Twenty-Three
SCARLETT
“ Y ou stupid, ungrateful little bitch,” my mother yells as her hand slaps across my face, the force of the blow causing my head to snap back barely missing the wall behind me. My vision blurs as the sting causes water to pool in my eyes. I will not cry because of her. I bring my hand up to my cheek and feel the burning heat.
“You’re weak just like him. I knew you would be. A constant reminder of the mistakes I’ve made. I should have never had you. I should have listened to him, ended you when I had the chance. You’re not an asset, you’re a burden. I can’t wait till I can get rid of you.” She slams the door of my room as she storms out.
A few moments later I hear another door slam and I know she’s gone for the night. Jade creeps back around from behind the dresser. I turn to her and see her eyes looking to the ground, almost sorry for me. That’s until she remembers it was her face last night that took my mom’s rage.
It’s been four months since Chaz got arrested, and my mom’s been sober all of three days. Tonight, it was me not wanting to eat the rotting leftovers from three nights ago. Which made me ungrateful. Of course, she’s a wonderful mom, drunk all day, gone all night. At least the less I see of her, the fewer chances she has of beating me. I turn back around to Jade as she sits back on her bed, putting her earplugs on and lays down closing her eyes.
“One day, Scar, we’ll be free of this hell. I promise,” she says, and for a second, I almost believe her.
I awaken startled and sweating, from the dream I was having. I’d call it a nightmare, but it’s just a memory embedded in my subconscious, a reminder of the tragic childhood I had.
But this one truly felt like it was happening again. Thinking back to the dream and the words she spewed at me I can’t help trying to figure out what she meant.
You’re weak just like him. I knew you would be. A constant reminder of the mistakes I’ve made. I should have never had you. I should have listened to him. You’re not an asset, you’re a burden. I can’t wait till I can get rid of you.
She never spoke to me about my birth father. Said he was a one-night stand, that he didn’t even know she’d gotten pregnant. Not that he’d care. Apparently, he was a lowlife drug dealer she’d met at a college bar. She was underage of course, so she didn’t have enough cash for whatever her drug of choice was that night, so she used another form of payment, and that’s how I was conceived.
In the back alley of a dirty bar, likely as a payment for a line of coke. Yet I was ungrateful. Some life they brought me into. But the one question I can’t answer is, if he didn’t know of my existence, then who told her not to go through with the pregnancy?
I get out of bed and wander out to the living room where Stella is opening some styrofoam boxes in the kitchen. The sweet smell of syrup and bacon envelops the room and my stomach growls in response .
“What smells so good?” I ask as I sit on one of the chairs in the small eating area.
“I ordered breakfast from Scottie’s, the diner downtown,” she says as Jade and Ruby emerge from their rooms, likely also drawn in by the savory aroma of bacon.
“Pancakes, bacon and eggs,” she says. “And of course, hash browns for Jade.” Jade is obsessed with potatoes. She’ll eat them in any form: fried, baked, mashed, tots.
“What’s the occasion, Silver?” I ask, reaching for the box.
“Well, tonight’s the masquerade ball and I know it may seem dumb to you guys, but it’s always been my favorite event. This and the Snowflake Ball on New Year’s Eve.”
“There’s another one?” Jade asks in horror as she swipes bacon from the plate.
“Yes, that one’s also hosted by the Servites but it’s quite beautiful. They convert the entire manor into a winter wonderland. Anyway, my mom used to love going. It was one of the few times I saw her happy. We’d order breakfast from Scottie’s and spend all day getting ready. We always had matching gowns and masks.” She swallows as her voice cracks, her eyes getting glossy. “Anyway, it’s dumb, I know.”
I reach out for her and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She looks up at me in surprise since I’m not known to be a hugger. “Don’t, Stella. Never belittle what makes you happy. It’s what makes you so amazing. The little things that make you smile. Hold on tight to whatever good memories you have of her.”
“Thanks, Scarlett,” she says, choking up a bit and I have to look away so the tears that are trying to come out of my eyes go back to where they belong, deep inside me. “Let’s eat. I have a full day of pampering planned for y’all.”
And she wasn’t kidding.
Stella hired a full team of certified beauticians to help us get ready for the evening. A hairdresser, makeup artist, masseuse, a spa technician - the entire team. I’d never felt so taken care of .
After hours of massages, facials, baths, and body hair removal, and I mean all body hair removal, we’re ready to get dressed. I walk over to the front door when I hear a loud knock. Opening it, I find a small gift box on the floor with no name. I turn down the hall but there is nobody in sight. I take the box into my room and place it on my bed as I get ready.
The makeup artist and I agreed on a more natural bronzed look to match my dress for tonight paired with a bold lip color. My hair is now a mess of black curls loosely put together on my head with a few tendrils framing my face. I slip into my gold sequined gown as Jade comes up behind me to zip me up. The straps are thin, and the neckline dips low between my breasts, which means no bra necessary. The back is low and forms a deep V stopping right above my ass. All my tattoos are visible which is the only reason the girl in the mirror in front of me still slightly resembles me.
“Scarlett, you look amazing,” Jade says as she places her hands on my shoulders bringing her face to my cheek.
“I don’t look like myself,” I reply, staring at the stranger’s reflection in the mirror. I look like her.
My mother.
I glance away, turning to look at Jade who stands behind me. Her blonde hair is in a high sleek ponytail, her makeup a dark smokey eyeshadow with a light pink gloss on her lips. It goes perfectly with the metallic dark teal dress she chose with thin straps and a mermaid-like skirt that highlights ever one of her gorgeous curves. She looks incredible, her eyes nearly matching the color of the dress.
“You look beautiful. Who would have thought we would ever wear such expensive, elegant dresses, regardless of the occasion?”
Jade laughs as I get a gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach. I debate telling her about what Agent Servite has planned but decide the best way to make sure his plan goes accordingly, is to keep it to myself. I wouldn’t want to ruin her night, cause although she said she’s dreading going, I know my sister deep down loves to dress up.
“Now all we need are our masks,” she says, turning toward my bed where the black masks I bought for Drake and I lay.
She picks up the box I had forgotten about and turns toward me. “What’s this?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. I found it outside the front door earlier today. It has no name on it. I brought it in to open it, but with everything, I forgot.” At that she smiles wide and lifts open the lid. I walk over to her as she grabs a note from inside. As she reads the note, I look inside to find the most beautiful mask I’ve ever seen.
A mask spun of gold fit for an angel. I’m the devil seeking a semblance of peace amidst this hell, but you, my angel, are the chaos I crave.
I pull out the golden mask made to look like tangled branches intertwined with red crystals.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper softly.
“Who is this from?” she asks, turning the card over to look for a name but comes up empty.
I however know exactly who it’s from. “Ace,” I whisper to myself but I know she hears me. He must have seen me buy the gold dress from the shop.
We hear a knock on the door as Stella waltzes in unrecognizable. She’s wearing the silver off the shoulder, beaded gown with small crystals embedded in the skirt we picked out for her. Her strawberry blonde hair is in loose curls falling upon her shoulders, and her eye makeup, a mixture of lilacs and plums, make her gray eyes sparkle.
“Hot damn, Stella Silver, you’re a total babe,” Jade says, whistling and causing Stella to lower her head, a pink flush appearing on her cheeks. “Don’t hide away like that, Stella, embrace it. You’re hot, you’re beautiful, flaunt it.”
“You girls look incredible, the guys are going to lose it,” Stella exclaims, looking back up at us. “I’m so excited,” she adds.
I laugh at her enthusiasm and excitement but just as we are about to head out to the living room to meet Ruby, Jade grabs my arms pulling me back. “Are we going to ignore the fact that I know it was Ace who sent you that mask?”
“Yes,” I reply, pulling out of her reach. “I already have a mask.” I hold up the two black masks, while Jade walks back over to my bed and picks up the gold mask bringing it over.
“You need to wear this one. It’s beautiful, Scar,” she says, handing it to me.
“No, he shouldn’t have sent it to me.”
“Come on, Scar, give it up already. He and you are gonna happen, you need to stop fighting it. I’ve never seen you react to a guy like this before. I can see it when he’s around. You like him, he likes you. It’s why you are always fighting each other. You’re fighting the intense chemistry, the tension between you two.”
I stand back, surprised at her words.
“How can you say that? Things are complicated. I mean everything with Drake. He and I, we’re taking a break but Drake is…”
“Your best friend. Of course, he and you have a connection. He’s the only guy you’ve ever been with. But you two are explosive together. Two rotten apples cut from the same tree.”
“And you don’t think Ace is toxic?” I sneer.
“Scar, just wear the mask. Drake doesn’t even know which one you bought.”
“What’s taking you two so long?” Stella asks, coming back to the room.
“Nothing,” Jade says, grabbing one of the black masks from my hand and throwing it on my bed.
“Scar’s just grabbing this gold mask I ended up getting her. ”
“Wow, that’s beautiful, Scar,” Stella says, looking at the mask in my hand.
“Let’s just go,” I say before walking out, gold mask in hand.
As we step into the living room, I spot Ruby checking herself out in the mirror by the door. She, of course, looks like a supermodel in the black, skintight dress I picked out for her. Her hourglass figure on full display, and a high slit on the right side exposes her long-tanned leg. Her dark hair is sleek and straight falling down her back, and her makeup a classic old Hollywood look with a cat-eye liner and bright red lips.
“Damn, Dragon, you look hot as fuck,” Jade says, smacking her on the ass.
“You sound surprised?” Ruby tells her, shimming her ass some more.
“Just surprised you kept it classy.” Ruby rolls her eyes and heads for the door.
We meet up with the guys at the front of the girls’ house and find a limo Stella rented us for the night. Much to my dismay, she swears there is only one way to arrive at a party at Servite Manor, and a limo it is.
Although Drake and I have agreed to put a pause on our relationship, we felt it unnecessary to cancel our plans of going together tonight. I mean we’re all friends, right?
We all pack into the limo where we find bottles of complementary champagne, which of course we drink.
It’s about a twenty-minute drive up an inclined slope to Servite Manor.
According to Stella, the three-story mansion was built in the early 1800s on ten acres of land at the top of the highest peak of Hillcrest Hills. It’s surrounded by endless steel gates and tall pine trees making it look like an enchanted forest. We arrive at a large steel gate following a long winding driveway. The house looks like a haunted castle, a dark gray exterior with black trim.
We step out of the limo and stand in the middle of the large circular driveway at the front of the house. Drake grabs my hand bringing it up to his mouth and places a chaste kiss upon it.
“You ready for this, Scar?” he asks as I turn to him.
I look into his eyes but cannot read what he’s thinking. I turn back toward the house in front of us, a shiver running through me.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We follow a group of people down the large, paved walkway and out to the back of the mansion where the night’s festivities are being held. The sun is setting and low, cascading down the hill the estate lies on, beautiful hues of red and orange fading into a deeper blue. The yard of the house is extensive, reaching out for miles in all directions. In the middle is a large courtyard surrounding a pool and an outdoor fireplace.
We spend all of five minutes roaming the yard without being interrupted until we’re spotted by a few kids from school. Leighton, the girl who showed us around on our first day, comes over first with a few of the junior girls from our dorm. They are all dressed in beautiful gowns and wear an assortment of delicate and expensive looking masks.
“You guys look great. I honestly was skeptical at first. Didn’t think you could afford anything like these dresses,” Leighton says, hiding behind a bright blue and white mask.
“All thanks to our student accounts,” Ruby answers and the distaste on her face is clear.
“Huh, I didn't think that was part of the program,” one of the other girls, Casey I believe, chimes in.
Stella rolls her eyes, and steps into Casey’s face, clearly annoyed by her insufferable naivety. “It’s a scholarship program, Casey. That usually comes with spending money.”
“Anyway, it looks like you guys are managing. The Horsemen seemed to have gotten off your backs,” Leigh changes the subject, mockingly raising a brow.
“So, does that mean it’s okay to talk to us now that your kings have deemed us irrelevant?” I ask her and I can tell she’s surprised by my bluntness. You're not the only one who can be a bitch sweetie.
“Chill out, Scarlett, I’m just making conversation. You don’t have to act like such a bitch,” she adds but before I can reply Jade jumps into the conversation.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Leighton, I didn’t know insulting someone and calling them a bitch was a way to start a conversation around here. Seems I’ve been doing it all wrong.”
“Whatever, Carrington and the girls are on their way, so I’d make myself scarce if I were you,” Leigh adds, her true colors finally coming to light.
Suddenly Sebastian Silver walks over to us, looking equally annoyed as he does gorgeous. “Fuck off, Leigh,” he says as he joins us, clearly not amused by her comment. He’s dressed in a dark navy suit with a silver tie, his mask a dark slate color matching his eyes. Bass hovers over us, tall, broad, and authoritative but when I look up at him and his eyes are focused on Jade, and her curve-hugging dress.
Under Jade’s teal and green peacock mask her green eyes look more an aquamarine color, like two precious jade stones. She gazes intently at him, a slight flush appearing on her skin, making me wonder what happened between these two the other night.
“Bass, I didn’t see you there. Are the rest of the guys here?” Leigh asks, coyly.
“I said fuck off, Leighton. Don’t make me repeat myself.” Leigh gasps, about to speak but shuts her mouth as he glares at her.
At this, Leighton, and the girls she is with retreat, leaving us with an unbothered Bass. Jax and Ruby walk off toward the open bar, while Kai rushes off after Casey, the redhead he was with the other night. I look over to Stella and she gives me a shy smile, but deep down I know it hurts her to see him go after her.
“What do you want, Sebastian?” Jade asks, using his full name and I see his jaw tick as she does, only I’m not sure if it’s because he hates it or likes it .
“I gotta admit I like the way my name sounds coming from those luscious lips of yours.” A sly smile appears on his face as he steps in closer to her. Well, that answers that.
Jade however continues to act unaffected, standing her ground yet swallowing almost unnoticeably. She’s good at hiding how she feels, it’s how we were raised. Showing your feelings is a weakness that others can use to manipulate you. To hurt you. She learned early on, earlier than me, to hide her emotions.
While I still convinced myself to try to save my mother time and time again, Jade gave up on her father from the beginning. She knew he was burdened with her when her mom died giving birth to her. The only hope Jade had was her brother, and he destroyed what was left the day he walked out on her, on us. I’m all she has left now.
“Yeah, I bet you’re gonna like the way they tell you to fuck off too,” she mocks, smiling flirtatiously at him.
“Sebastian, son, are you going to introduce me to your friends?” A tall, dark-haired man appears behind Bass, but he’s no ordinary man. He’s a tall, dark and handsome, flawlessly sculpted deity.
Just like Bass, his hair is a deep black and his eyes the same dark slate color. Dressed in a black and white tux he looks like royalty with a tall, model-like blonde dressed in a white sparkly dress on his arm. They’re the epitome of wealth and class.
But I can almost immediately feel the way Bass’s body tenses. “They’re not my friends,” he snarls, walking away without a second glance.
Once Bass walks away, the man and woman continue to stare at us expecting an introduction but I have no interest in finding out who they are.
Though just as I’m about to turn and walk away, Stella steps up beside me. “Uncle Stephan, Aunt Eliza, these are my friends, Scarlett Steele, Jade Wolfe, and Damon Drake.”
So, this is her aunt and uncle, Bass’s father and if I remember correctly, the woman is Beckett’s mom, who looks more like his older sister.
Not wanting to be rude I extend a hand to Stephan Silver. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Silver, Mrs. Masters. Stella’s been such a great friend to us since we arrived. We’re grateful for her.”
“That’s our Stella. The sweetest angel,” Eliza Masters says in a soft English accent. Something in her tone doesn’t sit well with me, but I pay no attention to it once Mr. Silver speaks.
“Of course. You are the children brought in on scholarship through the program Wesley implemented into the Servite curriculum. I’m impressed to see you all so well adjusted,” he says, not ashamed to give us a once over.
And there it is everyone. The same arrogant attitude as his son. Looking down on us as if we’re less than him. Not worthy of being here in his presence.
“Yes, everyone has been so kind,” Jade says, a fake and humorous tone in her voice as she twirls her hair around her finger.
Stephan grins at her, his eyes glazing over as he speaks. “I hope my son Sebastian hasn’t given you all much trouble. He and his friends can be a tad, territorial.”
“Nothing we can’t handle,” I reply, with a bit of a bite in my tone, but I have to let him know. I have to make him aware that I won’t be easily manipulated by anyone here.
“Yes, of course. Well, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I bet I’ll be seeing you all around again,” he says while looking directly at me.
I glare at him looking over to his wife as she tightens her grip on his arm and smiles softly. “Excuse us,” she says before they both walk away.
“Well, that was awkward,” Drake says once they’re out of sight.”
“Grab me a drink, will ya, Dragon,” I ask him, not acknowledging what he’s said .
He nods, turning to Jade and Stella. “I’ll be right back. Girls want anything?” he asks.
“Do you even have to ask,” Jade tells him. Where alcohol is concerned Jade’s answer will always be a yes.
“Not for me, thanks. My uncle doesn’t like when I drink in his presence,” Stella tells him.
“Lame. Luckily for my dear dads gone missing. Not that he’d care. Anyway, I’ll go with ya, Dragon,” she says, walking off with Drake.
Stella and I walk over to a table to the right side of the pool. They set the entire yard up with tall, circular cocktail tables surrounding the pool and gardens.
“So, that was your uncle,” I say when we arrive at the table.
“Yeah, my dad’s twin brother. He looks exactly like him. I still get kind of weird around him. And if I’m being honest, Eliza is just like a blonde version of my mom.”
Shit. I didn’t know Stella’s dad and Bass’s dad were twins. That’s completely morbid.
“That must suck,” I say bluntly.
“Yeah, well, it was harder at first because I blamed my father for my mom killing herself. It’s why I was glad to come to the academy. Less time spent at home. I only go home some weekends and holidays. Other than that, I’m usually on campus. Well, until you guys came around.”
“So, no other friends, huh?”
“I was actually friends with Leighton, Casey and the other girls that came over earlier. That was until the whole thing with Kinsley happened, and well, I realized they were only friends with me to get to my cousin. So yeah, no friends were better than fake friends.”
“Ugh, girls suck,” I say, and we both start laughing. We’re interrupted again, this time by the obnoxious pests that seem obsessed with torturing us.
“Well, what’s so funny? Did you girls realize you’re only here out of pity?” Carrington says as she approaches our table. She’s dressed in a black, halter-style, sequined dress that shows way too much cleavage but gives her a perfect hourglass shape. Tan skin glistens with what must be some type of body oil. Nobody is that shiny. Her mask is a simple black mask tied around with a gold ribbon that hides perfectly in her trademark golden curls.
“That is pretty funny,” Kinsley, who stands beside her in a rose gold, metallic dress with a chiffon skirt that’s shorter in the front than in the back, agrees with her pitiful joke. Kinsley, whose family apparently owns some high-end jewelry brand, wears a rose gold mask accented with real diamonds.
I turn around pretending to have just notified them. “Speaking of the devil.”
“I’m flattered,” Carrington sneers. “So, you’re flying solo today, Scarlett?” she asks, and I think it’s the first time she’s actually used my name.
“Wow, not calling us ‘trash’ today, Carrington. I must say I’m impressed.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, I’m on my best behavior. I told you tonight is important. Only the most prestigious academia’s are invited to join the school’s festivities. Representatives from all the top Ivy’s are here, and I’m going to make a perfect impression.”
“Don’t worry, Carrie, you can count on us. You’ll manage to make a fool of yourself all on your own,” I say mockingly.
“Fuck you, Scarlett,” she huffs storming off. Well shit, guess she was serious about behaving.
I feel my phone buzz in my purse and am suddenly terrified to look who it is. Of course, as I pull it out, it’s a text message from an unknown sender. My stomach drops and twists as bile rises in my throat, but I open the message to find it’s exactly what I suspected.
Unknown: It’s time, angel .
“Everything okay, Scar?” Stella asks, my face surely as pale as I feel.
Drake and Jade haven’t made it back from the bar, so it’s the perfect opportunity for me to sneak off. “Yeah, everything’s good. I am just gonna find a bathroom.”
“I’ll go with you,” she says, and I panic.
“No!” I shout, and she looks at me stunned by my reaction.
“I mean, stay here and save our table. Drake and Jade will be looking for us. I’ll be quick.”
“Okay,” she says as I walk away toward the house.