Page 127 of Disharmony

Cookie’s eyebrows raise. Fuck. That isn’t something an entitled ass like me would usually do.

To cover my back, I add, “I’m not waking Jacqueline to stress her out because our main performers have got lost in the woods.”

“We’ll split up and look, okay?” Claudia takes charge and starts barking orders. “We can divide into groups. Damon, you and the Lionhearts can take the lake and shoreline. We’ll check the woods. Leila and Conor can loop back to the party to check we’re not worrying about nothing.”

You can tell she’s used to taking charge in the kitchen from her bossy demeanor. Bright headlights force us to shield our eyes and brakes squeal to a halt. Venom and Zed get out of the car.

“Sounds like a plan,” I say. “Let’s exchange numbers and we’ll call if we find anything, yeah?”

Cookie’s mouth drops as I type my number into her cell.

“I’ll keep you updated,” she stammers.

I incline my head and disperse before the guys join us. I can feel Zed’s anger emanating off his body.

“What’s going on?” Venom asks.

“Not here,” I hiss, taking the path down to the lake, and gritting my teeth. I’m not going to lose my shit when we have spectators. As soon as we’re out of sight, I turn on Zed. “I thought you weren’t worried about Tiffany.”

“Tiffany?” Venom frowns in confusion.

“Why didn’t you tell us what happened last year, Zed?” I demand. “You’re the one who is involved with the Lockhart family.”

“Involved?” He laughs coldly. “What are you accusing me of?”

“You know how much of a psycho Tiffany is and what she did to Riley, but you didn’t tell us about it.”

“Is someone gonna tell me what the fuck is going on?” Venom rarely raises his voice, but he does now and we all stare. “What has Ash going missing got to do with Tiffany?”

“Ripper and Ash’s friends have got it into their heads that Tiffany threw a girl off of a cliff last year,” Zed says.

“Shit!” Venom’s jaw drops. “Did she—”

“No, she didn’t die,” Zed snaps. “But she’s in a wheelchair.”

“Jacqueline covered the whole thing up, just like she always does. That’s probably the real reason why last year’s show was canceled, and it had nothing to do with the damn storm,” I say. It all makes sense. “We’re going to the lake to look for Ash.”

I walk faster, leaving the two of them behind. What happened last year doesn’t matter. Nothing does until we find her.

Through the trees, I hear girls’ voices.

“Slow down,” Zed calls, but I don’t listen.

A primal urge takes over my body, like I’m a predator getting a hint of a fresh kill and tailing it down. Instead of blood, it’s laughter.

“Damon!” A girl squeaks as I come to a halt in front of her. She blanches as I shine my torch in her face, then her eyes widen as Zed and Venom come to a stop behind me. “Zach, Levi…”

I aim the light at the rest of the group. There are six of them, including Tiffany.

“Zach,” Tiffany croons. “What’re you doing here?”

“We should be asking you the same question,” Zach says. “You’re a little far from the party, aren’t you?”

She shrugs confidently, but I notice her minions shift uncomfortably. One of them can’t look us in the eye, gnawing her lip like she’s trying to stop herself from speaking. They’re keeping something from us.

“We’re over hanging out with drunk first-years.” She flips her hair over her shoulder. It doesn’t make her look sophisticated. “We thought we’d have a party of our own.”

“You need to get back to your cabin,” Venom says. He’s usually the quiet one, so Tiffany jolts when he talks. “It’s late. It’s a big day tomorrow.”

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