Crows and Crooked Tiaras

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE: SELF SACRIFICE 

LUNA'S POV

I don't think believing in anything does much good. I know it sounds cynical, and a life goal of mine is to never become as much as a cynic as I should be (just to spite the bitterness around me), but the only way to make it is to do it yourself.

After all, Kamalis believed in a lot, and none of it made a difference in the end. Not after her short flight.

I force myself to smile, banishing the thoughts of my sister as I turn to Judice, who's still giggling at the thought of her last comment. "Pray to all the saints and gods that no one finds us here." She often starts our 'lost nights' with comments like that, but of course we all know she just wants to scare us a bit. No one knows us here, that's the whole point.

I tilt my head, leaning closer to her to talk to her over the noise of the club, "Relax, Judie dear, we're off camera tonight."

"Yeah!" Lenna calls over the loud music, "High Society can't touch us here."

This is the part I like more than alcohol and easy guys. Invulnerability. "And if High Society can't touch us, then we're untouchable! We're at the top of the world!"

Judice laughs, a bubbly sound. "I'll be at the top of the world after a drink--see you guys in a minute."

She disappears into the mass of bodies, despite Ketterdam's unbelievable number of flaws, at least there's anonymity. No one finds you here because no one cares enough to look. It's freeing, to know that I can take up as much space as I want here. There is no making myself small to protect myself from my father's temper or in vain hopes of one day impressing my family.

They'll always hate me. I'm the product of an affair--only kept because abuela Lucia is fond of me. Since I am destined to be loathed, destined to never be the true Delsol heir, I might as well give them a reason to.

Judice returns with a tray of shots she no doubt convinced someone else to buy. It's not about the money for us, it's about the game. I take one shot, but I set the second one down after pouring the liquid into an abandoned cup.

They're here to get wasted, I'm here under that ruse--but what I truly love is secrets.

We dance because there's no reason not to. I giggle when appropriate, aware that I'm the only one with my wits about me. It's a feeling worth reveling in.

"Are you ready for the game of the night, Luna?"

I eye Lenna skeptically, "I'm not so sure we should tonight--this place is a little more dangerous than our usual spots and you two are more wasted than normal. Some of us can handle our alcohol."

Judice will not like this answer, but tonight I'm not the kind of girl that has to do anything for the satisfaction of others. "Come on, Luns," she whines, "You know you love when it's scary! That's the whole point for you--the chase, the risk."

I laugh because that's what drunk me would have done, but it lacks humor. They think I'm invested in fear, but what I'm invested in is justice. If I cannot end myself, then it shouldn't be too hard to stumble into a world where I can.

"Fine," I sigh, "Who's our mark?"

Lenna shakes her head, "It's too easy here--everyone's as drunk as us or worse--we should go outside."

Okay, pickpocketing important men for sport in a club is one thing...but to try our usual stunt on regular men who are wandering a particularly dangerous part of Ketterdam this late at night is downright suicidal.