Chapter 16
The taste of coffee lingers on my tongue as I look over Noah’s shoulder. Luci is in the courtyard, holding the hand of a man I don’t recognize.
She leans into him, smiling up into his face.
He takes a step back.
Noah sighs and turns to me. “Guess we’d better go save him.”
Together, we go out and follow the walkway around the corner. “André,” Noah calls, lifting a hand in greeting.
Luci has her fingers curled around the man’s bicep, practically swooning, but her face lights up even more when she sees me. “Brooke, hi.” She stands on her tiptoes and waves.
Noah introduces me to André and says, “You didn’t tell me you were coming by.”
André lifts a shoulder. “I was in the neighborhood.” His French accent is thick—smooth, lyrical, charming. He nods at me with an affable grin, and I can see why Luci has a crush.
“André lives across the park,” Noah explains to me. “He’s always in the neighborhood.”
“And aren’t you glad?” André soft-punches Noah’s arm.
Luci beams at the tall Frenchman. “Well, I’m happy he’s here. But I’ll be even happier if he agrees to come with me.” She presses against André, mouth pouting and eyes pleading. “Please?”
André tilts his head back. “Oh là là.”
“What’s going on?” Noah furrows his brow, glancing between the two.
Luci practically vibrates with excitement. “I invited André to La Danse des Monstres.”
“She’s trying to convince me,” André says, “but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” He looks down at Luci, expression serious. “You are too young for me.”
Luci waves off his concern. “We won’t be alone. All of my family will be there. Noah included.”
André’s brows shoot up. “You were actually invited?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Noah laughs, clearly unfazed.
“Sorry,” I finally break in. “Can someone explain?”
“La Danse des Monstres,” André says. “The monsters’ dance. The Marteaus have a party every year, and only the most important people are invited. Very chic,” he says. “Very, how do you say? Swanky.” He flutters his fingers in mock excitement. “A gathering of the beautiful and the wealthy.”
Luci gives him a friendly punch on a shoulder. “You’re rich, too.”
“Not that kind of rich.”
I’m still missing something. “Sorry, why monsters?”
Luci steps closer, as interested in convincing me as much as André. “Remember those rumors we talked about? Maison de la Morte? A party for monsters was my grandmother’s idea. It’s a way of snubbing our noses at the gossip.”
“Thumbing our noses,” Noah corrects.
“Yes.” Luci frowns, and I remember how important speaking English is to her family.
Noah’s gaze flicks to me. “Why don’t we all go? Luci and I have to attend, but we’ll have a better time with people we know.”
“You mean people we like,” Luci says.
I’m still puzzling over the monster theme when Noah’s question registers. “You want me to go?”
“It’s Saturday,” he says, preempting my next question.
Caught off guard, I can only blink at Noah while my mind races. Saturday. By then, I’ll have sent in my audition. I’ll have the time. Plus, being with Noah isn’t exactly a hardship.
But another night surrounded by the family?
I shoot him a look of apology. “Not sure it sounds like my kind of thing.”
“No, no. You’ll love it.” Luci bounces and shakes André’s arm. “Tell her.”
“You’ll love it,” he says, voice flat and dry.
“You will,” Luci insists. “Dancing, decadence, high society. So many glamorous people.”
I feign enthusiasm. “Sounds amazing.”
Sounds awful.
Just hearing her description makes my nerves twist and sting. High-class events might be fun for other people. But not me. I’ve attended enough glitzy parties with distinguished guests, and I have different associations.
Different memories.
A distant hallway, a quiet bedroom. The sound of his heavy breathing as he follows me in.
And locks the door behind him.
Nausea works its slimy way through my gut, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I clear my throat and offer an excuse. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Don’t worry. I can tell you a place.” Luci has an answer for everything.
“Well,” I hedge, racking my brain for another plausible reason to refuse.
“Oh, come on.” André gives me a mischievous wink. “If you go, I’ll go. We can back each other up.” He jerks his head to Luci. “And you can help me keep an eye on this one.”
“Oui!” Luci squeals, standing on her tiptoes to kiss André’s cheek. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Luci!” A shout echoes across the courtyard, and we all turn. Lyam strides from the main doors, his expression thunderous.
For a moment, I can only stare, shocked by his anger. He was so friendly at dinner; he and Dora were the most normal and down-to-earth people at the table.
But a different personality is on display now. He stops walking and makes a jerking motion for Luci to join him. Why is he so upset?
Luci quickly puts distance between herself and André, her face falling. “I must go,” she says before whispering to André, “but I'm holding you to your promise.” With a huff, she hurries over to Lyam.
He speaks in a low voice, so we can’t hear what he says, but he glowers at Luci, jaw clenching as he speaks. As if he’s scolding her.
Noah watches me watching them. “He’s very protective of Luci. Since her parents died, he’s been like an older brother.”
André lifts both hands. “Hey, don’t look at me. I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Noah’s tone tells me he’s used to the drama.
“So, Brooke,” André says, drawling my name. “Which way are you going to go?”
“Sorry,” I say, pulling my gaze back to him.
“Your costume? What will you wear?”
“Costume?” I turn to Noah. “A detail you failed to mention.”
He clears his throat. “Ah . . . it’s part of the theme.”
“Oh. Can I think about it?”
“Of course.”
André fixes me with a stare. “Think fast,” he says. “You only have two days to choose your costume, and you must make an important decision. Will you be a monster?”
He leans closer, his voice a whisper of something dangerous. “Or a victim?”