River stared at the licks of the fire in front of us. I let go of his hand and wrapped my arms around myself wondering what the hell that was and what the hell I’d gotten myself into. The good thing was he said I could leave with my friends tonight and I fully intended to take him up on that. After this little meeting and Mayra’s words, the sooner I left, the better.
Chapter Sixteen
Leave this place.
The voice was whispered in my ear. I looked around quickly, heart pounding, but the only person standing in the room was River and he was staring up at the painting above the mantle. It was an odd painting. Black and white, more blacks than whites, all swirling around the canvas. I thought I saw a face. Eyes staring at me. I looked around again. Like every other room in this godforsaken house, this one was dim as well, gas lamps flickering off in a distance, the licks of the fire in front of us not doing much other than making me feel suddenly sweaty.
Leave the voice said again.
“Did you hear that?” I shivered and walked closer to River.
“Hear what?” He looked down at me.
“Someone’s in here with us.”
“There’s no one here.” River made a show of looking around. “We should get back.”
“So, Sarah raised you?” I chanced a glance at him from the corner of my eye as we walked out of the room.
“She did.”
“What happened to your birth mom?”
“What happens to anyone when they’re finished with this life?”
“She died?”
“In plain terms.”
“Plain terms.” I let out a laugh. “There are only plain terms, River. We’re human. Humans are plain. We like yes or no answers and black and white issues. Anything beyond that, we struggle with.”
“Is this a segue to calling my ancestors slave owners again?” He stuffed his hands in his pockets as we walked.
“No.” My lips pursed. “Mine were no better. This island has a lot of deep, dark secrets we don’t talk about and there’s a reason for that. When secrets surface, we can no longer hide from our truth.”
“I think we can finally agree on something,” he said. “But for the record, my grandparents were married in secret because their love was forbidden and I like to think they were in love.”
“You didn’t strike me as the hopeless romantic type.”
“What did I strike you as?” His eyes glittered in amusement.
“I don’t know. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
“Hm.” He looked toward the party we were nearing again and I wondered if he ever felt flattered by anything he heard anymore.
“Are the same people invited to the gala every year?”
“Not every year, but the ones who aren’t invited back beg for an invite.”
“Why?” I laughed. “The party is fine and all, but I haven’t seen anything spectacular. No offense.”
“That’s because you haven’t walked into any of the rooms.” He quirked an eyebrow as we reached the edge of the hall, where the house opened up once more and the foyer was packed with people.
“You act like I’m going to experience some sort of magical thing in them.” I turned to him, not ready to join the festivities just yet.
“In plain terms.” He faced me as well. “You just might.”
“In plain terms magic doesn’t exist.”
“According to that logic, this island doesn’t exist. I don’t exist. We don’t exist.” River smiled, but it was a smile that spoke of a million sad tales. He brought a hand to my face. “They’re not fables, little witch.”
“If they’re not fables, why would you live here? How would you survive this house if it really is full of deceit?”
“Isn’t every house deceitful in one way or another?”
“Not the way you’re saying, not with magic and disappearing acts.”
“Maybe you should go into one of the rooms and see for yourself.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe I will.” I jutted my chin up.
I was always up for a dare, after all. I glanced at a woman walking out of one of the rooms. She’d been wearing a flapper-looking dress, but it was now just barely hanging on her. Her lipstick was running down her face and her updo was completely undone. She looked like she’d been having sex in the room. And when a man followed closely behind her, zipping up his trousers, I knew they definitely had been.
“Is this an orgy?” I looked at River again.
“Some people partake in orgies.”
“Do you?” I swallowed. I didn’t know why I asked, but I was curious.
“I have.”
“Will you tonight?”
“Do you want to?”
“Do I want to participate in an orgy?” I blinked. “Absolutely not.”
“Then I won’t either.” He chuckled. “You are my guest, after all.”
“Which is exactly why I assume you have something planned for me. Mayra seems to have an idea as to why I’m here.”
“Why do you think you’re here?”