The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,20
started in the middle with a pink crystal heart and branched out like black vines across her right shoulder and down to cover her fingers. Her long black hair was now braided straight down her back. Her lips were now deep wine red and her eyes lined with black.
Ms. Bishop looked to the crowd and shrugged. “Better?”
There was a beat of silence and then the room erupted with cheers of excitement. People rushed to her like she was the Queen of England. But then her name registered. Bishop. I’d heard about Bishops this morning. They told me Bishop was a founding bloodline – the one with the most magic. Which made sense. The air tingled with electricity with every step inside the girl took. That pink crystal tattoo on her chest sparkled and pulsed.
I leaned over. “Louis? Who is she? Is she really a Bishop?”
“Yup. Tegan Bishop. High Priestess of The Coven,” he said in a rush under his breath. “Pippa told me she’s Bettina’s best friend and arrived with them this morning but fell unconscious right after.”
“She’s a Bishop.”
He chuckled. “Apparently there are six Bishops in The Coven right now. Wicked brilliant if you ask me.”
“Her tattoo,” I tapped on my chest. “Does it mean something?”
His eyes widened. “You don’t know?”
I shook my head.
“It’s a soulmate glyph—OH, she’s headed to the buffet. I’m going to see if I can catch her.”
I waved to his back as he skipped toward the buffet line – like everyone else did. If Tegan Bishop noticed, she surely didn’t give a damn. She prowled over to the buffet line and grabbed a plate, looking like a mama duck with all her ducklings waddling behind her. With everyone’s attention on the High Priestess, I turned and slipped through the crowd in the opposite direction, just in time to see Jackson and Bettina sneak out the back door. I chuckled and hurried over to the little two-person table under the big glass windows on the far wall, the one that overlooked the estate garden. It’d been occupied all night but it was free now. I sat down and turned my attention to the window.
The glass was ice-cold to the touch but it felt heavenly against my forehead as I leaned against it. Down below, I caught a glimpse of Jackson and Bettina kissing and it made me smile. Cheeky teenagers. When they scurried off in the direction of Jackson’s room, I chuckled and glanced over my shoulder. Pippa and Gregory were surrounded by guests, completely oblivious that their guests of honor had skipped out for a shag. I wasn’t going to tattle on them.
A sharp chill prickled on the back of my neck. I gasped and sat up straight. I felt eyes on my back. Something slid down my spine and I shivered. No one at the party acted any differently. No one acted like they felt that. My pulse skipped beats and my stomach tightened into knots. Slowly, I spun back to face the window, then leaned forward.
And saw nothing.
The garden lights were off so that the lights of the ball would twinkle from outside. It was just utter darkness outside. The night was clear and a dark navy blue. Stars twinkled down at us, surrounding a soft glowing moon.
I looked to the shadows. I scanned each one, searching for glowing gold eyes. Yet there were none. Everything was dark and still. Each sway of the bushes in the breeze made me jump, and every time it was nothing. No demon-dog. No man with smoke wings. No—
“May I join you?”
Chapter Five
Chloe
“May I join you?”
I jumped and my forehead slammed into the glass. “Gorblimey.”
Someone giggled behind me. “My bad.”
I rubbed my head and turned toward the unfamiliar voice – then froze. My eyes widened. “High Priestess.”
She shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
I blinked and shook myself. “Um, yes. Yes, join me. Sure. Fine.”
She narrowed those pale green eyes on me and sat down, holding only a biscuit. She held it up. “Do you know how long I stood in front of the sign that said biscuits waiting for a biscuit to show up? Do you know how many of your family members just watched me without helping me? I mean, help a girl out, eh?”
I snorted and covered my mouth with my hand.
“Are y’all still mad about the tea thing?” She shook her head but there was a twinkle in her eyes that put me on edge. She leaned forward and grinned the dodgiest of all grins.