PARTY CRASHER

I already knew I was a disastrous dancer, thanks to the iPod ankle-​spraining fiasco, but Lend and I threw caution and self-​consciousness to the wind, flailing around in the middle of the floor with everyone else.

Lend pulled me out for more pictures. “Let's just do a classic pose, okay?” he asked as we waited for the couple's picture.

I shrugged. I didn't know what he meant, and I didn't care as long as we got the photos. Like I said, I wanted proof. We stood next to each other, his arms around my waist. Then, right when the picture was about to be taken, Lend dipped me, putting one hand behind my head and kissing me full on the lips. I was so surprised I would've fallen over if he hadn't been holding me so tightly. As soon as the flash went off he pulled me back up.

“You dork!” I smacked him in the shoulder, laughing. “That's going to be the weirdest picture ever.”

“Told you I was going to mess up your makeup,” he said, a smug grin on his face.

“Yeah, speaking of which, now I have to go to the bathroom and reapply my lipstick.” I reached out and ran my thumb along his bottom lip. “It's a good shade for you, though.”

“You have lipstick here?” he asked, confused since I hadn't brought a purse.

“Oh, never underestimate the ingenuity of a girl in figuring out where to pack necessities.” As much as I hated to leave him, I was determined to look hot all night.

“Aren't you going to ask someone to go with you?”

“To the bathroom? Why?”

“Girls never go to the bathroom by themselves.”

“I'll try not to be too lonely in the ten seconds it'll take me to finish.”

He smiled. “Meet you by the drink table.” He put his arms around me, pulling me in close. “Hurry,” he whispered, then let me go.

I practically floated to the bathroom. A couple of other girls were in there, giggling about their dates and gossiping about who was wearing what trashy dress. I pulled the lipstick out of my bra. Being flat had its advantages in added storage space.

Retouched to perfection, I walked back to the gym and looked for Lend. As I made my way around the dark edges of the gym, I scanned them for potential trouble.

Rolling my eyes, I laughed. Tonight there were no vampires or faeries or crazy burning girls. As far as this high school was concerned, none of those things even existed. Lend waved to me from the drink table and, for the first time in years, I felt all the tension melt from my body.

Just as I reached him, a slow song started. We moved to the dance floor and swayed like everyone else. “You know,” he said, leaning in so closely his lips were on my ear, “I might lose all my masculine credit forever for saying this, but I'm pretty sure tonight is perfect.”

“Me, too.” If it were possible to die of happiness, you could have written my obituary right then.

After a couple minutes of the swaying, Lend shook his head. “We can do better than this.” He took my hand in his and began dancing us through the crowds in a bizarre imitation of the tango. As he dipped me backward, I saw John and Carlee, dancing so close you'd be hard-​pressed to slip a sheet of paper between them.

Lend pulled me back up and grinned mischievously. “You thinking what I'm thinking?”

As one we charged forward, using our outstretched hands like a wedge to break them apart. Carlee laughed and John jumped on Lend's back, trying to give him a noogie.

“Boys, honestly,” I said, giggling.

“May I cut in?” a voice like liquid gold murmured in my ear. My spine stiffened as my stomach clenched with fear, and before I could scream a slender hand took mine and spun me away through the crowd. I tried to pull back but we were twirling impossibly fast, the room around us a blur as a sea of faces swirled around me. Reth's arms around me were like steel bands.

“Lend!” I shouted, only keeping my balance because of Reth's too-​strong hand on my back. In a glimpse I saw Lend, his face a picture of panic as he tried to fight through the mass of dresses and tuxedos to get to us. Silk and sequins made a rainbow curtain, hiding him from my sight once again as Reth slid expertly through the bodies around us. Humanity, as always, provided no protection from him.

We broke through the edge of the crowd and Reth danced us straight through a faerie door and away from everything I had ever wanted.

“Evelyn, my love. Finally we dance.” He dipped me back, pulling my body right up against his in the infinite darkness. I closed my eyes, my head spinning, as I willed myself not to cry. Why couldn't I have remembered to shove some dry bread in my bra along with the lipstick? Or an iron pipe?

Why did I let myself think I could be normal?

“Take me back,” I said, pushing myself as far away from him as possible, hating that I had to keep hold of his hand in the Paths.

“Oh, come now. We haven't spoken in so long. I'm sorry about that, really. I meant to visit, but you were sleeping in a nasty iron bed and that watery witch was rather vigilant. But I've managed to keep busy with our old friends at IPCA. So many social calls to make thanks to you and your wonderful words.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice flat to avoid betraying the rising panic. What had I done? I thought of my words from that night--commanding him to take a new name. That would keep IPCA from bossing him around anymore, but I didn't see how that would free him completely. Then I remembered the other command: ignore what IPCA told you. I wanted to throw up as the full weight of my words hit me. No doubt he took it to mean ignore every command IPCA ever gave him, including all those don't-​harm-​people rules. “Oh, no,” I whispered, horrified. “What have you done?”

He smiled, his teeth brilliant white in the darkness, and took several steps. I resisted, but he dragged me along, and then we were in a meadow that wasn't really a meadow. The edges were hazy, indefinite, and the cheery yellow sky felt far too close. Grass and small pink flowers were set in whorls and patterns, the whole place a mocking picture of tranquility.

“There.” Two chairs appeared and he sat in one, gesturing for me to do the same. “Now that you're safe and sound, we can finish.”

“Oh, I'm finished.” I folded my arms tightly across my chest. “How many of them did you kill?”

He frowned. “Who did I kill?”

“IPCA. How many did you kill? Did you kill Raquel? Is that how Vivian got her communicator?” I was shouting now, so angry with him I didn't care what happened. I wanted him to get mad; I was tired of his smug smile.

“Goodness, Evelyn, listen to you. I've simply helped them into an early retirement of sorts. I didn't kill anyone. Why would you want me to do a thing like that?”

“I don't want you to! Why should I believe you, after you let Vivian into the Center! Are you going to pick her up next? How long have you been working with her?”

He smiled. “Oh, yes, that evening was a nice bit of choreography. But, I assure you, I've not been 'working with her,' as you put it. I needed a new name and you seem to work best under stress. I wouldn't have allowed anything to happen to you. Still, it hasn't been easy, getting involved in the dreary workings of the court again, and you've sorely tried my patience. When we finish, you might stand a chance of justifying my involvement.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “That's really what it was about? All those paranormals died so you could force me into a situation where I'd give you that command?”

“Well, yes. But we've got to move along.”

“Why couldn't you leave me alone? I was fine! You have your stupid new name. Why didn't you just stay in the Faerie Realms?”

“Because they were about to find you, my love. I could only hide your location for so long before they caught on. Vivian is on her way there right now.”

I covered my mouth, shaking my head in horror. “No, she can't--she'll--Take me back! Right now! I've got to warn them!”

Reth sighed, crossing his legs. “They don't matter. And you have yet to be filled.”

“I don't want any more of your disgusting soul!”

He narrowed his eyes, angry. The sky twirled from yellow to nearly black, wind whipping my dress. “My dear girl, you've no idea what I am sacrificing to keep you alive; to secure your eternity. It comes at great cost, and I'm not about to waste all the effort it took to make you by throwing you at Vivian.”

“You--you made me?” It was too horrible to imagine.

“My court made you. We had to have something to balance against theirs, after all.”

“Oh, I know all about your court,” I spat. “And I'm not doing anything for the Unseelie faeries!”

He gave me a puzzled look once again. “What makes you think I'm Unseelie?”

“I'm not stupid! Unseelie faeries are the evil ones!”

“I absolutely agree. Horrid, the lot of them. We would have made you sooner, but we didn't know they had succeeded with Vivian. Still, there's time. If you'll give me your hand.” He stood.

“Never.” I glared at him, so angry I was shaking. “And you forgot something.”

“Oh?” he asked, calmly walking toward me.

“Denfehlath!” I shouted. His eyes went wide with surprise and anger as a door opened next to me and the faerie with ruby eyes walked through.

“What have you done, Evelyn?” he asked.

“Take me to Lend's house!” I said, turning to Fehl. She laughed her shattering-​glass laugh, shooting a look of triumph at Reth.

“There you are.” She took my hand and we jumped through the door. Her steel grasp through the Paths made me nervous. She wasn't annoyed anymore, she was eager. I had to run to keep up. At last another door opened and we came out in Lend's kitchen.

Vivian, in all her fiery glory, sat on the counter, swinging her legs. “Finally!” she said, jumping down. “It's about time! Thanks, Fehl.” I couldn't make out her features under the brightness of her light, but I could hear the smile. I was dead. We were all dead, and once again it was my fault.

I looked at the faerie in horror. She smiled at me. “Oh, bleep,” I whispered. If Reth really was a good faerie, I couldn't imagine what Fehl must be like.

Vivian picked something up off the ground. Before I could react she swung it, barely missing me and smashing it into Fehl's face. Fehl crumpled to the ground. “Iron skillet,” Vivian said cheerfully. “Smart family. So, baby sister, how's it going?”