Fiend (Briarcliff Secret Society Series Book 3) by Ketley Allison

Author:Ketley Allison [Allison, Ketley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mitchell Tobias Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

17

The Winter Formal is held on campus this year, due to Piper’s death and the faculty’s concern over students leaving the academy’s property.

A lot of students found disappointment in the change of venue (apparently, a hotel ballroom in a ritzy part of Providence was rented out well in advance, and now, the thought of holding it in the academy’s gym is heinous), but as I walk through the grand doors of Briarcliff’s gymnasium—a whole separate building—I can’t make out the difference between a five-star ballroom and this.

“Holy…” I say, taking in the transparent drifts of white and pale blue fabric and the multitude of fairy lights covering the ceiling.

“Haven’t been to a school dance like this before, have you?” Ivy muses as we walk forward.

I think back on the plastic bowls of punch and party store cut-outs of Santas and Reindeer with the scents of rubber, spilled beer, and sweat in the air. “Not even close.”

Fake snow lines the dance floor and sparkling glass snowflakes hang down from the ceiling as we wander close to the center, theater spotlights moving back and forth above our heads.

Ivy says something close to my ear that I don’t catch. I’m focused on the altar in the center of the room and the clear plexiglass coffin raised on a dais, containing hundreds of stemless pink, red, and white roses laid within its confines.

“Wow,” I breathe.

Ivy commiserates, murmuring over the gold detail and the thick folds of white satin holding up the pretend coffin. “I hate to say it, but Falyn and her cohorts embraced the Snow White theme with grace. I thought it was the dumbest idea ever, but this?”

I take in the dance floor circling the altar. “Are we supposed to dance around Piper’s spiritual casket?”

“There it is.” Ivy snaps her fingers. “I was wondering where Falyn’s signature repugnancy was in all this perfection. We’re probably meant to be the dwarves dancing around Piper’s grave.”

“How lovely.”

Ivy sidles close. “At least you won’t be here for long. Look alive, Callie, and talk to as many people as you can so no one can say they didn’t see you. But don’t be obvious. Like, still be yourself. It’d probably be suspicious if you started chatting with a ton of students you don’t normally talk to. Actually…” Ivy winces. “Have you spoken to anyone outside our circle?”

“Thanks,” I say, giving her the side-eye. “I’ll be subtle, don’t worry.”

“Okay. Me too. Oh!” Ivy latches onto my shoulder instead of leaving my side. “And stay away from Chase. Not even hungry eyes across the dance floor. Got it?”

I sigh, then wave a hand at the bed of roses. “It’ll be hard to, considering Piper’s smack in the middle of it.”

Ivy gives me one last squeeze. “It’s been hard for you, but Sabine’s reasons usually aren’t unfounded. I’ll find you in a few minutes, see how you’re doing.”

“Sure.” I wave her off, anxious to make nice and do a few meet-and-greets before scuttling out of here and getting the job done.

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