Chapter 33

It was 6pm and the party had begun in earnest, the walls were vibrating as the sound of the current song shook the house. I stared at the clothes laid down on the bed, not having yet decided the one I wanted to wear.

I didn't go shopping for a costume because I thought I wouldn't attend the party. The plan was to lock myself in or go to Anabelle's place. I had to make do with what I had due to the change of plans.

Arabella walked into my room in her beautiful costume.

She was dressed as Hades' daughter, a red corset top with laces at the front which she undid to show her well-endowed bosom, she wore a tight black short that barely covered her ass which I could see from her transparent black detachable tail, similar to that of a wedding dress, that flowed behind her; she held a Trident for extra effect, she wore a dark wig with red horns.

"Aren't you ready yet? We're late."

"As soon as I make up my mind on what to wear."

"Great, so what do you have in mind?" She looked around the room.

"You're looking at them." I pointed to the bed.

"What are those?" She asked in horror.

"Well, I didn't really go shopping so I put things together."

I started defending myself when the look of horror didn't leave her face. "I wanted to be Wonder Woman..." I picked a short made out of the American flag and a red sweetheart top. ".....but I don't have a tiara, a lasso, boots or bracelets to go with it. The blouse doesn't have the Amazon symbol but it's okay, right?"

She stared blankly at me.

"I also wanted to be Lara Croft." I picked up a gray tank top. "All that's missing now is a small backpack, gun holsters, guns, leather boots, and fingerless gloves." I said proudly.

Arabella face palmed herself, she rubbed her face with so much force I was scared she'd ruin her makeup, then she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Ophelia, how can you be so....You know.....I....." She was lost for words.

She turned and left the room, leaving me much confused than ever, was something wrong with my costumes?

She barged in later with a bag in one hand.

"I worked hard for this night to be a success, I'm not going to let you ruin it dressed as some unrealistic, stuck up, comic dwelling bit..."

I didn't wait for her to finish. "What's wrong with Wonder Woman and Lara Croft?" I asked, petulantly, as I gathered my clothes in my arms. It had taken me a lot of effort to piece together these items from my limited wardrobe.

She sighed deeply. "Nothing sweetie, I didn't mean it that way, they're all great in their own worlds but this isn't a Marvel costume party and a..."

"DC comics." I corrected her.

"Whatever. I mean they're pretty hot but I don't think the guys downstairs would want to see Lara Croft or Wonder Woman dancing on a pole, that's just freaky, especially when your costume is lacking vital parts." She shivered.

"You'll never know...." I said, but the look she gave me was enough for me to shut up.

She had worked so hard for this, there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.

"So, what's in the bag?" I asked.

"I bought this as a plan B, I'm damn happy I did or you would have disgraced me out there tonight." She brought a white lingerie set and gave it to me.

I waited patiently for the dress to accompany it but nothing followed, then I got the drift.

"Fuck no." I said, borrowing Luke's favourite piece of vocabulary. "No, no, no.....no way Arabella! I'm not wearing that in front of anyone, you said it was a costume, what am I supposed to be dressed as? Me in my underwear?"

"Calm down Ophelia, that's just part of it."

"Where's the other part?"

"Put the lingerie on first."

I made a face but did as she said. I tried to cover myself, I'd never really let anyone see me like this, except when I wore a bikini but this was all wrong.

Arabella had a satisfied look on her face. She brought out a pair of wings and strapped it to my back, she brought out accessories: a tiara, matching bracelets.

"Arabella, angels wear long gowns that cover their hands and feet."

She waved me off. "You're a different kind of Angel, Ophelia. I want to show you something, move your shoulder."

I did and the wings flapped open.

I gasped, I moved my shoulder again and the wings closed. I moved them so the wings were flapping like I was preparing for flight.

I had a child-like expression on my face, my lack of clothing didn't matter anymore. "Thank you, Arabella."

"You're welcome sweetie, now let's get you dolled up. Just so you know, your pierced navel improves the look."

She did my hair and makeup, adding a ton of silver glitter on my exposed skin, then we walked downstairs.

"There's someone I want you to meet."

She moved me through the small crowd gathered at the back of the house, where the men were having a BBQ. A few girls were dancing on stage, she pulled me to the DJ standing on a raised platform.

"Hey Liam!" She touched his shoulder and shouted so she could be heard over the blaring speakers.

His face lit up when he saw her, he pulled his headphones off, pulled her close and kissed her full on the lips. "Ari, baby!"

She giggled like a school girl. "Liam, this is Ophelia, the girl I told you about. Ophelia, this is Liam."

"A demon and an angel, this must be my lucky day." He reached out to pull me into his arm.

No, thank you! I moved out of his reach, I do not want to be kissed. The guy looked more than willing to share his lips.

Arabella laughed at my reaction and smacked Liam on his forearm. "I wouldn't touch this one if I were you, she's exclusive. If her guy catches you breathing the same air as she does, he'll kill you.

Liam laughed Arabella's comment off and smiled at me. "Noted."

"You know what to do handsome, crank it up or bring it down according to the way we move."

"No problem, babe." He leaned down for another make out session.

I walked away. No one likes to be the third wheel.

Arabella caught up with me on the way, giggling helplessly. "Come on, you've got to help me set up the lounge before everyone comes in."

We got to the kitchen and I helped Arabella move things about.

I picked a tray of muffins and took it to the snack table in the lounge, I got the pizzas and moved them to the lounge.

"Don't forget the party cups, Ophelia!" Arabella yelled from the kitchen.

I dropped the pizza and turned around bumping into someone in the process.

"I'm sorry.... excuse me." I said.

The light was so dim that I could hardly see my feet on the ground. Only the mini stages and snack table had ample lighting.

The guy turned around and I got a good look at him, his hair was slicked back, his costume reflected light in some areas but I couldn't make out his facial features. I did however see his bright smile, showcasing pearly white teeth.

"So, we meet again."

I was confused at first but realization seeped in after a few seconds.

Dave!

And he was dressed as a fireman.

I turned to run but he caught me by my wrist and flung me across the nearest wall, rushing over he trapped me with his body and held my hands above my head.

I whimpered because no one would see us if they walked in due to the poor lighting.

I should have known he would come to the party, Desmonda invited all clients over. How long had he been hiding in the dark, waiting for me like a predator stalking its prey?

"Where are you off too in such a hurry, sweetheart? What's that your pretty name again? Ophelia, right!"

I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn't blame Arabella, she had no idea Dave was lying in wait for me before she yelled out my name.

I couldn't fight him, he was experienced at restraining people, it was evident in his tight grip, I couldn't even move. Anything I did now would be a waste of energy, so I followed the crying route.

"Please... L-let me go." Tears streamed down my face.

"You're not going to fight me now? You're not going to hit me?" He asked with a mocking expression on his face.

I shook my head. "N-no." I closed my eyes, forcing tears out them, all the while concentrating on his tight grip silently praying for a break so I could escape.

"Shhh...don't cry Ophelia." He whispered, using his free hand to wipe my tears away. "It's too late to do that now, you and I have a score to settle and you're not going anywhere until we're done." His voice dropped lower, causing me to shiver in fear.

His eyes glowed.

He touched my hair, rubbing the strands between his fingers. "So silky." He went down to the skin on my neck. "So soft." His hand dropped to his side.

"I've been thinking about you, you know, replaying the scene over and over again, thinking of ways I could return the favour." He flicked a knife open, the blade caught the little light in the room.

An involuntary gasp escaped from my throat, torture was apparently one of the things he had been thinking over.

Any woman would have screamed but Mafia instinct was taking over, the need to survive, the instinct of wanting to play this sick game to see who would emerge winner.

I took deep breaths to calm myself.

"Remember what you told me about losing a dick?"

I refused to answer.

He laughed, then swiftly pressed the blade to my neck, showing me who was in control here.

"Do you remember, Ophelia?" All playful expressions left his face as I stared into his evil eyes.

I swallowed, feeling the blade. It was pressed hard but not deep enough to draw blood.

Yet.

"Y-yes." I whimpered in feigned fear.

He cocked his head to the side, feeling amused that I was scared. He released the blade and used it's sharp point to draw abstract patterns along my shoulder.

"You were right you know…"

Now he had my attention. I looked at him surprised.

"I will lose my dick...but it will be in you."

My body stilled, real fear setting in, all I could think of was Luke not being here to protect me and Arabella oblivious to what was happening.

"......then we're going to have fun with my best friend." He waved the knife in front of me. "He loves the soft texture of your skin, he wants to draw patterns on it. Did I tell you he said he likes your navel ring too? It was hard not to notice as you stood under the light. He wants to carve it out. You know the best part out of all of this?" He nipped my earlobe with his teeth.

I shook my head, really scared this time.

"You're dressed for the occasion, I don't need to rip clothes off to see what's underneath, I've got front row seats to the show." His eyes roamed my body with an evil glee. "All I need to do is cut this..." I felt the cold blade crawl up my leg and slip into my underwear, pulling it slightly, he let it slap my skin as he released it "...and this." His teeth hooked my bra strap and he pulled it down.

What have I gotten myself into?!

"So why don't we start the fun somewhere where we won't be disturbed?"

"Ophelia? Ophelia, what's taking you so long in there?!" Arabella walked into the lounge.

God bless her soul!

"Ophelia?" She looked around, not able to see in the dark room, she moved to the other side of the room, away from us.

No! I wanted to scream but Dave pressed the knife to my throat, harder this time.

"Don't you dare!" He hissed as the first sound left my mouth.

Unfortunately, Arabella couldn't hear it over the loud music.

We were closer to the doorway so he pulled me along, quietly but swiftly. Then his leg kicked a table which made a sound loud enough for Arabella to turn around and head in our direction.

The dim light got me into this mess, I was thankful it got me out.

"Ophelia is that you? What are you doing with Dave?" She asked, surprised.

"Hey purple..." He said, after he had tucked the knife away, "...how's it going?"

"Great Dave but why are you with Ophelia instead of Emilia?"

"Oh, err...we...we...were just talking." He turned to look at me where I was still rooted to the spot, making a sign that he wanted me to keep my mouth shut about what happened.

"Just talking?" Arabella looked at my tearstained face that had ruined my makeup, the red marks on my neck that were now bleeding, places where Dave had pressed his blade.

"Yes."

"Well I don't mean to interrupt anything Dave, but Ophelia is kind of busy helping me set up the lounge. If you'll excuse us." She pulled me out of the lounge into the kitchen.

She made me sit down on a stool while she rummaged the kitchen for tissues.

"Alright then, I'll leave you to your work." He walked into the kitchen.

When he saw Arabella wasn't looking, he made the universal sign of, ‘I've got my eyes on you’ and ‘I'll slit your throat’, then he winked at me and walked out.

Talk about creepy.

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