Darkness Deceives - Katie May Page 0,9

to the class, she had us all stand in a single file line, then proceeded to pass through all of us.

Retching noises filled the small classroom, and a few DDs actually got sick. My own stomach churns recalling the rancid smell of puke from several students. I find it satisfying to know I’m able to make my brothers feel that way.

My feet touch the ground as I materialize. Moments later, I hear footsteps pounding down the hallway just before my brothers barge into the empty classroom. A feeling of déjà vu hits me as the four of us stand here, none of us knowing exactly what to do. It was only a few hours ago that we discovered Hadley’s prone form on an altar of stone, bound by the hands of who we now know was Jake.

Fucking Jake.

We still don’t know where that sick prick is, but if we ever find him, you can bet your ass he’ll experience every pain that he inflicted on our Hadley.

“Let’s go,” I call to my brothers before turning to the hearth.

I’m about to lower myself through the floor and into the vast maze of tunnels when I hear a voice.

An old voice.

“Hey there, stallion. Can I go for a ride?” I freeze and turn around to find Aggie and Layla emerging into the room.

Layla’s face pales when she takes in our state, but she quickly recovers, puts her hands on her hips, and tosses her long curls over one shoulder, giving each of us a chastising look.

“Do one of you want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

Fuck.

Chapter 6

Hadley

I wake up feeling rejuvenated.

Yawning, I stretch my sore muscles, flickering open my eyelids. My room is still dark—a dusky gray—but the lamp flanking my bed is on.

I blink rapidly, attempting to orient myself to my surroundings. This is my room, of course, but I’m struggling to understand how I got here. The last thing I remember is my date with Caius, where I had mentally decided to confess my feelings to the brooding Dearly Departed.

He already owns my soul; I want to give him my heart as well.

And then…

Nothing.

How much wine did I have at dinner?

Groaning, I clutch my head, aware of a dull ache reverberating just behind my eyes. I don’t feel as if I’m hungover—more like I didn’t sleep well the night before, tossing and turning while sleep continuously evaded me.

“Thank the Fates. You’re up.” Layla’s voice sounds like fingernails scraping against the inside of my skull. I wince, groaning, and bring one hand up to rub at the tender skin.

“Keep it down, will you? I have the hangover from Hell.”

“Been there, done that,” Aggie retorts from wherever she is in the room—probably on her bed butt naked. “You would think someone as sexually experienced as me would enjoy hot coals damned with Hell Fire, but noooo. Would not recommend. Unless you want third degree burns on your coosh and hoosh.”

I reluctantly reopen my eyes, immediately meeting Layla’s from where she leans over me. Her brows pucker, lips curling downwards.

“What? Do I have something in my hair?”

Please don’t let it be vomit from my night of drinking.

“How was your date?” she asks nonchalantly. Too nonchalantly. I know my friend—her expression may be impassive, but I can see the slightest tightening of her eyes.

“Did you get your vagina plowed?” adds Aggie. The crazy old woman leans forward on the edge of her own bed dressed as…fucking Catwoman. The leather bodysuit crinkles each time she shifts. Plastic cat ears—where the fuck did she even get them in the Afterlife to begin with?—complete the outfit.

“We had fun,” I say, shrugging.

I think.

“Did you tell him how you feel?” Layla asks, continuing her persistent questioning. I quirk a brow at her in confusion. Something about her voice sounds…off. It’s not the usual cheerful chatter I’ve come to expect from my best friend.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you tell him you love him?” Her teeth worry her bottom lip.

“Why…? Why does it matter? That’s between me and him.” Something occurs to me, and I bolt upright in bed, my blanket sliding down. I hadn’t even noticed before then that I had changed into my sleep cami and shorts. Or Caius changed me. The memory is fuzzy. “Layla, do you have feelings for Caius?”

The words taste like vomit in my mouth, and pain spears my chest. Caius is…well…he’s perfect. I may be biased, but he has this charisma and charm that propels others towards him.

And Layla herself is