cked the suffocating oppression of the Beaumont

alked straight to the bathroom, not bothering to turn on the lights. She twisted th

woman staring back had wild eye

e pale with worry. In her hand, she clutched a small orange bottle of pill

ile floor, the plastic cracking, pills scattering everywhere

oss the floor. "Harlene, please. Don't go to that d

pill into powder on the tile. The crunch wa

astel dresses that Genevieve approved of-colors meant to make her invisible-an

y, was the dress Mitch had found. A deep crimson velvet gown, tight, floor-len

flame about to consume everything in its path. She ran her hand along her thigh, feeling the outline of the thin, leather sheath custom-sewn

mple pearl earrings. "At lea

a drawer and pulled out a pair of sharp, metallic

yes. Instead, she took a charcoal eyeshadow and smeared it heavily, making

ied it carefully, then deliberately smeared the edge

ou doing, Harlene? Are you trying to win

n, a laugh erupted from her throat. It was a harsh, g

"Win him back? No, Winter. I'm going to sho

unter. The screen lit up w

fool of you

er fingertip, the cold glass offering no comfort. The las

iley face. It was the most sarcasti

ging on the wall was a portrait of her grandmother. Th

whisper. "If you see me tonight, Grand

a can of pepper spray into

lights. The Christmas decorations still glittered on the streets, but i

emergencies only. "She's on her way," Winter whispered into the phone, her voice tight with fear. "She's going to the gala. I think... I think she's going to burn it

ment the door opened, a barrage of camera flash

the car with her chin held high. The red velvet dress caught the li

e you having a breakdown?" "How do you feel about E

d that creepy, serene smile, soak

, reaching for her elbow. "Miss Beaum

t past him, her heels clicking on the red carpet like gunshots, mov

lden doors. She pushed t

ds of faces turned to stare at the woman in the bloo