Page 59 of Lourdes & the Mafia
He chuckles. “It gives the illusion of death to the wearer. Though it isn’t my favorite.”
“No? Which one is your favorite?”
He grabs my shoulders and leads me away from the glass cases of jewelry and down the line towards the dresses masterfully placed on mannequins.
“This one serves as armor.” It’s red with a high neckline and long sleeves. “Soft to the touch and hardens against the force of any blade.”
“Well, I don’t plan on getting stabbed tonight. At least, I’m hoping I don’t…”
“With Kane at your back, no one would dare touch you, Amore. This dress is my favorite, though.”
“Oh, and why is that?”
It’s a white thing that glitters with diamonds from the heart-shaped neckline all the way down to the ankles. It has a sheer lace train that trails on the black ground like a pool of starlight.
“Because it’s a mystery. The Spell Weaver created it.”
“Who’s that?”
“A demon who lives in the Cursed Valley. They’re a master at spell work and created most of the pieces here. Now, here’s what I want you to wear.” He claps his hands and the doors to the room suddenly burst open, flooding us with demons.
I try not to flinch at their arrival. Several of them file in, all in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some with red skin that glows like fire, others with bulky shoulders and hooked claws tipped at the end of their wings. There’s a big distinction between the male and female demons, and they barely wear clothes. Just scraps of dark cloth that drape over their strangely shaped bodies.
They stand in a line, scattering around the room the moment Lorenzo snaps his fingers. They begin pulling down fabrics and accessories, all of them avoiding going near the ones in the glass cases. I jerk in surprise when a short demon with orange skin and clunky, gnarled feet tugs at the bottom of my robe.
I don’t move, even at the creature’s insistence.
“What does he want?” I demand.
“They are my helpers, Amore. They’re here to dress you.”
“I—” I don’t want their hands anywhere near me. My mind flashes back to the demons in the hall attacking me, and the weird she-demon hanging from the ceiling and the ease in which she grabbed me and flew me out of the castle. It’s clear I’m not a match for a single one of the creatures here. Not with my own lack of magic and nothing but my visions to keep me company. They could easily pull me out of the castle and drop me to my death if they wanted to.
“Don’t fear, Amore. I know your experience hasn’t been the best so far, but not all demons are evil, despite what you may think.”
I still feel reluctant. I look down at the demon, still patiently waiting for me to follow him.
“Amore, do you thinkI’mevil?”
“Of course not.” The answer comes immediately.
He smiles, as though pleased with my response. “Because I’m not. And neither are they.”
I loose a breath. “Fair enough. Okay. I’ll give them a chance.”
That she-demon did help me get home. I make a mental note to ask Lorenzo where she’s at so I can talk to her and thank her for her help despite how traumatizing the situation had been. For now, makeover time.
I let myself be guided away by the little creature. He pushes on my legs, sitting me on a plush couch in front of a vanity mirror.
Lorenzo is close behind, and he claps his fingers. As soon as he does, music comes on, booming through the background.
The laugh that comes out of me is more like a cackle.
“Pero, ¿es en serio?” I ask him, smiling at his reflection in the mirror.
“What? You don’t like Whitney Houston?I wanna dance with somebodyis a classic. Perfect for a makeover montage.”
I shake my head back and forth. He’s too much. Fine, I’ll take it. I don’t hate the song, and it’s upbeat enough that even the fucking demons flittering about the room start dancing to it. They gyrate and move in awkward side-to-side movements, their guttural voices trying to sing along to the lyrics.
