“Do you think Layla knows you’re back?” Sterling asked.
Chills traversed Elise’s spine at the sound of that name. She glanced in the mirror at her friend, who leaned back in her vanity chair. His tie was undone and his jacket open, but the relaxed energy he radiated did not reach Elise.
Elise sighed. “If she did, she would have made it known by now. I’ve been home for five days.”
Sterling pulled a fan from Elise’s vanity drawer and opened it with a snap of his wrist. “I don’t know… Reapers are good at sneaking.”
Elise turned and snatched the fan from him. “I don’t want to talk about her. Tonight is our last night together; let’s make the most of it.” She adjusted her silver hairpiece for the fourth time.
“Nervous?” Sterling asked.
“Always.” Elise pursed her lips. “My father expects my performance to be perfect, and he wants a ten-year-old to be a perfect representative for the future of the empire. It’s a lot.”
“Elise.” Suddenly, Sterling was in front of her, lifting her chin with gentle fingers.
He was the one who had pulled Layla off a bleeding and traumatized Elise five years ago in the middle of the night. Elise owed him her life, but the best she could give him was her friendship.
Now his hazel eyes met her brown ones, and a dimple creased in his cheek with his smile. “You’re a piano prodigy. You will be perfect tonight; you always are.”
Elise wished she could tell him she was not perfect. And everyone expected her to be. The expectations weighed her down, her self-worth bending beneath the pressure. Still, Elise nodded at her friend. “Sure, but the reapers—”
Scoffing, Sterling moved his jacket back, revealing two guns at his waist. “I’m not the only one who has come prepared tonight, Lise. You should see the grounds; I don’t even think a squirrel could make it inside this place without ending up full of bullets.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “Everything will be fine.”
The anniversary party began with a bang that seemed to resound throughout all of New York. In the Saint mansion, the polished floors glittered with confetti and gold licked over every surface. The ballroom chandelier had been replaced just for the party. Instead of brass and glass, gold and crystals hung from the ceiling, gold foiled streamers spiraling out from the center and cascading down the walls.
Elise wore a shimmery jade dress that draped over her body like water over stones. Her eye makeup glittered in the light and she couldn’t resist smiling at herself in the mirror, lips as red as the ruby polish coating her nails. Pearls hung around her throat, yet as beautiful as they were, she could only focus on her family ring.
Saint guards stood near every entrance and window, their focus sharp and unflinching on the growing crowd in the ballroom. Elise would never get used to having these strangers around, but Sterling nodded to them as he walked by. For the first time since being home, Elise noticed the tension in his shoulders and a crease between his brows.
A dark-haired woman approached them. Elise, not keen on interacting with a stranger, braced herself until the woman’s eyes met hers, and recognition struck. “Thalia?” Elise stuttered out.
Thalia Gray still had the same deep brown eyes that seemed to hold the answer to every problem in the world. She wore not a dress, but a tailored suit with satin gloves. Elise stared at her old friend, taking in every inch of her.
“Thalia, you have a lot of explaining to do,” Sterling said sharply.
Thalia flicked her wrist at Sterling, waving him off. “Step aside, Walker. Let me greet my old friend.” Thalia pulled Elise into her arms.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Elise exclaimed.
Sterling scoffed by her side. “Neither did I. No one did.”
“Some people knew. The important people.” Thalia laughed and Elise couldn’t help but laugh along with her. Sterling, however, remained stiff.
“Is your mother here?” Elise asked, looking around the crowded room.
Thalia rolled her eyes. “No. The bad blood persists.”
Mrs. Gray had once been a part of the Saints’ inner circle. It was a miracle Thalia’s mother let her spend time in the Saint household when they were younger, even when Tobias Saint no longer found use for her scientific endeavors. After Mrs. Gray’s working antidote for reaper bites had failed on Charlotte, Tobias Saint dismissed the Grays. But Thalia refused to give up on being Elise’s friend.
Elise tugged on Sterling’s sleeve. “You wrote to me saying you two were finally getting along.” She could still remember their squabbles. The only thing Thalia and Sterling had in common was Elise. She had worried they would kill each other when she was in France.
“I’d call what we did ‘stress relief,’” Thalia said.
Sterling’s eyes went wide and a dark flush filled his ears. “You cannot be serious.”
Thalia flagged down a waiter and plucked a champagne flute from his tray. She held her finger up, sipping the bubbly liquid while Sterling watched her with increasing irritation. Once finished, Thalia lowered her glass and clicked her tongue. “Indeed, I am serious.”
Elise exhaled. “I cannot believe this.”
“Sterling got too attached. It started taking time away from my research, so I ended it. Whatever our little ‘tryst’ was.”
Sterling clenched his fists. “You leaving for Switzerland for a month without notice was not ending anything. It was disrespectful,” he snapped.
“Oh, Switzerland had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me furthering my research. As long as I’m here, I must make up for where my mother fell short. Now, please.” Thalia leaned in to kiss Elise’s cheek. “It’s been lovely seeing you. Good luck tonight.” In a matter of moments, Thalia was gone, having disappeared into the crowd.
Sterling sighed. “Elise. I’m going to sound absolutely mad, but I swear, the more hostile she is toward me, the more attracted I am to her.”
Elise laughed. “I don’t understand you.”
“I told you. Madness.” Sterling threw a longing look over the crowd. “I’m going to check on the guards. Shout if you need me.”
Elise nodded. And with one final squeeze of her hand, Sterling was gone.
She glanced around the room, looking for Josi, but came face-to-face with her mother instead. Analia Saint, dressed in a white dress and layered pearl necklaces, silver comb placed perfectly on her black finger waves, looked like a picture of pure grandeur.
“That’s not the dress we decided on, Elise,” she said sharply, before she moved on to speak to a guest.
Elise’s stomach turned. Being around so many people always made her nervous, but tonight, knowing her family was on the brink of forging a new future for everyone, made her feel especially ill.
Relief washed through her when she finally spotted her younger sister. Josi’s curls were fastened into a sleek bun with white silk bows that matched her dress.
“Hi, my dove.” Elise tried to pull Josi into her arms, but the girl was far too bubbly to be contained. She grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I get to show everyone my ring!” Josi exclaimed, flaunting it. “I’m Josephine Mireille Saint and I am the heir to the Saint empire.” Her smile widened. “My sister is going to be the best pianoist in France—”
“It’s pianist, darling.” Their mother had waltzed back over to fuss with Josi’s curls. Josi tried to back away, but their mother’s grip dug into her wrist. “Where’s your coat? Good heavens, you’ve had it for only a day, Josephine, don’t tell me you already lost it.”
“It’s in my room.” Elise gently pulled Josi back. “I’ll get it.”
Her mother nodded slowly. “While you’re up there, please change into the dress we picked out earlier.”
It was meant to be a quick stop in her bedroom to put on a new dress. But the sight of the curtains billowing in the evening breeze and her white carpet alight with the glow of the sunset made her pause.
She still remembered jolting awake, the stars bright in the night sky, to hear footsteps nearing her bed. The next moment, her back was on the floor, Layla’s hands around her throat. Elise could still feel the pierce of Layla’s nails. But the crescent moon scars they left on her neck were the least of her injuries from that night. And even though the ruined flesh above her heart was a constant reminder of the attack, the most pain came from beneath the scars. Ghosts lurked. Sometimes they whispered, sometimes they screamed, other times they were just faint enough to pull Elise’s focus and settle under her skin, nudging and pulling at her until she wanted to rip her own flesh to bits. Most days, Elise wanted to step out of her body and watch herself break. She couldn’t determine what caused the pain—loneliness, guilt, regret, anger—whatever it was, it was burrowed so deeply in her, Elise feared it would never leave her.
Layla Quinn consumed her thoughts.
Was there something Elise could have done to prevent the violence they shared between them? To prevent Layla from turning into a monster—
Elise’s jaw tightened. No. It wasn’t her fault.
Sometimes Elise imagined what she would say to Layla should they ever cross paths. She wrote it in the margins of her sheet music during practice when she couldn’t focus. When the music wouldn’t flow from her due to the agony tearing her thoughts apart.
I still feel you under all of my scars. It still hurts.
Over and over Elise scribbled those words, willing them to lose their meaning. But the pain never left.
She wondered if Layla ever felt the same way. If she ever thought about Elise as much as Elise’s mind called for her.
Sometimes it didn’t make sense to Elise how her feelings contradicted each other. The aching sadness that rushed through her at the sight of her childhood bedroom was followed by a quick burst of fury. Fury at the person that made her afraid of a space that was supposed to be sacred to her.
Elise slammed her window shut. The curtains fell still, and silence filled the room, but anger continued trembling through Elise’s hands.
A knock at her door forced Elise to relax. She turned to see Josi, with Sterling standing just behind her.
“Mother sent us to check on you. It’s almost time for you to play!” One of Josi’s ribbons had come undone, and it hung loosely down the back of her neck. If she noticed, she didn’t care. “Oh, and there’s my coat. Thank you, Lisey.” She pulled the coat over her shoulders and ran out of the room.
Elise couldn’t help but smile as she and Sterling followed her sister down the hallway. The back of Sterling’s hand brushed against her wrist, and she looked up at him. “I liked being her brother for these last few years, but I am glad you’re back,” he said.
A gentle laugh escaped Elise. “You can still be her brother. In fact, she’ll need you more than ever now.” Elise felt the hard ridge of one of his revolvers as he nudged her with his hip. She squeezed his hand. “Do not leave her side tonight.”
Sterling nodded. “Of course.”
For the first time all week, Elise played for an audience. Her fingers flew gracefully over the piano keys while the song unfurled around the massive room. Hundreds of people watched her, but she paid them no mind. When Elise played, she lost herself in the music. The Bach piece she had chosen to perform for the party was a complex one that she’d stumbled through as a child and eventually dissolved her confidence with each mistake. Now, she played it flawlessly.
The silence that passed after her last note seemed to stretch on for an eternity. But then the room exploded into enthusiastic cheers.
Elise stood and took a bow. As she straightened up, she looked for her father. His smile of approval made her chest feel light with relief. Elise made her way off the stage to stand with her family.
Mr. Saint addressed the crowd with a champagne glass clutched in his hand. “I must say, I don’t think I’ve heard proper music since my daughter went off to Paris,” Mr. Saint said. A low chuckle rumbled through the room. “This city prides itself on its music, but it is often overshadowed by the horrors we face on most days. Ten years ago I lost my eldest daughter and founded this empire. Together, we have rid our home of many reapers and I hope, earnestly, that we continue to do so to keep her name and this city alive.” Mr. Saint raised his glass. “I would like to open the floor to toasts. First, I begin by blessing my lovely daughter, Josephine, with the duties of first heir to this empire.” He threw Josi an endearing smile and she grinned back. “Next, I wish my daughter, Elise, continued success with her musical endeavors.” Elise couldn’t help but notice that his proud smile had faded and was more strained than the one he’d given Josi. Elise’s own happiness wavered as she nodded to him.
Mr. Saint continued, “It is with great excitement and pride that I welcome a new initiative to this Saint empire. We have spent so long eliminating the beasts that plague our home, but now I believe it is time to turn to new avenues of danger prevention. Miss Thalia Gray, a talented, ambitious young scientist whom I have known for many years, has excelled in her reaper research. She is close to developing an antidote to the poison in reaper bites and, with her help, our empire will grow stronger than ever, and reapers will become less of a threat.”
Excited murmurs moved throughout the room, and Thalia beamed from her seat a few tables away, lifting her hand to wave at everyone. Elise’s stomach flipped. Who cared about piano and music when a possible solution to reaperhood was at hand?
“Lastly, but certainly not least, I announce a partnership with Stephen Wayne, the broker and philanthropist. He actually encouraged me to start this business many years ago when he saw how powerful my Saint steel was against reapers.” Elise recognized Mr. Wayne, who stood while impressed gasps sounded around the room. “Mr. Wayne funds a lab for reaper research and advocates for human-reaper legislation. With his and Miss Gray’s assistance, I am positive we can make headway into eliminating reaperhood.” Mr. Saint beamed, lifting his glass once more. “Toasts and blessings to the future of the Saint empire. Together, we rise.”
The party carried on through the night. Though the nine-piece band was still playing strong at ten p.m., Elise retreated to her bedroom with Josi, where they sneaked chocolate-covered strawberries, whispering and laughing. By the time Sterling had come in to check on them, Josi had fallen asleep in Elise’s bed, despite the booming music and noise downstairs.
Elise slipped out into the hallway with Sterling. “Very brave of you to skip your patrol shift just to spend more time with me. The estate grounds need you,” she teased.
“Not skipping it, just taking an unapproved break. Besides, I have to say goodbye to you. I miss you already,” Sterling said.
Elise looked over at her steamer trunk that the servants had packed, waiting near the hall elevator, and her heart ached with the thought of leaving soon.
“We’re not complete without you here,” Sterling told her. “Josi really needs you. And so do I.”
Elise touched his wrist and forced a smile. “I’ve been accepted to the Paris Conservatory. I must go back.”
Warmth lit Sterling’s eyes. “Elise, that’s incredible. Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“It’s not a big deal. Especially not with the ten-year anniversary and everything else.” Elise shrugged. “I’m going to tell my parents soon. I hope my father approves.”
“Of course he will.” Sterling playfully flicked Elise’s chin and she laughed. “I’m proud of you,” he said, voice soft.
Just then a high-pitched shriek split the air.
It hadn’t come from the party. It had to be Josi.
Blood went to ice in Elise’s veins as she and Sterling pushed open her bedroom door. Josi was standing on her bed, shaking so hard the entire frame seemed to move with her.
“What happened?” Elise gasped. It wasn’t like Josi to have nightmares, but no one else was in the room.
Sterling lifted Josi into his arms. Fresh tears glimmered on her lashes, brown eyes sharp with fear. “Monster,” she whimpered.
Elise and Sterling exchanged looks. “You don’t think—” Elise began.
“Let’s take her to her room to make sure she’s okay,” Sterling said, carrying Josi to the door.
“Just give me a moment,” Elise said. She got down on her knees and lifted the bed skirt to peer beneath the bed. Just as she had hoped, there was nothing lurking in the darkness. She stood up, sighing, but to her dread felt a brush of cold air. The window was open.
The curtains billowed with the night air. Chills rose on her arms. Elise took a deep breath as she walked to the window and looked out. Aside from a slight sway of the hedges caused by the breeze, nothing moved in her view. She stepped back and closed the window.
Deafening silence surrounded her, the room suddenly too still and the air too tense. Elise froze. She clenched her fists until her Saint ring pinched her palm, then turned around.
And came face-to-face with Layla Quinn.
Cold metal dug into Elise’s throat. The reaper held a blade, its silver edge angled right against Elise’s pulse point. Moonlight glinted off the knife and illuminated the golden hues in Layla’s eyes. Her lips curled into a wicked smile. “Long time no see, Saint.”