Chapter 20

The past week has been my best since coming to Trinity. I didn’t expect for a second that the guys would give me my week of peace, but they not only adhered to the rules by leaving me alone, I didn’t even see them around campus. And I looked, believe me.

I spent the whole of this week studying in the library, attending my lectures and working out in the gym. I wanted to take Hector up on his offer of training, but I didn’t see him once all week. I was oddly disappointed by that, but I distracted myself by exploring all that the campus has to offer. Namely, its nightlife.

I’ve never been a big party girl, but it turns out that some of the girls in the flat above mine are, and they sure know how to have a good time. I thought they’d just party on the weekends – and maybe Thirsty Thursday too – but those bitches had me out dancing and drinking every single night.

Unbelievably, it was a whole week without drama, and just what I needed.

Unfortunately, as I walk back into my room after my final lecture for the week, the sight of my mobile phone and watch lying on my bed remind me that it’s sadly over.

Sighing, I dump my bag at the foot of my bed and reach for my phone. I’m surprised when I catch the screen and it lights up, showing a fully charged battery.

A second later a text comes through.

Axel: Second challenge is tomorrow night. Someone will pick you up at nine. Dress for somewhere hot and a long night on your feet.

I guess being picked up at nine is better than being abducted and dragged off to a forest at midnight, but I have no idea what to expect. Somewhere hot? A long night? I hope not all of the challenges involve me fleeing for my life under the cover of darkness, whatever the weather.

Deciding that I won’t spend half of my weekend stressing about what’s to come, I pull the girls’ numbers from my purse. They were incredulous when I explained that I’d misplaced my phone but that I was sure it would turn up, and had written their numbers on paper for me. They didn’t expect me to see it again, assuring me that a lost phone on campus was a meal ticket for anyone in the right mind.

I pointed out that everyone here was supposed to be crazy rich, but their argument was ‘free is free’ and that’s how rich people stay rich. Whatever. I couldn’t say the three most feared and respected guys on campus had my phone for the week without answering all kinds of awkward questions, so I just gave them a pragmatic little hop of my shoulder and a mysterious smile.

Now, with my phone returned to me, I take a minute to input all of their numbers into my phone and set up a group message.

Odile: Hey, got my phone back. Are we out, out tonight?

Their replies are instantaneous, making me smile. This is what I need. Some girlfriends.

Lou: Absolutely!

Steph: Fuck yeah!

Lucy: I’ll be the one in black.

Jess: I could come out for a drink or two but I have to finish this essay first.

After some back and forth messaging, a plan is hatched that we’re going to get the bus into town and party off campus tonight. I’m excited to see what Black Hallows has to offer, and I’m glad that I’ll be away from the watchful eyes of The Father, Son and Spirit. Clearly them returning my phone is a message that my time alone is over.

But they haven’t summoned me until tomorrow, so I’m going to finish the week with a bang.

Determined to look and feel amazing, I take my time getting ready. I choose a high necked, long sleeved black bodycon dress which is short and backless. There’s a slight shimmer to the slinky material that will catch the lights in the club. My tattoo is safely hidden, and I’m happy about it. The girls from the flat upstairs know who I am, but we’ve not talked about it. I’ve caught their curious gazes throughout the week, but none of them have been brave enough to ask, and I’ve not volunteered any information on the topic of The Doe tattoo. I pin my long, curled locks up to show off the back of the dress better, and slip my feet into strappy black sandals.

Earlier, I even took the time to paint my nails a shocking blood red that matches my lipstick. It’s a fierce shade, aptly named Fuck You and it makes me feel all kinds of badass.

More so than the blade strapped to my thigh.

No more hesitating. If I need to use it, I will.

Which also reminds me to ask at the gym if they run any sort of self-defence classes. I want to keep up my training. Maybe I can ask Hector for some one-on-one lessons. I wouldn’t mind grappling with him. He’s cute.

Okay, that’s a lie. He’s absolutely panty-meltingly smoking hot, and the first guy I’ve really been attracted to since…well, in a long time. But I definitely wouldn’t go there. Not with all my baggage and unresolved history. Probably. Maybe. If I’d had a few drinks.

Frantic banging on the main door to my dorm announces the girls from upstairs’ arrival. I grab my wristlet bag, which is just big enough to hold my bank card and cash as well as my room key and lipstick, then make my way out.

“Hurry up!” The girls scream through the door when they see me coming down the hallway through the glass. I grin at them.

“Alright, alright! Don’t get your knickers in a twist!” I grumble back with a smile on my face.

“Not wearing any!” Steph yells with a wink as I open the door.

“Trollop,” I tease, sticking my tongue out at her.

“The bestest, most trollopiest trollop in town, bitch.”

She links her arm through mine and the smell of booze hits me hard in the face.

“Jeez, have you been preloading?”

“Told you to get ready with us, but nooooooo, you wanted to be Miss Independent.”

Internally, I cringe. I’m just not used to having friends. Well, friends outside of The Holy Trinity. By the time they left I’d alienated myself from pretty much everyone at school, and I was so heartbroken – and later traumatised – that I wasn’t interested in getting close to anyone. And then I disappeared altogether. I wonder if anyone cared, or even noticed. Even now I feel like this last week has been a dream. I can’t believe these girls want to be my friend. I thought maybe they had seen me with the Trinity and wanted an in, but honestly, they’ve barely even mentioned the guys, and they haven’t grilled me on them at all. It’s been nice.

I just hope that Axel doesn’t scare them away. It would be nice to have friends again. This past week has really highlighted how lonely I’ve been feeling, despite coming to Trinity to study for my dream degree. I guess a girl can’t live in isolation forever. Well, not staying sane anyway.

I let them drag me off campus to the nearest bus stop which will take us into town. A short, raucous ride later we arrive in Black Hallows town centre. The ladies guide me through the streets, all while telling me I need to get out more, and we arrive at our first bar, P’s. From the outside, it’s a new brick built place that’s designed to look like a converted stable.

Stepping inside is like going back in time to a Tudor barn. The walls are painted a warm cream, the wooden beams are distressed dark wood and the lighting is made up of enormous wrought iron wheel chandeliers which house flickering bulbs made to look like candles. It should be tacky, but it’s not. Thick, sumptuous, oversized rugs define the different seating areas which are made up of a mismatch of cosy armchairs and chaises, an open fire roars down the far end of the long room and a huge bar runs down the length of the entire left hand side of the space. I really like the relaxed, laid-back vibes this place has, and as the girls walk me through the busy tables to a spot near the fire, I pass several console tables laden with huge vases overflowing with my favourite flowers.

I stop to smell them, appreciating their perfume and the memories the scent evokes for me before the girls call me over and shove a cocktail menu into my hand. I scan the matte black menu with fancy gold calligraphy searching for something to drink that I’ve heard of. None of the cocktails are ones I’m familiar with. I mean, what the fuck is yuzu?

“Have you guys been here before?” I ask. “Can you recommend anything?”

“Oh yeah, we come here all the time before we’re ready to party. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but it does the best drinks,” Steph replies.

“I like the Jasmine and Elderflower Mojito,” Jess tells me.

“But you can’t beat the house signature cocktail,” Lucy adds. “If you’re not sure what to go for, get one of those.”

“Okay, order me that then.”

“Don’t you want to know what’s in it?” Jess wrinkles her nose in concern.

“Nope. I’m being wild tonight,” I say with a laugh.

“Okay, I’ll go to the bar and order. Save my seat.” Lou sashays off to the bar. I suspect her helpfulness in ordering our drinks has nothing to do with being a good friend, and everything to do with the sexy bartender who’s flair cocktailing to a considerable audience.

Lou is back in no time at all, a triumphant grin on her face as she sinks back into her seat.

“That was quick,” Steph says with a wink. “A record maybe.”

“For getting drinks?” I frown in confusion and the girls laugh.

“No. For getting a guy’s number,” Lou replies with a smirk. “That bartender is too hot for his own good, he’s going to meet us later.”

The girls all fall into excited chatter about their plans for our night as we wait for our drinks to arrive.

“Who ordered the woodsmoke?” The server asks, arriving with a tray laden with cocktails. She retrieves a tall, smoking glass and places it in front of Lou when she claims it as hers.

“The pool party?”

“Mine!” Jess calls, claiming a bright blue concoction in a sleek martini glass.

“I have one Black Death Falls.”

“Mine,” Lucy takes the black shimmering potion that’s served in a test tube.

“And finally I have two signature peonies.”

“What?” I blink, thinking I must have heard her wrong.

“Is that not what you ordered?” The waitress pales. “I’m so sorry, I’ll just—”

“No, no, that’s fine. It’s right. Two signature cocktails,” Steph quickly interjects.

“The Peony.”

“They’re ours. She didn’t know what it was called. Sorry for the confusion.”

“Oh, no worries. I’m just glad I didn’t mess the order up. Here you go.” She places two bud vases filled with pale pink shimmering liquid down on the table, along with two intricate peony flowers which look edible.

“Are those sugar?” I gasp.

“Yeah. Try the cocktail without the flower first.”

I do and am overwhelmed by a bitter citrus fruit taste. I pull a face. “And you guys recommended this?”

“Put your flower in the vase,” Steph says, watching me with a smile.

Again, I follow her instructions and within seconds the stem seems to absorb some of the pink liquid in the glass, turning the pale pink sugar petals a deep, dark burgundy.

“Wow that’s awesome,” I murmur.

“Tap the glass carefully on the table, like this.” I watch Steph and as she taps the bottom of the vase, the petals of the flower disintegrate into the glass. She swirls it around, dissolving the sugar into the shimmering pink liquid, leaving only the light green stem behind, which I realise is really a straw protruding from the glass.

“Shit, that’s amazing!” I quickly do the same with my own drink, marvelling at the almost magical way the sugar reacts to the liquor.

“Now taste it.”

“Oh my god,” I groan, taking a sip. The floral sugar perfectly balances the tartness of the fruit, and I swear I can taste the smell of peonies.

“Good, right. Now you know why we said to try it.”

“I love this place. Peonies are my favourite flower,” I admit, sipping my drink. The others grin at me. “What?”

“This place is called Peony’s. Or just P’s for short.”

I sit in stunned silence, sipping my drink slowly to avoid suspicion. My mind is reeling. It has to be a coincidence, but I’m not entirely sure I believe in those. Glancing over the cocktail menu again, I become convinced that there’s no such thing. Every single innocently named drink has ties to my childhood. From references to my favourite foods, films and colour, to places around town and milestone events I experienced with the boys.

But this can’t be their bar. That would be insane. What twenty-something-year-olds can own and run a venue this successful?

There’s no denying that the signature cocktail is a mean drink though.

“Shall we move on to Trinity’s?” Lucy asks some time and several drinks later.

“Erm, what’s Trinity’s?” I ask.

“Only the hottest club in Black Hallows. It’s a converted church,” Lou gushes.

“Cathedral,” Jess corrects her.

“What’s the difference?”

“One’s bigger and a lot more important,” she replies, laughing.

I’m feeling a whole lot lighter thanks to the alcohol coursing through my veins and I don’t even baulk at the name of the club or the fact that it’s a church…cathedral…whatever. Maybe I’ve drunk too much, but if The Holy Trinity have also managed to set up a nightclub in town, freaking out about it isn’t going to change the facts.

I just hope I don’t see them tonight. It would definitely ruin my buzz.