“I’ll say. And to think, he was right in front of our faces all along.” She rubs her arms in an attempt to warm herself, and my eye snags on a silver ring with a golden rose and a gem tucked in the center of it.
“That ring,” I say, mostly to myself. “It’s—it’s so beautiful.” And it’s exactly like the ring Blair had on her finger—and the one stuck on the button of her blouse when she was killed. “Where did you get it?”
A devilish grin twitches on her lips. “The Midnight Maidens happen to have an entire cache of them. You’ll get one tonight upon initiation. Blair hit some outlet mall last winter and bought out the supply. She really liked them. She said the rose had meaning.”
I bet it did. She was dating a professor who taught at a school who has a rose as their symbol. It represented a lot more than the Maidens.
The stone glistens, and it looks to be a deep amber.
“Raven, are all the stones in the center of the rose the same color?” The one on Blair’s finger was red, and the one embedded in her blouse was blue.
“Oh no, they’re all different. But only a couple are coveted. One of which goes to the queen, and the other goes to the next in line.” Blair loved her boundaries when it came to the Maidens. Too bad she didn’t respect boundaries in her everyday life—not even where her friends were concerned.
“Who was the next in line to be the queen?” I hold my breath as I wait for an answer.
“It’s supposed to be top secret for new members.” She gives a little shrug before taking off. “But you’ll know soon enough. I’d better go grab something to eat before the meeting tonight. I can’t wait to give you a ring.” She takes off, and I watch her as she strides back toward the fairgrounds.
Sabrina walks over with a skeleton bodysuit on, and her cartoon bones glow an eerie blue in the darkness.
“I guess it’s over.” She takes a quivering breath. “I knew it was him all along. He’s been obsessed with Blair for the last six months. I tried to tell her it wasn’t healthy.” She gives Fish a quick pat between the ears.
“I guess it is over. And I’m glad about it, too,” I say. “Poor Blair deserved justice.”
Bizzy—Fish mewls—this woman doesn’t look healthy. She’s all bones.
Sherlock barks. She looks delicious!
Sprinkles brays out what sounds like a laugh. Blair always did whisper in my ear that I was free to bite this woman.
Bite Sabrina?
“Sabrina.” I lean in. “Did you know William very well?”
She inches back. “Gosh, not really. I mean, other than the fact he was Dr. Feel Good.” She rolls her eyes. I hope prison feels good for him. “Anyway, he caused a lot of pain, so I don’t want to think about him.”
“I get it.” I glance down to her fingers and spot the silver ring with a rose. It’s so dark I can’t see the color of the stone, but then she moves and the moonlight shines down over it like a spotlight enlivening what looks to be a bright red droplet of blood. “I guess I’ll see you later tonight, right out here.”
“That’s right.” A smile enlivens on her lips. “It’s turning out to be a wonderful, wonderful night. With William getting what he deserves, it feels as if the rest of us can finally get some closure. And a fresh start with all new Maidens, too.” And it will be my last hurrah with that money-grabbing group, but there’s no need to announce it. I think we all know deep down inside this nonsense would disband without our fearless flighty leader. It takes a thief and a con man to run this kind of an operation, and Blair was both—right up until the thief ran into a killer.
Her lips curl with a mournful smile. “I’ve got a treat for you and your friends tonight.” She pinches her ring with her thumb. “Don’t worry. You’re going to love it. Once you’re indoctrinated into the Midnight Maidens, you’ll be a Maiden for life.” And it will provide a lifetime of embarrassment to go along with it. But that’s Blair’s fault. Everything that’s transpired these last few months has been that wicked witch’s fault. I hope she’s roasting in flames.
Sabrina stalks off, and I gasp at her horrifically cruel thoughts.
“Sadly, she’s not the first person to have dark thoughts about the deceased,” I whisper to Fish while Sherlock and Sprinkles run around the fenced enclosure as if it were a game.
Fish let’s a sharp meow rip. I don’t care for people who have dark thoughts, Bizzy. I think you should stay away from this entire Midnight Murderers organization before they murder you.
I make a face. “You are wise beyond your years, Fish. And I promise, after tonight, I’m never going back.”
“What’s this?” a voice trills from behind, and I turn to see Tabitha dressed in a thick purple brocade dress, a wreath of daisies in her hair, and in her hand she holds a tambourine. “You’re not talking about leaving the Midnight Maidens before you ever get initiated, are you?” She has her glasses on, and there’s a sweetness to her face that makes her look vulnerable.
“Oh no,” I say, holding my breath a moment because now I’m forced to lie. “I was talking about that new place over in Whaler’s Cove, the Spicy Italian. I knew that meatball sandwich was trouble after just one bite, but it was so delicious I just had to keep eating it.” Sort of like this lie. “Anyway, I’m fine now. And I’m really looking forward to the Midnight Maidens’ initiation tonight. I’ve already got my money, and I know for a fact the others do, too. We’re anxious to invest in our future.”
“That’s great.” Thank my lucky stars. I need this. I think we all need this after Blair. And the
