Page 48 of The Black Lotus
“Go ahead, I will be honest.”
“You said Aster wouldn’t get caught if he were the one to kill Sharon. What did you mean by that?”
He glances at Aster over my head, and I hear the fabric of the couch shift behind me. I know he’s just as curious as me.Are we ready for the new truth?Looking back down, he answers, “After you told us about Aster, Sharon did some digging, and even though she couldn’t find who he really is, she found a video of him crushing some guy’s hand you were next to, then that guy and his brother later went missing. It’s not hard to put two andtwo together. Even if the police are too stupid to figure it out, we are not. He obviously killed them both.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I could tell in the video Aster was protecting you. So, you have nothing to worry about; his secret is safe with me. The only other person that knew is dead.” He looks to Aster, a small smile lifting his lips. “Thank you for looking after my daughter.” I turn around to look at Aster, he doesn’t answer, just dips his head in acknowledgment.
After that, we sit and make plans on what to say if anyone comes knocking, and I go into details about what I did back at the farm because he asked. Then we say our goodbyes and leave.
Aster and I both let out a collective sigh when we sit down in the privacy of the car, relieved my dad doesn’t know he is the Morbid Monet. I don’t know how he would process that bomb or knowing I was meant to be his next victim. Any sane father would kill Aster, but my father isn’t sane. Something I am more grateful for every time he needs to clean up one of my messes.
We all have our secrets. I just hope he never sees the truth behind the masks we parade in.
TWENTY-FIVE
SERENA
Aster still hasn’t told me where he’s taking me on our date. He said to dress nice, but not fancy. He wants to take my mind off everything and give us a night to breathe, to date, to be normal. I snort, glancing at myself in the mirror.Well, whatever normal is for two serial killers.
After his shower, Aster left me alone in our bathroom to get ready. As much as we’ve been in here, I haven’t really looked at the massive space. We’re usually distracted with one another's bodies.Not that I’m complaining.It’s bigger than mine, boasting a huge shower that could easily fit five Asters in it, with charcoal walls and grey tiled floors.Definitely a man's bathroom, but I do love how dark it is.The toilet is in a separate room right off to the side of the huge tub we frequently bathe in. Past the double sink is a huge closet that I have since added my clothes into, and his home is slowly becoming ours. I just need to find a dedicated place to do my art. I haven’t picked up a brush since Zephira broke into our lives, and I miss the feeling of creating.
I swipe red across my lips, a sad smile looking back at me as I think about the last time I was at my vanity like this. Jessica was behind me, doing my hair and getting ready with me.But it wasall in my head.That was the Jessica I wished she had been, not her true self.That bitch was a cunt.
Smacking my lips, I stick barbed red heart earrings in each ear and whisper to myself, “No outfit is complete without earrings.”
“You look ravishing,” Aster says, leaning against the doorframe, his eyes darkening as he takes in my outfit for the night.
Blushing, I take his hand as I do a twirl, my black dress flying up. “These leggings are in my way,” he growls into my ear, pulling my back flush to his chest.
“Got to make you work for it,” I taunt, arching my back and feeling his length pressing into me.
“You’ll regret saying that later when these are shredded on the floor.”
I spin around to face him, my eyes wide with false rage. “I swear on everything, Aster, if you destroyanymoreof my clothes I will-”
“You’ll what?” he taunts, his hand slipping beneath my waist-band as his fingers rub up and down slowly over the fabric of my panties.
My face smooshes into his chest as I collapse into him and moan, “I’ll..” I swallow hard. “I’ll, uhm.Fuck.Right there.”
His hand slips out just as I was finding a good rhythm, and I look up at him, my spiteful eyes meeting his playful ones. “Can’t have you falling apart and missing our reservations.” He takes my hand in his and walks us down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to look back at me. “I want no time restraints on what I have planned later.” A shiver of excitement races down my spine as he locks the door.
We parkdowntown in a parking garage. “Is there no parking where you’re taking me?
“There is, but then you’d see where we’re going.”
I eye him skeptically, grateful I opted to wear my boots instead of the heels I was debating on.Always better to be prepared.Heels would have made running painful and me falling face first onto the ground a matter ofwhen, not if.
Aster gets out and opens my door, interlocking our fingers as we walk down Salem’s busy streets. The moon is high in the sky, but the stars are hidden from all the bright lights of the city. A cool breeze makes my dress flare, my hair blowing all around us as goosebumps pebble my flesh.
We slow when we get closer to a building I’ve only driven past. Aster pulls open the door as a smile stretches across my face. I bounce on my heels when Aster tells the lady at the front his name and she leads us into a room full of canvases and talking, excited people wrapping aprons around themselves.
We get handed aprons and sit down in front of our own canvases as I look around the room taking everything in. Layered across the walls are art pieces I assume the instructors painted themselves and hung as examples and pictures of smiling groups holding up their completed works.
“Guess I chose right,” Aster says, smiling sweetly. “I know neither of us has painted in far too long, and I thought this could be a nice chance to.” Before I can object, he adds, “the tattoo doesn’t count.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, tears threatening to fall, but I blink them back so I don’t ruin my makeup.
