Page 6 of The Puppetmaster

“It’s up to date,” she assures. “I just printed it out. More than a hundred registrations for the night, about half of them opting for a white wristband, and—”

She stops speaking midsentence, and I know it is because she notices the expression changing on my face. I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t return the look. My eyes are glued to the list in my hand.

No, not to the list.

Just one name.

The last name at the very bottom. The late admission.

I was curious to see who was bold enough to disregard one of my rules even before meeting my eye—only to realize that she’s no stranger.

I don’t trust my eyes. I can’t.

This has to be a mistake.

That is always my first thought when something happens that I did not account for. Mind you, it doesn’t happen often, and when it does, it usuallyisa mistake. Because I always have things under control. Ialwaysdirect, command, and plan. I pull the strings.

But this…

The paper crinkles between my fingers as I fight to hide how much this affects me and how unprepared I was to see her name on the list.

This hunt was supposed to be a quick and easy one, business as usual. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything.

It wasn’t supposed to matter.

But now it fuckingdoes.

Chapter 4

Alena

I feel like my heart is sitting up in my throat, strangling each breath of air into sickening agony as I make my way anxiously through the main hall.

I can’t believe I’m here.

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.

Nothing will happen, my pessimistic mind reminds me.He’s not going to pick you.

But what if he does?

He hasn’t before.

You willneverget your chance.

The Puppetmaster will change your life, they say. It’s a rumor that’s been whispered from ear to ear for years, and it’s only reinforced by the fact that not a single one of the women who were chosen as puppets were ever seen again. No one knows what happened to them, but rumor has it that their disappearances were always voluntary. Something changed for them after being locked away inside the Puppetmaster’s gilded cage—something so profound that they were willing to leave their old lives behind.

It’s a mystery… and a terrifying thought.

But so deliciously intriguing.

I shake my head, as if that could silence the persistent chatter in my head. It doesn’t help, but I know what will: a drink.

I head for the bar straight away. It was a weird coincidence that Melina is working tonight. If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t even be here. The admission deadline had passed by the time I learned about tonight’s event, and as far as I know, no one is stricter about adhering to the rules than the Puppetmaster. But I needed to try, and Melina was my only way in. She was reluctant about it when I called, telling me not to get my hopes up before she had spoken to her boss, Miss Barry, only to present me with the good news a few minutes later.

I don’t know why this exception was made for me tonight, but it certainly wasn’t because of a shortage of signups. The event just started, and the venue is already crowded, unusual at such an early hour.

“You’re actually wearing white, huh?” Melina greets me when I place myself up on one of the high chairs at the bar, and I reciprocate with a coy smile.

---