Page 87 of Merciless Obsession
“Relax, Ziora, we’re here to enjoy ourselves. Loosen up,” Inaya encouraged, handing me a flute. I glanced down at the mixed punch and around the large room. The Kents’ party was taking place downstairs and outside in the back of their mansion. The place was massive, up in the wealthiest part of the city toward the mountains. From what I gathered, their family came from old money. Their family was into the oil business and had made a fortune. Following that they got into investments that only increased their wealth. Their parents were off somewhere on an island living their lives and left their twins this place. From what Inaya said, they only used it on occasion, both having their own homes elsewhere.
The downstairs was full of people. There were purple, green, red, and orange lights flickering. Smoke flooded through the place. It was decorated with caution tape, lit pumpkins, skulls, coffins, and spiderwebs. The punch was in a cauldron and looked to have dry ice in it to make it mist. Surroundingthe cauldron were wide flutes with blood-looking drinks filling them.
The turnout was overwhelming. All the elite, upper class were in attendance. They had armed security outside and a list to keep it exclusive.
Outside was set up like a haunted house. The pool had been dyed red with fake bodies floating inside. An open bar was off to the side with the same mixed drinks inside and the option to have the bartender make you something else. There was a trail lit with strobe lights, headstones, and paid actors dressed as horror film characters. More fake spiderwebs, skeletons, and smoke covered the yard as well. The backyard had a split with three different routes, one led to a house of mirrors, the other was an actual haunted house that was once the guest house but they had transformed for the night, and the last one was a maze where more actors were waiting to chase and scare attendees.
I came as Harley Quinn. My curls were braided back and I wore a wig with her signature, blond pigtails with pink and blue tips. The costume came with a long-sleeved crop top cut into slits on the bottom, the top shoulder area red and bottom of one sleeve highlighted in blue. The bottoms were shorts that were blue on one side and red on the other with a black thick belt with gold studs circling it. I wore fishnets under my shorts and black and white high-top Converse. Along with everything else, I had a black fanny pack to keep my things in.
Inaya came as Catwoman. She wore a leather, long-sleeved bodysuit with a mask that went around the eyes, leaving her mouth open and cat ears at the top. Around her neck was a thick black choker with silver studs. She wore fishnet stockings and knee-high, black, heeled boots. To bring it together she had a whip, which I thought she was too excited about.
“How much do you think this party cost?” Inaya asked. I glanced over at her. She was smoking a blunt now with the glassof punch in the other hand. I looked around, nothing looked cheap and it all looked put together professionally.
“A few thousand for sure.”
She grinned and blew out some smoke. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? We all live in the city, but it’s clear how different we all are. I mean The Sticks is one thing, but then here, in the main city, you have us, the upper middle class.”
I snorted. “Is that what we are?”
“Of course!” she said, beaming with pride. “Then you have the upper class. The one percent. I mean the houses in this area alone cost millions of dollars.” She shook her head.
“Yeah, too bad the majority of these assholes aren’t good people.” I took a large drink of the punch and my nose scrunched. Whoever made these were heavy handed as hell on the liquor.
“You never told me how you got us invited to this party,” I mentioned, looking around. Everyone looked to be having a good time. Some were dancing, others were laughing and talking with one another. I hadn’t seen either of the Kent twins yet. Everyone was dressed up, a lot of the girls might as well have come as strippers from how skimpy their outfits were.
“I told you I got the hookup. Working at the casino is profitable in more ways than one.” She winked and brought her cup to her mouth. I snorted and sipped my drink again. I swayed to the song playing.
“Does Harley need her Joker?” A deep voice sounded in my ear, hot breath brushed my skin, and alcohol brushed across my nostrils. His body pressed against mine.
Balling my nose, I turned and looked at the guy who had approached me. I stepped back, putting space between us. He was dressed as a football player. A cocky grin rested on his face.
“I’m good,” I told him.
His gaze raked my body and wet his lips. “Too bad, I think the two of us could have a lot of fun together.”
It was dark and the lights flickering gave me a slight preview of his face. I could see he was attractive, but I wasn’t interested. I wasn’t even sure who the guy was.
“I’m good,” I said again.
He frowned. “Fuck you then, bitch.” He turned and stalked off.
Inaya snickered. “Some guys just can’t take rejection. Damn shame.” She took another hit of her blunt and held it out to me. I gave her a knowing look. I didn’t smoke.
Shrugging, Inaya blew the smoke out. “You think Emmet is into whips?” she asked, setting her glass down and picking her whip up. She flicked it.
“I don’t even know if Emmet’s into people period.”
“Just like I like my men. Only about me and no one else.”
I squinted. “How long are you gonna pursue him?”
“Until I wear him down. He likes me; I know it. Why else would he allow me to be his assistant.”
“If you say so.” Inaya was always a special case. Her mention of Emmet made me think back to what he’d mentioned about the community center. I wonder if he’d come up with anything useful.
Inaya got rid of the blunt and we found an open spot to dance. Honestly I didn’t know the last time I’d been to a party. I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t enjoying myself. For the first time in a while, I felt normal.
“Hold on, I’ll be right back!” Inaya informed me. She walked past me to a guy dressed like Freddy. Times like this I envied my friend. It was so easy for her to interact with people and adapt to any scene. She was a social person, always had been. The pair spoke briefly. Inaya laughed at whatever the guy said to her and shook her head when his bladed hand brushed over her arm. Sheturned then pointed in my direction. He glanced in my direction before turning back to Inaya. They spoke a little longer before she made her way back to me.
