Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

WILLEM

There was never anything as extravagant as the balls the Vaunteros threw.

Every season they outdid themselves, and this one was no different. The outside of The Pemberley hotel was amazing. It matched the exterior of the castle in style with the beige walls and red terra-cotta shingles over the roof. Orange lights and leaf archways were hung around the exterior. Fake spiderwebs covered the front of the castle along with giant foam black spiders. Bright green lights shined up at the hotel, and fog crept over the ground all around it.

Residents of the Island all strolled the grounds between the hotel and the castle in their best masquerade costumes. Some wore gowns with gloves up to their elbows like Zita. She was elegant in a burgundy gown with matching satin gloves that went all the way up to her elbows. She wore a lace mask that sat perfectly around her eyes and across her nose. Flowers wound up her dress and all through her mask. Her chocolate eyes were lined with dark eyeliner, making them look even bigger than they normally would. Her thick hair was piled high on top of her head, and she pinned more flowers there.

She grabbed the side of her dress and held it up as we walked up to the entrance of the hotel. "Are you sure I'm not overdressed?"

"I happen to think you make an excellent Persephone." I offered her my arm.

"You're not a bad Hades." She took my arm and looked me up and down. "I particularly like the black leather vest."

"I never pictured Hades as a white toga kind of Greek God. He's the God of the Underworld. Things should be a little dark, so I figured a black vest, a black shirt, some black pants, boots, and a cape worked."

She nodded. "The helm is pretty great."

I held up the fake helm. It looked like an old soldier's helmet from the Greek and Roman times. It was gold with a strip of metal down the middle to protect my nose and two sharper pieces coming down from the cheeks. "Yeah, Mom helped make this one."

"I love your family." She chuckled. "They're too much like mine."

"So very true."

We made our way into the ballroom, and my eyes didn't know which way to go. White walls with shiny gold trim and hardwood floors were a classic combination, then add on the dim candlelight flickering and I found myself growing more comfortable with my surroundings. Fall leaves magically fell from the ceiling, then disappeared before they littered the floor. Carved pumpkins were placed throughout the hotel in small arrangements with candlelight flickering within their carved faces. Fake spiderwebs hung in all the corners and around the pillars. Tiny fake spiders glided down on their webs, then climbed back up as though they'd been trained to do so. Bespelled brooms magically swept over the floors as bats flew in a pack from one room to the other.

"Wow." Zita's voice was breathless with awe. "This is fantastic."

Music drifted through the room, and everyone danced and swayed out on the dance floor. The rest of my family filtered in around us. They were all decked out in their own personal take on the Greek Gods. My father grabbed my mother's hand and led her toward the dance floor. They didn't even wave goodbye. They each had golden olive branch crowns over their hair and long flowing togas draped around their bodies. They left us all standing there, and I chuckled and shook my head.

"They still got it."

Zita nodded and smirked. "It's the best way to be."

I glanced around and my eyes caught sight of a pink parrot flying just over the dance floor. Indi. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Yes, I'd love that." She smiled but her eyes didn't turn to me. They were locked on the décor, and I couldn't blame her for being captivated by it.

"I'll be right back." I turned away and started to weave my way through the crowd.

Indi flew through the crowd, and I watched her duck behind a curtain by the window. There was a flash of light, and she emerged from just behind them. Her pink hair was long and flowing down her back. She wore a tiny black dress that had a tight top with ribbons down the back. Her skirt was short and loose around her hips that moved with every step. Black silk gloves covered her arms up to her elbows and she wore a pointy witch's hat. As she moved through the crowd, I could hardly keep my eyes off her. Her lips were so smooth and pink, and each time she saw an interesting costume they twitched with the need to smile.

As she walked through the crowd, people danced all around her. Dawson and his new wife, Pickles the siren, were dressed for a wedding, which was fitting since they'd apparently eloped last night at the zombie crawl. They laughed and spun around as though nothing else in the world mattered. Two little Vauntero children ran through all the people. One was dressed as Lilo and the other as a bright-blue stitch. Their laughter was almost infectious. Indi stopped short just as they ran right in front of her.

Jimbo hurried up to her, and I nearly turned around and went the other way. The family decided to be Greek Gods, but no, my grandfather wore a chicken suit complete with feathers—feathers that littered the floor as he moved. He grabbed Indi's hand and spun her around. Her pink hair fanned out around her, and she threw her head back laughing. Then he let her hand go and ran in a different direction. She shook her head and kept on moving.

I wanted just to talk to her for a moment, just to say something. I took a step but bumped into someone. I cursed and froze. "Oh, excuse me."

When I looked up, I was standing right in front of Mateo Vauntero. He was dressed as Prince Charming from Cinderella with a pressed coat with gold buttons and red pants. His black shoes were polished to a bright shine. "Will, I wasn't sure if you'd make it."

"I saw you at Boo at the Zoo," I pointed out.

He pressed his lips together and arched one eyebrow. "Right. But we know you . . ."

While everyone else seemed joyful to be here, Mateo seemed almost annoyed about it. "Something bothering you?"

He groaned. "I really don't want to talk about it."

I raised my eyebrows. Usually Mateo was more than personable, so his costume was fitting because he oozed charm. But tonight he was downright surly. I pursed my lips. There was only one thing that could get a man so wound up. I wasn't going to ask though.

"I understand." I glanced in Indi's direction, captivated by how she moved and interacted with everyone.

He followed my gaze for a moment. "Perhaps."

"Excuse me. I have to just?—"

"I bet you do." He waved me away, and I couldn't help but drift in her wake.

I ran into another person. This one placed his hands on my arms and held me in place. "Watch it, friend."

I couldn't tell who it was because his face was covered with a black mask and he wore a Zorro costume. "Oh, pardon me?—"

"Will?"

I narrowed my eyes at the familiar face. "Monroe?"

"Yeah." A smile spread over his face. "I'm surprised you're still here."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because you leave the Island just as fast as you show up here," he grumbled.

I glanced around him. At the same time, he glanced around me, then we looked at each other. "Who are you looking for?"

"Who are you looking for?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"No one." I didn't want to let him know I was watching Indi and just wanted to talk to her.

"I'm looking for Chip," he admitted honestly.

"The siren?" I'd heard that Monroe was in a bit of a standoff with the siren.

He nodded and turned to look the other way. "I gotta go."

"Um, okay."

He didn't respond. He just walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

It seemed everyone had relationship problems. I didn't know if I found comfort in knowing that I wasn't the only one or if I felt bad for all of us. There was a flash of pink and I found Indi standing next to the punch bowl on the other side of the room. I made my way toward it, adrenaline pumping through my body. I didn't know why I was nervous or what I would say. But even though we agreed to just be friends and try not to make things awkward, we were failing miserably.

I walked up to the table. "Hey."

Hey? So very smooth, Will. Great.

She whirled around and her smile faltered for a split second. "Will . . . hey."

"Great costume." I wanted to kick myself. Why couldn't I just say what I wanted to say? I hated the awkwardness. I missed her. She was stuck in my mind. But no, all I came up with was great costume .

She smirked and ran her hand over her black skirt. "Wicked Witch of the West suits me . . . I think?"

"Wasn't she green?"

"I think creative liberty allows me to skip the green skin?" she teased.

"And I'm the great Oz." Daniel stepped in next to her and grabbed a cup from the table. His costume matched hers perfectly. He wore a black suit with tails, a green vest, a top hat, and green gloves.

I nodded toward him. "Yeah, it looks . . . good."

The truth was that I had nothing against Daniel except the fact that he had Indi. He seemed like a steady and reliable guy. And he was older, which I knew she'd appreciate. It might've stung just a little, or more than a little.

Daniel moved in closer to her. "We thought so."

Someone stake me now.Is that even a thing? Can a real vampire die from a stake to the heart? I shook myself. Yet another thing for me to ask my family later.

"Oh, there you are." Zita walked up to me and put her hand in the crook of my elbow.

Even though we were in a fake relationship thing, it was almost a relief to have her with me. Standing here with my ex and her new boyfriend was not what I'd planned. "Hey, I was just heading back to you."

She winked up at me. "Good thing I found you then."

We stared at each other for a minute before Indi cleared her throat to get our attention. "Zita, have you been formally introduced to my boyfriend, Daniel? Daniel, this is Zita."

Daniel extended his hand toward her, and they met in the middle. His eyes lingered on her features, and he gave an awkward smile. "Zita, it's nice to meet you. Officially."

"You as well." The corner of her lip pulled up into a half-smile.

The music changed to an older song that was not of this time. It was from centuries ago when the Victorian era was a time of balls and choreographed dancing. I swayed to the introduction.

"I love this song," Indi and I said at the same time.

Daniel looked at the two of us, then took her hand. "Then we must dance, shall we?"

"Of course." She glanced at me before walking away with him.

When they were out of earshot, Zita leaned in closer. "You can't just let them take the song. Come on. Let's do it."

"You know this one?" The dance was difficult and intricate.

"I was only trapped for ten years. I haven't been living under a rock." She rolled her eyes and took my hand. "Lead the way, Hades."

I swallowed hard and guided her toward the dance floor and found an open spot. The music picked up and we all took our partners. I placed my hand on Zita's waist, and we turned in time to the music. We swayed and moved. I spun her in one direction, then the other. We traded places and then the ladies in the dance spun away and took the partner to their right. The melody repeated and another woman was in my arms.

"Will, you look great." Pickles beamed. She looked radiantly happy in her big white wedding dress.

"Thank you." I didn't feel great. But she took my words at face value, and when she spun away, I barely had a second to register who my next partner was before her pink hair and pink eyes were right in front of me.

" Will ," Indi whispered, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

" Indi ." I took her waist in one hand and held her delicate, gloved hand in the other.

Everything about her overwhelmed me. The way her body moved to the music, the way her eyes held mine, the way I knew her lips would feel . . . it all captivated me. Fire shot down my spine and pooled deep in my stomach. I wanted her. I wanted her just much as I wanted her ten years ago, perhaps even more so now. Energy sizzled between us, and I couldn't look away. I didn't want to let her go to the next partner. Not in this dance, and not in life. How does she not see this thing between us? How does she not feel the sizzle?

This close, it was obvious to me. We swayed and moved to the music, and it was as if everyone else in the room fell away. There was no one here with us, and for a second, I was reminded of the quiet times we'd spent together in each other's arms. There was no other time or place I ever wanted to be, and now that connection flared back to life. I felt it . . . She had to as well.

She sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes widened. She took a step back from me and bumped into the person behind her. She looked around with wild eyes, like she was a caged animal about to bolt. "I, um . . . I need to get some air."

She darted toward the door leading out back, and I followed her through the crowd. She moved so quickly that if I hadn't been a vampire now, I wouldn't have been able to keep up. She pushed through the back doors and out into the crisp night air. I shut them behind me and hurried after her.

" Indi, stop. Please."

She froze and spun around to face me. "What, Will?"

I shifted from one foot to the other. "I just?—"

"You just what, Will?" She threw her arms up and let them smack back down on her thighs.

Frustration ate at me, and I couldn't hold it in anymore. The words burst from my mouth. "How can you just walk around pretending?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and her brow wrinkled with anger. "Pretending what?"

"Pretending like there isn't something between us," I hissed and motioned between her and me. "You walk around acting like nothing ever happened. Which yeah, okay. Fine. You want to pretend like the past is just left in the past, but it's not. It's here in the present. I know you feel it because I feel it too!"

She shook her head. "Just stop, Will."

"No, you need to stop lying to me and to yourself." I knew I was saying too much. I knew she'd only be angry at me, but I couldn't take this anymore. Seeing her and not being able to just be with her was enough to drive a person mad.

"I am not lying to myself," she growled.

"Then tell me you feel nothing." I glared at her. "Tell me that every time we're near each other you can't feel this fire that I feel."

She shook her head and pink strands of her hair fell around her face. Unshed tears glistened in her dark eyes. "Enough, Will."

But it wasn't enough. "Why won't you just give this a try? Give us a try."

"We did try. Ten years ago. And nothing has changed." She shook her head.

"I have changed. I'm thirty years old!" I threw my arms out to my sides.

"And that still makes me older. I'm forty now, Will."

"Look at me, Indi. Really look at me. Your reasons no longer apply." I pointed to her. "And you're just running scared."

"Scared! I am not scared of anything." She slashed her arms through the air. "And I am not here for you or anyone else. I'm here for my sister. We didn't work back then, so why would we work now?"

I took a step toward her, and she stepped back and shook her head.

"No." She held her hand out. "I am done talking about this."

She began to walk away, and when I tried to follow her, she whirled around and jabbed her finger in my face. "I'm leaving now. Don't follow me."