Page 58 of House of Malice
“Perfect,” she said. “And do you have matching shoes?”
Alecto kneeled, looking over her shoes. Finally, from the very back of her closet, she fished out a pair of nude ballerinas she had never worn. She wasn’t even sure when or why she’d bought them.
“Perfect!” Jolene said and clapped her hands. “You’re all set then. I’ll go change and we can head out.”
“I’ll need a large cup of black coffee to go,” Alecto said.
“On it!” Jolene said over her shoulder before she left Alecto’s room.
Alecto undressed and then put on the dreaded dress. She slipped her feet into the ballerinas and then looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a princess, and she fucking hated it.
She stalked to the bathroom, and from her makeup case, she pulled out her favorite cherry lipstick. Once the lipstick was on her lips, she felt a little bit more like herself. Especially because the deep red further emphasized her sunken cheekbones and dark under-eye circles.
Once Alecto was ready, she grabbed a little purse and stuffed cash, the lipstick, and some gum inside. Then she left her room.
Jolene met her downstairs, a big takeaway cup in hand. She smiled and handed it to Alecto, who she thanked her friend before taking a sip.
The coffee was very strong and very bitter, with chocolate notes.
“It’s delicious,” Alecto said.
“Thank Romeo for that,” Jolene said.
Alecto looked her friend up and down. Jolene’s curves were wrapped in a beautiful black dress with blue and green flowers. It clung to her figure in all the right places and ended right at her knees.
“You’re wearing high heels,” Alecto said. “Oh, wow.”
Jolene looked down at the black heels. “Yeah. I don’t usually like wearing heels, but I thought making an effort to look presentable would entice my auntie to talk a bit more.”
“Smart,” Alecto said. “Are we ready to go?”
Jolene nodded. “Yeah, the carriage is outside. We should be there right on time.”
Alecto followed Jolene outside and into their private carriage. Once the door was closed, the carriage whizzed away through the air towards Avalon Hills.
The high-tea event was held at the fancy manor that belonged to one of the many prominent and old families in Avalon Hills.
It was located just outside the city, in one of the many affluent suburban neighborhoods that had high-level security and gates surrounding the beautiful houses, which held dark secrets.
Or at least that was what Alecto believed. She had yet to meet a family of her status that wasn’t perverted or fucked up in one or more ways.
She wasn’t happy to be there because she tried to avoid these high-society events like the plague. And not only because her father could often be found at one of these events, but also because they made her want to puke.
She was happy her father wasn’t going to be there today. At least that much was going well.
“Oh, girls, so glad you made it!” Lyra waved at them once she spotted them coming down the stone path. It led towards the manor through the elaborate garden at the front of the property.
Alecto and Jolene passed the statues of Greek mortals’ gods carved out of marble as they made their way towards Lyra, who stood by the fountain with a group of witches.
“Good afternoon, Auntie,” Jolene said and kissed Lyra on both cheeks.
Alecto simply followed Jolene’s lead, smiling at Lyra with her signature “please all the adults” smile.
“You both look absolutely gorgeous,” Lyra gushed, looking them over. “I’m so pleased you decided to join me today, Jolene. And you, Alecto. It’s been so long since I have seen you.”
Alecto smiled and nodded, biting her tongue to not say something unkind.
Lyra introduced them to a few of her friends whose names Alecto couldn’t remember. She recognized some of the faces from the parties she had attended in the past, and she exchanged pleasantries with these people because she had been raised to be a proper lady.
