A beautiful singer on a platform at the far end of the ballroom is crooning softly into the microphone, she is accompanied by a live band. Her voice is low and sultry.
The room is decorated with purple and black silk cloth hanging on the walls and from the ceilings. A row of opulent velvet tufted chairs line the walls and gleaming chandeliers are hanging low from the ceiling, giving it a sexy vibe.
Everything seems spectacular but now I think that coming here was a mistake. I knew I shouldn't have sneaked in tonight and yet I still did…. Like a lot of things that I did for the adrenaline rush. Best of all, it's like lifting a middle finger at Astaroth without him actually seeing it.
But now my instincts are screaming at me, letting me know I shouldn't be here.
"Well," Ariella huff, sounding offended as she looks around us. She tugs at her Bordeaux red dress self consciously even though she looks gorgeous in it.
My white dress hugs my body like a second skin. My blonde hair is twisted up, leaving a few wisps down to frame my face. It shows off my back which is bare except for the silk ribbons criss-crossing down almost to my butt.
I understand why Ariella sounded so offended. While our dresses are sexy, what other women here are wearing makes Ariella and I look like nuns. Two of those women are my sisters- Adrianna and Audrey. I spot them in the middle of the room just a few minutes after we got through the door.
I try to hide behind some flower arrangements as I watch my 19 year old sister Adrianna work her charm. Only two strips of clothing are holding her red silk dress up, creating a v that dips all the way past her navel.the front of her boobs and the side of her boobs are on display and the men around her can't help but notice. Some are blatantly staring,unable to take their eyes off her long shapely legs. There is no way she is wearing underwear under that dress. She touches the arms of one her many admirers and a while later, tosses her silky hair back seductively laughing at what he is saying. Ugh!, So fake! I feel like rolling my eyes. Those suckers don't stand a chance.
My 22- year old sister Audrey is talking to a couple of older men. Her dark brown hair cascades down her back in shiny waves. Her silver dress is made mostly of delicate see-through lace. Only small clusters of flowers appliquéd in the right places are covering the important bits. So much of her is showing it is almost obscene.
Uh-oh… Audrey's eyes narrowed in displeasure when she spots me and Adrianna's eyes light up and a slow gleeful smile curls up her lips. That is the first genuine smile I see from Adrianna tonight.
This is not good. Five minutes in and my sisters already caught sight of me. I move closer to the flower arrangement and turn away from Audrey's fiery gaze by looking around the ballroom.
I didn't expect this party to be so small. There are probably less than 70 people here in this ballroom and because it's so intimate, it's so easy to spot everybody. There is no place to hide and no easy way to blend in. I haven't seen my father yet but it's only a matter of time he sees me if he's here. I hope he's not here.
"I'm so glad we came, I love gifts," Ariella says, fingering a string of glittering diamond bracelet. Men in black tuxedos took our names and snapped the bracelets around our wrists at the door. I didn't give them any real name, but a sense of unease crawls up my spine.
"It's so pretty! Do you think it's real?" Ariella is still admiring the bracelet., oblivious to my discomfort. It seems all the women coming in through that door are getting one.
I nnow a good diamond when I see one and these bracelets aren't something you get out of a cereal box. "Astaroth doesn't do fake and cheap. It's definitely not something you get for nothing." I try to caution her. I bet something is expected of us, cause nothing is free in this life.. nothing.
"Ari, I think we should get out of here," I tell her just as I spot my two brothers, Archie and Arnold among a group of men, I look around but I really can't find a place to hide.
"That was your plan? To sneak in? And then sneak out?" Ariella asks. To be honest, I never planned too far ahead but I'll never tell Ariella that. "Well that's lame," she complains.
Yeah, lame but even I know when to retreat. She has no idea what I stand to loose if my father caught me.
"Just chill Danica," she continues. "This shindig is awesome. I'm glad you convinced me to come out and… oh god! Your brother is so hot!."
I follow her line of sight and sure enough, my brother Archie is casually sauntering over. A quiet groan escapes me and a wicked grin grows on his lips as he watches me wishing i could disappear.
Archie is 18, tall and lanky with white blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Of all my siblings, we're the only two who look like we're related.
He's also the most laid back of the family, being laid back doesn't mean he's not dangerous. You'll be a fool to think that. All of Astaroth's offsprings are dangerous and cannot be trusted. All of us have the capacity for cruelty without remorse. Sometimes we enjoy inflicting pain upon others., sometimes on ourselves. That's why we don't even trust each other. The only thing I trust my siblings would do is throwing me in front oncoming traffic if that would benefit them in any way. Or if they're bored and my crushed skull and splattered blood would provide them the entertainment.
"My baby sister! So good to see you." Archie say widely, opening his arms wide. His charming smile is out in full force as he pulls me into a hug and plants a kiss on my cheeks.
I clench my jaw as I push him away. He's drawing attention on purpose.
"What? No love for your big brother?" He asks. His eyes are wide and his bottom lip comes out in a pout as though his feelings were hurt.
"Shut up Archie!" I hiss as I glance around quickly and I catch Arnold's eyes from across the room. My eldest sibling's expression darkens for a little bit before it clears up as he looks away to smile charmingly at a half naked woman who is pressing her body up against his.
Great! Now all of my siblings are aware that I'm here.
To be technically precise, we're all half-siblings. Arnold is 25. He has thick dark hair, dark eyes and a beautiful olive skin that he inherited from his mother who was an Italian beauty queen. I think Archie's mom was Norwegian, Audrey's was from the Midwest, Adrianna's was from India. I don't even know who my mother was or where she came from. Astaroth never deemed it important enough for me to know that little bit of information.
I catch Arnold's eyes again before he turns away, his expression is full of warning.
"Hi Archie," Ariella says breathlessly from beside me and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
While my father Astaroth is the demon of vanity, Asmodeus, Ariella's grandfather is the demon of lust. For the past two years, Ariella has been listing after my two brothers and sometimes I think that's the only reason why she tolerates me as a friend.
"Hello Ariella," Archie says, giving Ariella's body a slow perusal before turning over to me. "I didn't expect to see you here." His smile widens, "this evening is about to get a lot more interesting."
"Interesting? She's only 16! She's not supposed to be here!" Audrey is suddenly standing besides us and she is fuming!
"Relax Audee," I tell her. "I just wanted to check the party out."
"Party? You think that's what this is?!" She hisses.
"Adrianna said it's the best party of the year and daddy rarely comes out."
"And you believed her? You stupid girl!" growls Audee. "You don't know what you've done."
"I'll just leave before Astaroth sees me then."
"There's no jumping off this train until it's over, baby sis." Archie cheerfully informs me. He tips his chin towards the door of the ballroom, where daddy's men are now standing guard. "Astaroth's going to kill you," he singsongs. His blue eyes light up with eagerness and excitement at the prospect.
You know when other people's brother or sister said, "Dad is going to kill you," and what they really meant was- they might be grounded without cellphone, internet connection, or a social life till they turn 50? Well, that's not me, That's not my siblings either. When Archie said Astaroth was going to kill me, he meant literally kill me- like our daddy's going to slit my throat, or plunge a knife into me, or whip me until I stop breathing kind of kill me.
"If this is not a party then what is it?" I ask…and Archie's smile widens.
"It's an auction," he says.