“They saw me and snubbed me. Not like I care.”
“What kind of mask is Phyre wearing?”
“She’s wearing a cat mask. Not a full face mask, just a half mask. Oh, and she’s wearing a tight, pink T-shirt that says: KISS ME—IT’S MIDNIGHT SOMEWHERE!” She rolls her eyes. “Crickett and Jacy are wearing them too. I swear, they’re such lepers.”
“I think you mean lemmings.” Xotichl laughs.
But Lita just shrugs. “All I know is it’s creepy as hell once you realize what she really intends to do with that kiss.”
“Did she get any takers?” Dace asks.
“The bouncer tried to take her up on it, but she just laughed and said, ‘Don’t believe everything you read.’”
“Well, at least she’s not planning a massacre.” Xotichl makes a face, continues to survey the room.
“Yeah, we’ve got enough of a boy shortage in this town.” Lita groans. “Anyway, last I saw, Jacy and Crickett were over there.” She motions toward the far wall that from here looks like a haze of fog, bubbles, balloons, and confetti. “But Phyre moved on.”
“I’ve been trying to get a read on her,” Xotichl says, “but what with all the noise and chaos—it’s taking a little longer than usual to get my abilities up to their usual speed.”
“When’s Epitaph going on?” Dace asks.
“Soon,” Xotichl says, giving a quick glance to where Auden is standing.
“So they’ll be playing at midnight?”
She nods.
“Who does the countdown to midnight?” I ask. “The band?”
“Depends,” Dace says. “Sometimes Leandro chooses to handle it. If for no other reason than it allows for one more opportunity for him to remind everyone who to show fealty toward. But sometimes, he blows it off and lets the band handle it. Depends on his mood.”
“Well, we have to find Cade and Phyre long before that. I can’t take the chance that she’ll wait for the countdown to begin.”
“I know where you could start,” Lita says, instantly claiming our attention. “Every year the Richters throw their own private party within the party. Cade took me the last couple years.”
“Where?” I lean toward her.
“Well, that’s the thing, I don’t know.”
“You were there and you don’t know?” Xotichl frowns.
“They make you go through this weird initiation involving cigarettes and blindfolds. Looking back, I can’t even believe I did it. But, at the time, it seemed so covert and exciting … Anyway, it’s supposed to be some big honor to be invited. Or at least that’s how they sell it. And believe me, it works. No one ever declines.”
Cigarettes and blindfolds—Dace and I exchange a knowing look.
“Did you walk down a long tunnel that leads to a really bizarre luxury cave?” I ask, knowing the answer long before Lita nods to confirm it.
“You’ve been there?” She glances between us, sending a tumble of curls to fall over her cheeks.
“Once or twice.” I look at Dace. “And it looks like we’re going again. But if you happen to see them out here, be sure to text me immediately.”
“That’s it?” Lita shakes her head, purses her lips to match the ones on her mask. “That’s my job? Texting? Is that all you think I’m capable of?”
“You already did your job. I think you may have located them.” Turning to Xotichl, I say, “Keep scanning the room. If the energy in any way starts to feel strange—stranger than it already does—then do whatever it takes to get the hell out. Don’t worry about Dace and me—just grab Auden, and Lita, and whoever else is nearby, and run like the wind. Okay?”
“Got it.” She nods. Her voice betraying her growing anxiety when she says, “You guys don’t think there’s anything to Suriel’s crazy doomsday talk, do you?”
Lita’s eyes widen as she looks between Dace and me.