Page 189 of Marcello

Massive lights turned the castle walls red, blue, purple, and green. Laser beams shot up from the roof, twirling and pulsing in time to music I could hear faintly inside the taxi.

I knew some people might think all the laser stuff was tacky –

But I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen.

The taxi driver dropped me off on a wide street bordering a marina. I gave him a hundred-euro bill and told him to keep the change. That made him happy.

I walked past the marina and towards the massive line that snaked around the castle. There must have been a thousand people waiting to get inside!

Electronic music thumped the air so hard, I could feel it on my skin.

As I walked towards the end of the line, I heard a woman several feet behind me. She sounded snotty and entitled – the Rich Bitch villain of tonight’s movie, like Regina George of Mean Girls.

“Oh my GOD, there is no way I’m standing in this fucking line with all the losers. Come on, let’s go up to the front.”

I turned around to look at her and realized why she was so high on herself: she and her friends were the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.

They were tall and thin and had tans and amazing haircuts and the coolest shoes and dresses ever. It was like The Devil Wears Prada had babies with Penélope Cruz and they all grew up to be Victoria’s Secret models.

I figured they knew a shortcut to get in, so I followed along behind them.

As I passed by the people waiting in line, I realized everybody was beautiful. The men were all handsome and wore expensive suits, and the women looked like they’d just stepped out of a beauty salon.

I felt terribly out of place –

But on the other hand, I was enjoying the sights and sounds so much that I didn’t care.

I might only have this one night, so I’m going to enjoy it!

I trailed behind the Mean Girls until we reached yet one more thing I’d only seen on television: a red carpet! It looked exactly like a movie premiere!

Men in suits stood around guarding the entrance to the castle. One of the guys took a look at the Mean Girls, unhooked the velvet rope, and ushered them through.

I stood there, a little sad that my journey had ended –

When the guy said impatiently, “Well? Are you coming in or not?”

Holy COW!

“Yes!” I squealed in delight, and ran in before he could change his mind.

“Be sure to get a mask,” he told me.

A mask?

When I saw what he meant, I could have died and gone to heaven.

It was a masquerade!

I’d seen them in Bridgerton and The Phantom of the Opera, but I never thought I’d get to go to one!

I perused the tables full of choices, picked one with feathers and fake rubies, and slipped it on as I walked up a flight of steps.

I fully realized the irony, by the way: on my one night of freedom, I had fled one castle only to wind up at another.

However, if my castle had laser-beam raves and parties with thousands of people, I might have never left.

As I got closer to the top, my entire body began to buzz with vibrations from the music –