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“That’s not possible,” I say.
“You’re not a fast learner, are you?” Damon asks.
“I’ve been here a day,” I snap.
“It’s a spell,” Damon explains. “There’s not a wall. But there is an age charm on it. Nobody over thirty gets through. Keeps the faculty out.”
“Sounds like a way for spoiled kids to hide from their parents,” I say.
“Hey, quit being so judgy,” he says.
“Judgy?” I ask. “You’re the one who cast a spell on me. What am I supposed to do? Make friends with the guy who wants to force me to do things I don’t want to do? I don’t know how you were raised, but that is not okay.”
Damon’s eyes narrow and it seems he’s studying me. He’s quiet for a moment and I start to wonder if I went too far. I mean, he needs to know I’m pissed, but he’s got power over me that I can’t exactly fight right now.
“You realize, if I didn’t do it, someone else would have?” he asks.
I scoff. “So I’m supposed to be grateful? To thank you, I suppose?”
“Look, I’ve got a reputation,” he says. “And you are a walking target.”
“You’re not helping,” I say.
“You want a shot at not dying in this place?” he asks.
“Of course I don’t want to die,” I say.
“You need to trust me,” he says.
“Why would I trust you?” I ask. He’s done nothing to earn my trust. But there’s a part of me that wants him to work for it. I want to trust him. It’s stupid and reckless and probably going to get me in a lot of trouble. But he’s walking trouble and there’s a part of me that likes it.
“You brought the entertainment,” a shrill female voice calls.
I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Em.
“It’s going to be a good night,” Damon says to her. Then he leans closer to me. “Trust me.”
I clench my jaw, pissed at myself. But fuck it. I do.
Damon guides me toward the wall and I hold my breath as I walk right into it. I’m still wincing when I realize the wall is behind me and just as he said, we had no problem going through it.
We’re in a dark hallway and I’m greeted with the sound of thumping bass. The sound vibrates in my bones and in the dim light, I notice that the stone floor is covered in what looks like glitter.
As we walk toward the source of the music, my feet slide over the glitter on the ground. Whoever was in charge of decorating went a little crazy with the sparkles.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I wonder what I’m going to encounter. For some stupid reason, I’ve decided to put some level of trust in the asshole currently guiding me through a dark hallway. If not for the glitter, I’d feel like I was walking right into a horror movie. Maybe I am.
An orange glow fills the hallway now, making the glitter on the ground shimmer in a rainbow of colors. It’s as if the ground is covered in tiny prisms and I realize it’s not normal glitter. It’s more like crystals and in the new light, it’s stunning.
So maybe the glitter wasn’t such a bad idea.
The temperature rises as we emerge into a huge open space full of shady figures dancing to loud beats. People are grinding against one another, others stand along the wall drinking neon purple drinks. Glowing orange lanterns hang at different levels in the air above the crowd. They float on their own, unattached to anything.
The whole effect is overwhelming and part of me wants to join in the dancing.
Damon leans in to me again and I hold my breath anticipating the feel of his lips against my skin. What can I say. I’ve got a serious problem.
“I see that look on your face,” he says. “Careful, you might end up enjoying yourself.”
