Page 54 of Black Bird

She swallowed, water trickling from both corners of her mouth. “He’s never wondered before? Every month? If not … why bother now?” Sharp pains shot up her spine and the column of her neck and she couldn’t stifle her wail. “You should go, Kane.”

“I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Yeah, well … ugh … I don’t want you to see me—” She bowed forward and groaned in pain. Athan’s cool hand felt like ice against her blazing skin.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said simply.

All she could manage was a grateful nod.

Wren had noticed that Sarah wasn’t in the best of moods since yesterday. She had asked her if it had anything to do with the job, or something she’d found but Sarah hadn’t wanted to really talk about it. Instead, she seemed a lot more eager to dress up in the outfit she’d beggedWren not to buy at the shop earlier this week, and even went so far as to take her makeup next level, adding fake blood and long white extension clips in her hair.

“I’ll be honest … if I batted for the other team, I’d be fuckin’ ya.” Wren cackled from the mirror, adding the finishing touches to her own makeup, and teasing her hair a little more.

“Well, at least somebody wants to,” Sarah drawled, lacing up a pair of knee-high black heels. Denver watched from the coffee table in Wren’s cluttered apartment, both his green eyes darting between them in utter confusion.

“Look, if you take somebody home tonight, you’re taking them to your house. You know the rules.”

I’m not taking anybody home. I’ve got a plan.” Sarah smirked without looking back up at her. Wren watched her from the mirror and set down her lip pencil.

“And that is?”

“If I get drunk enough, I guess you’ll find out.”

She never talked like this. They had gotten drunk plenty of times before, but Wren couldn’t shake off the bad feeling she was continuing to get about Sarah’s behavior as the days went on. Was this some kind of survivor’s guilt? A suddenYOLOtrigger that had been set off because she’d almost died? She wasn’t sure how to navigate this new version of her best friend and talking to her about it never seemed to go anywhere.

“Are you okay?” Wren dared ask as Sarah finished lacing her other boot. Sarah hopped up from the couch and adjusted the black velvet corset to push up her tits. Her chest tattoos were on full display, along with every inch of her pale arms, and most of her legs as they shone through her fishnet tights. There was hardly any way to call that a skirt, either. It just barely covered the bottom of her ass. She looked better than Wren could have ever expected, especially with the makeup and hair.

“I’m fine! Why?” she asked excitedly, looking at her with a raised brow. “I take back everything I said about the sexy lion.”

Wren adjusted the form-fitting fuzzy bodysuit, snapping the elastic around her bare thigh and grinning as she gestured obscenely with the long tail. “I like this part the best.”

“You ready?” Sarah asked, grabbing her cigarettes, wallet, and phone.

“Very. Let’s roll,” Wren agreed, following her out the door and locking it up behind them. It didn’t take more than five minutes to drive to the packed little club that Dominic had reserved only for his own guests for the night. As Wren parked the car, lightning flashed around them, and thunder rolled. “Nothing creepier on Halloween than a storm.”

“Not too late to go back and watch movies … although, I’m no longer in the mood.” Sarah winked as she opened the car door.

“We could go bag-snatching. Scare the shit outta little kids?” Wren laughed, walking to the front of the car.

“Nah … I’m getting lit.”

She supposed there was no talking her out of it. Wren couldn’t get over the nagging feeling that something about bringing her here just didn’t feel right. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that the last time they’d gone out, she’d almost lost her. This would pass. She shrugged it off and they went inside, flashing lights and dance music greeting them as they entered. They dove right in, and for the first two hours, both of them were having the time of their lives. People were dressed in costumes all around them, pictures being taken left and right with strangers, and all the right ingredients for terrible decisions were everywhere. It was the kind of scene that Wren lived for. She used to beg Sarah to get this sloshed … but for once, it seemed like they had traded places.

Sarah was dancing with a girl that was dressed like Red Riding Hood, both well beyond drunk. One of the visiting artists had also taken a liking to her and had come up behind Sarah with a drink, offering it to her and to Wren’s shock, she took it without a second thought.

“Hey!” Wren smiled, hurrying to her side. “Why don’t we slow it down a little, yeah?” She made to take the drink from her hand before it made it to Sarah’s mouth, but she jerked it away.

“Why? You’re usually begging me to! Get your own!” Sarah slurred, knocking the entire drink back. Her new story book friend laughed and ground herself on Sarah’s thigh, looping an arm around her waist. The man that had given her the drink joined in behind her and Wren couldn’t hide the shock from her face when Sarah brought him closer and leaned herself back against him.

“Sarah, look … maybe it’s time to go home.”

“She seems pretty comfortable to me.” The nameless asshole purred, turning Sarah’s chin up and leaning in to kiss her. She didn’t even hesitate. Tongues were clashing over dark purple lipstick and Wren felt her stomach turning. Red Riding Hood wasn’t getting enough attention, she supposed, and decided to join in … Sarah obliged her too.

“Sarah, that’s enough, babe. Let’s go.” Wren urged, tugging at her arm. Sarah pulled away, something in her usually bright, hazel eyes darkening. She growled …growledat her. Like some animal about to pounce. Wren winced.

“You wanna go, then go … I’m staying right here.” Sarah snarled in a voice that didn’t sound a thing like her.

That was enough. Wren dug her phone out of the small bag she’d brought and dialed Athan. It rang several times and then his voicemail picked up. She hung up and tried again … twice. After the third time, she decided to leave a message. “Hey Kane, it's Wren. I need your help. Something’s up with Sarah. She’s—” Wren looked over her shoulder and Sarah was pawing all over the woman she continued to dance with. “Look, just call me. Please. I’m worried.” She hung up and sent him a text, hoping maybe he’d call back. After a few long minutes of waiting and watching her accept yetanotherdrink spiked with God knows what, Wren reluctantly dialed someone else.

---