Page 2 of Lords Of Ruin
Damien’s mother was perfect and the center of the Chessmen’s worlds. So when he found out she died for me, that was it; he hated me. I was the reason he was now alone in the world.
I am the reason the only mother they ever had is dead, and they have all rights to hate me. I hate me. If I knew it was hers, I would have never taken it, but I didn’t know until after the transplant was finished that Rosemary Sterling donated her heart to me. I didn’t even know she was being tested to see if we were compatible.
Jasmine doesn’t know any of this; she just thinks they’re cruel, and I guess it is better to assume they are evil than to know how kind they can genuinely be. It only makes the looks they give me even more painful. It only makes me take my punishments at school like I deserve them because I do.
As we approach the sprawling 800-acre estate, I can’t help but feel a mix of awe and anxiety wash over me. The Greek-inspired mansion looms before us, its towering white columns flashing different colors from the party lights, and intricate carvings decorate the sides. The golden door at the entrance sparkles, invitingly like the gates of heaven—yet intimidating because I know nothing heavenly exists on the other side of that door.
A security guard, his muscular frame like a fortress, looms next to the golden doors, scanning the crowd of partygoers with hawkish intensity. He barely dodges a guy wrapped in a toga-like ensemble as he assesses the crowd. “Can’t let you in, man,” he declares, his voice cold and unyielding.
“What? Come on, man—these are not clothes; these are bed sheets!” the guy protests.
The guard shrugs dismissively. “Rules were changed: no bedsheets, curtains, or clothes-like fabric.”
“Seriously?!” The guy’s voice rises in disbelief, and I can sense the tension crackling in the air.
“Yeah, go change and come back,” the guard retorts, a glint of satisfaction in his eye as he watches the guy's shoulders slump. With a groan, the rejected partygoer turns, stomping away, frustration radiating off him like heat waves.
I feel the weight of the guard's gaze shift to us as if he can smell the uncertainty wafting off our skin. Jasmine and I exchange a quick look, and I swallow hard.
A smarmy smile curls his lips, and I can feel my stomach churn with disgust. “Spin,” he commands, and my heart races, a flash of anger igniting within me.
“What?” I snap, my eyebrows furrowing and fists balling up at my sides.
He leans in slightly, the smugness radiating off him like a foul odor. “No underwear allowed. It’s part of the rules because it’s technically clothes.”
A pulse of heat surges through me, and I instinctively bristle, ready to tell him off. “Are you serious?” I demand. This guy must be a creep; there’s no way he can be serious.
But then, he looks off to the side, and I follow his gaze to the clear bin beside him—overflowing with an array of colorful panties from other partygoers. “Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t make the rules.” He smiles, leveling his obsidian eyes with mine.
“Don’t call me sweetheart.” I roll my eyes, my heart thundering in my chest and my gut twisting in annoyance -- only theChessmen would want every girl at this party commando. With a slight shimmy, I tug my cute white satin underwear with a dainty bow in the front, the sexiest underwear I own, down my thighs and over my boots. I feel ridiculous and angry as I drop the delicate fabric into the bin with an exaggerated sigh, shooting the guard with a sarcastic look of compliance.
“There, happy?” I snarl, trying to mask the wave of vulnerability threatening to wash over me.
The guard’s grin widens as he moves out of our way, “Enjoy, ladies.”
“You didn’t ask for my underwear,” Jasmine narrows her eyes on him and places both hands on her hips.
The guard shoots both eyebrows up in confusion and looks around him as if she isn’t talking to him. “Girl, I can tell by your face if anyone touches you, you will stab them.”
Jasmine’s grin sharpens, transforming her delicate features into something fierce and predatory. She laces her fingers through mine, squeezing tightly. “And you’d be absolutely correct!” She shoots back, her voice laced with playful menace. “Aren’t you observant?”
Jasmine tugs me forward, and we step into the chaotic whirlwind of the party; the air is heavy with laughter, alcohol, and music. The moment we cross the threshold, I’m hit by a wave of noise and color, overwhelming my senses.
A group of our peers swirls around us, their bodies glistening under the vibrant lights, some already stumbling under the weight of drinks in their hands. A couple nearby is locked in a passionate kiss, oblivious to the world, with their trash bagsripped open, exposing both girls’ breasts, while naked acrobats twist through the air above, defying gravity in their silks.
“Welcome to the jungle,” Jasmine whispers in my ear as she scans the room, rocking back on the heels of her feet.
My mind races as I assess the opulence surrounding us. Gold-plated fixtures shine like beacons, and clusters of expensive bottles are lining tables draped in silk. Art pieces worth thousands hang on the walls, and the laughter and chatter of Thornhaven’s elite fill the air.
But I can’t focus on the luxury right now; I need to think strategically. My eyes dart around the room, searching for the perfect item to steal—something that would fetch at least twenty grand, enough to keep our house from foreclosing. Just one thing, and I can figure out the rest later.
“Let’s do a lap and see what I can grab,” I whisper to Jasmine, suddenly distracted by the two girls grinding on each other.
“Just don’t get caught,” she warns, her voice low. “The Chessmen are going to be around here somewhere, and if they catch you…”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there,” I retort, trying to shake off the rising anxiety. I’m so close to saving my father and pulling us out of this mess. I just need to be smart about it.
Jasmine pulls me deeper into the crowd, and I can’t help but marvel at the sheer absurdity of the party. A group of girls flits by in elaborate dresses made of bubble wrap, giggling as they bounce on their heels. The pulsating music seeps into my bones, blending with the energy of the people around me, and for a brief moment, I almost forget why I’m here.