"You kissed her?"
"I did."
"But she's- - it's hardly appropriate of you- -"
"Have I ever been appropriate, Miss Evers?"
James turned to face her, his most loyal companion in life and beyond. Her face was twisted with annoyance. "Miss Evers, why are you so upset about this?"
"Because she's different from the others," she said, and he grinned, chuckling despite himself.
"That's why she's wonderful. Can't you see?"
He gripped her shoulders, still grinning. Miss Evers seemed unsure. "She's so innocent, Miss Evers. So naive. I love it."
"Are you sure that is all you're drawn to?"
His eyebrows furrowed, and his grip on her slackened. "What do you mean?"
"She's young. Beautiful."
"I can ruin her beautiful face, Miss Evers."
"Kind."
"None of that matters."
"Are you falling in love?"
"I don't know the girl. Besides, I've loved only Elizabeth."
"She looks like that witch in some ways. I know you see it."
He stiffened at that, letting go of Miss Evers. "Whatever could you mean?"
Miss Evers laughed weakly, shaking her head. She looked at the floor. "That light hair, the pale skin. She looks like those little children that run about this place."
"I won't let Elizabeth have her. I've put too much time into this, Miss Evers, I can't simply give up."
"Then kill her now and be done with it."
"Where is the fun in that? The game is half of the enjoyment."
When Miss Evers didn't answer, he took her by the arm, staring at her. "You're jealous," he said, and her brown eyes went wide.
"I'm not," she said, a bit too quickly. "I promise."
"It's unflattering."
"I know. I'm sorry."
She looked at him fearfully as he let go of her. "I'm not in love with the girl, Miss Evers," he said. "I'm in love with the glorious thought of killing her."
She nodded slowly. "I see. But what of her friend?"
"All my plans will come to light," he said. "You need only to wait and see."
She didn't understand in truth, but she nodded all the same. "Of course," she said, and his smile returned.
"Worry not, Miss Evers," he said. "You'll have a mess to clean soon enough."
She forced a small smile. "A glorious mess?" she asked, and he nodded.
"Yes, Miss Evers. Glorious, indeed."
Cierra examined her new room, biting her lip as she looked herself over in the mirror. She felt bad for abandoning Ashlynn, but it had been needed. She licked her lips before carefully applying a layer of baby pink lipstick.
She tousled her dark hair, letting it frizz slightly around her head. She needed something to take her mind off of Ashlynn, and she was sure to find a club that would be perfect. Smoothing her hands along her jeans, she nodded to herself. It was good enough for a club, and it wasn't like her clothes mattered anyway.
Grabbing a jacket, she stepped out of the room, lowering her eyes to the floor as she fumbled with the zipper. "Going out?" a voice asked, and she turned to look at a woman.
Her blonde hair was a mess around her head. She wore a skin tight purple dress with a heavy cheetah print coat over it. Her mauve lipstick was smudged around her lips, and stains of the same color covered the cigarette in her hand. "Yeah," Cierra said.
The woman chuckled, holding out her free hand. "Sally," she greeted, and Cierra reached out to shake it.
"Cierra," she said.
Sally nodded, a smile playing at her lips. "So, where are you going?" she asked.
"Club," Cierra replied. "I've gotta clear my head."
"There are other ways to do that."
"None that I can think of."
Sally chuckled, shaking her head. "You aren't thinking hard enough, then."
Cierra smiled faintly. "What do you mean?"
"All manner of things, kid," Sally replied. "And none of them beyond the doors of this place."
Cierra's dark eyes widened, but her smile remained. "You mean drugs?"
"I mean the greatest China White you've ever had."
"Heroin?"
Sally only smiled, shrugging. Cierra glanced back at hotel room, nodding faintly. "All right," she said. "Yeah. Let's do it."
Sally was grinning as Cierra moved to her side. "How old are you, kid?" Sally asked once they started to walk.
"Twenty-two," Cierra answered.
"What kind of things does a twenty-two-year-old need to get out of her head?"
"I'm a shitty friend."
"Ah, I see. I don't have friends. Not anymore."
"Sounds awful."
"I'm used to it."
Cierra nodded slowly. "Sounds pretty sad."
"I don't need shrink, kid. I just need someone to get high with."
"Oh. Okay. Sorry."