Page 6 of Her Devil

“This is not what I was expecting when you saidapartment-style living,” I comment.

“This is not apartment-style living,” Tamsin replies, looking around excitedly. “It looks like your daddy got us upgraded.”

Whatever he’s done, it’s intentional, and not likely to be for our benefit. He knows more than well that I’m only here because he gave me no choice, backed into a corner with no way out. So, if he set us up here, it’s with purpose.

I don’t have time to explain all that to Tamsin, because the front doors open, and four over-enthusiastic women head straight for us.Here we go.

* * *

“Are you being serious right now?” I ask exasperatedly, dropping onto the soft comforter at the foot of her bed. “I thought you’d be almost ready by now.”

“You can’t rush perfection,” she replies, holding the mascara wand steady before finishing off. “Besides, it’s only the first day. It’s not like we’ll be missing anything important. It’s all an introduction to the tutor and the course, making sure we know what we’ve signed up for and what’s expected.”

“Whathaveyou signed up for?” I ask, conscious we didn’t pick classes together.Daddywanted to make sure I got a good mix of things and not just what I wanted, shocker. Plucking her schedule from the bedside cabinet, I lean back and get comfortable, knowing her makeup is going to take more than a minute to finish.

“I honestly can’t remember,” she replies. “Nothing too strenuous, I’m sure.”

“You’re in sociology with me, good choice. But philosophy, really?” I ask with a disbelieving raise of my eyes.

I’m not in the slightest bit convinced that isn’t reading a billion old books by men that died a lifetime ago, and then sitting on the fence whilst discussing it. It might not be academically hard in the same was as Maths or Physics, but it’s not exactly going to be plain sailing either.

“Sounded interesting.” She shrugs, knowing full well she’s going to end up married to some rich boring guy with abs of steel and the personality of a placemat and spend the rest of her adult life sipping cocktails with her personal shopper. Philosophy, or any of this, is going to be no good to her really.

But, I guess, at least she’ll be able to do it whilst contemplating the good versus evil dichotomy of the wealth she lives in.

“Fair enough,” I reply, checking the time on my phone again. “We’re going to be late.”

“I’m almost done,” she placates, blending her blush with the roll of her eyes.

You’ll never see Tamsin sans make-up or with her hair anything less than perfect, at least at the start of the day. She doesn’t rush for anyone or anything, and I think going for that elevator yesterday was the first time I’ve ever seen her run, outside of the gym anyway.

Finding out she wasn’t going to be able to bring her PT and nutritionist was an issue. One we solved with bi-weekly zoom sessions, but she wasn’t happy. I, on the other hand, am quite content to leave that torment behind and hope for a gentler approach in the gym here, maybe a Pilates class or something.

“Seriously, Tamsin. We cannotbe late for our first class on our first day. I’m sure that’s bad luck.”

“Is the coffee ready?” she asks, picking up a lip gloss tube before placing it back and grabbing another one out of the rack. Clearly not the colour she was looking for.

“Yes, Penelope showed me how to do it last night and then left instructions out this morning, as if I’d forget. This is coffee, the life blood of the masses. I’m not going to forget.”

“Helpful of her though, just in case I was attempting to make it, because I was absolutely not paying any attention yesterday.”

“We noticed,” I reply with a roll of my eyes. I drop the schedule into her lap and head to the kitchen, grabbing our named travel mugs from the side, already filled. Apparently, the nice lady in the office gave them our details so they could have them made specially, so we all match.Cute.

A white envelope catches my eye, placed perfectly in the middle of the dining table, a single blood-red rose laid beside it. A shiver ripples over me as I look around. None of the other girls are up yet, and this definitely wasn’t here before we went to bed.Someone was in our house.

“Tamsin,” I call, picking the envelope up and turning it over.

It’s not sealed, and my curiosity gets the better of me as I slide it open, pulling the heavy cardstock out.

Angels.

You are cordially invited to the first official party of the year.

Friday 13th

7pm

Main House

---