Fables & Other Lies - Claire Contreras Page 0,48
covered most of his olive skin. He had wise brown eyes and I knew instantly he wanted to make some kind of sales pitch. “I’ve been looking for you. We still haven’t discussed the yachts.”
“Right.” River gave a nod. “Dev, this is Penelope. Penelope, this is Dev, an associate of mine.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Penelope.” Dev took my hand and pulled me to him, kissing me on either cheek. When he pulled away he gave me a once-over. “I know I don’t usually meddle in your personal life, but this one is a keeper, River.”
“I completely agree with you for once.” River’s hand squeezed mine as he looked at me. I felt my heart skip one beat too many.
“Shall we talk business? It’ll only take a moment,” Dev said.
“I’m okay. I should go find my friends anyway,” I said to River before looking over at Dev. “It was nice to meet you, Dev.”
“Pleasure was all mine.” He bowed slightly as I started to let go of River’s hand and walk away.
River held on to my hand and pulled me back to him, making my chest crash against his. “Don’t go into the white room.”
“Why not? Is that where the orgies take place?” I smiled at his scowl. “Maybe I’ll change my mind and decide to partake in something illicit after all.”
“Please don’t go in there.” The plea in his eyes was enough to make me yield any warning from him, so I simply nodded slowly.
“I won’t.”
He let go of my arm and turned his attention back to Dev as I walked away and spotted Dee and the rest of my friends.
“This party is amazing,” she said, setting down her empty glass on a tray walking by.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“Not much.”
“Alcohol hits differently here,” Martín said.
“You said that about Pan.” I eyed him, his glass, and then Jose and his date’s.
“Yeah, well, it hits even harder here,” Martín said, his words slurred. “You haven’t uploaded any more pictures.”
“I will soon. I have to edit them. I just took them this morning.”
“I’m going back into the white room,” Jose said, grabbing his date’s hand.
“What’s going on in that room?”
“Orgies,” Dee said. “Gay, straight, whatever. It’s interesting.”
“You went in there?” My head whipped back to her.
“Just to watch. Martín doesn’t want to take his clothes off here.” She rolled her eyes.
“I’m wearing an Oscar de la Renta tux. One of a kind. I don’t know who will see it and take it,” he said. “The man is dead. It’s not like he can make me another.”
“That is actually totally understandable.” I shrugged a shoulder.
“Who designed the dress you’re wearing?” Dee asked, taking it in again. “It’s so gorgeous and it looks like it was made for you.”
“Carolina Herrera.”
“Wow,” Dee whispered, reaching out and touching the silk fabric. “Just wow.”
“Yours is beautiful too.” I smiled.
“Jenny Polanco.” She winked. “We met Sarah Caliban earlier. She’s wearing a Polanco piece as well.”
“What’d you think?” I looked between Dee and Martín.
“Honestly? It’s creepy after knowing the story,” Martín said.
“They both look way too young for their age,” Dee added. “Do you think they’re vampires?”
“Vampires?” I laughed, then sobered up. I couldn’t take any more magic talk. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Kind of. I mean, this house is so dark, only lit by gas lamps like we’re in the 1920s, and they’re so young-looking. How else do you explain it?”
“I can’t.” I shrugged.
“They’re rich,” Martín said. “Not rich like us, rich like point eight percent of the world rich. I think they do look their age, but they’re devoid of the stress that others would have, so their skin is less wrinkled.”
“Maybe,” Dee said, though her expression was dubious. I agreed with her.
“During one of the tours of Pan Island,” Martín started, “the guide said Wilfred’s first wife died in the ocean trying to get back to Pan Island. They said that’s the reason the ocean between Dolos Island and Pan is so angry.”
“That’s . . . ” Dee shivered. “I don’t want to think about drowning.”
“Same. Let’s talk about something else before my head explodes,” I said. “Have you been to any of the other rooms, or is it just this dance area and the white room that are open?”
“I think I only saw that one,” Dee said. “I just want to dance anyway. I don’t want to explore more of the house. Who knows what lurks here.” She shivered visibly.
“You can always go to the white room and check it out while we