my black jeans and Evil Dead T-shirt. As I carefully put it on and smoothed out the bottom, she turned back.

“Oh, Eve…” She placed a hand over her heart. “Embrace me, queen of the night.”

“Stop it.” I laughed.

“You are so hot. Eyes will be rolling your way.”

“I don’t know if I want that much attention on me…”

She wheeled closer and gently grabbed one end of the skirt. “I know you’ve got enough of that. But I say fuck ’em. If they're gonna stare and talk, at least you’ll look like the queen you are, and this’ll show ’em you own it.” She let the skirt fall from her fingers. “You know I’m grateful you’re here, and it’s hard…but if anyone gives you shit or tries to ask you about…you know...what happened, they’ll answer to me. And Jamie.”

I smiled and took her hand. “Thank you, Lena.”

“Okay, now a mask. I got a few of those too, courtesy of my sister and the Halloween store.” She lifted a bag by the bed andrifled through it. “I figured some would be good for anyone to wear around the party, but you can definitely borrow one too.” She showed off a few possible choices, weeding out the scary ones for the pretty ones. There were a couple of Mardi Gras masks with green and purple feathers, a domino mask, and a leopard print mask. I tried them on, but none really quite matched.

“How about this one?” Lena said. I turned from the mirror and stilled. In her hand was a rabbit-shaped mask, with little designs around the face.

I let her set it in my hand. I turned it over a few times. I went to the mirror and put it over my face and felt that awful sinking feeling.

Bad…bad little rabbit.

I stared at the mirror for a long second, then brought it away from my face, returning it to Lena. “No, not this one.”

She hummed, searching the bag again. “Ah, okay, how about this?”

She took out a simple, black mask with little onyx jewels in the shape of flowers around the sides. Jewel beads hung underneath the mask below the eyes, the ends shaped like tear drops.

I tried it on, and it fit the best.

Lena called in April and the two were kind enough to help me fix up my hair, curling some of my loose brown waves before pinning them up, freeing a couple strands on either side of my face to cover my ears.

I probably did look like a vampire queen. Even my Doc Martens didn’t take away from the elegance of my getup. Lena’s shoes would have been too big for me anyway.

I decided to keep the dress on and stay a little longer instead of heading to my apartment before the banquet. Jamie oohed and ahhed at me, then left to grab us real food. The sun wassinking fast, and I knew the banquet started at dusk. After I ate a few slices of pizza, making sure not to get anything on the dress, I said goodbye and threw on my coat.

“Drive safe,” Lena said. “And make sure you get your ass back here!”

“I will.” I gave her a hug before turning for the door. Jamie followed me out to my car.

“You sure you don’t want me to go with you?” he asked. “Make sure your uncle doesn’t step out of line?”

I shook my head. “Thank you but that’s okay. You should have fun here instead.”

“You know you could just call him. Forget going all the way over there to tell him you're going to basically ruin your dad’s company.”

I looked past him at the house. “He helped take care of me after I lost everyone. He’s…he’s not my dad but he deserves better than a phone call. I’ll have to get what things I left at his house eventually so I can’t avoid him forever.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, guess so.”

“Also, someone was helping to fund all the horrible shit my father and his company were up to. If I go…”

“You’ll see all the potential donors. Shit, Eve.” He took a hold of my shoulders. “Just be careful. I know you're trying to do the right thing. But you’ve already fallen into dangerous territory. Don’t slip further in.”

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