On Friday night, Dad takes us to a fundraiser held by one of his friends.
Oh, and it’s in London.
I’m not panicking or anything.
Scratch that, I’m totally panicking.
He told me that I could stay back in Birmingham if I wanted to, but it would make him happy if I stood by his side in his first official appearance.
I couldn’t refuse him. Truth is, I want to appear on my father’s side. I want the world to know I’m his daughter.
We have been separated for too long.
Knox is the most excited amongst us. He’s game for any party — his words, not mine. He’s wearing a stylish dark blue suit with rolled-up sleeves and a white T-shirt with Metallica’s logo on it.
When Dad told him he can’t attend a fundraiser at a duke’s house with that shirt, Knox rolled his eyes and buttoned his jacket.
I laughed so hard when he said, “You just insulted the die-hard metal fans. Happy, Dad?”
I swear Knox and Dad have the strangest, most entertaining interactions ever. They’re so different and yet, they’re in tune. Knox’s competitive streak about being Dad’s favourite is so entertaining, but can also be threatening sometimes.
If Eli didn’t die so young, I wonder if his relationship with Dad would’ve been the same as Knox’s.
Teal joined us, too, but she has a bored expression like this is the last place she’d want to be.
When she came down the stairs wearing a denim skirt and a T-shirt with ‘Annoyed’ written across her breasts, Dad and Agnus motioned for her to go back upstairs, put on a dress, and remove the gothic makeup.
She changed into a dark blue dress with a wide tulle skirt that stops a bit above her knees. Her inky hair shines in blue under the light and falls on either side of her face. She still has dark eyeshadow and eyeliner, but she’s put on light pink lipstick for a change.
Cute is an understatement. She really has pinchable cheeks.
Me, on the other hand, I opted for a black dress I’ll have to lift it so I don’t fall on my face. I pulled my hair up and put on mascara and barely-there lipstick.
Oh, and Dad is the one who chose our clothes — except for Knox’s Metallica T-shirt.
Teal and I interlace our arms with Dad’s as we take the large stairs leading to the Rhodes’ mansion.
Actually, it’s an estate.
Expensive cars fill the driveway. Women wear stylish gowns and men rock tuxedos. Hell, even the stairs are covered in a red carpet as if we’re at the Oscars.
The four of us head to the entrance.
Agnus hasn’t joined us yet, saying he’ll come by later. He and Dad have been locked up in their office the past few days conspiring. I’m not curious enough to ask, and I’d rather stay away from Dad’s business world. After all, he and Agnus seem to have everything under control.
A butler bows to us after checking our invitation.
“Welcome to the Rhodes Estate, Mr Steel & Mr Van Doren.”
Knox points at himself. “That would be me.”
Teal shoots him a glare before she focuses back on the steps. Like me, she doesn’t seem comfortable in heels.
I’m glad Dad chose our clothes or we would’ve been a joke at a place like this.
One step after the other. You can do this, Elsa.
One step. Just because I’m in London again doesn’t mean I’ll meet Aiden.
One step. I have to survive this night in peace and then go back to Birmingham.
Besides, I missed Kim, Ronan, and the others. I talk to them via text, but it’s not the same as seeing them in person.
I haven’t told Kim I’m coming tonight, in case she tells Aiden. However, I’m sure one of the horsemen will be here. Probably Ronan or Xander, since their parents are active in the political and public scheme.
“Are we ready or are we ready?” Knox interlaces his arm with my free one, cutting off my focus on my feet.
Like in the films, two butlers bow as the door opens.
Bursts of colours, sounds, and smells explode ahead of us.
The hall is the largest I’ve seen in my life. Golden chandeliers hang from the vaulted ceilings. In the middle sits a black jaguar statue, as well as a statue of a white knight riding a black horse.
The contrast is so riveting, I can’t help but stop and stare. Dad has mentioned the Rhodes have real jaguars on their estates and it was the reason they earned their title hundreds of years ago.
That’s impressive. Although I would rather not meet any jaguars in real life.
The strong mixture of designer perfumes and appetising food float in the air. Rows of self-service tables extend until the end of the hall.
An orchestra sits at the far end of the ballroom playing classical music. The piece is familiar so it must be Beethoven or Mozart — the only ones I know.
Whoa. This is what it feels like to have old money.
We all head towards a man wearing a tailored black tuxedo. With his black hair and eyes, it’s like he’s cut from the darkness. He appears to be in his early thirties.
“Mr Steel. It’s an honour.” He offers his hand.
Dad shakes it. “It’s an honour to be here, Your Grace.”
“Tristan is fine.” He smiles.
Wait. He’s the Tristan Rhodes? I don’t know why I expected someone in his sixties with a bald head and a fat belly.
“These are my children, Elsa, Knox, and Teal.”
We shake hands with Tristan. How does one greet a duke, anyway? It’s the first time I’ve met one.
“This is my cousin Aaron Rhodes…” Tristan drifts off when he searches on either side of him but finds no one. “Or was. He’s probably playing the invisibility game.”
I like this Aaron Rhodes. Can I play the invisibility game with him?
“It’s fine.” Dad chuckles. “We can meet him later.”
“No, please. We have a lot to talk about.” Tristan smiles at us. It’s both welcoming and formulaic.
He communicates so much with a mere smile. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Yes, welcome to my house, but I’ll rip your heart out if you break anything.’
“Do you mind if I steal your father for a while?” he asks us.
The three of us shake our heads in sync.
“Make yourselves at home.” And with that, he disappears with Dad in the crowd.
“Okay, time to raid the food.” Knox rubs his hands together. “Be right back.” He takes two steps then stops. “Scratch that. I won’t be right back.”
He strides in the direction of the reception area as fast as he can without running.
Teal and I are left alone together.
Awkward.
I was never one for small talk, so I stay silent. If I say anything it’ll sound awkward and ruin the mood. My relationship with Teal is already like walking on thin ice. I don’t want to ruin it furthermore.
“This is so stupid.” She sighs and retrieves her phone from her bra. “They had a show on the Cold War on National Geographic tonight.”
“You’re interested in the Cold War?” I ask carefully.
“Sure.” She scrolls through her phone. “Wars are fun.”
“Fun?”
“Uh…” she trails off. “I mean they’re interesting. There’s so much knowledge and human stupidity.”
“How about ancient wars?”
“Like Napoleon? Roman?”
“I was thinking Asian? Chinese? I’m a fan of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.”
“Oh, that. It’s cool.”
“You read it?” I gasp.
“Sure.”
Whoa. It’s so rare for someone my age to know about The Art of War, let alone having read it.
Teal’s appearance is not what meets the eye, that’s for sure. There’s so much depth in there, it’s kind of exciting to get to know her.
“I thought that was you, Ellie!”
I’m attacked by a hug from behind. Before I know it, I’m lifted off the ground and spun around.
I laugh as Ronan finally puts me back onto my feet.
“Hey, Ronan.”
“Don’t give me that, petit traitre.” He glares down at me jokingly. “How can you disappear on me like that? I’m having withdrawals. I demand payback.”
“I told you over text, a lot of things happened.”
Xander and Cole join us. The three of them are rocking stylish suits; Ronan is in dark-blue, Cole is in black, and Xander is in dark-brown. With their hair styled, it’s like they’re out for a fashion show.
This is the side of them I don’t know — or more like I haven’t met yet. I’m sure they attend parties like these all the time.
Before I can rejoice about seeing them again, dread tightens in my stomach. The three of them wouldn’t be here without Aiden. He must be hiding somewhere biding his time to come out and attack.
Like a fucking predator.
“And who is this?” Ronan drawls in Teal’s direction.
“Teal.” I motion at her. “This is Ronan, Cole, and Xander from school.”
She nods, barely sparing them any attention before she returns to her phone.
“Bonsoir, ma belle.” Ronan devours her with his eyes, openly, with no shame. “This means we’ll be seeing a lot of you.”
“Not really,” she says, still not looking at them.
“Yeah. We live in Birmingham,” I say.
“No,” Ronan clutches his heart dramatically, closing in on her. “I might die if I don’t see you again.”
“Then die.” Teal turns around and heads in Knox’s direction without a glance back.
“Hashtag, burn.” Xander clutches Ronan by the shoulder.
“Someone actually turned you down.” Cole raises an eyebrow. “I’m impressed.”
“Fuck off, both of you.” Ronan’s face is unreadable for a second before he grins at me again. “Where were we? Right. When are you coming back, Ellie? I need my dose of you like I need weed.”
“Did you just compare me to weed?”
“Hey! Weed is cool. It relaxes you and makes you happy.”
“Well,” Xander laughs. “Ronan and weed share an endless love story, so comparing you to it is kind of a compliment.”
“Exactement!” Ronan clasps Xander’s shoulder in a bro hug. “So Ellie, when are you coming back to be my happy place?”
I’m about to tell him I don’t know if I’ll ever come back when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
A flush covers my skin from my cheeks all the way down my chest underneath my clothes. Something familiar races down my spine no matter how much I try to suffocate it.
No, no.
Please, please.
It’s useless to beg when the disaster hits you straight in the face. It doesn’t delay the inevitable and surely doesn’t erase it.
He’s here.
I feel it over my skin, and straight into my insides. As I slowly turn around, I hold on to my delusional bubble, my safe space.
I should’ve known better. There’s no safe place from monsters.
The darkness is their playground, and the world is their theatre. If they choose to, they’ll drag you into the shadows and it’ll be all over.
I thought the worst monsters were the ones from my childhood. Turns out, my worst monster had the most hypnotic metallic eyes and the inkiest black hair. He has a penetrating gaze that dissects me and sees straight into the darkest depths of my soul.
My monster is all tall, powerful, and beautiful.
My monster is Aiden King.
