The Party

Continued from Horse Teeth

She felt dizzy immediately on entering the apartment, and steadied herself on wall to her left. When she opened her eyes, she saw herself in a full length mirror in front of her. She studied herself as the last vestige of vertigo drained away, and what she saw was encouraging.

The tears that a moment ago were welling up, stopped short of shedding, and gave her eyed a bright glisten that emphasized their color. Her anger at Horse Teeth brought some color to her cheeks, effusing her pale skin with a vigor that she didn’t feel. She straightened her shoulders and allowed herself to smile a little while she admired what the little red dress she was wearing did to her figure.

If she can’t get some information out of someone looking like this, she didn’t know how else to try. Of course, the blond man may not even be here. Of course, he may not even be the person she remembered from the University. Of course… she turned away from the mirror and that thought before the vacant, helpless stare she’d seen in the mirror the last few days returned.

The apartment itself was much larger than she would have expected from the building she entered. The center room alone easily held the twenty or so people in various states of leisure. Maybe the tray ceiling and floor made the room seem more spacious. Maybe it was that the walls were all white.

Everyone and everything in the room was black and white. The floors were black and white marbled tile, the walls were white, and all the furniture was black leather or a dark stained mahogany. The art work fit the theme, from black and whites on the walls, to obsidian and porcelain statuary. The men and women around the room were in black and white; plain, two toned, striped, plaid, even paisley, but always black and white. All the men carried black roses, all the women carried white. In fact, only two things in the room weren’t black or white, the wine everyone was drinking, and her dress

And, of course, everyone was looking at her.

“Not what you expected?” Horse Teeth asked. “I so love seeing the look on people’s faces when they see this room for the first time. That’s all right, dear. I’ll certainly hold it against you. I can’t take credit, though. All of this is Neill’s.”

Horse Teeth looked down her nose at her, “You’ve met Neill, haven’t you? Tall. Strong. Blond. I’m sure you have, he’s been to the university. No? He remembers you, in fact, he was sure you’d come tonight. He’s been killing to see you again.”

Whether Horse Teeth meant it or not, the coincidences hit her hard. If she was going to get anywhere tonight, she would have to react better.

“How rude of me,” Horse Teeth said, turning to the room. “Everyone, this is Aisling.” A few scattered glasses raised slightly, as everyone turned back to their conversations. “Mingle, dear, and let me get you a glass of wine.” With that, the woman she couldn’t stand, left her in a room full of people, she realized, she did not know.