Beautiful Monster (Beautiful Monster #1)(45)
Author: Bella Forrest

Except all that would be over soon. I tried to push that thought away as I got into the shower. I vowed to enjoy this day for all it was worth, and when the time came, I would face what I needed to.

I took extra care in the shower to make sure everything was shaved, washed, and clean. I scrubbed my face three times, and shampooed my hair twice, and then blow dried it with a round brush, something I had done about twice in my life. I was going to get my makeup done in the theater before the press conference, so I didn’t have to worry about it.

I chose tight jeans and boots, with a tunic shirt that belted at my waist. Satisfied with my appearance in the mirror, I picked up my purse, and slipped out the door, my heart beating fast.

“Ammmmmmyyyyy.” I wasn’t out the door five seconds when one of my floor mates, Charisma, attacked me with a hug. “Are you excited?”

“I feel more like puking, but I hear that’s excitement,” I said, giving her a hug back. “What are you doing today?”

“Being your slave,” she smiled at me. “Anything you need me to do?”

“Um…” I shrugged. “No. I was just going to get breakfast…or lunch… and then go to hair and makeup. We have a press conference and all.”

“Exccccitting,” Charisma was possibly one of the sweetest girls I had ever met. She never had an unkind word for anyone and was always genuine in her responses. “Want me to come?”

“Sure, you can be my body guard.” I linked my arm in hers, heading down to the canteen. It was then that I saw Selene again, crossing the campus. She had sunglasses and a fashionable trench coat on, but I still recognized her. She carried herself in such a way that couldn’t be missed, with her nose high in the air and her shoulders squared.

I froze, making Charisma stumble.

“What?” she asked, following my eye line. “Who’s that?”

“No one.” I said, even as I took out my phone and frantically sent a text to Liam. Selene is on campus. I’ll be in the cafe. “Just…someone I thought I knew. Let’s go.”

I moved faster down the hall, practically dragging Charisma with me. We had barely grabbed food when Liam burst into the canteen, his jaw set.

“Are you alright?” he asked, and I nodded. Charisma looked from me to him and back again.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” he said, shaking his head. “Amy just needs…I need Amy to come with me. Sorry.” He apologized to her. “Last minute prep.”

“No problem.” She released my arm. “Break a leg tonight, guys! I have tickets for tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” I said, giving her a quick hug and then following Liam out into the hallway, my food long since forgotten. “Liam, it’s ok. I just saw her, she didn’t see me.”

“I should have known,” he shook his head, dragging me along the hallway to the staff quarters. “I shouldn’t have been so stupid.”

“What?” I asked, struggling to keep up.

“I’m sorry, Amy. I thought we were safe when she didn’t show her face. But she bought all the tickets to opening night, and I should have known she would show up today. She’ll be watching tonight, for sure.”

“Do you think she wants to hurt me?” I asked, fear leaping into my throat. Liam shook his head.

“No. Selene is not usually the…violent type,” he said. “And even if she does try, there will be truck loads of security there, to make sure we’re safe.”

“Uh…Did you get vampire security or something?” I asked, as he put his key in the lock.

“Sort of,” he replied, ushering me into the room. I turned to give him a funny look, but when I entered the room, I saw what he meant. Sitting crossed legged on his bed, looking about four shades paler, Porsche was slowly doing her makeup.

“Porsche!” I cried, flying across the room to give her a hug.

“Hey, Amy.” Her voice was soft, and she felt about ten pounds lighter, her already thin frame feeling skeletal under my arms. She was burning with heat, her face shiny with sweat and her heartbeat could be heard even by my human ears. “How are you?” I could see the lesions on her arms, and subtly, when she opened her mouth, I could see the sores. I didn’t think it was possible to downward spiral as fast as she did and I wondered how long she had been hiding it from me, and from Liam. He seemed just as shocked as I was to see her this way.

“Forget me, how are you?” I asked. Porsche’s eyes went above my head, to meet Liam’s, who sighed.

“It’s better that she’s here, Amy. For you … and for her. So that she’s closer to me if anything happens.”

“And for him,” she said, with a soft smile. “My power grows every hour. By tonight, neither Liam nor Selene will transform.”

“But that means…” I said, trailing off with horror. She shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter anymore, Amy. It’ll all be over soon. But tonight, don’t worry about me. Worry about you.”

“It shouldn’t happen this quickly,” I said, looking up at her. “I mean, you’ve only been off AZT a few months.”

“I’m refusing treatment,” She said, putting down her mascara brush. She looked skeletal, her eyes cloudy and her cheeks hollow. “I’m done with all this.”

“So why not now?” I asked, looking to Liam. He shrugged.

“Porsche’s stubborn. She wants to protect us first. So we’ll wait as long as she can hold out…the run of the show at least.” Although he was speaking the words, I believed he disagreed with it as much as I did. His face was stony, and his eyes were dark.

“Thank you,” I said, turning back to her. She smiled, her eyes a bit teary.

“Anytime.” She said. “I hope we can still be friends when I’m on the other side, Amy.”

“Of course,” I replied. “It’s much more taboo for you to back an actor with no experience than for me to be friends with a vampire.”

Porsche laughed at that, leaning back against the pillows.

“This is indeed true.”

Liam shook his head, going to the mini fridge to get us both a bottle of water.

“Porsche, do you feel up to doing Amy’s makeup? I don’t feel comfortable letting her into the theater right now.”

“Would you?” I turned back to her. “I’m about as useful with makeup as I am fighting a dragon.”