Chapter 77: Choose Your Devil [Music: Hearing Damage By Thom Yorke] It happened in an instant. Ares ripped my thigh garter and fired shots that drowned the sounds of my shrieks. I shook profusely, covered my mouth, and my eyes widened in horror as bullets pierced the man’s chest repeatedly, unleashing blood into the air in a red mist. His gun slipped from his hand, back slamming against the wall as he dropped down in a sitting position, neck hung low, and blood pooling on the floor. H-He’s dead! A sharp ringing filled my ears as I momentarily lost touch with reality. I couldn’t look away from the bloody display. "Catherine." I snapped my gaze to Ares, his voice like fading echoes. "Breathe, baby. Breathe." Breathe? Was I not breathing? He cupped my cheeks and repeated the words until I could finally breathe. But I couldn’t stop shaking in his hold. There was a soft look in his eyes as he waited patiently for me to collect myself, stroking my cheeks to keep me grounded. That was it. A soft look. Not a fright or a remorseful look of someone who just killed a man. "Don’t move." He freed me, holding onto a small gun I realized had been strapped to my thigh the entire time. There was a fucking gun in my garter. Oh my god, oh my god! Ares neared the body, touching with his shiny shoes to see if he was alive. The man gave a strained sound, and my heart leaped when Ares fired another shot directly at his head, brain particles splashing on the wall. I think I’m gonna be sick. Ares pulled his phone from his suit jacket, speaking in sharp words I couldn’t follow. Silence took over me again, and sounds dulled out. I gripped the wood and got down from the table, legs wobbly as I slipped out a door at the corner. My breath was unstable as I raced through the hallways, ignoring the ache and sticky sensation between my thighs as I descended the stairs. Ares just killed someone in cold blood. I placed my hand on the cold wall. It felt like my tits would burst out from the corset, and it became far too tight. My stomach clenched painfully, and I rushed to a nearby porcelain vase and hurled up what I had eaten tonight. I groaned, face buried in the pot as my heart thrashed heavily in my chest. "Oh my word! Are you okay?" I heard voices from the passersby coming closer. "Maybe she had too much to drink." "Do you need help?" Using the back of my hand to wipe my mouth, I pushed to my feet and scurried away as if a lion were chasing me. The thoughts rang in my head, and I was in a mess of confusion. Secrets. Target. My brain began to pick things up in fast waves as if trying to blend and uncover what the fuck I just witnessed. Suddenly, I felt the chilly air and realized I had made my way outside to an unfamiliar place where a labyrinth garden was. Luckily, I hadn’t gone through it, or else I’d have been lost, and a dead body would be the least of my worries. "Catherine?" I jumped, whipping my head with far too much force that I almost lost my balance. Smoke fled from Agatha’s lips, a cigarette holder between her fingers. "You look mortified, love. Did you perhaps see a beast or something?" I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Or are you out here because the festivities tire you?" She took a drag. "Then we can hang here together. I was bored too." Agatha tapped her finger against the stick to remove ash. "Forgive me." She began solemnly. "For acting as if I didn’t know you. I’m caught up in a conspiracy." "C-Conspiracy?" I found my voice. She smiled. "That I’m involved in your accident." I can’t believe I’m asking this. "Were you?" "No." I can’t make out if she’s lying. So my accident wasn’t one then. I didn’t even know how to react. I sniffed, attempting to leave, but her words stopped me. "You pitiful thing. I mourn you." I faced her with a pissed expression. "Your unwanted sympathy is getting under my nerves." "My sympathy is what you’re in great need of. I pity you because I was once like you. I married a King." I narrowed my eyes at her words. Her gaze dipped to my neck, and a look I couldn’t describe took over her face in a storm. "You claim you love Ares as you told my husband." "What does that have to do with you?" "You can’t love him. No one can," She mumbled. Not wanting to indulge in any of her shit. I walked back to the building, the faint music filling the air. I caught a decorative mirror, freezing when I saw myself. There was a hickey on my neck and the top of my cleavage. Panicking, I rubbed against it as if I could wipe it off like a stain. At my useless attempt, I growled. "Hey!" I yelped, turning as I swung my arm, but he dodged. "Calm down, it’s just me!" He took off his mask. "Theo?" "Yeah. Don’t be scared." His eyebrows furrowed. "You’re shaking." "W-What are you doing here?" I asked, positioning a hand on my neck. "I was invited." "Y-You were?" "Yeah, I have a sponsor now, so I’m in with the bigger leagues. Mercer Systems is set for the future." I forced a smile. "Congrats." "Are you sure you’re okay? I could give you my jacket..." I tuned out his words when I saw someone. "Sorry, I have to go." "Wait... Catherine!" I hurried into the hall, navigating through people who engaged in small talk. I grabbed her arm and turned Tori to face me. "Cat! I have been looking everywhere for you. Thank God!" I pulled her to a corner, eyes sweeping the place for any awareness. "What are you doing here?" "Um... how about, do I look hot or not?" I let my eyes take in her fine gown. She’s so beautiful that I wanna praise her nonstop, but I could only manage a simple reply. "Y-You look hot." "Great! You’re the one who picked the gown after all. And damn girl! You’re rocking that dress." Her words made me blink. "What do you mean I picked the gown?" She rolled her eyes. "You sent it to me and a limo to pick me up. Seriously, you should have given me a heads up first." My mouth hung. "I don’t—" "We are having fun, aren’t we?" Athena came to us as the most fashionably dressed person here. I noticed a few stares followed her closely, but she didn’t seem to be bothered by it. "We came just in time." She drank from her flute glass. "Aren’t you happy to see Tori?" And then it dawned on me. "You brought her here?" I questioned sharply. "Yes, because you want her here." "Cat, is everything okay?" Tori asked worriedly. "Everything’s fine," I said, glaring at Athena. "Just give me a minute." I yanked on Athena’s arm. "Hey! Careful, these shoes are made of glass!" "I don’t care what it is you think you’re doing, but you do not get Tori involved!" I hissed. "Come on! I thought it would be better if she came. I just added in the twist. I knew she wouldn’t come unless I mentioned you." "You shouldn’t have brought her!" "Cat... don’t be selfish." I scoffed. "Selfish? The only selfish person here is you. You don’t get to waltz into my life and do as you please." She gave me a hurtful look. "I was just trying to be nice." "Nice is staying the hell away!" I shoved past her and got back to Tori. "What was that about?" "Nothing. I just told her you guys came too late, already missed the grand intro." I didn’t wanna lie, but it was the only thing I could do right now. "Is there something I should know?" "No, why?" I tried to muster up a positive expression as best I could. "First, you look like something’s chasing you, and second, is that a hickey?" I placed my hand on my neck. "What hickey?" "Really? You know, I can see it on your breasts too. Did you by chance have some spicy section with daddy?" I shot her a wide-eyed look. "Chill! But you’re calling him daddy, aren’t you?" she said, amusedly. "You know that’s usually how this thing goes." I was about to say something, but I saw someone. Isaac. He didn’t have a mask on, so I could recognise him. He leaned down to speak to Elias, murmuring something to his ear. Suddenly Elias’ face twisted in rage. Something’s really, really wrong, and it’s not just the fact that there’s a dead body upstairs. I have to get Tori out of here. "We should get going. There’s nothing much going on anyway." "Ugh, finally! I was bored. Please don’t drag me to something like this again." I was glad she was on the same page as me. I hooked my arm with hers and hurried to the entrance, but Reed came out of nowhere and blocked us. "I’m sorry, Mrs. King, but I can’t let you leave."