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I learned the Edenvane River was called the River Denial because students threw themselves in. There was always a note. But rumors circulated that these students, who didn’t get into the House they desired, were disposed of. Murdered. Pushed into the river at the Pauper’s Party. The college and the cops denied such outrageous rumors. Hence the name.
I knew for certain Toccarra hadn’t been at that party. The memory of everyone rushing into the river replayed in my mind. Getting back to my dorm, I found Toccarra’s lovers being questioned, both of them. I heard one of them deny my story that she had flown out to California. I filed that information away for later. I asked a detective if I could get anything from my room. She guided me through and let me pack a bag after looking at each thing.
“We found a note,” she informed me flatly.
My breath hitched in my throat.
“In her closet,” she added.
That made little sense. I was still wearing Toccarra’s cream cashmere sweater. But I kept that fact to myself.
“Do you have anywhere to spend the night?”
“Yeah,” I said, full of confidence.
“Good, you shouldn’t be alone tonight.” She echoed Anubis’s words.
I’d grabbed my little black dress from my closet. “Do you mind if I change really quick?”
She let me. I guess I’d be meeting Anubis after all.
CHAPTER FOUR
Anubis’s Porsche 911 GT3 RS purred as it wove through the serpentine roads leading up to a modern fortress. Perched on a hill, the mansion’s sharp silhouette cut into the dark sky. And if I thought we were rolling up in luxury, the spectacle of a helicopter landing proved otherwise.
The girl who disembarked with a drink in her hand oozed confidence as she sauntered over to us. To Anubis. Ignoring my very existence, the tall blonde chatted him up all the way through the door. She was unapologetic as she claimed his attention for herself. Even though I felt a hint of jealousy, I retreated to the shadows to become a silent observer. After all, Anubis and I weren’t there together.
The party unfolded much like the last but on a grander scale, even if the setting was much more intimate. The crowd was smaller, more elite. Wealthy youth clinked glasses and bobbed to the subtle music pulsing throughout the mansion. Drugs seemed to be as common though more hidden. Dares were slung, like some hedonist game. Who could dare be the most foolish or downright dangerous? None of it bothered me. I was knee deep into a haze of alcohol as I took every drink offered. I washed away my grief for my roommate.
Anubis, who stood out amongst his peers, caught my attention despite everything. There was an ease to the way he moved within his circle as they indulged in every luxury, every vice.
I wasn’t the only one feeling the alcohol. A guy in a literal tux stumbled toward me, his intentions clear as his hands reached out, uninvited.
“You’re too exquisite to be accompanied by solitude,” he slurred.
His hands flew up my dress. Chuckling, he found amusement in my discomfort as I tore away. He cornered me, his arms on either side. I felt trapped. Trembling, I was going to pass out. But then Anubis appeared, his mere presence leaving no room for argument. His swiftness suggested he’d been watching me. He intervened, hauling me away from the unwanted advances with an authority that was hot as hell.
Taking my hand, he led me through the maze of a house until we reached a quiet space. Closing the door behind us, he seemed anything but noble. He looked hungry, like he wanted what the drunk had been after. Me. He tore his shirt over his head, revealing the details of a huge skull tattoo that covered his torso. My breath caught at the sight.
“What’s this all about?” I whispered while strangely captivated. A skull?
“It’s a secret,” he replied instantly, his voice too low.
“Like the Skull Society?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Fuck. My head still floated.
His reaction was immediate. “Where did you hear about them?” Anubis wasn’t completely sober either.
Hesitating, I realized the folly of my admission as it came out of my mouth. “My editor. He wants a story. Said I should ask you. You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you? Help a girl out. If I don’t make it onto the paper, they might kick me out.”
The realization hit me then. My quest for this story was ridiculous. The real-life effects of my roommate’s death still hurt my heart. I reached out for him. But he’d shut off. Taking his shirt, he left me there alone.
I locked the door when he left and passed out in the middle of the bed. Waking in the middle of the night, I tiptoed through the house to see him out by the pool fighting with the girl from the helicopter. Maybe it was an ex.
If I could’ve afforded it, I would’ve called an Uber and gotten the hell out of there. Thankfully, I made my way back to my sanctuary for the night. In the morning, Anubis was waiting outside my door. It was a silent ride back to campus. I crossed my arms as he fumed, pushing his beast of a car to a wild roar. I wondered what he could be so mad about. Maybe it was because I refused him again. But I hadn’t. He left.
Someone left a note on my door stating that they had moved my belongings to another dorm due to the investigation. Looking at the address, I noticed it wasn’t the slums. At my new hall, I got my new room assignment from the front desk. They informed me it was a private room. Once inside, I decided I needed some time off. When I contacted my advisor, they told me I could take three days to grieve. I took all three days. Therefore, I didn’t run into Anubis until the next week during my shift at the library.
He was engrossed in conversation with the blonde from the party when I walked in. She left upon seeing me, and he approached the desk.
