CHAPTER 20
GOOD COMPANY

SOMETIMES, Hadley wondered what Donovan would think of her life now: strung-up, hopelessly in love with a human. Donovan never had a problem with humans – he was actually quite tame around them – and he would never be ashamed of Hadley's choices. However, there was a part of her that feared his own acceptance. Not like she'd hear from him again, but she could still remember his voice in her mind.

Humans are good company to keep, especially when you're thirsty, he once told her, but relationships with them never work. I know you want to show your strength, but it isn't worth it. The Cortez doesn't need another surprise murder to cover up.

She supposed he was right, but that didn't mean she could stop loving Percy Isaacs anytime soon.

Hadley always knew that it would be difficult – you know, loving a mortal, but she truly didn't think it would be this hard. It wasn't that she was struggling with her own blood lust – although, her own thirst tended to betray her sometimes – no, it wasn't that at all. It was this damn hotel, threatening them every chance it got. She knew the hotel would never accept a long-term human occupant, but her recent fight with the Ten Commandments Killer made that statement even more real.

She would never forget the way John's knife was dangerously close to Percy's tongue. The blood slipping down her boyfriend's wrists. The wounds she had to bandaged from the cuffs. She could never forget the fear in Percy's eyes, but he would never admit that. He wanted her to always see him as brave, unafraid of the monsters within the Cortez. Hadley knew better. She saw his fear as clear as night.

There had to be some way to get Percy back in touch with his mortality. While coming home from a recent hunt with the Countess, Hadley found her solution. Nailed to an old telephone pole, just a couple blocks from the Cortez, was a flyer for the California State charity ball. There were in a college town, after all. Hadley ripped the flyer off the pole, grinning from ear to ear.

But when she had mentioned her idea to him, the last thing she expected to hear was her own words falling from his mouth.

"Absolutely not," he said with a shake of his head.

Hadley frowned, pouting out her bottom lip to entice him. It didn't do anything. "Why not? It'll help remind you of college life!"

"The last time we attended a college party, it ended badly. Granted, it was my idea – but that's not the point." He then pointed to his face. "Also, remember? I've been declared missing, and you just killed the lead detective on my case. Don't think it's too smart for me to be mingling with society."

She smirked, sliding the flyer closer to him as he crossed his legs on the mattress. "You're lucky that this is a masquerade then."

"A masquerade?" He raised a brow and picked up the crumpled flyer, smoothing out the edges. With a shake of his head, he sighed, "You're telling me that California State is hosting a masquerade charity ball?"

"Yes, and we should go. I could definitely use my compulsion to get us through the door." She argued, edging herself closer to him on the bed. With her hand resting on top of his, Percy found it hard to refuse. "You're not going to have opportunities like this anymore. You can't live your college years to the fullest if you stay here. I want you to have these experiences."

Percy narrowed his eyes, looking away from her for a moment to see his missing person's flyer on the television screen. The eleven o'clock news blared from her tiny TV, and as he reached for the remote to turn down the volume, Percy found himself being caught up in his own image on the television. He swallowed hard. Maybe Hadley was right. There was only a handful of things he could do now as a missing person, and there would be even less if she ever decided to inflict him.

Turning to her again, he asked, "Is there any ulterior motive behind this? Using this as a disguise to hunt?"

"No!" Hadley exclaimed, taking a short moment to think over his words. Tapping a finger against her chin, she smiled. "That would be a good idea though. Except, it wouldn't be too fun getting all that blood out a new dress."

"Speaking of that," Percy added, "what would we wear? We never have anything fancy to wear. We have no masks –"

She rolled her eyes. "We've stolen from Elizabeth before. It'll be easier to get to her credit card. A little hundred dollars will go unnoticed, trust me."

Percy was still not convinced, causing him to huff under his breath in annoyance. Hadley's grip got tighter on his, and she smoothed her thumb across the prominent veins in his large hands. Percy had been staring at the news again, even though his picture had vanished, and her touch alone already had his icy eyes on hers. She smiled softly.

"You only get a handful of moments, Percy. Moments that I wish I could experience for the first time all over again." She lifted a hand to his cheek, and her cold touch caused his face to flush. "Let me have them with you."

•••

So, maybe it didn't take a lot for Percy to agree. She knew that he was putty in her hands, and he didn't quite mind it.

Except when she made him try on suits. He absolutely hated wearing them, and not even Hadley could change that opinion. After hours of shopping – with a hoodie covering most of his face, might I add – Percy hadn't found one that fit him just right. Hadley had been looking with him, but he insisted that he could find a suit on his own. However, when he was changing, she took it upon herself to look through the discount suits. It didn't take her long to find a good one.

Hadley managed to slide a suit over his changing station, urging Percy to "try it on and trust me." He hated that she had been right – like always. The tux fit him perfectly.

It was a classic black and white suit, matching effortlessly with the slim-fitting mauve dress she bought for herself. Hadley kept it hidden from him until they got back to the hotel to change. Once she stepped out of the bathroom – face beaming with excitement, hair curled to perfection – Percy felt his lungs collapse. The dress had a low-cut neckline, one that he enjoyed but also something that he didn't want others to see. Her chest was practically tumbling out of the dress, but it fit her so well that his mouth threatened to water while they were in public.

She raised her arms, waiting for a reaction from him as she stood in the doorframe idly. Percy could only open and close his mouth, fixing his bowtie absentmindedly. Eventually, he shook his head, coming back to reality, and walked over to her. "You look ... really pretty," he said in one breath.

She grinned from ear to ear. "Thanks," she replied, reaching out to fix his lapels. "You don't look too bad yourself, fella."

"Not as nice as you," he whispered, carefully leaning down to her ear. The second she felt his breath on her ear, she froze. "I can't wait to rip it off you."

Hadley's mouth fell open instantly. "You will not, Percy Isaacs!"

That comment earned him a slap to the wrist, but it wasn't too hard. Probably because they both knew his words would come true later that evening.

Strapping their lace masks to their faces, the two ended up taking a taxi to the venue, which was way more expensive than Percy had imagined. The second they arrived at the infamous building, Percy wondered if they were suddenly surrounded by royalty. Everyone was in beautiful gowns, with intricate masks decorating their gorgeous faces. Lights were strung about the cherry blossom trees and a dark red carpet led straight to the venue house.

Percy helped her out of the car and paid for the taxi, but it was Hadley who tugged him all the way to the security at the venue entryway. Percy pulled at his mask as anxiety gnawed through his stomach. Grinning sweetly towards the guard, Hadley said, "Can we be let inside, please?"

"Can I see your student IDs?" He asked, quirking a suspicious brow in her direction.

Hadley glanced sideways at Percy, sending him a smirk, before moving closer to the security. Her eyes became hooded, and her voice sounded like silk when she replied, "We don't need IDs. You will let us inside."

Blinking quickly, the guard looked to his fellow officer and gave him a subtle nod. With just a simple response, they were being guided through the door. Hadley flashed the two guards her best smile, and Percy was still left confused on all the cool things she could do. He couldn't wait to be inflicted, if she'd ever do it.

"I'll never get over that you can do that shit," Percy muttered.

The doorway led into a bright dance floor. Lights of every color flashed in their direction, spinning wildly over their heads. The floor was filled to the brink with tipsy college students, and the men working the open bar looked like they were having the time of their lives. People on the sidelines were staring at them while Percy stood at the entrance, clutching Hadley's hand for dear life. It felt like he had forgotten how to act at a college party.

He knew no one could tell who he was under the mask, but the nerves in his stomach wouldn't cease. One simple call to the police and they could be done for. Hadley sensed his anxiety through his tight grip, and she looked over at him with soft eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's just ..." He swiveled a finger around his ear. "The music is kinda loud."

Hadley bit on her bottom lip, flickering her eyes towards the DJ blaring the most cliché trap music she'd ever heard. "Aren't most college parties loud like this?"

"Well, yeah, but –" Percy gave up on his statement, ending it with a small shrug. His tux was a bit constricting, and he found it hard to do an easy gesture. "I guess I'm not made to be a college student."

"Now, that's a lie." She giggled, poking his small nose. Hadley would never get over how sharp his features were, as if he was made to be some kind of Greek sculpture. "You can't convince me to turn you that easily, Perce."

Staring at him for a short minute, she watched his lips curl upward. Couples did their best to move past them, but the dance floor was becoming more crowded and they were being pushed closer together. When her chest was finally pressed against his, she craned her neck up to his ear and said, "You want to get out? This place is starting to look like a low budget version of Saturday Night Fever."

Percy nodded, causing Hadley to turn on her high heel, and she began to lead him out towards the other end of the venue. They crashed into dozens of sweaty bodies, and Percy swore he felt a couple of people grab his ass. Thankfully, it didn't take long for them to arrive outside, and nothing had ever looked so peaceful. The music was softer in their ears. The sun was setting. A gazebo waited for them just a few feet away, fairy lights conducting the way.

Sending Percy a warm smile, Hadley lightly pulled on his hand, almost lurching him forward with her strength. He stumbled a little as they walked to the gazebo, and he knew that she noticed it from her quiet giggle. A few students were leaving as they entered the gazebo. Percy swung her around, pulling her into his embrace as they swayed to the soft music, and whispered, "I think they left because of us."

"Probably a good idea on their part," Hadley replied, causing Percy to snort. The sound made Hadley's lips quirk up.

With her chin nestled into the crook of his shoulder, Percy decided that if he could do this forever, he would. Maybe he could have that dream, if she decided to turn him. Maybe he could have her in his arms every night – music playing softly, hearts beating as one, chest to chest, skin to skin – and he wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore because Percy Isaacs had Hadley Monroe. What else could he ever need? Sure, a college degree would be nice, and he'd miss his family, but Percy was young – so very young – and all he wanted was her. It was sickening how much he wanted her.

It was like he had been waiting for Hadley his whole life.

"Does this change your mind?"

Her question caused his brow to furrow. Percy leaned back to look at her face, and he realized her irises were filled with worry. "Change my mind about what?"

Hadley pursed her lips. "Your mortality."

Percy's brow shot up even further.

"I thought ..." She sighed, hardly swaying to the music, but still holding him tight. "I thought that bringing you to this tonight would ... I don't know." Hadley shook her head. "Maybe I thought it would entice you to stay mortal. I wanted to remind you how good these kind of moments are."

"This moment is only good because you're here, Hadley."

She clamped her teeth down on her bottom lip, red lipstick staining one of her canines.

"I went to these things all the time back in college. All they were good for was to have a couple of drinks." Percy continued, brushing his calloused hands through her soft waves. "College, parties ... they're fun for a while. But they're not forever, and they definitely do not sum up as a reason why I would want to stay mortal. You and me – here, right now – is enjoyable because I have you."

Hadley pushed herself onto her tiptoes and rested her forehead on his. Her frosty breath mixed with his warmth, lips brushing against each other's.

"Hate to break it to you," he smirked, "but your plan didn't work out so well."

She lifted her lashes, staring right into his eyes. "Oh, yeah? How do you know I don't have a Plan B?"

"Because that still wouldn't work," he said, pressing a delicate kiss to her cheek. Pulling back slightly, Percy could've sworn he saw tears well up in her eyes. "I want to share forever with you."

At that moment, Hadley thought that wouldn't be so bad.

•••

A/N: There's only like,,,,,2 chapters left??? And I graduate college in 15 days???????? OOF