Imposter

Chapter 47

"This would look marvelous on you," Retha gushed, holding the dress against Katrina's frame.

The dress was shimmery and a darker shade of blue alternated with the royal blue. It was strapless, not what she was used to.

She couldn't wear that. She didn't want to have to glamour that much of her skin.

"It'd fit her better," she said, pushing it away. "Blue's her color."

The strange, silent girl looked up from fingering a silky dress. "Oh, no," she said. "I'm far too short for that."

"There? See?" Retha smiled. "This dress was made for you. Go on, try it on."

Katrina stepped inside the small, white changing room. There was a mirror in the corner, taunting her with her own reflection.

Taking a deep breath, she discarded her clothes and shimmied into the dress, struggling to pull the zipper all the way up.

She couldn't wear it. What if someone saw through her glamour? What if she got nervous and accidentally dropped it?

Everyone would see her scars.

Jericho would see her scars.

Katrina's eyes burned, and she hurried to yank the zipper back down.

Pulling her clothes back on, she folded the dress neatly, draped it over her arm, and stepped out of the dressing room.

"It looks terrible," she said.

The attendant looked alarmed. "We have plenty others—"

Retha lifted one hand, her eyes boring into Katrina. "Terrible?"

"Y-yes," she stuttered.

"Nonsense," she said. "You're just being modest. I will not take no for an answer."

"It's not my style."

"You're a beautiful girl with a beautiful body. Don't tell me you're going to waste that."

"It brings out your eyes," the attendant said eagerly, her face flushed and her eyes worried.

Katrina was almost positive that wasn't true. "Can I at least try on another dress?" she implored.

Retha thought for a moment. "No, we really shouldn't dawdle." She looked at Alicia. "Dear?"

"I like this one," she said hesitantly, handing a sparkly white dress over to her.

"Excellent. I will take your things up to the counter and you two can go find the boys." Retha turned a dazzling smile on the attendant. "Thank you for your assistance."

"Skies, what are you guys doing?" Katrina asked with dismay.

Jericho was on the floor with a bloody nose and two giants of men were restraining Mason while a third struggled to put a pair of cuffs around his wrists.

Karel was standing in the corner, cradling his left arm and looking like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

"Oh, fuck off!" Mason shouted, thrashing in the men's hold on him.

"What happened?" Katrina demanded, going over to Jericho and helping him up.

"He's fucking crazy," Jericho muttered, cupping his nose.

Alicia approached Mason, her shoulders pulled back and the top of her chin just barely reaching his chest. "You can let him go," she said softly. "We'll handle it, really."

Katrina blinked twice, making sure she was seeing things right when the men reluctantly let go of Mason, grumbling to themselves.

His lip curled back, Mason's eyes zeroed in on Jericho and he started forward.

Alicia reached her hand out, letting him bump into it. "It's okay," she said. "There's no need to cause a scene."

Mason's nostrils flared and he looked down at her.

Katrina scooted back, her heart in her throat. "Oh, skies," she said hoarsely, her hand searching out Jericho's.

For a long moment, she thought he was going to snap Alicia in half.

"Mason," Karel said from the corner.

Mason's head snapped in his direction, his eyes alight with fury.

There was nothing human in his expression, no sign of humanity behind his eyes. The flecks of silver were swallowed in darkness.

Alicia slowly, carefully intertwined her fingers with his. "Hey," she said, moving closer. "It's okay."

The veins in his neck stuck out, red crawling up the white skin. Mason jerked away from her, locking eyes with Karel.

"You guys should go," Karel said quietly. "All of you, especially you."

"Oh, fu—"

"Jer, stop," Katrina warned, a chill going up her spine when Mason slowly looked in her direction.

She helped him to his feet, taking note of the blood staining the front of his shirt. She had a lot of questions for him later, but she couldn't get them organized in her head with the way Mason was watching him.

Mason's face went blank in a matter of seconds. He stumbled forward, mumbling something before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell forward.

Alicia darted forward, grabbing the back of his shirt in an attempt to stop him from hitting the floor.

"I don't know what this is about, but someone had better have a very good explanation for this," Retha's voice said coolly. "I take you out on a free shopping spree, and you repay me by angering my nephew?"

"I—"

"Oh, shut up!" Retha fixed a furious gaze on Jericho. "I don't want to hear it from you. You, girl, get someone to carry my nephew outside. You will all go home."

Alicia scurried off, leaving Mason on the floor.

"You," Retha said, pointing a long finger at Karel. "You're coming with me and you're telling me everything."

"What did happen?" Katrina asked, following Jericho into the restroom so he could clean up.

"It was a stupid fight," he muttered, splashing water over his face. "Karel pissed me off. It would have been fine if Mason hadn't intervened."

"What was the fight about?" Katrina asked, leaning against the counter and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Viviane," he said stiffly. "Look, it doesn't matter. I. . .I lost my temper."

"Color me shocked," Katrina said, allowing herself to smile. "Try and keep yourself in check, Jer. You're getting too old for this."

Before she could think twice, she moved closer and kissed his cheek.

"I'll see you outside," she promised, giving him a tired smile.