Page 6 of Trick Me
“Look.” Sera points ahead to where flowers are beginning to glow along a previously invisible path.
We begin our walk forward. “Can you hear that?” I ask.
Music drifts through the trees—string instruments, drums, and something that might be singing, but in no language I recognize.
“I feel it,” Sera adds, and she’s right. The music isn’t just auditory; it’s tugging at something behind my ribs.
More people pass us on the path—a woman whose dress appears to be made of actual shadows that trail behind her like smoke, a man in a mask shaped like a wolf skull that covers his entire head, twins inmatching silver who move in perfect synchronization like they’re sharing one mind.
“We’re underdressed,” I whisper.
“No, we fit in perfectly,” Sera corrects. “We just haven’t had three centuries to perfect our aesthetic like some of these people.”
We emerge from the tree line, and my brain short-circuits trying to process what I’m seeing.
The mansion doesn’t just sprawl; it conquers. It rises from the ground like it was grown rather than built, all towers and turrets and walls that shift between stone and starlight, maybe, or crystallized moonlight. The full moon overhead is wrong, too large and too bright, casting shadows that fall in directions that shouldn’t be possible.
“That’s… that’s not architecturally possible,” I manage.
“Nothing about this place is possible. That’s the point.” Sera grabs my arm. “Come on, I need to see this place.”
Enormous iron gates stand open, and the moment we pass through them, the temperature changes so dramatically that I gasp. From forest cold to perfect warmth in a single step.
“Magic climate control,” Sera says appreciatively. “Do you have any idea how much power that takes?”
“Enough to make our host someone we definitely don’t want topiss off?”
“Exactly.”
The driveway curves toward the mansion, and I stop again at the sight of the fountain. Three tiers of what looks like black glass but moves like liquid. Lights dance beneath the surface.
A group ahead of us has stopped to take in the fountain as well, all wearing elaborate masks. A woman in a peacock mask turns to look at us, and I realize her eyes behind the mask are completely gold, no whites, no pupils. They are just chatting there.
Then we are moving past them, Sera tugging me mostly toward the mansion.
The entrance is lofty and appears closed. “Are the doors locked? Are we too late?” I ask, my words coming out a bit too breathless.
A couple stands nearby. The woman catches my attention immediately as she’s stunning, with long dark hair in a messy updo, loose tendrils trailing down her back. Her dress is the color of heather flowers, the low V-neck screaming sexy. She’s paired it with stacked gold necklaces, and I notice beads and charms peeking through her updo. The man beside her is taller, equally striking. His brown hair is shorter but still has these perfect little curls at the ends. The white button-up he wears is open at the collar, paired with a suit jacket and a kilt.
The woman glances at the watch on his wrist. “It’s 9:45 pm. We’re early,” she says, though I can hearmusic drifting from inside, the tempo building like the party is already in full swing.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods.”
The woman smiles at us. “I’m Tamsin, and this is Max.”
I study them for a moment, grinning. “I’m Erynn. And this is my friend, Sera.” My gaze drops to one of the necklaces around Tamsin’s neck, recognizing the symbol. “You’re from the House of Death and Diamond?”
The man, Max, nods. “We are.”
“So, you’ve met the phantoms then?” Sera asks beside me.
I watch as Tamsin and Max exchange a look, some silent communication passing between them. Then Max gives us a lopsided smile and holds out his hand. My breath catches as his hand becomes translucent, almost ghost-like, before solidifying again moments later.
“That is cool!” I can’t help but exclaim.
“It’s a handy party trick,” Max says modestly, turning back toward the double doors. “Shall we?” He holds his arm out to Tamsin, who stares at it with an expression I can’t quite read. They seem to have some kind of staring contest before she gives him a bright smile that looks entirely artificial and hooks her arm through his. “We shall.”
Max pushes open the doors with his free hand, anddespite their obvious weight, they swing open effortlessly. Sera and I follow them inside.
