Page 57 of The Cannibal

Only time will tell.

The dye of the dress was so deep it could be mistaken for the stain of soaking blood. Dark burgundy encrusted with small glass beads that made it shimmer like rippled water in the night. At the knee, the main fabric of the dress scalloped in a slope from knee to shin, the opening concealed with a more sheer flouncing that feathered just above the floor until it reached a very subtle train in the back.

A Juliet sleeve was more subtle for tonight, ending mid-forearm where it touched the long black gloves concealing my arms. Rubies kissed my neck above the heart-shaped neckline. It still took time to adjust to how heavy earrings felt in my ears due to lack of practice, but Phoebe insisted I must wear a full set.

Phoebe’s neckline was straight, since her corset did a fine job pulling attention to her décolletage. The layers of her dress were scalloped, with small lace-like patterns beaded into the design. She paired it with sheer gloves and a fluffier fan. It goes without saying what color the entire ensemble was. Her gem of choice was spinel, a mixture of pastel or rich pinks dotting her jewelry, the largest being the center of her necklace.

Her hair was fully tied back, while I let some of mine hang free over my shoulder. There was simply too much of it to contain in an up-style. The headache wasn’t worth it.

“Lovely, as always,” Sidney greeted us at the front doorway, holding Phoebe’s hand to his lips for a polite kiss, then mine following.

Silas and Luka were out of sight, having left without us. Sidney was tasked with being our chaperone and escort. But between him, the driver, and whoever else they brought as a security detail, it seemed a bit immoderate for an intimate dinner.

The sound of thundering hooves clopped outside, a black phantom carriage shifting behind the texture of the cathedral glass in the sidelight windows. The door opened to a lustrous phaeton with tall wheels and a pair of matching black hackneys. The shine of their tack matched the buffed shine of their coats and carriage.

Sidney helped us into our seats one at a time and secured the door.

Phoebe and I sat across from each other. The open-air top was nice on nights like these. Mostly humid with a slight chill of the dark. I looked up at the empty sky, the stars too dim to recognize with the constant light from the city.

“I’ve never had dinner on a rooftop.” Phoebe poked me with her foot. “Are you feeling well enough to feed tonight, do you think?”

My gaze returned to the most hopeful glimmer in her eyes. I shook my head.

Her smile faltered. “Did the candies help?”

“Yes,” I assured her, “there’s less of an edge.”

“I’m sure they could serve from a cup. Try some meat tonight,” she instructed.

“Will that do anything?”

“Raw or very rare meats can hold you off for a day at most. It’s even less nutritionally dense than a non-Host.”

I nodded slowly, but I had very little desire to make myself sick, especially in front of others. Tonight was to practice some leisure, my steadfast adjustment to this world. I was doing perfectly fine so far, feeding defects aside.

“I heard they have a fantastic selection of imported bloodwine though, if the meat doesn’t cut it,” Phoebe suggested.

“Don’t have to ask me to drink twice,” I muttered, but I wasn’t even sure that was true. The more I thought about it, the less I recognized that these vices ever belonged to me at all. No urge to drink, to smoke, to fade my mind—nothing.

The trip was short, only across the park to the West side.

Shortly did I realize that this was the same building containing the Guild that Luka brought me to. It was nice, very much like a hotel, but what I wasn’t expecting was for it to be a rival Nest. From what Phoebe described, things seemed tense. Diplomacy wasn’t a bad thing to practice, so I suppose I could adjust my expectations.

“Ready?” Sidney craned his neck back to address us.

“Yes,” Phoebe piped.

“Did dessert arrive early?” Luka’s voice cut through the air. “You look like sherbet, Phoebe.”

“Thank you.” She smiled wide at his attempt at irritation.

He stepped from the door to the grand lobby, reaching for our carriage door. “Stay parked,” he instructed Sidney.

“For the entire evening, or would you like me to wait only for the first thirty minutes?” Sidney gestured for a light.

“Entirety.” Luka reached in his pocket for a fancy piece of machinery, the mechanical lighter.

“Ceart ma-thà.” Sidney nodded in thanks, lowering his cigarette tip to the flame when it sparked.