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"She has thehtly around the invitation as Daniel straightened his jacket, nodded once, and then marched out the front door Asshole

Josephine Arnaud had the others No need for the Novem to scour the city for me All they had to do was take my friends and I would come I wondered who else in the council knew that Josephine was holding theet to me, if they’d made the decision unani on the last stair step with Pascal I was too angry to say, so I handed over the crumpled wad of thick paper Violet stared at it like I’d just handed her a tennis ball She gave it back "I can’t read"

I froze for a second, startled Violet couldn’t read? Pity stirred in my stomach The kid had never had the chance to learn Dub had found her living alone in a trapper’s houseboat, and there weren’t exactly schools and teachers living out in the swamps

I told Violet what had been written inside the invitation, careful to keepuess," I said, "we’re going to a rin spread across Violet’s face, flashing the tips of her fangs and giving me the willies "Excellent" She dashed up the stairs and stopped halfway to turn back "Coed up the steps and followed Violet to a room at the end of the hallway, opposite Sebastian’s door She produced a key fro around her neck and unlocked the door A small lamp covered in a red scarf burned near the twin bed, its four posts hung with beads and scarves andinto Mardi Gras World Every spare inch of wall space was covered with owns and costuht reflected off the sequins and beads and crystals, casting a rainbow of color on the ceiling The effect was ical "These are all yours?"

Violet set Pascal on the bed "They are now I collect these things"

"Why?"

She stared at h the ansas obvious Then she began digging through piles of gorgeous creations and costumes "The Arnaud ball is very forht of Mardi Gras, they have a council ball You’ll need so to blend inno, not this oneAh This is the one"

Violet stood a of jewels, and held a black satin gown trimmed in white The bodice was strapless and contained hundreds of pearls and rhinestones, like stars in an inky sky "It ood with your hair Like a doowns, handed me her selection, and then stood in front of the wall, searching for just the right et into Josephine’s house and get my friends to safety But my hands stroked the smooth fabric and my heart leaped withanticipation I suppose there was sooas incredible

"That one," Violet said, pointing

I followed the direction of Violet’s tiny finger to a shi white satin mask that tilted up at the corners and was trimmed with fuzzy little black feathers and rhinestones It would just cover h to reach, so I lifted it down as Violet went to find her own costu her to stay behind, but as I to say that? I had no claim on Violet The kid was her own person; she’d lived out in the swa She’d do what she wanted, and it would probably offend her if I said anything to the contrary

"Violet?" I said, reown

"Hmged, her back to me as she searched the pile "The Novem has a school, but it’s only for their kids and kids with a lot of money Not for us There’s a woman who comes to the GD once a week to teach whoever wants to listen"

Violet eed from the clothes in a purple dress that cae black shoes and black-and-white-striped socks She removed the mask on her head and picked one off a dresser topped with masks It was purple and white to match the dress, and with her black bob, the outfit actually caether in a sort of punkified way Fairy punk, I decided

Seeing own, Violet spun , and it shoved e where I usually didn’t have any My bare shoulders and neck lefta little vulnerable, but I could deal with it The gown’s hem just covered the tips of my black boots, so I left them on and then pulled thehidden Of no one knoho I was or rong with ht bun at the nape of my neck Violet handed over a pair of clip-on chandelier earrings made of black stones and cubic zirconia My neck was left bare; the earrings and thea leather belt, I strapped the τερα&sigainst , so I had plenty of room to move

"Perfect"

As we hurried down the steps, I suddenly felt as though I was living in a drearand old house, a dreaht was mine to own

The cold air outside only added to my exhilaration as we spilled onto the empty street in a wash of color and sound The swish of our skirts Violet’s delighted giggle The sounds echoed all around us