Crap.

"Sorry, I'm coming," I rushed to respond as Erebus just raised his eyebrows at me and mouthed, "You know him?" I simply nodded.

I grabbed the door handle and was about to leave but looked back at Erebus one last time. "Bye...I guess."

He just smirked at me. "Don't worry. I'll be seeing you all the time now."

For some reason, knowing that was a comfort.

___________________________________________________

Hank was pissed.

Rightfully so. But still pissed.

He was so pissed he didn't even talk to me as he led me back to the ballroom and straight outside to an awaiting limo. There weren't very many people left dancing. Everyone had either legitimately gone home or simply headed to the back to do...whatever their heart desired.

I hadn't even realized how late it'd gotten.

I plopped down in the car's back seat, and Hank slammed the door shut behind me before getting in the front passenger seat.

I felt like I had to say something.

"Uh...I'm sorry...," I murmured. It was better than nothing.

Hank just glared at me through the rearview mirror.

"I probably should have come find you after Darius took me away...," I added a bit uselessly.

Hank finally spoke up. "Who was that?"

I blushed. Okay, so he had noticed the boy in the room with me. "Just another partygoer."

Hank raised his eyebrows. "Right." I knew his next question before he even asked it. "Do I want to know what exactly you were doing in there with him?"

My face went even redder. I opened my mouth and closed it. I realized just how suspicious that must have looked. What being in that room implied. "Um...it was not that. Whatever it is that you're thinking."

"Then, what was it?"

"We were just talking."

Hank let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. He looked like he was trying to compose himself. "Okay. Fine."

Well.

Wasn't really sure what that response meant. But I guess I'd take it.

The rest of the ride back was relatively quiet. My forearm wound was starting to itch a bit, but I tried not to scratch it. It would only make it worse.

When we got back to the house, I was led immediately upstairs to be "debriefed." I told them pretty much everything. Except of course, the parts that had to do with Erebus. And I downplayed Darius's threats a bit. I mean he didn't know yet, so it didn't really matter.

Although I guess I'd also admitted to his own son that I was a fake. I reminded myself that I also had leverage over Erebus, though, if he ever considered spilling about my identity.

June was definitely still mad at me.

Throughout the debriefing, she followed a script. She didn't even bother to look at me. And when it was over, she walked out without a second glance.

For some reason, it hurt.

I don't know, maybe I just didn't want her to hate me. That was kind of stupid. They were sort of holding me captive.

But I fell asleep without bothering to take off the dress. Or my makeup. The only thing I bothered with was to take out the bobby pins in my hair.

I woke up to chaos.

I sat up in the bed, wincing against the morning light. People were literally shouting downstairs.

What...?

I was tempted to lie back down and fall right back asleep, but I didn't get a chance.

Because my door was practically knocked by Erin.

"Get the hell up. Now," he ordered. His hair was a mess and he looked pale.

"I'm sorry?" I asked in response.

He didn't even wait for me to roll out of the bed. He started searching through my drawers and pulled out a basic gray suit. He threw it at me. I let out a yelp as I tried to grab it from the air. "Geez!" I shouted. "What's going on?"

Erin just shook his head. "You need to be at Sardon's house in 15 minutes. Or we're all dead."