Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1) (13 page)

I stood in front of the full-length mirror studying
myself. The girl standing in front of me was beautiful. I
had to give the witches credit, they were good. With only
an hour to transform me into the person now staring back
at me, they had done well, but this girl wasn't me.
Somewhere during the process I had lost sight of myself.

I was in a short, fitted, lace, cream dress. I was four
inches taller due to the black high heels/death trap
attached to my feet, and my hair was in a neat assortment
of curls on my head, leaving my neck bare and me feeling
naked. My face though looked natural, as if I didn't have
any make up on. This I loved.

I heard a knock on the door and I turned towards it,
waiting expectantly. The door opened slightly and seconds
later Eric's head poked into the room. I smiled at him
feeling self-conscious and nervous. Seeing me he stepped
out from behind the door and as he walked into the room
I literally sucked in a breath.

Eric wearing a suit was easily the most breath-taking
thing I had ever seen. He radiated confidence and strength,
and was so gorgeous that I had to physically stop myself
from jumping him.

He walked up to me smiling with eyes that held pure
joy, and in an attempt to control the lust running through
me I bowed my head and then turned back to the mirror,
only this time I wasn't the only one there. Eric was
standing behind me, partially hidden by my body.

“You look beautiful, Jen,” he smiled placing both
hands on my shoulders. “But something is w rong.” I let
out a sigh, disappointed. I was surprised at this; that I
would want to be beautiful for him. His hand touched my
hair for a brief second so lightly it was almost as if it didn't
happen, but when he removed his hand my hair fell loosely
to the sides of my face. I could recognize myself now. Eric
then turned me to face him and once again I found him
staring at me with those eyes that made me want to melt at
his feet and run away from him at the same time.

“Why are you staring?” I asked feeling the urge to fill
the silence.
“Remember that promise I made you?” I nodded. “It's
getting very difficult to keep. Especially tonight.”
I thought about that for a minute. “I know exactly what
you mean... don't keep it,” I whispered up at him and
without giving him time to respond, I wrapped my arms
around his neck, and tiptoeing I pressed my lips to his.
I hadn't realized how much I wanted to kiss him until I
had actually done it. I craved him like I needed food. My
body wanted this in the way a man in the desert wanted
water. The urge was animalistic and pure desperation
rolled into one. I just needed him. For so long I'd been
fighting these feelings and now I couldn't anymore. It was
like something else was in control.
My arms wrapped around his neck tighter as my fingers
combed through his hair. I could feel his fingers on me,
leaving a heated, teasing trail through the material of the
dress, and there was nothing more I wanted than to rip the
material away. His lips were hot on mine, and just as
desperate as mine were on his.
I was barely aware of anything other than Eric so when
my back pressed against something solid - the mirror I
think - I let out a small gasp of surprise against his lips. I
felt his hands snaking up my body all the way to the side of
my neck, then seconds later his lips were on the opposite
side leaving burning kisses. I threw my head back, not
being able to think or breathe properly. I was just about
ready to burst when a knock on the bedroom door
interrupted the silence. Instantly the sound snapped me
back to reality and I shoved him off me completely
breathless.
“Who is it?” Eric called, annoyance deep in his voice.
His eyes never left me. They showed the same hunger I
felt clawing at my stomach.
“It's me. Dad.” I took a deep breath, automatically
starting to panic.
“Just a second,” Eric called back, his eyes trained on
me. “Okay?” he asked and I shook my head at him walking
towards my suitcases. Before I could reach them, I turned
on my heels going back to Eric.
My mind was buzzing and in chaos, and my entire body
shook. I felt like an addict having withdrawal symptoms. I
wanted to be close to him, but I knew that I had to get
myself in order before his dad came into the room. Both
were important, I just didn't know which was more
important. Undecided, I spun on my heels again going to
the suitcase, then circled around only to walk back to Eric.
He caught me by the shoulders, holding me still. “Just
breathe, Jen; it'll be fine.” I listened, inhaling deeply as I
took a step closer to him, pressing my head into his chest.
Instantly his scent flooded me and it helped to ease the
need circling me a little. It was still there, just not as
intense as it had been moments ago.
When the trembling had stopped, I pulled away from
him and smoothed out his tux, making sure that I hadn't
gotten any makeup on him. I then raised my fingers to his
lips, gently wiping away what little lipstick had stained his
lips. When I was done with him I went over to the mirror
making sure I looked as I had before. Satisfied, I finally
made it to my suitcases and got out the ring Eric had given
me. I slipped it on my finger and turned to face him,
nodding.
“You can come in,” Eric called and moments later
Eric's father entered the room holding five, blue velvet
cases in his arms and wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
He dropped the cases on the bed carelessly then looked
up at me. “Hi Jen, it's nice to meet you. I'm not counting
the first time you saw me, that was...” he trailed off
awkwardly. “I'm sorry,” he smiled embarrassed “I'm
nervous and-” he stopped suddenly as his eyes bugged out.
“Oh my,” he turned to Eric now. “Mom is on her way up.
She cannot see me not dressed yet. Please can you stall her
a minute?”
Eric looked to me before answering. It was only when I
squeezed his hand at my side that he nodded and made a
move to the door. The minute he left the raw gut
wrenching need to have him closer flooded me, this time
stronger and harsher than before. I could barely see
straight or form a coherent thought. What the Hell was
this?
“So Jen, I can call you Jen right? Or do you prefer
Jenifer?” Eric's dad said and I had to force myself to listen
to him.
“Jen is fine.”
“Jen,” he leaned over the bed, straightening each case
until it was in a perfect line. Then he began opening them .
“These are some of the family jewels. They've been in the
family for generations and it's an old tradition that we pass
it on to the females in the family. Christy and Kate both
have some already and now so do you.” He straightened
and turned to face me.
“But I am not a part of your family, not yet anyway,” I
pointed out.
He walked up to me and took my good hand in both of
his. Instinctively I stiffened at his touch, but he pretended
not to notice. “But you are,” he smiled. “You care about
us, right?” I nodded instantly; of course I cared for them.
“And we care for you. What more is there to family?” He
gave my hand a gentle squeeze and then led me to the edge
of the bed, gesturing for me to sit. I did without asking
why.
“You don't have to wear any tonight, you look lovely
just the way you are but if you want to that’s fine. The
choice is up to you, really. I just wanted to give them to
you so you know you’re important to us. I should go now,
before Kate finds out I'm not dressed yet,” he smiled
gently and walked out of the room.
When he shut the door behind him, I looked at the five
open cases lying on the bed. There were chains and earring
sets, necklaces, hand bands, all either gold or diamonds. I
turned away from the cases thinking about what Eric's dad
had said.
To them, I was family. They all cared for me already
and as impossible as it was, I cared for them too; Christy
and her angelic smile, Mrs. Wilson and her gentle,
charming soul, Dr. Wilson and his goofy, awkwardness,
and Eric, above all kind and charming Eric, who loved me
knowing I loved another. I was so confused. What was I
doing? Could I continue not taking my meds and hurt
these people?
When Eric came back into the room, I was still sitting
on the bed debating this. I didn't know what to do.
“Okay?” he asked and I nodded closing each case. Just as I
was about to snap the last case shut one of the chains
caught my eyes. It was extremely thin, simple silver,
delicate chain. The pendant was black though, a black
widow spider. I pulled it out and shut the last case.
“Eric,” I began, staring at the pendant on the palm of
my hand. “What does the black widow mean?” He sat
down on the bed at my side and instantly, the almost
painful need to be close to him eased.
“The what?” he asked.
“The spider, it's everywhere. It's engraved on the front
doors, it's on the fountain out front and it's printed into
the invitation.” I held up the chain for him to see. “What
does it mean?”
“It's the family's sigil,” he explained looking at me. I
turned away from him staring at the spider dangling on the
chain.
“So it's kinda like a family crest... Strange...” I
wondered, my eyes never leaving the chain. “Ever since I
could remember I've had a fascination with these spiders
and it just happens to be a representation of your family...”
I looked up facing him now, giving him a chance to
explain if he wanted to. I refused to believe that this was
coincidence.
Eric's only response was a half hearted shrug as he took
the chain from my fingers and began to put it on me.
“Why do you like them?” I knew he was straying from the
subject, but tonight I didn't want to fight with him.
“They're...” I struggled looking for the right words,
“beautiful... and deadly at the same time. Their perfection
and beauty draws you in but when they ne ed to, they don't
hesitate to strike.” Eric stared at me in silence, as if I had
figured out some deep, dark, ancient secret.
The silence dragged on and just as I was about to break
it Eric stood up, holding out his hand to me. “Ready?” he
asked as I walked over to the mirror and took one last look
at myself. Now I had on two chains and they looked weird
together. One needed to come off.
One was the spider chain and the other was a long,
sliver chain that went under the dress hiding what it was
supposed to. I pulled that one out, feeling the ring under
the dress slide up my belly and then into the open. I lifted
the chain over my head staring at the first engagement ring
I’d ever gotten. It wasn’t lavish or overly flashy. It was just
a plain sliver band but worth more than I could ever
explain.
I dropped the ring and chain on the bed with the rest
of the jewelry and then walked over to Eric taking his
hand, allowing him to lead me out of the room and down
the long corridor towards the main staircase. Already I
could hear soft music and mindless, dull chatter coming
from downstairs. I took a deep breath trying to steady
myself. We were out of the hallway now and I was
standing just beyond the balcony, gazing down at the tiny
sea of people under me. One step closer and they could
gaze up and see me.
“Are you ready?” Eric asked again.
“No,” I shook my head, not looking at him. I planted
my feet firmly to the ground. “It sounds like a lot of
people are down there,” I commented.
“Yes,” he said and I looked to him at my side. “There
are over four hundred and we're expecting more.” I
swallowed.
It took me a minute to find my voice. “How do they all
fit?”
“My mom had some of the walls taken out this
morning, except those that separates the kitchen. Now it’s
all one big ballroom.”
“What?” I wondered. He’d said it as if taking down
some walls were no problem at all.
“The ground floor was built with this in mind. It’s easy
to take down and put back up,” he shrugged as if they
took down the walls every other day. Then again, the
Wilsons weren’t exactly an average family so maybe they
did.
I took a deep breath. “Shall we?” I asked before I could
give myself the chance to back out.
We stepped onto the staircase and began slowly making
our way down, mostly because I was afraid I'd trip and fall,
making a complete and utter ass of myself. “Eric,” I
whispered facing him. “Thank you... for staying with me
tonight... It helps to know that tonight is about you too.”
“About that,” he muttered smiling at me. “This isn't for
me. No matter what the invitation says, everyone is here
for only one purpose, to meet you.” I made a move to pull
my hand away from him and stop, but instead of letting
me go, he grasped my hand even tighter dragging me
along.
“But you said-” I began staring at him, horrified.
“I lied,” he smiled unashamed and suddenly stopped at
the end of the staircase. I ordered my eyes away from Eric
looking at the entire floor filled with people. All staring at
me, and I suddenly felt like I was drowning. My heart
kicked off so strongly and with such force that I could
hear my ribcage practically breaking under the pressure of
containing it.
Then something amazing and downright scary
happened. Almost as if everyone in the room had
practiced before, they all bowed in unison, each w ith the
same gentle, graceful movement in perfect harmony and
timing.
Confused, I frowned wondering why they were bowing
and to whom, because it certainly couldn't be me. I leaned
into Eric, my voice a hushed whisper. “You aren't by
chance related to the royal family,” I paused for a minute
considering the thought, “right? I mean, you aren't...
right?”
My mind was racing. If Eric was of noble blood that
would explain a lot, like this castle he called home and why
his family had a crest. Normal rich people didn't wake up
one day and decided their family was so special they
needed a sigil. “Oh God,” I muttered, my breathing
uneven.
“You may all rise,” Eric said to the crowd, instead of
answering me. I forced myself to look away from him and
focus on something else, something unimportant.
The entire floor was decorated. Everything was
beautiful, there were hundreds of flowers and lights
hanging from everywhere. Purple and gold thick drapes
hung from the window, though they were carefully
gathered to each side of the windows, allowing a clear view
of the night's sky. Being here felt unreal, like I had been
shoved into a fairytale world and at any moment I would
wake up.
Just then Eric released my hand and I looked up to him
watching as he took two glasses with what I guessed held
wine from a tray a waiter was holding at his side. He
offered me one and I took it gratefully. Alcohol was
essential if I wanted to survive tonight.
Eric then turned back to the crowd in front of us,
smiling charmingly. “Hello everyone,” he began, “I'd like
to present to you Miss Jenifer Kate Carson, my intended.”
He said the words with warmth and pride, as if he was
showing off his most precious possession. I turned and
saw him smiling down at me, his face echoing everything
I'd heard in his voice and more. “I would also like to thank
you all for coming. I know that for most of you the
journey has been long and terrible, so on behalf of my
family and I, I thank you all for celebrating this wonderful
event with us.” He was still smiling at me. Even though he
wasn't speaking to me his eyes never left my face. “So,” he
mused turning to the crowd finally, “let’s celebrate,” he
cheered and the room was suddenly filled with laughter
and clapping.
Throughout the night I was introduced to what felt like
everyone in the room, and there were hundreds of guests.
Even though Eric never left my side, he only got just
enough attention as was respectful while I was the centre
of it. Everyone wanted to meet me for some reason that I
didn't understand, and they all treated with me with so
much respect and formality you'd think I was royalty too.
For the entire night compliments and congratulations
followed us. They all said nice things about me, that I was
lovely and beautiful. That Eric was lucky, and we were
perfectly suited for each other. Soon I began to get tired of
it all. They were all fake and pretentious. There smiles were
too sweet, hugs to warm. They were just too friendly.
Another thing that I noticed they all shared was the same
beauty and elegance. Every man, woman and child had
features of Gods and Goddess' that couldn't be obtained
by makeup. They all moved fluidly and smoothly, so
graceful it was like being in an anime world.