Page 149 of Conform
“Rajesh would give his life for our freedom.”
“Would you? Is the freedom worth it if you lose those you love?” I demanded, staring at Rose.
“In this world, in their world, we aren’t permitted such things,” Violet spat, stepping in front of Rose. “If I have to destroy my soul to change that, then I will.”
“It doesn’t give Hal the right to stoop to their level!” I declared, my anger bursting through.
Violet fell silent. “What about Hal?”
“He—” I stopped myself.
“That’s who you were with yesterday?” Violet asked, her dark eyes wide.
“He’s the one Rajesh talks about, right?” Rose whispered. “Wasn’t he the one behind the dress?”
“What?” My voice trembled. “The blue dress?”
Violet stared at me, her eyes slits. “Yes. He brought it to level the playing field, then played the hero, apparently.”
My anger winked out. It had been a game all along.
Rose grabbed my hand and led me into the steam room. “We have wasted too much time. We cannot be late tonight. The Illum are up to something with the ball. We all know this. We must hurry.”
In what felt like seconds and yet a lifetime, I found myself on the podium, fully dressed for whatever awaited. No other words were spoken during the rest of the appointment. An air of tangible dread followed us room to room.
The gown was a work of art and a labor of love. I was unworthy of it. The off-the-shoulder dress was utterly sheer and nude, bedecked with thousands upon thousands of crystals. All of me on display.
My eyes burned from the beauty of it, so at odds with the ugliness I felt plagued by. I spun, looking over my shoulder at the back, the crystals artfully placed. It was as if Rose had captured the stars I had once wished to be.
All the beauty, and I felt none of it.
Violet stepped onto the podium, fastening the large oval diamonds to my ears as I felt a tug on my dress.
I glanced down to see Rose crouched on the ground, attempting to add more crystals.
“Leave it,” Violet urged. “No one will notice it isn’t done.”
“They notice everything. There are supposed to be more crystals. I was supposed to have another ten days.” Rose added another crystal toward the bottom of the gown. “The Illum will be there, and it isn’t done.”
Violet grabbed her arm, and Rose came to stand. Violet pulled her in close.
“It is time. I will see her out,” Rose said. Violet didn’t fight it as she released Rose and left the room.
“I ask—no, I beg you, do not betray us to the Illum. Please, I love her.” Rose glanced back at Violet. Tears fell as she confessed, “It isn’t worth it to me. Freedom. Without her, it isn’t worth it.”
I didn’t remember leaving. I didn’t hear Harold’s goodbye or what the man in dark gray said as I arrived in the antechamber I knew had a large glass vase of white lilies. Collin’s entertainment quarters.
The doors beneath the stairs stood open, the Elite conversing beyond, but I turned right. I wasn’t aware of where I was going until I found myself in a two-story office filled with moonlight. I walked to the windows and stared at the moon through the lingering smoke. The stars were hidden.
“Emeline,” a honey voice called.
“Nora,” I stated, turning to where she stood beneath the spear light fixture dangling above her like a cage. She wore a black silk gown with an asymmetrical draped neckline and a high slit. Her midnight hair was braided around her crown while diamond-and-gold earrings snaked up her ears.
“I am aware of why I am in mourning, but why are you?”
I had spent my entire existence quieting the questions I always had. Now I found myself unable to hide them. “Did you mean it? Yesterday, with Gregory?”
Nora looked at me sadly. “I must. Phillip was right. I need to think of my offspring. If there were something I could do to keep him, I would. Something to make it different this time.”
