Temere Mortis

Chapter Sixteen

Isla and the girls stepped into a large room; it reminded her of a town hall, or a school's main assembly room. Faces she remembered from previous meetings stood out in striking contrast to the darkness of the space and she saw a few welcoming smiles cast in her direction.

"I can't believe our esteemed leader was the last to arrive," the same voice as before that Isla now recognised to be Isaac's joked, gaining a few scattered laughs from the crowd. There had to be more than ninety people present for this party, or whatever it was. Everyone was dressed in entirely black, and most of the girls wore articles on their heads that closely resembled the lace ornaments resting in Isla, Chrissy, and Emma's hair. It was a bizarre scene to witness unfolding.

"Shut up, newbie," Emma teased him, lightly. She strode forward to take her place at the centre of the gathering. "Shall we get the boring stuff over and done with?" she questioned the crowd, with an overexaggerated wink that was incredibly out of character. The support group cheered.

"As you all know, these death parties come with a few rules." Henry carried out an excessive yawn, causing Emma to roll her eyes. "Rule One: I cannot stress how illegal this is, so no snitching. Rule Two: Don't lower the tone - no death jokes please this is Mallory's day. Rule Three: Have fun." Once again, the group cheered raucously in celebration.

"I know it's bizarre," Chrissy whispered in Isla's ear conspiratorially. "But it really helps you forget that someone died." Isla nodded, signalling that she understood, and Chrissy leaned back in satisfaction.

"Can we show you around, Isles?" the usual suspects appeared either side of Isla, bouncing with excitement.

"Hey, don't hog the newbie, newbies," Christine protested. "Maybe, I want to show her around."

"As your 'esteemed leader' maybe I should show her around." Emma had popped up behind the group. She looked at Isla meaningfully then shepherded her to a corner of the room, away from prying ears. "So, what do you think?" she asked Isla, gesturing to their surroundings. "Don't hold back."

Isla looked to her nemesis-turned-acquaintance in surprise.

"Did you just assume I'd have something bitchy to say?" she asked in disbelief, laughing slightly. Emma shrugged, looking a little sheepish.

"Well, yeah," she admitted. "It wouldn't have been out of character." Isla bit back a smile.

"I think it's great actually," she told Emma. "And extremely progressive." Isla threw a cautious look in Emma's direction. "Aren't you worried about being found out? What about your sister?" Emma waved her worries away with one hand.

"No one here will tell. I know you think it's weird, but we really do have each-others back." Isla smiled genuinely at her reply.

"Fancy actually showing me around then?" she demanded of her former enemy.

"Well, if you're not got anything to complain about for the first time ever, absolutely." Emma laughed, and the girls linked arms.

At that moment, loud music began to blast from the speakers that sat where Emma had addressed the crowd. A strange techno beat reverberated around the room and the congregation began to dance. Isla now more than ever felt like she was in a weird music video full of mourners raving to dance music. Emma laughed at the expression on Isla's face.

"Come on," she requested. "I'll show you around." She dragged Isla over to some tables at the side of the room. "Everyone really goes all out for these parties," she explained, gesturing to the snacks and drinks on the tables that outlined the dance floor. Tray after tray of biscuits shaped like gravestones and bowls of gummy eyeballs covered the surfaces. There wasn't a single drink in sight that wasn't blood or sick coloured. Isla couldn't contain an incredulous laugh.