Drink, Slay, Love

Chapter Twelve

As the sun sank into the horizon, Pearl trudged home without having seen a single sparkly hoof print or rainbowed poop pile. It wasn't as if she'd expected unicorn was here graffiti. . . Okay, yes, that would have been nice.

She let herself in the front door and headed downstairs. It was a little later than she would have liked. Already, the Family stirred in the catacombs. She scooted into the storage room. Squeezing herself behind some shelves, she chugged a pint of blood. It tasted like old batteries on her tongue. She downed a second bottle then hid both empty bottles on a shelf behind a few cleaning supplies. As she slipped out into the hall, she hoped no one could tell from her breath that she hadn't had fresh. She also hoped she could make it to her bedroom before anyone sent her to an etiquette class or conscripted her to scrub the mansion cellar.

She strode through the halls. In a bloodied brocade corset and tulle gown, Aunt Lianne stepped out of her room. She had forgotten to style her hair, which was spiked at odd angles as if one section had decided to defy gravity and the other had been mashed against her cheek. But Pearl didn't slow to enlighten her. She nodded to Aunt Lianne and kept walking as if she had a purpose. The key was to look as though someone had already issued her an assignment.

Others emerged from their rooms. Pearl avoided eye contact and limited herself to nods. She tried to wrinkle her forehead as if she were deeply concerned about pressing business. Certainly her mattress was calling to her in an urgent way.

Cousin Antoinette waved cheerily. "In a rush?" She was dressed in her favourite partying/hunting outfit: a pink blouse with ruffles plus a miniskirt that would fit a Barbie doll. If Pearl lingered at all, Antoinette would undoubtedly begin wheedling her to come party.

Pearl shrugged and kept walking. "You know how it is."

"Not really these days," Antoinette said. "You and your double life."

Three more doors and she'd be home free, at least until someone came looking for her.

"Stinking of human," Antoinette continued. She sauntered toward Pearl. "Thinking you're too good to hang with the rest of us."

Oh, fantastic. Another stupid power game. Antoinette wanted to pick a fight. Pearl debated how to handle it. She could keep walking and run the risk of Antoinette escalating matters with a kick into her spine—Antoinette wasn't one you should turn your back on. Or Pearl could prove that she was better right here and now.

It was an easy decision.

Pearl spun around. Her fist sailed through the air. Antoinette ducked to the side and kicked at Pearl's knee. Pearl had seen Jadrien use that move a hundred times. Interestingly, she'd never seen Antoinette try it. They must have been training together. Talk about not wasting any time, Pearl thought.

Like she always did when Jadrien pulled that move, Pearl shifted her weight and caught Antoinette's leg with her foot. She yanked, pulling Antoinette off balance. Antoinette stumbled against the wall.

"I don't think I'm better than you," Pearl said. "I know."

Antoinette merely smiled.

Pearl kept her knees bent and hands loose. If she tried another move, Pearl was ready. But Antoinette didn't attack again. Instead, she laughed, a silvery peal that reminded Pearl of Tara, laughing by Ashlyn's locker. "Just teasing you, Pearl," Antoinette said. "You need to lighten up."

Like that, the play for dominance was over.

"I have a lot on my mind," Pearl said. She had to secure the king's dinner, and it wasn't going to be an easy hunt. The king didn't sound like the type that would accept a note from her doctor or any other excuse. She had to deliver.