Page 45

The midnight show closes, and I wearily move backstage. My glittery costume feels like it weighs ten tons, and I can’t wait to be rid of it. I didn’t take a nap today, since that would have meant going back to Julian’s house, so I made Sebastian take me to a mall instead and wandered around and ate in the food court. Sebastian never complained, even though I’m sure that a vampire out during the day would rather not window shop for hours. Still, he followed and kept watch, and I felt safe. And bored. God, was I bored. He didn’t talk to me. I mean, he responded if I asked questions, but in as short and grudging of answers as possible. I actually missed Julian, that psycho, because, well, he talks to me. Tries to get to know me. Teases and excites me. Of course, all that happened before he threw me in a cell and threatened to kill me. Or was he going to have me killed? Doesn’t matter. It would be stupid to forgive him so easily, just because I like his company when he’s being pleasant.

I wipe off my make-up, revealing the deep bags under my eyes, and sigh, a deep, soul-weary sigh. Jade comes up to her dressing table next to mine and starts taking off her stage makeup as well.

“What is it?” Jade asks. “Didn’t enjoy your day off?”

The question has me start giggling with dark humor. Jade looks at me questioningly. “What? What did I say?”

“I can’t tell you here,” I hedge. Our castmates are buzzing all around us. I can’t very well talk about the Other World and my short incarceration where anyone can hear.

“Ah, I gotcha,” Jade says sagely. “Something to do with why you have a new bodyguard today?”

“To start with, yeah,” I respond. So much more has happened since the last time I spoke to Jade, and I wish I could talk freely, but I can’t.

“Great, well, maybe you can ride home with me tonight? Your shadow can tail us in his fancy car.”

Can I do that? Somehow I think that’s against the rules of being bodyguarded, going in a separate vehicle, but tough cookies. I want to talk to Jade. I need to ask her about sirens and everything else.

“Cool,” I hear myself saying, “I’ll tell Sebastian.”

“Se-bast-ee-an,” she repeats, rolling her tongue over his name, pronouncing it in the French way. “Sounds hot. He single?”

I roll my eyes. “I have no idea. He’s friends with the same people as your ex, though. If Mr. Scary was too much to handle, I doubt that you’ll like Sebastian.”

“Gaspard and I didn’t work out for a lot of reasons, not just because he’s connected. I could try again, if the guy doesn’t have as much baggage.”

I wonder what that means, but don’t pry. I consider telling Jade that Gaspard is still holding a torch for her. It’s obvious to anyone who spends five seconds in his presence. But, then again, he wanted to break my neck last night, so I don’t owe him any favors.

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” I say instead, finishing taking off the last vestiges of my make-up. I unzip my costume and work to put it back into its garment bag, which is a struggle with its voluminous mermaid skirt. After cleaning up my hair and makeup station,, I pull on my street clothes.

“Ready?” Jade asks, having finished changing out of her costume as well. She’s dressed in a cute yoga outfit.

“Ready,” I sigh, and we move out of the dressing room to take our costumes back to Judy. Sebastian is in the hall waiting for me, standing at attention like a soldier instead of casually leaning against the wall, like Julian did. I find myself missing that psycho again. It must be Stockholm Syndrome. Does it really set in that fast? He silently follows Jade and me as we carry our costumes to be cleaned. I don’t even really look at him. What would be the point? It’s not like he’ll join our conversation or anything.

Judy is in Wardrobe, sewing some sequins back onto one of the dancers' leotards. She doesn't even glance at us as we hang our costumes on the used rack.

“‘Night, Judy,” we chorus.

“Good night, girls,” she says back robotically, still not looking up.

Once back in the hall, I finally look at Sebatian, and say, “I’m going to ride with Jade back to the house. You can follow in the rear, or whatever.”

“The house?” asks Jade, at the same time that Sebastian says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Miss Smith.”

I turn to Jade, ignoring Sebastian for now, and say. “Things have changed since we last talked. I’m going to be staying with Julian for the time being.” I studiously work to forget the part where Julian said it was permanent.

Jade’s eyebrows raise. “You’re already shacking up with him? Good for you, I guess.”

I blush. “It’s not like that. It’s . . . I’ll tell you in the car.”

“Miss Yarrow can ride with us,” Sebastian offers, but I shake my head.

“Jade needs her car to get to work tomorrow. Besides, I have things I want to talk to her about. In private. Girl talk, you know?”

It’s not “girl talk” that I need to discuss with Jade, but I don’t want Sebastian to go back and report to Julian that I’m discussing this siren business with anyone. He seemed to think it was a bad idea for anyone to know, but this is Jade, and I need to talk to someone about it, or I’ll go crazy.

Sebastian doesn’t look convinced. “I still think . . .”

“Oh my god!” I burst out, “I’ll be perfectly fine driving in Jade’s car. You can follow and make sure that we get there in one piece, alright? That should fulfill your duties and if Julian is mad about it, I’ll tell him that it was my idea, okay?”