Page 49 of Smoke the Enemy

“Hey! You’re Lee’s Bailee!”

She blushes and nods. “That’s me. But everyone here hates my guts. His parents are really mad he brought me.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Because…” She swallows and squeezes her hands together. “My name is Bailee Van Doren.”

Kali appears and sticks her head out the door, “As inBryceVan Doren’s sister?”

She looks around as if someone might’ve heard us and nods. Kali bursts out laughing. “And you camehere?Into the lion’s den? Do you have a death wish?”

“I can’t help what he did or who my family is. I love Lee. He sees past it, so why can’t everyone else?”

I take her fidgeting hands and pull her into the room, wanting to make her feel more welcome than anyone else here has. “You know what, Bailee, you can get ready with us.”

Journal Entry

Unknown Author

The Illicit Lover’s Gala.

My mother attended years ago. And this year, I’ll be there.

The elite Concord family hosts this spectacular event. This will be their most memorable year yet, only they won’t live to remember it. They’ll pay for what they’ve done.

They call me the Angel Maker. I’m the angel of vengeance. The angel of death. And I’m coming to visit…

Rochester, Minnesota

Taylor

Kali and I are guided down a grand staircase as classical music plays overhead. Kali mumbles next to me, “What kind ofcabinhas a staircase like the fucking Titanic, as well as a ballroom?”

Her eyes sparkle behind the black and red bejeweled mask she’s wearing. She looks so elegant as she glides down the staircase in her fitted black gown with the back cut out, showing off her creamy white skin. There’s a hint of black ink peeking out from her side, but I can’t tell what it is. There’s no telling with Kali. I’m holding a Venetian-style mask that looks like a porcelain face with gold accents, gold lips, and elaborate feathers and jewels that covers half the side of my face. My dress is fitted and heavy with all the beading and lace in gold and antique white.

My heart pounds against my chest as I scan the room for Soren and Steffan. But I don’t recognize anyone. The ballroom is full of elaborately masked faces. Everyone is dressed in formal attire. The men have their hair smoothed and slicked back. The women all have updos. Is Alex among the ones attending? Steffan told me all the families, fraternity brothers, and sister sorority members are invited. The only rule is they must be of legal age to consent and are sworn to secrecy.

It’s not until we come to the base of the stairs that I realize the room is divided in half. A male figure in an elaborate white mask with red hearts and a white tux greets me, just as Steffan explained would happen. “Key or lock?”

I turn to Kali and her red lips turn up. “Key. I’m not about to sit and wait.” She turns to me. “You? Predator or prey?”

I pick up a lock from the basket. “I like to be chased. Besides, why should I do the work? Let them hunt for me.”

Kali’s mouth drops open. “I’m so fucking proud of you right now.” She hugs me and I giggle. “Should we make sure I didn’t get the key to your lock now? No offense, but I’m planning to hunt down Lee.”

“So you do know his name,” I tease. We check her key and my lock…thankfully “Cupid” looked the other way. Guilt gnaws at me. I know this is supposed to be kind of a swinger and free-for-all type of thing, but Bailee had been nothing but nice to us while we were getting ready, and I’d hate to see animosity between her and Kali over him.

“Lee’s with Bailee,” I gently remind her. “I feel slightly sorry for her even though her brother is deranged. She’s nice, and Lee seems besotted with her.”

“If she finds him first.” Kali shrugs. “Who said I’m planning to play by the rules tonight?”

“Kali!” I hiss.

“Oh stop. If we happen to bump into one another while on our little hunt… Maybe he’ll need a snack.”

I drop my mask and stare at her. “You’re so bad,” I tease.

Before she can say anything, the stand-in Cupid wearing a tux urges us to our respective sides. I walk over to the groups of locks. There’s a map that shows the available ‘locations’. It’s first-come, first-serve, so I study my options.Oh my.Some of these are out in the open, in the foyer, in the hot tub, on the kitchen table — that’s not sanitary. I need to try and get the spa room, bedroom, dungeon —dungeon?!

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