Hades Read Free

any of that knowledge was impossible. Not only
    would I be breaking our most sacred code and exposing
    our presence on earth, but I’d also be instantly kicked out of
    the group for being a lunatic.
    Our newly adopted friends huddled around a cluster of
    carved wooden benches beneath a stone archway that
    they’d claimed as their own. One thing that hadn’t changed
    was their territorial nature. If any outsiders accidental y
    strayed into our area, they didn’t linger long. The glaring
    looks of disapproval that flew in their direction were usual y
    enough to drive them away. Gray clouds rol ed ominously
    overhead, but the girls never went inside unless there was
    absolutely no alternative. As usual they sat with their hair
    perfectly coiffed and their skirts hitched up, soaking up the
    weak rays of sunlight that dipped and wavered behind the
    clouds, washing the courtyard in a soft, dappled light. Any
    opportunity to work on their tans could not be missed.
    The Hal oween party on Friday had served to lift
    everyone’s spirits and generate a lot of excitement. It was
    being held at an abandoned estate just out of town that
    belonged to the family of one of the seniors, Austin Knox.
    His great-grandfather Thomas Knox had built the house in
    1868, several years after the Civil War ended. He was one
    of the town’s original founders and although the Knox family
    hadn’t visited the place in years, historical landmark laws
    protected it from demolition. So it had remained vacant and
    uninhabited over the years. It was a run-down, old country
    homestead with deep porches on every side, surrounded
    by nothing but fields and a deserted highway. The locals
    cal ed it the Boo Radley House—nobody ever went in or out
    —and Austin claimed he’d even seen his great-
    grandfather’s ghost standing at one of the upstairs
    windows. According to Mol y, it was perfect party material;
    nobody ever passed that way except for people who’d
    taken a wrong turn on a road trip or the occasional trucker.
    Plus, it was wel enough away from town that nobody could
    complain about the noise. It had original y started out as a
    smal gathering, but word had somehow gotten out and now
    the whole school was talking about it. Even some of the
    better-connected sophomores had managed to score an
    invite.
    I sat next to Mol y, whose titian curls were wound on top
    of her head in a loose bun. Without makeup she had the
    face of a china dol with wide sky blue eyes and rosebud
    lips. She couldn’t resist a slick of lip gloss, but aside from
    that, she’d pared everything back in her attempt to win favor
    with Gabriel. I’d expected by now she’d be over the
    hopeless crush she had on my brother, but so far her
    feelings for him only seemed to have intensified.
    I preferred Mol y without makeup; I liked the way she
    looked her age rather than someone ten years older.
    “I’m going as a naughty schoolgirl,” Abigail announced.
    “In other words you’re going as yourself?” Mol y said with
    a snort.
    “Let’s hear your great idea then … .”
    “I’m going as Tinker Bel .”
    “As who?”
    “The fairy from Peter Pan .”
    “This isn’t fair,” Madison whined. “We made a pact to al
    go as Playboy Bunnies!”
    “Bunnies are old.” Mol y tossed her head. “Not to mention
    trashy.”
    “I’m sorry,” I interrupted, “but aren’t the costumes
    supposed to be scary?”
    “Oh, Bethie,” Savannah said with a sigh. “Have we taught
    you nothing?”
    I smiled sheepishly. “Refresh my memory?”
    “Basical y the whole thing is just one massive—,” Hal ie
    began.
    “Let’s just say it’s an opportunity for us to mingle with the
    opposite sex,” Mol y cut in, shooting Hal ie a sharp look.
    “Your costume needs to be scary and sexy.”
    “Did you know Hal oween used to be about Samhain?” I
    said. “People were real y scared of it.”
    “Who’s Sam Hen?” Hal ie looked baffled.
    “Not who … what,” I said. “It’s