“I want the painting,” the man says.
“This again?” I roll my eyes. “You’re late to the party. Another thief has already come for it.”
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were. Believe me, this was not the holiday I imagined.” I sigh dramatically, continuing my slow scoot toward them. Soren makes the final point of our triangle, closing in on him as well.
“Then I guess I’ll have to take something else,” the man says, and in one swift movement, throws the crystal box at the glass display case. The case shatters, and the man rushes forward, snatching items at random.
Soren has already reached Bella and shoves her toward me, and I fold her into my arms.
“Keep her safe,” he says, running after the man. The man sees him coming and sprints out of the room.
Bella collapses into sobs in my arms, and I hold her as tight as she needs to be held. Is it too late to claim this was all an act as well? If it were, the broken display case took it too far.
“Let’s go to your room,” I say.
But she pulls away. “He took grandfather’s watch. And the Aztec tablet Mom loves.”
Not the Aztec tablet. That needs to be handled with extreme care. I rush to the case to see what else is missing, and in that split moment, Bella runs out the door.
“Bella, stop!” I yell, following after her, but the girl is quick when she’s determined. I catch sight of her slipping through the emergency stairwell. “Bella!” I warn. “I’ll have to call your mom.”
The threat falls flat, which is unsurprising. I follow the sound of her clomping feet down one story, but the sound has disappeared. She must have gone out on this floor.
I open it, catching sight of her wild blonde locks as they fly around the corner.
“You’re getting a time-out!” I yell. That doesn’t work either. Clearly, this child needs more discipline than I’ve been authorized to give.
I sprint after her. How am I slower than a nine-year-old?
Music thumps loudly through the hall, drowning out my hope of hearing her. There’s an open door leading to the music, and I take my chances. If I were Bella, I’d go to the music.
Colorful holiday lights are the only source of illumination at the glittering party. It’s somehow both overwhelming and tasteful, or it would be, if I hadn’t lost a child to its rapture.
“Bella!” I try again, but my voice is swallowed by the noise. I could yell and scream and never be heard.
I’ve lost her.
Worst holiday ever.
Chapter 23
Soren
Ilosthim.
He must have ditched his black ensemble and has blended seamlessly in with the hundred other partygoers. He could have been a guest to begin with, for all I know. I’m never going to find him in this madhouse.
Whoever was in charge of this party must have decided “anything goes” and was most likely a young adult. There are dancers on aerial silks hanging from the vaulted ceilings and a stage is set up with a country singer that looks vaguely familiar. But there’s also what appears to be a Jell-O pit in the corner.
Who are these people and how did they make their money in order to spend it on a Christmas rager like this?
It doesn’t matter; I need to get back to—
A body slams into me, and I grab the arms before they fall.
“Maya?” What is she doing here?
