Page 41 of Cursed
After thirty seconds or so, a midnight-hued mask rested in my palm, tendrils of steam rising into the air. Small obsidian beads outlined the eye holes, catching the light and imprisoning it in their glassy depths. Tiny swirling patterns, a lighter shade closer to charcoal, twined across the surface.
I looked forward to the masquerade, and this alone made me pause.
When is the last time I’ve looked forward to something besides death and pain at someone else’s expense?
Forever. And all because I planned on seeing Phoebe at a ridiculous party. Which part would she play? Angel or demon? Almost certain I knew the answer, I chuckled, rising from my seat, and strode to the bedroom, mentally flicking on the bedside lamp.
Stepping in front of the dresser mirror, I lifted the mask and placed it against my face, positioning it to hug the contours of my cheekbones. Pleased with the perfect fit, I sent a tentative flicker toward Phoebe, a light probe to ensure she was in no danger...that I hadn’t been wrong about Malachi.
Since I couldn’t dive too deeply into her thoughts, I limited my eavesdropping to her emotions. A small glow of happiness and excitement radiated from within her. Its pull called to me on a deep level.
I stretched out a steadying hand to the dresser’s polished wood and squeezed my eyelids shut. At that moment, the inner darkness in me strove to bask in her welcoming light and goodness, to banish the shadows from my soul.
But I’m being ridiculous. I am what I am, what others have made me, and there’s no coming back from my sins.
In twenty-four hours, I would be the tortured demon, and she’d be the doomed, unwitting angel offered up as a sacrifice to further my goal.
Chapter 14
Phoebe
Last night, Tara andI sat at the table in my kitchen and designed our costumes. Her mask, layered with blue foil and faux diamonds around the outer edges, glinted with every turn of her head. Taking some of the leftover scraps of foil, she twisted it into horns and attached them to each upturned corner of the mask, giving her a devilish appearance.
Our costumes, scavenged at the local thrift store, ended up costing less than a Starbucks latte because we shopped on half-price day. Tara’s, a navy-colored cocktail dress with silver straps, hugged her curvy form and pushed her cleavage high and tight.
My dress, short and white, stopped mid-thigh, showing off my legs. Across the bust’s hem, silver and red sequins lined the material and winked when the light landed just right. I’d glued long, white feathers at the outer tips of my mask. They fluttered against the air like delicate wings every time I moved.
Around the outside of each eye, I’d attached fake rubies in a curving pattern similar to Cain’s interesting tattoo.
I hadn’t seen him since the other night, when he’d rescued me from Brian, and I hadn’t decided if I was relieved or irritated. Strange thief or not, Cain had a good heart.Why else would someone save a stranger in the middle of the night?I fingered the pendant hanging on my necklace. Dad would’ve approved of him, I think, despite his slightly criminal tendencies.
Dad, I miss you.Wish I could remember what happened to you that day.
Who had the shadowy man been who’d shown up at the carousel? Had he hurt my father...or worse? I wasn’t sure if finding Dad’s body would be a relief or a nightmare—maybe both—but at least it would provide closure.
Thinking about the past threatened to overshadow tonight’s fun, so I let it go, bringing myself fully into the present.
