Page 51 of Phantom Mine

“Okay, shoo. Go to the bathroom. Good luck peeing in that dress. Let me know how it goes.”

I groan as I walk away. “I’ve been dreading it all night.”

“I believe in you!” she calls after me.

I raise a thumbs up without looking back, without getting one last look at her, and head for the stairs. When I make it to the second floor, the back of my neck tingles and awareness flares through me. I whip around but there’s no one there, nothing but the shadows staring back at me.

Slightly disconcerted, I head down one of the hallways in search of the VIP bathrooms. Adri and I have bands to grant us access to the area, but we’ve stayed on the main dance floorso far. That’s where all the fun is, fueled by the maddening and electric energy of the crowd.

Off to my left, I see an ornate golden sign indicating the women’s bathroom. When I walk in, I notice a woman bent slightly over the sink, applying red lipstick in the mirror. She’s heartrendingly beautiful in an elfin kind of way, with blonde hair naturally so pale it looks almost white, and equally light skin. She’s petite and model thin, wearing a red Venetian ball gown and looking every inch the porcelain doll. Her traditionalCarnivalemask rests on the counter next to the sink.

Large gray eyes meet mine in the mirror and widen when they see me. She spins around, her expression turning impish and her eyes shining with mischievousness as she rakes them down my body.

“I absolutelyloveyour dress,” she says in an American accent. “You look like a hot, powerful Greek goddess.” Tilting her head, she asks. “Can I touch it?”

Her energy is infectious. There’s no resisting the smile that stretches across my face in response. “Of course you can.” I close the distance between us. “I’ll warn you, it’s not all glamorous. I nearly poked my eye out with one of these feathers earlier.”

“Beauty is pain, I guess.” Laughing delightedly, she strokes the many feathers affixed to my dress in awe. “I’m very jealous. I’m a designer and I can only hope to make something this beautiful one day.”

“Are you really?” I reach behind my head and untie the knot holding my mask up, removing it with a happy sigh. “That’s amazing. Do you specialize in costumes?”

“No, mostly wedding dresses for now, but I want to diversify. Life’s too short to just do one thing.” She smiles when my mask comes off. “Now that we’ve seen each other’s faces, I think we can officially be introduced.” She extends a hand to me. “I’m Dagny.”

Taking it, I say, “Valentina. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

As I head for one of the stalls, I pause and turn back around. “Don’t freak out if you hear groaning and some potentially undignified cursing, it’s just me trying to maneuver around this dress.”

Dagny grins. “Thanks for the heads up, I’ll refrain from calling the authorities.”

I give her a grateful thank you and head back into the stall. When I come out, a few of the feathers look a little disheveled and the worse for wear, but overall the dress is intact.

“Mission accomplished?” Dagny asks, looking at me through the mirror.

“Mission accomplished.”

“The dress is beautifulandfunctional. That’s doubly impressive.”

“You know, I liked it before I met you, but knowing that a fashion designer approves of it makes me love it even more. So thank you.”

She smiles and digs into her purse, handing me a card. “Here. I know it’s old fashioned but I have business cards. Don’t judge me. Keep my number if you ever get married and need a dress. Or if you just want a new friend.”

“I’m very far from needing the first, but always looking for the second. Thank you, I’ll give you a call. My sister and I are only here for a few more days, but maybe we can squeeze in a lunch.”

“I’d love that.”

Dagny watches me as I wash my hands, then digs through her purse once more, coming up with a cylindrical tube.

“You should try this on.” She hands me the lipstick. “This color would look fantastic with your dress and skin tone. Plus it’s cherry flavored so, if nothing else, it’s just plain fun.”

I lean over the sink and apply the lipstick, smacking my lips together a couple of times before turning towards her and pouting playfully.

“How does it look?”

“Like it belongs on you,” she answers, clapping happily. “I knew it would look great. I’m never wrong, you know.”

I laugh at her confidence. “You’ll get along great with Adri.” I try to hand the lipstick back but she waves me off.

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