First World (25 page)

“Would you like to dance,
Aribella?” Lucas stood before me.

I should have known
. Although the jolt wasn’t as obvious, there was still some type of mild electric connection between us.

I looked to the corner where I’d left Brace. He was gone. I turned back and, with a sigh, nodded.

“As long as you call me Abby.”

I placed my hand into the crook of his
outstretched arm. He smiled broadly.

“Abby it is then.” He spun me out onto the floor.

I swayed awkwardly a few times, uncomfortably, but at least I was more co-ordinated barefoot.

“Sorry, I have no idea how to dance.” I shrugged.

“Oh, really? I couldn’t tell. You do such a perfect sway.” Lucas smiled cheekily.

Flushing a little, I smiled back. “You should see me do the chicken dance. I was compound champion.”

Laughing, he leaned closer, the standard First Worlders’ perfect white teeth flashing, the cold iciness of his blond beauty softening as he smiled.

“I have no idea what a chicken dance is.” He looked down. “Do you
realize you aren’t wearing shoes?”

I looked down at my bare toes. At least my toenails looked wicked. They were painted a shimmery black to match my dress.

“Yeah, they’re over in the corner somewhere.” I sighed. “They were killing my feet.”

Lucas threw back his head, laughing out loud. “You are definitely not what I expected.”

He wasn’t exactly my expectation of the spoilt future Emperor either. But there was still something about him that made me feel edgy.

I turned at a low deep growl. There was no one around us; I couldn’t tell where the rumble
came from. Suddenly a hand appeared on Lucas’s arm. Brace appeared from nowhere to stand before us, serious and, as usual, beautiful. And, as usual, those damn eyes called to me, tantalizing me.

“Do you mind if I steal Abby away for a minute?”

I could hear the restrained anger in his voice.
What was his problem?

Lucas looked down at me before facing Brace. He had to look up a little to meet his eyes, but eventually he nodded and stepped away.

I noticed Brace had my shiny black heels hooked over his right hand.

“Did you lose something, Red?” he asked me.

Shaking my head, I snatched the heels from him.

“Now, now, snatching isn’t nice, Abby.”

Screwing up my nose, I stuck my tongue out at him.

With great difficulty, I managed to finagle my shoes on. Brace stood back, grinning at me.

“Abbs, everything okay over here?”

Lucy and Samuel were dancing next to us; we were in the centre of the dance floor.

I nodded once and before she could question me further Samuel swept her off. As I watched them, Samuel laughed into her upturned glaring face, before leaning in closer to whisper in her ear. She turned back toward me, looking curious. I shifted my attention before she returned to rescue me again.

“So, how about that dance?”
Brace held out a hand.

I glared at him. At least with those stupid heels we were much closer in height.

“How about ‘no’?” I turned to storm off.

He caught my hand, and hauled me back against his body. “Come on, you don’t want to create a scene at your own party,” he whispered into my ear.

I couldn’t move or answer. Electricity zoomed through our closely pressed bodies. I stopped struggling and just breathed. The connection between us was as strong as ever.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around to visit you.”

We were swaying closely; the entire world disappeared as he spoke.

“I just had a few things to take care of. But Sammy told me about your adventure. I’ve decided you need me, so I’m coming
along.”

I pulled back, spluttering a little. “What makes you think we need you?”

What was Brace up to now?

Shaking his head, he pulled me back into his arms.

“I said you need me and, more importantly, Sam doesn’t want to be the only guy on the trip.”

I continued to glare.
But there was something I’d been wanting to say, and since this was the first time I’d seen him since Earth, now was it.

I took a deep breath. “Thank you for
... uh ... killing Olden ... saving me.” I stuttered over my words, I didn’t really know how to express my gratitude.

His light
-hearted expression sobered. “I was too slow. There were too many distractions, but ... you should never have been hurt.”

I shook my head, but before I could
satisfy my need to reassure him, his mood lifted and, grinning, he swirled me away, out of the main dance floor. We moved closer to the large balconies. The doors were thrown wide open and huge fire torches were scattered around. Along one wall were massive antique mirrors, with ornate gilded framing.

I caught the first glimpse of my reflection. I looked again, just to make sure that was really me. I looked tall and slim. My
full glossy red lips were parted in surprise. The long black dress fitted flawlessly, contrasting with masses of dark red and black hair, which was piled up in messy curls, a few falling to frame my face.

Lallielle
and Lucy had outdone themselves with my make-up. My skin was always clear, but tonight it glowed. And my eyes looked even larger and more cat-like than usual; the black kohl lining them enhanced the emerald green.

“I told you. You really have a beauty that is otherworldly,” Brace said, observing my stunned expression. “You have the beauty of a Walker.”

I turned away. Maybe for the first time I actually did have the otherworldly look of Josian. But that didn’t mean I wanted to be the world savior. Or that I even could be.

I turned at the sound of
his name. A group of suit-clad men, his friends I assumed, were calling him over. With a regretful glance, he left me there, making his way to them.

I followed him across the room, where
he was cajoled into a dance with ‘boobs’, my nickname for ‘vulture woman in the red dress’. Clenching my nails into my wrist, I turned away, attempting to calm my murderous thoughts. I was this close to ripping every strand of blond hair from her head. I stepped out onto the balcony, allowing the cool breeze and sounds of the ocean to soothe the ragged edges Brace always left me with.

Later that night, after numerous awkward dances, and countless introductions, the party was over.

Lallielle
was off ushering the last of the revelers out the door. Lucy and I were lying on the ballroom floor, staring up at the massive ceiling.

“So, could you have ever imagined this would
be your eighteenth birthday?”

Turning my head to the side, I smiled. “I was just hoping we wouldn’t be in some type of people-smuggling rape ring for my birthday.”

Lucy shoved me. “There’s still time, Abbs, twenty minutes till midnight.” She looked thoughtful. “What was with you and the blondie in the red dress?”

Lucy was referring to the incident that had taken place ten minutes earlier, when ‘boobs’ had been leaving with her parents. They had stopped to thank
Lallielle; I was standing there as well. As our parents started chatting, she’d leaned in close to me.

“Don’t even think you can have the most eligible bachelors,
Aribella. I don’t care what anyone else believes, I know you’re not the Empress.” That wasn’t the first time tonight I’d caught murmurs of that. She continued to sneer at me, “I was here first and I will be long after you’re done and gone.”

I didn’t even flinch at the snarling venom in her low voice. I
smiled sweetly as I lowered my own voice. “Seriously, boobs, you don’t scare me. I grew up in New York and ran in the ganglands. Hormonal women are the least of my worries. And if you don’t get your bitchy ass out of my house, I am going to break your nose.”

Lucy erupted into laughter as I explained what
had happened.

“You called her ‘boobs’?”

At my nod, she snorted louder.

While we were relaxing, the boys were off playing some game on a huge felt-covered table. They’d tried to explain the rules, but it was beyond me.
Some type of cross between pool and chess, with large colored balls and stone statue people that had to be moved around in a pattern.

I changed the subject from ‘boobs’.

“Thanks for the earrings too, Luce, I love them.” I reached up to touch the beautiful emerald-colored stone studs. That and my necklace were the only jewelry I had on.

She shrugged. “I did have a vintage tee stashed back home. But these will do.”

I laughed.

“So give me a quic
k rundown on the tales of Abby, First Worlder and Walker.” Lucy’s side profile looked both worried and intrigued.

I tilted my head back further, staring into the massive and ornate ceiling. In each corner someone had painted an angel warrior. They each had a weapon pointed to the centre of the room. It was spectacular and unusual all at the same time.

“Well, first there is the whole ‘half-Walker shouldn’t exist’ theory. I’m apparently the one to destabilize ... no demoralize ... no that’s not right either. Oh, right, I think it was
destroy
them.” I rolled my eyes as I mocked the over-dramatics of Walkers.

“Maybe it was
‘delight them with your duck-face’?” Lucy offered helpfully. “Maybe that’s the ‘d’ word you’re looking for?”

“Duck-face?”
I questioned.

She shrugged
. “I got caught up in the alliteration.”

Laughing
, I continued again, my eyes still locked on the entrancing angels.

“The next one is where I might be the Empress of First World. Apparently my husband
-to-be Lucas is a top dude.”

Lucy lost it then
. She laughed until she was breathless. I would have laughed too, but unfortunately this was actually my life.

“And lastly
, I’m setting out to find some half-Walkers – that don’t exist apparently – and prevent an apocalyptic universal battle of mother-effing proportions.” I threw my arm over my eyes. “You know: because I’m just that awesome.”

“And lucky,” Lucy tacked on, “don’t forget lucky.”

I snorted at the mere thought.

Lallielle
interrupted us, appearing above our heads. “I have organized a little after-dinner in the sitting room downstairs.” She smiled down. “That way we can all be there when Aribella officially turns eighteen.”

As I looked down the long length of my tight black dress, I
realized I had no idea how I was getting up off the floor. At least my shoes were off again, and nothing was making me put them back on. For the fiftieth time I flexed my pained toes.

“
Lalli, you could have included a huge slit up the side of this dress,” I complained. “I can’t get my butt up off the floor.”

Josian
appeared out of nowhere and hauled Lucy and me up together. He threw us each over a shoulder.

I gasped as he dashed from the room; his super speed was breath-stealing.

We ended up dropped together into one of the big soft couches downstairs.

“Superman at your service.”
Josian got a total kick out of our descriptions of superheroes.

He was sure many of them were based on Walkers.
Lucy giggled as she tried to sit up. Josian left us and we were there for at least ten minutes before the others made it to the room.

Quarn
looked happier now the crowds were gone. He walked arm-in-arm with Francesca.

I guessed no one had told him that it was her false predictions that had sent us all to Earth. I still hadn’t really warmed to the soothsayer.
She was unnerving, knowing things the way she did. Plus her eyes had never become any less creepy.

Brace, Samuel and
Lallielle were the last of the group to arrive.

Josian
stepped back into the room. In his arms he carried a massive bouquet of pink and purple roses.

Struggling out of the couch, I bounced over to him. “They’re gorgeous.”

“Happy birthday, baby girl.” He kissed my cheek. “These are
menorial
roses. If you put them into water, they won’t die.”

I was relieved to hear that. Much as I loved beautiful flowers, I hated that they died so quickly.

Lallielle organized a huge vase to be delivered, half full of water. I placed my roses one at a time. Their floral and deep musky scent filled the room.

“Lucas? What are you still doing here?” Samuel shifted in his spot next to Lucy.

Lucas had just walked into the room unannounced. His jacket was off and draped over his shoulder. It was clear no one had known he was still there.

“You cannot have her, Lucas; she’s not the Empress.”
Lallielle spoke fiercely, marching to my side. Never mind that last week she had been sure that I was.