Gauntlet: Chapter 7

The full, red skirt of her gown swished around her legs as she spun and looked at herself in the mirror. For once, Clio threw herself into the spirit of it. She felt like she had in that first theater room–transformed.

She laughed and admired herself once more. The ball gown’s bodice enhanced even her modest breasts, and the tight waist made her look curvier than normal. Even though she was playing dress up, she looked more grown-up–womanly.

She was still a little sore, but in a way that she liked; it reminded her of what they’d done. It had been messy and a little embarrassing, but mostly really good, if not exactly what she’d imagined.

What if everyone could tell what she and August had done? It seemed so obvious to her. Her eyes looked brighter, and she couldn’t stop blushing and smiling stupidly every time she thought about it.

“I don’t care if they know.”

She laughed again and smoothed her hair, which was pulled back into a loose chignon, leaving only a few wisps free. Britt’s necklace and the charm bracelet were odd accessories, but she would never consider removing them. They would have to do.

August had chosen the dress for her, and he’d helped lace her it before kissing her thoroughly. He’d apologized for having arrangements to make and told her to come find him when she was ready. She only needed to put on the sequined mask. It fit over the upper half of her face, not doing much to really disguise her–but it did give her an exotic air.

She gave herself one last look. The high color in her cheeks suited her, and she looked happy–truly happy–which she hadn’t felt since she’d been thrown into this madhouse. A small voice in the back of her mind whispered the once unthinkable thought that maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad if she stayed. For a while. If she wanted to.

But that was far too deep a thought to dwell on now. Clio took a long breath and released everything but her excitement to see August and enjoy the party. She was going to have some real fun tonight.

The party was in full swing when she arrived. All of the rooms that opened onto the garden were filled with revelers in fancy dress; there were far more people than Clio had seen all at once in any part of the Gauntlet. Music and conversation flowed energetically around her.

She moved from room to room, saying hello to the few people she knew well enough to discern behind the masks. She kept an eye out for August, but found Chance first. He wasn’t in costume at all.

She nodded and tried to move away, but surprisingly he stopped her.

“Did you just get here?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said shortly.

He had the nerve to seem a little surprised at her abruptness. Clio reminded herself that he had no way of knowing she’d overhead his argument with August.

She cleared her throat. “Enjoying yourself?” she managed.

She already knew the answer, but his pained expression made her lips twitch a bit, anyway.

“You could try, you know,” she offered magnanimously. She was still in a spectacular mood, so she wouldn’t let him ruin it. “Talk. Smile. It’s not that hard.”

“I’m talking to you, aren’t I?” He did smile then–only slightly and for a split second, but she was struck again by how much that simple thing changed his whole appearance.

Clio frowned. She didn’t get him at all.

“Well,” she offered at last, “don’t strain yourself.”

“Are you all right?” He was staring at her way too intensely, and she shifted in discomfort.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “Great, actually.” She raised her eyebrow at him. “You’re the one acting off.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. You’re being all…” Clio floundered, “…nice.”

The hint of a smirk was back, erasing the softer smile. That was more like it. Clio relaxed.

“How inconsiderate of me to confuse you,” he muttered.

Clio bit her cheek to stifle the laugh that threatened to slip out. She was still pissed after what she’d heard him say about her.

He’s not your friend, she reminded herself.

She lifted her chin and surveyed the room. “Have you seen August?”

The smirk vanished from his face. “No,” he said thinly.

That was interesting. She wondered if they’d shared more words.

“Well,” she offered. “I’m going to find him.”

Chance was silent. Clio turned away without another word, stung again by his obvious disapproval.

“Clio, wait.” His hand closed around her wrist.

She snapped her head up at him. “What?”

But he was looking over her shoulder. She craned her neck and saw August across the room, surrounded by a cluster of partygoers. His golden mask was shaped like spread wings. She tried to pull away, but Chance held on.

“Clio…”

She huffed. “What is it?” she snapped. She was at the end of her patience with him.

“Remember the bridge we went to?”

“Uh, yeah. That was, like, two days ago.”

“It’s on my regular patrol route.”

“Okaaay…”

He seemed done with the conversation, because he let go of her arm and looked over her shoulder again. Before she could turn around, an arm slid around her waist, and August was at her side.

“Doesn’t Clio look beautiful this evening?” His smile charmed her all over again.

“She does,” Chance agreed readily.

Clio shot him a surprised glance.

August gave Chance a disparaging once-over. “You’re not wearing what I picked out for you.”

“I’d worry that it hurts my chances in the Best Dressed Contest tonight, but I know you always award that to yourself.”

Clio stifled a snort, but August laughed freely. He ran a hand down the front of his white, gold-buttoned jacket with ridiculously ornate epaulettes.

“I’m glad to see you in a better mood,” he drawled. “You’ve been boring as hell lately.”

Chance let out a breath. “I’ve been told I should try harder to enjoy myself.” His gaze slid to Clio a second, then, in a move reminiscent of August’s theatrics, he bowed. “I think I’ll go practice by the vodka.”

August grinned and spun Clio around to face him. “I thought he’d never leave,” he teased as he drew her onto the dance floor. She beamed and quickened her steps.

August swung her to the music until she was laughing breathlessly. She was beginning to see what he found so appealing about the spectacle of it all.

The food and drink and music seemed better than any before. Clio’s customary shyness melted away. With August there to charm everyone, she couldn’t help but feel charming herself.

“You sure know how to throw a party,” she complimented, making a stab at a little curtsy. “This is fantastic.”

“I like to think so.” He spun her out into the garden, taking her from the heat of the crowded indoors. She leaned against the edge of a small fountain to cool down.

He gripped her chin. “Now we can have a little privacy,” he said with a hum. “Did you miss me earlier?”

“Yeah,” Clio replied honestly. “It was the longest hour of my life.”

“I knew it would be. I should’ve warned you that I’m addictive.”

Her giggle was cut off by a kiss, though it didn’t last long as their masks kept colliding. They ended up laughing instead.

“Probably for the best,” he commented. “Because I have some news for you, and I shouldn’t let myself get distracted.”

Clio straightened. “News? About Britt?” Clio hardly dared to get her hopes up, but August was smiling. “Did you find her?!”

“Let’s play a game,” August said with a teasing smile.

“What kind of game?”

“A classic–hide-and-seek. An old acquaintance of yours is hiding somewhere at the party, in plain sight if you know how to look. You get to find her.” August snapped his fingers. “Oops! Shouldn’t have let that little clue slip.”

Clio’s hands flew to her mouth. “Is she really here?” she breathed. “Can I look for her now?!”

August flashed his palms. “Wait, wait. If you find her before midnight, when we unmask, then I’ll grant you one wish. If you don’t, then you’ll grant me one.”

“August!” Clio threw her arms around August and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you so much!”

He let her go with an indulgent smile.

Clio ran back inside and pushed her way through the crowded rooms, keeping her head high to spot Britt more easily. She was taller than most of the people there–even the guys.

As Clio went through each room without success, the crush of bodies became frustrating rather than fun. Maybe Britt was circulating, too, and Clio just hadn’t caught up yet? She considered staying in one place for a while, but she was too impatient to just stand still and watch.

When she circled back to the garden, she poked her head out. August had disappeared.

So much for teasing out another clue.

Clio slid into a narrow hallway that connected to the next room and stood on tiptoe to crane her neck around. A hum of excitement grew around her, and she realized that midnight was about to chime. She pushed through a knot of people, not really caring if she lost the game–but she was tired of it and desperately wanted to see her friend.

As a clock chimed somewhere, she made it to another room: a small, intimate salon with low couches and dim lamps. It didn’t seem familiar, and a strange chill ran over her when she stepped inside. Her eyes caught on something.

Her eyes widened.

She didn’t see Britt, but she did see August wrapped up with some girl in a silver dress on one of the low sofas. The woman had a diamond tiara perched in the middle of blonde, piled curls.

Clio’s head reeled, and the room spun with it. A sudden, sickening revulsion twisted her stomach.

No. No. This wasn’t–couldn’t be–happening.

They didn’t notice her until she made some inarticulate sound, and August looked up, mask askew. He pulled it off and tossed it away. It landed in the lap of a girl sitting next to them on the sofa, but she didn’t react.

The girl who’d had her tongue down August’s throat looked up, though. Angela took off her mask with a vindictive little smile, her eyes shining with triumph.

August flashed his perfect teeth. “Clio…right on time. Oh, wait a second–it’s 12:01. You lose.”

“Where is she?” Clio asked dully, suppressing the flood of hurt and loathing she was afraid to even acknowledge. “Where’s Britt?”

“Oh, she’s not here. You assumed that.”

“But you said–”

“I said you could find an old acquaintance here this evening,” August interrupted. “It wasn’t a lie.”

Clio’s fingers curled. “Why?” she breathed, unable to keep herself from voicing the trite, pathetic question.

“Because it was fun.” August chuckled. “And because you have something I want. Of course, you were a stupid little girl and gave away part of it. It’s no good to me if it’s not the complete set.” He twisted one of Angela’s gold ringlets around his finger. “I needed something to pass the time while I was working to find it. You owed me that much, really.”

Clio swallowed down the pain. “My bracelet.”

“Of course. Though, don’t sell yourself short. I enjoyed every last inch of you, Clio.”

His mocking smile made her skin crawl. She felt the onslaught of hot, furious tears ready to spill over, but she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to give him that, too. She had to focus.

“Then you found it,” she said slowly. “The heart charm?”

August glanced to the silent, motionless girl on the sofa.

Clio’s eyes widened. She knew the face under that mask. Ice raced through her veins.

“Lilah,” she breathed.

“Time to unmask.” August reached over and peeled away the woman’s mask, revealing Lilah’s round face. Clio moaned.

Lilah’s once sharp eyes were unfocused, unseeing. Her jaw was slack. All of the brash, annoying personality was completely smoothed out of her face.

“Oh…oh, God,” Clio said hoarsely. She backed up one step, two, until she bumped into a body that she knew was Sunshine’s. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Lilah.

“What did you do to her?” Clio whispered.

“Don’t worry.” August smiled and rose to his feet as Sunshine pulled Clio’s arms behind her back. “You’ll find out.”

Continued in Chapter 8.

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