Dianthe Rising Read Free Page A

wow! You have to wear this with this,” she crowed as she held up a bustier I’d bought to go with a Halloween costume. Alongside it was my black, too tight to breathe jeans. The bustier was also black but the red trim and crystal beading shooting through it gave it a little color.
    “Umm…Annie, that bustier has a peasant blouse that goes underneath it. Without the blouse, it would barely contain my boobs. Much less, leave anything to the imagination."
    “Well yeah, that’s kind of the point, lollipop.” Annie rolled her eyes in exasperation at me but carried on with her logic. "It’s your birthday, and we’re going to go wild. My plan is to get you looking like the hotness you are—get you drunk—and get you laid. In that order.”
    “Okay, but I swear to God if my brother ever finds out about this, then you’re going down with me. You know every police officer in the city knows Sean. If word gets back to him that his baby sister was out trawling the streets we ," I pointed from her then to me, “are so dead.”
    “Piece of pie, sweetie. He’ll never know. London is a huge place, and we are not going to cause trouble or chat up any of the boys in blue. Now do as Annie says and go put this on.” Annie pushed me toward the bathroom after throwing a red thong at me. “Don’t worry, I saw the horror on your face. I’ll tidy up in here while you’re getting dressed. You do know I’m a cleaning ninja?” She held her hands and leg up like the karate kid, as she started making bad karate movie sounds. “She can sneak in, clean and be out before you ever knew you’ve been hit by the amazing Annie San,” she mimicked a part from an old karate movie.
    “Umm…might want to stop talking in the third person, Annie, you are sounding more nuts than normal.”
    She raised her eyebrow and pert little nose in the air, and haughtily said, "We do not know of what you are speaking. Now be gone peasant and prepare thy self. Our work here is not done.” Annie gave a little royal wave to me as I made my way to the bathroom. I ignored her antics, deciding to get dressed and do my makeup, leaving her to it.
    Twenty minutes later, I came out self-consciously aware of the amount of cleavage on show, only to gape at the now spotless bedroom. Annie was sprawled on top of my bed with a magazine. She jumped up, grabbed me by the hands, and spun me around.
    “Oh. My. Freaking God. You are totally getting laid tonight.”
    “Annie,” I gasped. “I’m not getting laid. We’ve had this conversation how many times?”
    “Okay. Alright. Don’t get your thong in a twist,” she grumbled before adding with a grin, “but, girl, you are so getting hit on, like all night.”
    Laughing, I said, “Yeah I can handle that. So this isn’t too slutty then?” I eyed myself uncertainly in the mirror. Annie and I stood side by side watching our reflection. We were complete opposites she and I. I had nearly four inches on her in our bare feet and she was fair to my darkness. My hair shone nearly black, except for the strange gold highlights that ran through it. Natural loose curls wove down to my waist and my golden eyes looked a more natural brown in the lighting. Most people thought my exotic looks were due to a great stylist and contacts but in reality it was some weird genetic anomaly. So the specialists had told my parents.
    “Slutty?” She recoiled in mock horror, “How is it slutty? Seriously, you really need to get out more. This,” she waved in my general direction, “is tame. I’ve set your boots out for you, so as soon as you’re ready we’ll jump on the tube. You are so gonna love the club where I’m taking you. It’s industrial and so hot right now. Even through the week the queue is huge.” Turning to me, she batted her lashes. "By the way, how do I look?"
    I took in her tiny awesomeness and whistled. A miniscule midnight blue corset dress hugged her form. Her hair fell in a cascade of ringlets where she had