Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“In the game?” I asked, curious.
“That as well, but because the guys keep playing. After she was duped into it and won, she figured out a way to make demands and never left. She’s very hands-on with making sure everything goes right. She’s a bit of a legend to the others.”
“I didn’t know that,” Lana admitted.
“Neither did I.”
Hayven looked at me, her expression softening. “What do you remember?”
“Not enough,” I replied cryptically, my gaze dropping.
I wasn’t going to say much more in front of Hayven. None of us would. Hayven seemed nice enough, and I did remember her from Judicium, but being nice didn’t make someone trustworthy. We’d already been betrayed by the people who were supposed to love and protect us.
Kinks returned, her bright energy filling the room again as she announced, “It’s time. Come with me and get ready.”
The mood shifted, everyone falling silent as we rose to follow her down the hall. As we passed the pool room, I caught Ky’s eye and felt a wave of déjà vu, the memory of that party flashing through my mind. That wasn’t where we’d first met, but it was the night that set everything into motion.
Kinks led us to a set of double doors, pushing them open and stepping into a luxurious dressing room. We followed her inside, and she shut the doors behind us. The room was stunning, matching the penthouse’s opulence. Various costumes lined the walls, with large mirrors surrounded by bright bulbs reflecting the array of outfits. Velvet curtains hung in the corners, creating private changing areas. Aisha was already inside, waiting for us. I’d wondered where she had rushed off to.
“Uh, what exactly are we preparing for?” Lana asked, glancing around the room, clearly as confused as the rest of us.
Kinks whirled around, her excitement palpable. “For tonight, of course. No one goes to Cirque as themselves. Now, hurry up, ladies! The guys are already antsy, and you don’t want to keep them waiting too long.”
Hayven looked at her, a little uncertain. “How full is this club, and what exactly happens there?”
Kinks grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It’s a playground within the playground, but all mine. You’ll see. Just think of it as the ultimate place to lose yourself and, maybe, find something you didn’t know you were looking for.”
“Alright,” Lana said, stepping forward. “We need to pick something that matches then, but we don’t want to blend in too much. We need to stand out.”
Mel nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the options. “We also need to be practical. I need something with long sleeves to cover this,” she said, pointing to where her bandage was on her chest.
Kinks watched us with a grin, clearly enjoying our indecision. “You’re going to look great in whatever you choose, but you might want to consider these,” she said, pulling out a set of outfits that were variations on a theme: corsets, skirts, thigh-high stockings, and matching accessories. Each one had a unique twist, but together, they formed a cohesive, eye-catching look.
“These could work,” I said, examining one of the corsets. “We’ll stand out, but we’ll also look like a unit.”
Lana picked up a similar outfit, nodding in agreement. “I like it. It’s bold, but it’s not over the top.”
“Alright, let’s do it,” Mel agreed, grabbing the one with long sleeves. “This will cover me up, and we’ll still match.”
Aisha and Kinks moved around the room, helping each of us into our costumes. As I dressed behind one of the velvet curtains, Kinks slipped in with me under the guise of helping adjust my corset. “Discretion was the mission, sis,” she whispered, her tone playful but with an edge of seriousness.
I gave her a confused look until she produced a small vial from her pocket, another dose of the antidote. She pressed it into my hand, her fingers lingering for just a moment. “You know what to do.”
I nodded, understanding the unspoken instructions. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said with a wink, then slipped out as smoothly as she had come in.
My fingers trembled slightly as I examined the syringe. Helios had been a vibrant pink, whatever the antidote was, blue. I hesitated for just a moment, then took a deep breath and injected it into my arm, hoping I was doing it right. As I leaned against the wall, I could feel the substance moving through me, the sensation not as strong as before but still present. A wave of nausea hit me this time, and I closed my eyes, waiting for it to pass. The unease was new, and it left me wondering what exactly I was putting inside my body. When the nausea finally began to subside, I opened my eyes, taking slow, deep breaths. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different this time. I wished Ky were there with me. It felt strange being away from him now when he was adamant to keep me by his side, but there was no time to dwell on any of it. I slipped the syringe beneath my folded clothes and straightened up, pulling myself together and stepping out from behind the curtain to join the others. I could see the others were ready, each of us a dark reflection of the other, our masks and outfits.