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Countless lamps brighten the space, showcasing its beauty under the most flattering light.
There are even alcoves with white roses climbing the walls, almost inviting you to indulge in sin and the most basic cravings inside them.
In fact, everything here reeks of carnal needs and vices permanently attached to us humans.
The moonlight casting shadows along with thousands of stars in the sky only adds to the sinister atmosphere, bringing attention to the massive building in the distance with many expensive cars pulling up for people to emerge from, greeted by the staff.
The three-level mansion spreads horizontally, made of brick and the finest wood, judging by how the double doors open widely to welcome all the guests.
The number of windows alludes to a large number of rooms, and two more statues stand by the front door, lions roaring at one another in fighting stances, and several women even jump a little while passing them.
All in all, only two words describe the energy buzzing in the place, making me curious to get a peek inside the mansion yet dreading it simultaneously.
Power and status.
Whoever enters it does so with a knowledge that the Price dynasty has the power to destroy them and strip them of all their riches, and just the idea of meeting them all sends pain through my system along with fear as their scrutiny can be deadly.
“Gotta say, miss, your dress isn’t going to cut it here.” The cabbie exhales heavily. “These people practically glisten under the light from all the diamonds they are wearing.”
I’m getting dissed even by the cab driver. This evening promises to be splendid, indeed.
Fishing inside my pocket, I take out fifty dollars and place it on the front seat just in time for someone to open the cab’s door, and a man wearing a red-and-black uniform bows a little, greeting me. “Welcome, Miss Evans.” Their staff sure knows how to be efficient and share information with each other. It’s been, what? Barely five minutes with endless numbers of vehicles parking near the mansion, and they memorize all the names! “Please,” he says, extending his hand to me, and the cab driver salutes me, so I grip it, getting out. Coldness envelops me when the frigid wind slaps me on my face and billows my hair backward while several flashes go off in my direction.
“Who are you?” the photographer asks and frowns, sweeping his gaze over me.
“No one important,” I tell him, and he huffs, clicking on his camera, probably deleting the useless photos.
“Miss.” The staff member addresses me again while people seem to shout all around me, running toward whoever arrives next, and coldness sinks into my bones that has nothing to do with the weather.
I’ve never been more out of place in my life!
“Miss,” he repeats again, and finally tearing my gaze away from them, I focus on him again. He motions to the doors. “Please, come inside. Mr. Price awaits your arrival.”
Oh, hell. I knew it was a trap.
“Thank you.” I go toward the marble stairs, not missing how two women do a double take at me and then smile, winking as they pass me by and rush upstairs.
Well, if everyone acts like them, it should be smooth sailing as long as I understand what Florian wants from me and where to search for a clue from the Church Killer.
The minute I step inside the building, the scent of flowers and expensive cologne mixed with tobacco assaults my senses as I soak up the gorgeousness around me that could rival the one we just encountered outside.
A gold-and-platinum color scheme dominates the huge place with marble floors glistening under the light—so spotless it might even show us our reflection.
My jaw almost drops at the sight of paintings hanging on the wall in this hallway, depicting gory images of four riders arriving into this world to cause chaos to humankind. The oil paintings almost serve as a warning to enter at your own risk and accept any consequences. My mom loved art, so I know it cost him several millions to acquire this painting that must be from the Renaissance era, judging by the style.
Massive staircases with brown railings invite you upstairs, yet the complete darkness there shows you that nothing good awaits you should you accept the invitation. Despite the mansion being featured in magazines due to its design, the Price family never, ever allows anyone outside the family to go upstairs. Rumor has it that even their friends cannot go there, raising all my cop instincts.
What do they hide to have such a rule that they don’t even bother to hide it from people? Besides, they always host parties, so it seems strange that they have such a temptation for everyone, considering what’s hidden always inspires thrill and curiosity in people. That’s human nature, we’re attracted to the forbidden like moths to flames.
All in all, the whole house has a weird vibe going on, drawing in luxury and prestige while reeking of sadness and doom that I find so strange. The Price family isn’t perfect, but they are a loving bunch and were never involved in any scandals, aside from their whoring ways.
Walking through the hallway, I study it some more as people pass me. I think where I should go to find Florian, when classical music combined with melodic and cold laughter grating on my nerves and bringing back the earlier fear along with shame echoes through the space coming from the arched doorway.
Various servers carrying trays of food and drink move smoothly through the hallway toward the room, plastering polite smiles on their faces while wearing black uniforms consisting of pants and a shirt.
One of them stops by me. “Would you like something to drink?” The champagne could really calm my nerves, so I grab one of the glasses, muttering a “Thank you” while she darts inside, ready to deliver all these drinks to the other guests.
I stop by the doorjamb, freezing on the spot as my eyes drink in my surroundings, and with each second, the pit in my stomach grows while my nails cut so deep into my clenched palms, they bruise my skin.
