“YOLO,” Raine says and tosses popcorn in the air to try and catch it in her mouth. It rains down on her, falling in her hair and bouncing off her face. “Oops.”
“Does he like you back?” Honey asks. “Do you know if he’s going to claim you?”
“Claim me?”
“Fraternitas has all sorts of rituals, and one of them is claiming an elita. Elita means ‘chosen one.’ It’s different from a marriage. For them, it’s more intense.”
“Kaiser hasn’t said anything about that.” My chest is tight. Will he claim me? Do I want him to? I feel disappointed that he hasn’t even mentioned it.
“I don’t know the exact details, but I do know when they claim a chosen one, it’s them claiming ownership and vowing to protect you with their life. It’s like their vow to Fraternitas. It’s all about loyalty.” She tells us about a few elitas she knew from the club. “Kaiser’s brother claimed my friend Elodie last fall. They have some sort of ceremony that’s secret, for Fraternitas only, but maybe once you’re married, she’ll tell you about it.”
“Okay.” This is overwhelming. I want to know more, but I’m also worried about what I’ll discover.
“You can also get Kaiser to take you to Pandemonium,” Honey says. “It’s a wild party at Club Empire, the sex club they run in New Rome. If there’s a claiming ceremony, it’ll be on that night. Then you can ask him about it.”
“Sex club?” Raine sits up, sending popcorn flying every which way. “I want to go.”
“Maybe we can all go,” I say. “I’ll get Kaiser to take me and see if you can come as guests.”
“We might have to sneak in,” Honey says. She glances at Raine.
“Three, two, one,” I count down and we all shout, “YOLO!”
* * *
Sleepover 8:12 pm
* * *
We watch the sunset from the tower, dressed in costumes we found in a closet.
“It’s so beautiful.” Honey eats a handful of popcorn and sniffles. She’s got on vivid mermaid makeup that actually looks amazing, except now it’s a little smeared. “I’m crying because I’m so happy.” She giggles through her tears.
“Amateur,” Raine smiles. She’s only gotten more mellow. “Hey, is that a graveyard?” She’s looking out back into the forest.
I’m looking the opposite way, toward the official university campus. Across the field in front of Honey’s house-dorm lies the labyrinth, and from this vantage point, I can see the pentacle design hidden at its center. Beyond the boxwood hedges rises the dome of the conservatory and the stone buildings on the quads.
“I’m the king of the world!” I scream, pumping my fists into the air. I’m wearing a bear robe, the kind that has the head still attached. Both Honey and Raine declared it creepy, but I don’t care.
“Are you even high?” Raine asks me.
“No. I’m just like this.”
“I’m so glad I know you,” Honey coos, laying her head on my shoulder. I tell her I love her, and we cuddle until the bear head flops on her and she freaks out.
* * *
Sleepover 11:29 pm
* * *
“Do the thing!” I shout. We’re back in the drawing room.
“I don’t want to do the thing,” Raine says.
“You’re so good at it!” Honey encourages. She’s stretched out on the couch, playing with the curls on her terrible wig.
“I’m not good at it,” Raine protests while lying on the bear rug I found.
