Page 42 of A Kiss From Death
Using her Luster magic, Des painted a black heart around one of my eyes to match the circus theme. She lined the perimeter of the heart with tiny red gems, making my bright gray eyes pop against the harsh black. The rest of my makeup, she kept mostly simple, wanting the dress to be the center focus. She darkened and lifted my lashes, added a pretty blush to the apples of my cheeks, smoked out my eyes with black, and covered my lips in a bright red to match my dress.
Aeron wasn’t wrong about needing help getting undressed tonight. The dress took both Des and I fifteen minutes to slide on and cinch tight to my body. I can hardly breathe, but I keep reminding myself it’s like a firm hug from Theo.
Per usual, Des was correct—the corset has indeed pushed my breasts up, creating more cleavage than I thought possible for what I’m working with.
Des slides the jeweled snake up my arm, completing the look. I’ve never felt more beautiful, and for the most part, I’m comfortable. Besides the corset, the dress is smooth and soft against my skin, a black heeled slipper a cushion below my feet. My lean legs are on full display, sprouting out from each slit cut high into the fabric.
“One last thing,” Des coos to me. Opening a drawer in my vanity, she pulls out a small black dagger, its handle covered in tiny red gems. “Beauty and death. The perfect combination.” She leans in towards me, aiming the tip of the blade at my chest.
I take a stumbling step backwards. “Woah, where do you think you’re putting that death contraption? I’m not in the market for losing a nip tonight.”
Des releases a breathy laugh. “Relex, Sparkles. Do you trust me?”
I jab my finger towards her. “Not when you’re pointing the tip of that dagger at my goods.”
“Sparkles?” Aeron chimes in.
“I just like the way her nose scrunches up every time I call her that. Started when I dressed her in the diamond suit, and now, I can’t seem to stop. It’s just too much fun getting under her skin.” A sinister look has taken over Des’s face.
“Nowthat,I can get behind. I’d love to get under many things when it comes to her.” Aeron’s smirk could be seen all the way down in Fallout.
“Enough, you two. Can we get on with the show so I can enjoy what might be my last night alive?” I say it as a joke, but the air suddenly thickens. I smile at them, trying to lighten the mood, and for good measure, I add, “And, if anyone’s getting under my skin tonight, it will be myself.” I wiggle my fingers at them, which sends both into a howling fit of laughter.
Once Des recovers from her aggressively high pitched laughter and wipes the tears from her cheeks, she summons me with her finger. “Come here so I can finish you off and send you on your way.”
A small laugh tries to make its way up Aeron’s throat, but he catches it at the last second. “Didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t need our help finishing anything off tonight. She’s got that covered.” This makes Des gasp, realizing what it sounded like she was suggesting, giggling again as her cheeks redden with embarrassment.
“You two are no better than children, I swear.” I step up to Des, trusting whatever she has planned with the dagger will be safe. Even though I told her I didn’t trust her, I do. I know she would never intentionally do something to harm me. Maybeunintentionally with her clumsiness, but that’s beside the point. “Go ahead, Des. I trust you.”
She takes one step closer and wedges her finger between my cleavage and corset, feeling around. “Ah, there it is.”
Peeking down, I notice a small pocket sewn into the underside of the corset, the perfect size to sheath a dagger. She brings the tip of the dagger close, and even though I see the pocket there, I still tense in anticipation. She slides the tip into the pocket, pushing it down until it’s sheathed all the way to the red, jeweled handle. It’s a statement: an accessory, but also a warning.
I love it.
“Perfect as always, Des.” I pull her into a tight hug, which she returns with an even tighter grip.
“Can I have you as a handmaid too?” Aeron chimes in. “I got stuck with someone who has to be older than dirt.”
“Hanz?” Des and I question at the same time.
“How did you know?”
I bend over giggling as Des gives me anI told you solook. Aeron just shakes his head, confused.
“Well, are you ready, my little circus Vagrant?”
I stride over to him, appreciating his bright red suit for the first time tonight, and link my arm with his. Standing together, we almost look like we planned matching outfits. That is the last thing on my mind, though, as we make our way out of my room and down the long, winding hallways to the first, and probably last, party I will ever attend.
The air whooshes out of my lungs as I take in the grand ballroom. There’s controlled mayhem in every direction . The vaulted ceiling makes the space feel extra large, even packed with what has to be hundreds of citizens dressed to perfection in a sea of colors.
Where I come from, clothes have a purpose—for staving off the cold, covering skin from the blistering heat, or protection from harsh working conditions. But here in Lunaria, it’s a statement of status and power, for entertainment and enjoyment.
Dresses are cut at odd angles and draped over limbs like walking art. It’s fascinating to take in, along with their grand masks and accessories. Even the men showcase their style with velvety suits in dizzying patterns and shapes. Some suit coats are extra long, while others are half the length of a normal coat.
The ballroom is dripping in deep reds, accented with white and black. Tall tables are draped with red and white striped cloth,dotting the outer edge of the room. Guests mingle, leaning against them while sipping bubbling drinks.
The center of the room hosts a dance floor with a full sized circus tent blanketing it from above. An orb of light floats at the top of the tent, spinning and flashing lights across the dancefloor.
