The Masquerade Read online

  The Masquerade

  Alexa Rae

  Copyright 2013 Alexa Rae

  License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  Table of Contents

  Part I

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Part II

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Epilogue

  The Masquerade Playlist

  Acknowledgements

  This book is for my mother, Sabina...

  You rock, Momma.

  "Evil is knowing better, but doing worse."

  PART I

  One

  Her scream pierced through the black veil of the night. She felt his fingers dig into the flesh on her neck. The likeness of the world faded around her as her eyes glossed over with the frost of death. The sound of her scream disappeared with a gasp of breath as the pain shot from the base of her neck throughout her entire body. She felt sharp teeth bore into her skin. An electric chord struck through the silence of the night. The thrill of the dark, stimulating sound brought spark to the fire that burned inside of her. The fire spread, underneath her skin, overcoming every last sense of life she had left. Her eyes fluttered. Her body grew limp as it relaxed and fell against his arms. Her eyes opened. She had to see him. She had to look at his face before she faded into the shadows clouded around her. She heard him swallow. Her vision focused, but for only a moment. In her last breath, she met the vicious eyes of a monster, eating her flesh. Darkness then consumed her and the only sound left was the cutting riff of an electric guitar.

  I stood motionless, my eyes frozen on the girl in his arms. Blood trickled over her collarbone and dark crimson bled into her wrinkled white shirt. He pulled his mouth away from her throat. Her torn skin ripped open, shredded pink flesh exposed. The monster, holding her captive, had no importance to me. I wanted to see her face. Her head fell to the side, as if on command. Her tangled golden hair dropped in front of her face, like a curtain to death's final act. But I could still see her open eyes. A gasp escaped my mouth when my gaze fixated on the emerald orbs. That girl was me.

  .

  "Ella, are you going to school or what?"

  My eyes snapped open. The first thing that came into view was the white ceiling with a faded, pink, stain caused by a silly putty accident when I was younger. Reality crashed against me when I discovered that I was in my bedroom, a room that I had grown attached to over the years. I snapped upright, the duvet dropped to my waist. I groaned and craned my neck to peer at the clock on my nightstand. I knew I was already late, judging by my mother's tone. The time only determined whether I would rush to school on an empty stomach or take it slow and ease my way into second period.

  The desire to be a good student always got in the way of my radical intentions. I threw the covers off my body, swung my legs over the edge of the mattress, and dashed around my room, searching for garments I had previously tossed on the floor that would be suitable to wear. When I was decent, I brushed through my hair, threw my messenger bags strap over my shoulder, and gave my room a quick once over to make sure I hadn't left anything.

  "Adam is waiting, Ella!"

  I was already out of my room when my mom shouted again. I found her waiting at the bottom of the stairs, with one hand on her hip and the other holding my Power Rangers lunch box, the one I insisted having for my freshman year. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, my mom arched an eyebrow while she handed me my lunch. I always took the eyebrow as a disapproval of my wardrobe. A black plaid skirt with a silver chain hooked around it, and a white shirt covered in black bats. It was an ensemble that would never fit into the image of proper teenage fashion in the eyes of my mother. I wore pink Superga sneakers to ease her frustration with a daughter that refused to wear anything from Victoria's Secret or Abercrombie and Fitch, or bitch, as I liked to interject.

  "I know," I pretended to sigh. "I look dashing, don't I?"

  She shook her head. "It could be worse."

  "Like snake bites or tattoos," I paused, "Speaking of which,"

  She cut me off. "Don't even start. When you're twenty two and off my payroll you can damage your body however you want."

  I smiled and she returned it with one of her own. I always enjoyed our conversations involving our drastic differences of appearance. I kissed her on the cheek and moved around her to pull open the front door. Outside, the brisk October air brushed against my bear arms. I bared my teeth and embraced the cold. I was too late and far too lazy to search for a jacket. I looked over my shoulder and found my mom standing in the doorway.

  "Love you, Mom."

  "I love you too, sweetie."

  She waved goodbye while I turned and raced across the lawn with a satisfied smile on my face. I never left my mom without telling her how much I loved her, knowing one day it may be the last time she would ever hear it. I had too much experience with death to take any of life's moments for granted.

  Adam had parked his car by the curb. When I reached the sidewalk, I glanced down the street before I pulled open the passenger door of his Audi S4. I lunged inside and shut it quickly, pulling my legs inside just in time. The strong odor of his Axe cologne immediately filled my nostrils; he liked to bathe in whatever scent could attract the opposite sex.

  "Quick, Commander, drive! I think I hear sirens."

  Adam rolled his eyes before he put the car in drive and pulled into the road. "You're such a dork."

  "But a very cute dork." I protested, raising my index finger for emphasis.

  Adam sped through our neighborhood, the houses blurred together as we passed them. His tendency for speed had the police on speed dial for many of our neighbors. Fortunately, he could pull off a mean impersonation of his mother's voice and he was usually the only one home to answer the phone when anyone called.

  "Late night?"

  I shrugged. "More like long night."

  "Freaky dreams?"

  I sighed. "Always."

  My friends knew my subconscious was thoroughly disturbed. I had given them a brief synopsis of the dream. I had it almost every night and it never changed, the details, the movements. Each night the same dream and I awoke with the same frustration. My dream never exposed the man, the monster who ate my flesh. When I tried to remember his face I saw darkness. My friends thought the reoccurring dream was some kind of message, but I always knew it was just a remnant of my creepy imagination on overdrive. Although, I began to think my imagination was rather unorigina
l; as the grotesque dream never changed.

  "Maybe you should see a specialist." Adam suggested, turning his attention to me.

  My eyes narrowed. "Maybe you should keep your eyes on the road."

  He laughed and faced forward again. "I'm kidding, El."

  I leaned forward and turned on the radio. Parkway Drive's "Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em" blasted through the speakers. I smiled and relaxed against the seat. My head nodded, in sync with Adam's, to the beat. Metal had a special place in my heart. Any sadness or remorse I felt, faded away as the thunderous beats carried me to another state of mind. Whatever negative thoughts I had were replaced with optimistic energy to carry me through the day with a smile on my face. It was a strange compromise to share with rock music, but it saved my life in more ways than one.

  "Ella!" Hayley shrieked when Adam and I rounded the corner. I found my two best friends standing by my locker waiting for us.

  "Adam," I pretended to whisper, my voice loud enough for them to hear. "Those two idiots keep stalking me. What do I do?"

  "Uh, this idiot helped you study for the Algebra II midterm last week." My other best friend, Shiloh, said.

  "Does that make me an idiot by asking an idiot for help?" I smirked. Shiloh was a genius. We all knew that. Her appearance may have told a different story, but the entire school knew she was the girl to go for help on any subject.

  She nodded and bit her lip to hide her smile. "We're like the blind leading the blind."

  Adam rolled his eyes. "You guys are weird."

  "Takes a weirdo to know a weirdo, lover boy." Hayley told him.

  Adam and Shiloh frowned and forced their gazes in opposite directions to avoid direct contact. Their relationship situation was difficult to understand. Ever since freshmen year, they started this on and off again romance. When they were 'off' things were awkward between the four of us. We hung out together, but Shiloh and Adam kept their distance. They continuously found ways to interject statements that would lash out at the other. After a while, the break-ups became entertaining for Hayley. She always found a way to make witty comments about their ridiculous relationship. When they were 'on' it was even worse. Hayley and I swore they only fought for the make-up sex.

  Adam shot Hayley a dirty look. "Isn't there one guy with his virginity left for you to take?"

  Her dark eyebrows rose. "Are you offering?"

  "No, he isn't and its way too early for both of you to start, so shut it." Shiloh said quickly.

  Hayley and I exchanged glances. Shiloh had already begun the jealousy phase. It wouldn't be too long before they got back together. Shiloh was hanging out at the skate park again. Which meant every guy, who borrowed his mother's hair straightener, was after her. Adam was one of the lovesick skater boys that fell for her. He wouldn't last long, knowing she was fair game to them.

  Shiloh was the girl that many guys found irresistible. Her hair was long and light brown. She had baby blue eyes that stood out against her black eyeliner, and a soft pale face. She usually wore cargo pants or baggy jeans and two tank tops at the same time with both of them showing. It wasn't exactly the wardrobe that pinned her as sexy. It was her personality. She was pensive and a daredevil. She was constantly injured from skateboarding, but she would get back up and do it again just to prove to herself she could. She never did anything to impress. She lived up to her own expectations.

  Hayley smirked, her attention cast behind me. "I spy another lover boy coming our way."

  I looked over my shoulder. His chocolate brown hair was the first thing I saw. My lungs inflated around the same time a sharp pain shot into my chest. His hard eyes were on mine. I smiled, but inside, I desperately tried to restrain my arms from wrapping around his neck.

  "Hey Eli."

  He nodded once before his stare snapped forward. He purposely moved around me and skulked down the hallway to his first class. I bit the inside of my cheek as I watched him. I was surprised to see him at school this early. He usually skipped first period and slithered his way into second without being seen. He was infamous, among other things, for his nonexistent attendance record. After a few calls home, the school stopped caring. He never made the honor roll, so the faculty couldn't be bothered with him. His academic achievements were nothing that the school could boast about.

  "Close your mouth, El."

  "Oh, stop." Shiloh snapped at Hayley.

  I blinked and turned to my three friends who were eyeing me closely. "It's still hard." I explained to them.

  "It's still twisted." Hayley muttered.

  "Hayley," Shiloh groaned.

  "No she's right. I broke up with him. I shouldn't be the only one still moping about it."

  "You're not the one who changed. He did." She said gently, brushing a strand of her long hair behind her ear. I loved Shiloh's sincerity. She never judged, but instead made her best attempt to understand. It always made me feel better than I did before.

  "And I don't think you're the only one moping about it." Adam stated, his eyes on the classroom door Eli entered. Shiloh and Hayley both shot him exasperated stares, knowing what he just started in my mind. I pretended I didn't care, but it was a relief to think that he hadn't moved on after our break up, two months ago.

  "No more talk of the ex-boyfriends." Shiloh said.

  "Dick heads," Hayley corrected.

  She rolled her eyes. "I hope you don't say that in front of Eli's friends."

  "Why? She's probably slept with most of them." Adam interjected.

  Hayley shrugged, unashamed. I wasn't sure of how many guys she'd actually been physical with, but I knew her number was higher than most girls at our school. In a small town, the rumors about her spread constantly. They were worse than what she had actually done, but she never cared to correct anyone. The opinions of other people were trivial to her and she liked knowing she was the center of many conversations, whether it was good or bad. "As long as they're talking about me," she once said when I asked of her thoughts on the rumors.

  The bell rang and teenagers, younger and older than us, piled into the hallway and proceeded to their first period classes before the teachers locked them out. My biology partner, from sophomore year, purposely bumped into Hayley. He laughed when she made a gesture of smoking a joint. The three of us rolled our eyes as we watched her make more pot friends. She didn't smoke much, but she loved hanging out with them.

  "Hey Ella, did you get number fifteen on the math homework?" I heard a familiar voice behind me say. I turned to see Libby, a timid girl from my math class. She smiled at me and pushed her purple glasses further up the bridge of her nose. I gave her a friendly wave and nodded. I quickly turned back to my friends.

  "I'll see you guys at lunch." I faced Libby again. I walked with her to our class, making small conversation of how our mornings went. I was only halfway in the conversation. Thoughts of Eli still lingered in my head. Whenever he was present in my mind, I gave up trying to concentrate. I hated the way things ended between us, but when we were together I was miserable. We were best friends since we were kids, sophomore year we started dating, and then he changed. He ran with a bad crowd. Which led to constant fights, lies, and late nights. Despite everything, my feelings for him never sufficed. Now, I missed the misery.

  Two

  "Guess what I have?"

  Hayley swung her bare legs over the bench. I visualized her plaid miniskirt rising further up her thighs because the freshman boys at the lunch table next to us were already staring in her direction. I put down my peanut-butter sandwich and gazed at her with interest. She waited impatiently for us to comply, tapping the heels of her stilettos against the concrete.

  "Zac Efron's boxers?" I suggested. Shiloh snickered and elbowed me in the ribs. I returned the gesture by nudging her with my arm. I turned my attention back to Hayley, an innocent smile on my face. Her violet eyes glared at me sternly, the serious expression foreign to her face. It was immensely difficult for her to remain serious about anything.

&nb
sp; "If I had his boxers, I wouldn't be here right now."

  I picked up my sandwich, "Good point," and took a bite. I closed my eyes savoring the flavor of the creamy peanut butter in my mouth.

  "What is this fabulous thing now in your possession?" I smiled at Shiloh. The way she spoke was another aspect I loved about her. She was different. We all were.

  Adam slid into the bench beside her before she had the chance to respond. Hayley grimaced when he plopped his lunch tray onto the picnic table. "That's scary," he commented, nudged his shoulder in her direction, his eyebrows raised.

  Her eyes slit to the side, the only acknowledgement she gave to his presence. "I thought I smelled something gross."

  "I'm surprised you smell anything over your disease." He leaned closer to her. "I can smell the Herpes from here, babe."

  She rolled her eyes and fixed her gaze on us. "I have four concert tickets to see The Masquerade tonight."

  The breath caught in my throat when the beautiful words rolled off her tongue. The three of us stared at her with wide, hopeful eyes. I prayed she wasn't joking; she had a tendency to pull one on us for fun. When she smiled at our expressions, I found the light of her enthusiasm in her eyes, and I knew she wasn't messing around.

  "Seriously?" I asked, a grin slowly spreading on my face.

  "Not usually, no." She smirked, "But right now, yes." She turned to Adam, who looked just as happy as I felt. "No, Adam, I'm not pulling your dick."

  I exhaled, feeling the excitement settle in the pit of my stomach. I leaned back, the bend of my legs tightened on the edge of the bench to keep me from falling. The image of my back smacking against the concrete couldn't disturb me, nothing would. I was too happy to form words. I was going to see one of my favorite bands with my three best friends. We'd been to numerous concerts before, but never one for The Masquerade. The tickets were usually sold out within the first hour of their release. Three unsuccessful years of attempts yielded only heatbreak. The night of a band's performance and you're stuck at home, knowing exactly what you're missing, is a fate worse than death.