The Blood Party
Adriana
Music filled the flat, echoing down the hallway and seeping out onto the street below. It was a warm evening; the windows were wide open, letting their laughter and cigarette smoke waft out into the air and surround anyone who passed by. It was the kind of laughter that comes from deep inside, the type to make you forget all your worries and troubles. It was the kind of laughter that made the world seem like a brighter place, even if only for a fleeting moment.
Adriana and Cass were singing and dancing barefoot around the living room, bottles of wine in hand being used as microphones between sips. They were completely lost in their own little world, just enjoying each other’s company as they often did.
As the song changed, Adriana’s eyes lit up, her eyebrows shooting up and her lips curling into a smile around her cigarette as she pointed at Cass.
“I love this song!” she yelled, her hips swaying dramatically to the tune. “This is the best one, none of the others come close, I’m telling you.”
“Really? I would’ve thought you’d prefer Sinatra?”
Cass slumped down on the sofa, dizzy from all the spinning. Adriana threw a cushion at her before stubbing her cigarette out into the ashtray balanced on the windowsill.
“No, no, no, just listen!” Adriana held her arms to the side, gesturing for Cass to take in the music like she was. “This song is incredible, Bobby Womack’s version is by far the best. It kept me company when I was living with your bitchy great aunt.”
Adriana began to slowly dance towards her, using her bottle as a microphone again as she sang at full volume.
“In other words, hold my hand. In other words, darlin’, I love ya!”
Cass giggled from the sofa at Adriana’s ongoing enthusiastic performance. As the next verse began, Adriana’s singing drifted away when she heard a familiar sound from the pack pocket of her jeans. Mitch’s text tone.
Fumbling for a moment, she tucked her bottle of wine under her arm to pull her phone out of her pocket and read his message. He was inviting her to the club tonight, with a promise of even more fun than her last visit.
She was halfway through sending a response, telling him that she would unfortunately have to pass, when Cass muttered, “I guess you’re going out again.”
Adriana peered up at her, tucking her phone back into her pocket as she took in her friend’s pouty expression. It had been a few nights since her last visit to the club, the night that she had foolishly allowed Mitch to bring his friends into the room.Though she felt that inevitable itch to go back, to partake in her deepest desires, she hadn’t wanted to upset Cass, so she hadn’t attended any more blood parties since. She’d still worked late nights at the bar above, but she’d gone straight home after every shift.
As she opened her mouth to explain that she wasn’t, in fact, planning on going out, Cass interrupted her.
“I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to say you’re fine and it’s all just a bit of fun, but it’s not. You’re not fine, Adriana. I know you.”
Adriana couldn’t help the scowl that twisted its way across her face. “Well, if you know me so well then I suppose there’s nothing else for me to say.”
“Oh, don’t get all defensive. You-know-who has been on the TV loads recently, and you expect me to believe you’ve just coincidentally been going to the club a lot more since he’s been making more appearances?”
Adriana said nothing as she took another long drink, narrowing her eyes at Cass. She knew it helped to talk about her feelings, she’d made a point to discuss her emotions with Cass and her other more agreeable family members, and had even visited a few therapists over the years for additional support. But right now wasn’t one of those times to talk. She just needed a distraction, it was the only thing that ever seemed to work. A distraction of pain and desire, to momentarily replace the pain her desire for him left behind.
“I’ve been thinking,” Cass said, as she sat up on the sofa to face her properly. “I mean, with all these Umbranima attacks since those Liberators started to really fuck things up again, maybe we should rethink our situation? Maybeyoushould rethink it?
Adriana’s jaw tensed. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”
“Come on, you can’t pretend you don’t see the news. You know how bad things are getting out there. If your power can really help, maybe it’s time we step up. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding from Alexander.”
The room went silent as the music faded out. Adriana switched the speakers off before the next song could play and slammed her bottle of wine on the coffee table, making Cass flinch. She said nothing as she put her gloves on, tucking them under the long sleeves of her shirt, before grabbing her jacket and boots. Marching straight for the door, she ignored Cass’ sad eyes, just as she ignored the tears that threatened to spill from her own.
“Addie, wait,” Cass called after her as Adriana grabbed the handle. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you. I shouldn’t have brought it up right now.”
Adriana stood still in front of the door with her hand gripping the handle, keeping her back to Cass as she took a few deep breaths. She didn’t want to look at her, didn’t want to acknowledge that Cass was right. She knew the Courts needed her, and she knew she was selfish for hiding, for being a coward when the whole world needed her power to survive. But she just couldn’t do it, she couldn’t face him. If she did, she’d have to face everything that had happened, everything he did to her, and the monster she had become.
Turning her head slightly, she whispered, “Don’t ever say his name to me again,” before she threw open the door and slammed it shut after her.
The underground club was busy again, just like it had been during her last visit. A lot of Daemons had been visiting from all over the country recently, according to Mitchell. It seemed his club had gained quite a respected reputation.
Adriana felt awful about snapping at Cass. She hadn't meant to be so rude, and she knew Cass would always support her with whatever decision she’d make. But being asked to reconsider hiding from Xander, to reconsider everything she had been running from since he had turned her… it was too much.
She knew the Umbranima attacks were getting worse as a result of the government being unable to contain the Liberators’ influence. It would only be a matter of time before she would need to step up, but not yet. She wasn’t sure when she’d be able to face him, to face her past, but she wasn’t ready right now.
