Throne of Lies

by Girl With the Black Scarf

On what seems to be a normal day, four girls find their best friend killed. With their queen bee gone, they try to uncover the secrets of her past, all while creating new lies of their own.

Prologue

They found her dead.
The sun was rising as it did every early September morning, casting a fiery glow over the suburban manors of Maryland, as all the wealthy housewives stepped out into their spacious backyards to complete their morning ritual of yoga. The sky was tinged red like blood with the eerie crowing of ravens circling in the aor.
That day was starting out normal, but normal was never the case in that town. There were lies to uncover and secrets to dig up, love to be losts and lives to be taken. Everyone, despite their innocent composure, was guilty of something. All of the residents, if the need came, was guilty of a kill. If pure snow was white, then that entire place would be painted pitch black.
Carrying her blue mat, Mrs. van Buren walked out barefoot onto her backyard lawn, anticipating a relaxing round of yoga, but what she saw nearly gave her a heart attack.
There was a wooden canoe floating in the middle of her pool, but it was what the boat was carrying that was so unexpected. Inside, lay the lifeless body of Vaness van Buren.
News traved fast in Coto de Caza, so within ten minutes, teams of reporters and neighbors flocked the pool, however, the bystanders were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Vanessa's best friends.
Vera McNally, Stana Lee, Keely Beckett, and Andy Maldino pushed past the mob, breathless and teary eyed. The four, hoding hands, stared in disbelief and denial, until one of the broke the silence. Stana crinkled her perfectly plucked brows, her eyes wide with grief. "Nessa?"
They gaped at her figure. Wearing a white sundress and shrouded in red rose petals, Vanessa looked as flawless as ever. Her dirty blond locks were fanned out about her head like a flower, the strands silky and clean.
With her cheeks shiny with tears, Keely shook her head. "No. No. She can't just be gone?!"
The four cried echoes of contradictions, not allowing themselves to believe what was in front of them. Eventually, Mrs. van Buren ushered the girls into her house, closing the glass doors to dismiss the crowd and to leave them to mourn together. But before the starched curtains fully shrouded the people's veiw, she turned around and pulled the corners of her mouth up into a devious smile.