Page 72 of Sinner
Their eyes were crossed out or taped over.
“That’s…” Not boring, that was for sure.
“Creepy as fuck?” West shivered. “Hated having to stare at that thing.”
“Her sculpture won first place,” Lake reminded.
“How do you remember that? You weren’t even here.”
All of the dolls had the same inky black hair color as Yejun.
…And Sayda Sang.
Nix eased the device back Yejun’s way. “That’s enough revelations for one night.”
Chapter 23:
The Great Hall had been turned into a setting completely unrecognizable. There were very few buildings on campus that were off limits—the Roost was one of them—but none got the same treatment that this one did.
The floors had been polished to a shine, and something that mirrored marble had been added, poured from one end to the other, made to look like a moving river. The celestial blues, mixtures of dark and light shades, glittered beneath the orange and yellow light orbs that flitted about, adding an almost magical allure to what used to be just another stuffy old building.
“It’s the river Heathen,” Lake leaned in and whispered in Nix’s ear, having caught him staring. “The one the spirits of the damned travel down in order to reenter this world.”
Nix knew the mythos behind Demons Passing, obviously. But he’d never attended an event quite like this before.
Vines of black with leaves tipped in gold glitter trailed up the walls and pillars, tangling high up on the ceiling. Light orbs danced between them, of various sizes and set at different brightness levels. Every door in the main hall had been left open, as though welcoming the spirits that were said to escape hell every year on this night.
Spirits who’d been wronged when they’d been living, now out for revenge.
That was why everyone in attendance wore a mask, the more twisted the better. The point was to blend in so the spirits couldn’t recognize you weren’t one of them, here seeking out your own retribution. Hiding in plain sight, so to speak.
The masks Yejun had made for them were unrivaled. They covered their entire face and matched with the outfits chosen for a full look.
West’s had been made to look like metal, with fissures all through it where lines of molten lava could be seen as though caught beneath. His suit was charcoal with steel accessories and embellishments, and his leather gloves had spikes on the knuckles.
Yejun had a mask on that looked like cracked plaster, uneven and rough to the touch. It was white, as was his ensemble. The material of the suit was made of tweed, textured and frayed in some areas for an added flair.
Lake’s look was a bit on the nose, but Nix had expected nothing less from him. His mask had intricate weaves of gold layered over black, culminating in a crown at the top with several sharp points that resembled daggers. Gold epaulettes decorated his shoulders, and the black jacket wrapped tightly around his waist, hanging to just beneath the curve of his ass. There was no shirt beneath.
Nix’s suit, made of a deep red, had similar epaulettes, though his were a bit smaller, and his outfit was made out ofvelvet, instead of the silk Lake wore. His mask was a dull gold, with lace details. Two skeletal hands wrapped around the front, made to appear as though covering his eyes from behind. The top part held a crown as well, less obvious, and made of five golden feathers—a nod to his nickname that Yejun had been quite proud of.
The rest of the room was dressed to impress, but as Nix took them all in, he had to admit they looked the best.
“Everyone is going to be able to identify us,” he said.
West snorted at his naivety. “That’s kind of the point, babe.”
“Masquerades are so blasé,” June quipped. “The least I could do was ensure we enter with a bang.”
“We’ll be leaving with one, too.” Lake linked two of his fingers with Nix’s and then tugged him away from the entrance where they’d been taking up space. “Unfortunately, that part of the evening will have to wait until the Haunt has officially begun, or unless we can find time to slip away. For now, let’s make the tedious rounds that are required of us, shall we?”
The Imperial lifted Nix’s hand and pressed the back of it to his mask where his mouth would be, and damn Nix’s traitorous heart, it actually skipped a beat.
Demons Passing followed a strict schedule of events, despite being another excuse for a night of pleasure and sin. There was the greeting stage, where everyone was allowed to show up and mingle as they pleased. Students, faculty, Essential members, and even those who lived in the city were all allowed onto campus grounds. Not all of them would enter the Great Hall, some opting to find their fun elsewhere, so while it was crowded, it was manageable.
Mini celebrations were already set up in other buildings and dorms, some of them themed for more enjoyment. Hunters Cross, the main art building where Yejun’s studio was, haddecorated all four wings to look like a haunted forest. They’d passed by it on their way here, since Nix had wanted to walk so he could take it all in, and the dim lighting from within had called to him.
They’d promised they could check it out at some point, and he was going to hold them to it.
