Now’s not the time for rebellion or defiance.My parents love me, and my mother’s done so much work to show that… while also making an impression on some influential people with deep pockets.Oh, that bitterness has an ugly head, doesn’t it?Guess there’s more heathen beneath these robes than disciple.
“I want you to see the barn before the guests arrive.Are you ladies ready to go?”My mother directs her attention to my friends for the first time, and her brows perk up at the sight of so much skin and vinyl.“Wow.Don’t you all look… revealing?”
“Thank you,” Danika says, her smile wicked.“I think I’ll fit right in at this party.”She struts past everyone in the black platform boots that blend seamlessly with her attire.Her outfit accentuates every curve.
“Do you have a cape to go with that?”my mother calls after her, following Danika out the door.Jaz, Darcy and I laugh, knowing the last thing Danika wants is to be tamed or concealed.I grab my white feather clutch and make sure I have my phone, lip gloss and mints before leaving my room.
Idiscover my wings unhookfrom the corset band around my ribs so I’m able to sit.And maybe I can ditch them like an uncomfortable pair of heels once everyone’s dancing.
When we arrive, the door’s opened by a valet waiting to greet us.Mom is definitely all about impressing everyone tonight.Hollis isn’t avaletkind of town.That’s more of Wetherford’s style, where estates are second homes to many of its affluent residents.Danika winks at the college-aged guy in the red jacket when she exits.He fights to remain professional, pursing his lips to hide a smile.But his eyes have a hard time looking away from her.
“I don’t think I’ll be allowed to enter,” Danika mutters when we approach the barn.
“Same,” Jaz says quietly, causing Darcy to snicker.
The barn doors have been transformed to resemble the pearly gates to heaven.A blinding white light lures us in.
I remember the talks.The vision boards.The samples from florists.But I wasn’t really taking it all in, too busy with my internal temper tantrum.This theme wasn’t what I wanted, so I nodded and smiled in the way I do at my parents’ dinners and fundraising events.Absent and numbly participating.
Obviously, I missed a lot.And that’s a good thing because this is more spectacular than I ever could’ve imagined.
The girls spin around the inside of the barn with their mouths hanging open.The dark wood is nearly concealed behind billowing white fabric draping the walls and clouds of white roses floating at various levels from the expansive ceiling.
White-lacquered pedestal tables and square seated tables are decorated with candles, feathers and white flowers.Daybeds, adorned with plush and feather pillows, are tucked around the room, encircled by sheer drapes hanging from feathered and crystal chandeliers, providing a faux sense of privacy.
“Are those from your new line?”I ask my mother, eyeing the familiar patterns on the pillows.
“They are,” she confirms almost apologetically.“I thought this would be as good a time as any to reveal pieces from my collection.Most of the fabric is from my line.I hope you don’t mind.”
I shake my head.My parents are definitely getting a lot more out of this party than I am.This is absolutely stunning.Except it’s not… me.
I watch the string ensemble set up in the corner and bite my lip.Whoever comes to this from school is not going to get it.I’m wondering how long they’ll stay.Or if they’ll even show once they know most of their parents will be here too.
“What is this madness?”Jaz exclaims from the other side of the barn.
We walk to a gold railing that surrounds what first looks like an opening in the barn floor, but realize it’s a clear floor to view the lower level.
“That’s where they used to store hay and equipment during the winter months.We replaced the wooden floor panels with thick acrylic ones.Came out better than I could’ve hoped.”My mother beams beside me.I still haven’t closed my mouth.This wasneverdiscussed while I was there.
Danika squeals and prances to the stairs.We follow.
The sublevel has been transformed into… hell.Well, the club version of it anyway.A DJ, dressed as a demon in a black satin shirt, is busy plugging in his equipment.The entire space glows red.Instead of a disco ball, fiery fabric flickers within a clear cylinder, casting flames around the glittery black dance floor.
I peruse the perimeter, admiring the walls, transformed to appear like a stone dungeon, where demons lurk within window cutouts.Black booths, couches and tables provide concealed seating in the shadows despite the black crystal chandeliers suspended above them.If I had my choice, this is close to what I would’ve designed.
“We figured the adults will want to be upstairs, so we designed this for you.It was Sadie’s idea.”
I look at my mother oddly.I mean, Ididsay something about being in hell when they kept talking about rose clouds and sparkly wings.I guess they took it as inspiration instead of griping.However this came to exist, I don’t regret it.
“And we can see everything you do, but soundproofed it so we hopefully won’t hear you,” my mother says with a smile.“Clever, right?”
“Or voyeuristic,” Danika mutters.
“One more thing.”My mother leads us back up the stairs to a door to the side-yard.A sign made of a broken concrete slab hasPurgatoryetched across it.
We’re greeted by the chill of the fall night.A shiver runs down my spine.Three cauldrons emit flames, and armchairs with tall backs have fur blankets hanging from each arm.Glowing heating lamps stand between chrome pedestal tables with matching barstools.
Set just outside the seating area are three small eerie tents with dramatic peaks.Their swirling red, gold and black sides flap ominously in the still night.A heavy curtain hides what’s within.A signpost pounded into the ground announcesFates.Above each entrance, the occupant is named:Maiden,MotherandCrone.
