“Elvie,” I sighed. “Can we revisit this tonight? I need sleep.”
The grown woman playing make-believe frowned but then slid off the bed. “Of course. You two get some rest. I’m planning a little party to welcome you to my abode. You’ll need energy.” She hugged Scout and then started toward the door. She was just outside when she turned and reached for the handle.
“Oh, and Desi,” she called to me. I turned, and we locked eyes. Hers were ice cold, sending a shiver down my spine. “I can’t wait to hear how you managed this.” She tilted her head in Scout’s direction and then disappeared, slamming the door behind her.
There it was. The real reason Ludovica had insisted on me coming. For once, I agreed with her. I, too, couldn’t wait to hear how I convinced everyonenotto kill Scout.
27
Ludovica’s mansion was an adult dollhouse. The carpets were so plush it was like walking on clouds. The sweeping curtains all over were romantic, and overall, I felt like I was in a dream world, almost. A fantasy.
Ludovica had to be Lust.
When we woke up later that night, I found two dress bags hanging on the door handle. I brought them into the suite and unzipped them. My stomach was a little nervous. Considering the dress she had greeted us in this morning, I expected much of the same. I was pleasantly surprised to find no pink but red instead.
I pulled out the gorgeous dress. The bodice was strapless lace with a heart-shaped neckline. The skirt was full and made of tulle, and it synched at the waist with a black belt.
“How did she know my size?” I mused while I pulled it out and admired it against my body in the full-length mirror attached to the wall.
Desi pulled his own all-black suit out of his bag and did the same, holding it up to the mirror. “You guys have the same shape and build. Plus, she’s always been into clothes. Her and-” he stopped short as if he were about to reveal something he wasn’t supposed to. He clamped his mouth shut, and I glared at him.
“She really must be going all out for this party.” I brought the dress back to the bed.
Just then, a knock on the door came. We looked at each other. Thankfully, we had lounge clothes on.
“Come in,” Desi called, and a woman dressed as a maid came in carrying a tray of cups and a steaming teapot. She set it on a small table, nodded to us, and left again. I went to it and poured us two cups of warm blood.
As I sipped, I watched Desi go about the room. He had been tense ever since Ludovica had left this morning. Something about how she said they would talk about me had him rattled.
A furious, quick knock came shortly after, and she appeared. Ludovica was wearing a pink dressing gown with billowing layers and feathered sleeves when she stormed in carrying a large brown bag. “I see you have the clothes I got for you. I guessed on your size, Scout, but I’m confident with it. I have a keen eye for these things.” She assured me and set down the bag.
“Thank you. It’s beautiful. I’m assuming it’s for the party tonight?”
She nodded. “Yes. My staff has been working all day while we’ve been sleeping. We have some guests that eat, so I had to bring in a caterer.” She stuck out her tongue. “But I’ve been down there already to see the decorations, and it’s gorgeous. Do you like to dance?” she asked me.
“I don’t do it often,” I admitted.
“I need to do it more than I do. Well, I brought you shoes, just so you can dance your heart out until morning.” She glanced down at the bag. I thanked her. “You should come to get your makeup done with me. In an hour, come downstairs, dressed?”
I nodded. She grinned and then turned to Desi. “Do you like your suit?”
“All black. Yes, thank you.”
“Good. I’ll see you at the party. I hope I can steal you both away from each other at some point to catch up and get to know you both better.” She winked at me and then left just as she had come, in a flurry.
“She has a person for everything.” I laughed as I started toward the bathroom.
“That’s how she was raised. Her family had money.” Desi explained. Closing the suite door, I got undressed and started toward the bathroom.
“Don’t most Bloodborn families have money? Did yours?”
He nodded. “Most, not all. Mine do. Elvie’s did as well. Arsenio’s did not.” He shrugged. He stood in the doorway and watched me carefully as I started my shower. “You didn’t know yours, right?”
“Nope. I was a foster kid most of my life. I aged out of the system, and I never found out where I came from.” I started the water and stuck my fingers under the faucet to wait for heat.
“I can’t imagine not being prepared for the change.” He shook his head.
“That was not great. Although I don’t really remember too much directly afterward. It must have something to do with the curse. It’s all fuzzy until like six months after I changed. Weird, huh?” I shrugged and pulled the knob for the shower. I stepped in and left him on the other side of the curtain.
