Page 66 of Cursed Lifeline

Nearby, a faint warning growl causes my breath to catch. Caelum releases my hand after another awkward moment, and Alfred draws my attention back his way, “Please forgive my friend. It has been weeks since he’s had the pleasure of a woman’s company. I’m afraid he’s forgotten how to act.”

Caelum shoots my cousin an angry, lethal glare. Alfred chuckles and turns to my Aunt.

“Do you mind if we steal Miss Esmeralda away?” he asks. “Though I know your guest list is lavish as always, Aunt Camille, and there are many here tonight I’m sure you’re desperate for her to meet, but I sense Esme would rather spend the evening in a more cliché fashion for a woman of her age. Isn’t that right, petit?”

Words elude me as the nickname he just used falls from his lips and I’m suddenly sure I’m not wrong. We have met before. My mind wanders to another sparkling party long ago. Ballgowns and nobility spring to the forefront of my mind. And just like then, I get the odd sense I’m being watched from the shadows and turn my head, searching out the pull of a stranger as the memory of purple and white wisteria, roses, music, and breathtaking waltzes make my heart beat faster.

A headache threatens between my eyes, and I can’t think of a response. Lucky for me, I don’t have to because, to our surprise, my aunt starts to shoo us away.

“Enjoy yourself,” she smiles as Alfred and Caelum quickly usher me out of line and into the crowd. Just before I’m led out of earshot, I hear her whisper,“Bon courage pour votre trajet, mon cheri.”

Rendered speechless by the exact phrase my maid uttered when I last saw her, my intuition screams to pay better attention to the mysterious signs that are effortlessly being laid out before me.

As Alfred pulls me through the crowd, and Caelum stays close behind on my heels, the warning in my brain leaves momentarily as we pass a tower of overflowing champagne glasses. Three servers stand atop ladders pouring more bubbles into the already overflowing flutes. The room roars with a ragtime favorite by Scott Joplin. Its jaunty rhythm makes my heart take flight. The elegant, flapper dresses of the women and the well-tailored pinstripes of the men’s suits add an air of refinement to the speakeasy atmosphere. It’s thrilling and exhilarating. Being ushered quickly away makes the night hold an air of mystique and adds to the addictive madness and secrets held around every depraved corner.

Alfred swipes a bottle of champagne from behind the bar as we pass, and Caelum quickly grabs three glasses before we step out onto the back patio.

“Thank you,” I laugh as Alfred sets the bottle down on a nearby table, and Caelum immediately settles the three flutes alongside it. “I thought I’d never get away, and I’d be stuck standing in that line all night.”

Before I can take my next breath, Alfred pulls me into a desperate hug. I fall into his embrace timidly at first. But as he wraps his arms around me and holds me close as if he’s scared to let go, my body eventually falls lax. I smile as I’m engulfed in his comfort and pull him in tighter.

After a moment, he releases me. As I step back, I am quickly pulled into Caelum’s arms. He squeezes me in a brotherly fashion, but is quicker to let go than Alfred. When he does, I catch Caelum’s sheepish grin before he hangs his head and steps back towards the table. Making quick work at opening the bottle of champagne, I focus back on Alfred and nervously chuckle, “What was that for?”

“We’re just happy to see you,” Alfred says as Caelum crisply pops the cork, and it shoots into the air. He anticipates its overflow and fills a flute with ease before handing it to me with a grin. “If you can’t embrace family, then who can you?”

I contemplate his question with a raised brow and bring my drink to my lips just as a dark figure catches my attention across the patio. A man steps out of the shadows and into the dim moonlight. Another dull pain in between my eyes begins to grow, but I push the feeling away and take another sip of champagne.

“You’ve got a point,” I say as the bubbles tickle my nose. I keep a watchful eye on the man lingering a few steps away and ask, “How long will you be staying in New Orleans?”

“Not long,” Alfred insists, refusing the glass Caelum offers him, “and neither are you.”

Choking over my last sip, I say, “Excuse me?”

“We leave on the six o’clock train tomorrow morning,” Caelum smiles. “Alfred will fill you in on where we’re headed and why on the first leg of the trip.”

“Trip?” I exclaim, taking a step back.

“Don’t tell me Aunt Camille didn’t say anything to you?” Caelum asks in shock.

There’s a mischievous edge to his tone. So much so that it has me turning around and glancing back at my aunt through the throng of party-goers. She finishes saying something to a diplomat I shook the hand of earlier, but eventually, she senses my gaze and reassuringly smiles at me across the way.

“No,” I mumble, “She never mentioned it.”

“Figures,” Caelum huffs. I glance back as he plops down in a patio chair and throws his feet up on the iron table. “This party isn’t the only present planned for you.”

Alfred offers to refill my glass. I extend it to him as I contemplate what Caelum has said. The sparkly, golden liquid rises quickly to the crystal rim as Alfred scoffs, “He’s lying.” Caelum’s gaze snaps to his friends in annoyance. “You’ll soon learn never to trust a word that comes out of his mouth, petit.”

Earlier, when he called me by that nickname, it felt endearing. Now, it’s condescending, which seems to pull more at the memories I can’t for the life of me place.

“Well,” Caelum sneers, “it was half true. There will be a train waiting for us early tomorrow morning at the station. Only Aunt Camille knows nothing about it.”

“And you expect me to come along,” I stare at both of them dumbfounded and grow amazed when they continue to gaze back at me expectantly.

“No,” I stammer angrily. “I hardly know either of you.”

“We’re family,” Alfred says, “If you can’t...”

“An embrace is one thing,” I state firmly. “Running off to God knows where is another.” I turn and take in the ritzy celebration happening in my honor. “Especially when my aunt has gone to so much trouble and...”

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