Chapter 35
35
Zara led me away, handling Chloe’s rudeness with grace. Just as we reached the drinks stand, the disco lights switched off, plunging Abeo’s mansion into pitch black.
‘Hey, guys,’ the DJ announced, ‘this next song has been requested by … erm … a Mr Ex.’
My head snapped up.
Death metal music punctured with sharp screaming blasted on. People started panicking, shoving and shouting as they tried to manoeuvre in the dark.
‘Stay away from the crowd,’ I ordered Zara, guiding her to a corner. ‘I need to go and check what’s going on. I’ll be back soon.’
Zara let go of my hand reluctantly.
In between flashes of light from people’s phones and hard shoves from every direction, I managed to reach the staircase and scanned the room for Abeo. It was impossible to see more than a wild mass of people crashing into each other. I got to the first floor and tried the lights, but they weren’t working. They must have been switched off at the mains.
I tried to call Abeo, but he wasn’t answering. I switched on my phone torch and began looking for him.
Someone grabbed my arm. I tried to pull it away, but it was being held with a firm grip.
I turned to find the face of Venom mere inches from mine, dark elongated eyes, long, sharp teeth, tall and lean physique. There wasn’t a single inch of the guy’s face or body on display. Yet somehow I knew the person behind the mask had a wild grin on their face.
Mr Ex.
‘I’ll make a deal with you,’ he said in a deep, familiar voice that I still couldn’t quite place. ‘Tell me the name of the girl you came with, and I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night.’
‘I’m not telling you shit,’ I hissed.
‘Perhaps I should pay your date a little visit then. She can tell me herself.’
I gritted my teeth. ‘Don’t you dare go anywhere near her.’
He chuckled in a low, husky voice and I went for him then. But he was quick and dodged to the side. I barely managed to shove him before stumbling myself. I turned around quickly, ready to attack again.
But he was already slinking into the shadows. I jogged forward, trying to keep an eye on him, but I couldn’t see much in the gloom.
I carried on down the main corridor, passing vampires and demons and witches, my heart pounding in my ears, my eyes searching wildly for Venom.
Ah! There he was – standing outside Abeo’s bedroom. He was pressing someone up against the wall, his hand wrapped around his neck. As I neared, I realized it was Abeo he had in a chokehold. But Abeo didn’t seem to be struggling; in fact, he was smiling, his bloody fangs resting on his lower lip as he closed in for a kiss. Mr Ex’s neck swooped lower too. My stomach somersaulted.
‘Abeo?’ I called out in disbelief. ‘What the fuck?’
Mr Ex didn’t waste a second. He merged with a passing group of witches and instantly disappeared, not giving either of us a chance to get to him.
‘Listen, I can explain!’ Abeo exclaimed.
‘I don’t have time for this right now,’ I said irritably. ‘He threatened my date so I need to find her. Did you manage to identify him?’ Then I added in a harsher tone. ‘You clearly got close enough to.’
‘No, I didn’t. Maybe I would’ve been able to if you hadn’t interrupted.’
‘Would you actually tell me who it is if you knew?’
‘I’m still on your side, Karim. Look –’
I didn’t bother sticking around to listen to his excuses, and headed for the stairs in a rush, uncomfortable with how long I’d left Zara alone. Someone clutched one of my biceps. I pulled my arm away aggressively, thinking that Mr Ex had come for me again.
But it was Chloe, and she was about to fall down the stairs. I quickly caught her and heaved her up against the banister.
‘Sorry,’ I said quickly. ‘I didn’t realize it was you.’
‘It’s OK,’ she replied, swaying a little. ‘I was looking around for you.’
She took my mask off and threw it over the rail. Then her fingers were stroking down my neck, my chest, lower and lower …
I grabbed her hands. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘It was a mistake to leave you. We belong together. Things haven’t felt right since we broke up.’
She sprang forward to kiss me. I looked the other way, and her lips caught my cheek instead.
‘Stop!’ I yelled, shaking her. ‘You’re with Sanjay now. Get a hold of yourself.’
‘Who’s that girl you were with? Is she helping you get over me?’
‘You need Sanjay to take you home,’ I said tightly, letting go of her. ‘I’m going to look for my date.’
‘You miss me too, don’t you?’
‘No. I’ve moved on, Chloe. And so have you.’
‘You’re lying,’ she whispered, trailing kisses down my neck. ‘I know you’re still in love with me.’
I tightened my grip on her arms, pushing her away. ‘Why are you doing this? Haven’t you messed with The Exes enough? Haven’t you hurt me enough?’
‘I never meant to hurt you.’ Then her lips were on mine, pushing me back, leaving me nowhere to turn.
The lights came on in a blinding flash and then there was a roar so loud it overpowered the chaotic music. I pulled away from Chloe to see a crowd had formed around us and people were staring. The way we were elevated on the stairs, standing in everyone’s line of sight, it was as though we were on a stage. People started heckling:
‘Was this the surprise the lights were switched off for?’
‘Took you guys long enough!’
‘We knew Chlarim would never really be over!’
My eyes sought out Zara and found her exactly where I’d told her to stay. Her mouth was agape in shock; the pain of betrayal shone in her eyes.
From out the corner of my eye, I saw Venom following my gaze until he found her too. With a steady prowl, he began making his way towards Zara.
I peeled Chloe off me and ran towards them.