8

~Alaya

This time, I may have a clear idea of what I want, but I'm still completely drowned in the atmosphere.

Being alone isn't really an option, as I stumble into the crowd, shrouded by so many people I could consider them all my dance partner. The musky scent of expensive perfume around me is as intoxicating as the alcohol someone has shoved into my hand again. It's the same clear liquid from last time, which I blamed my lost memory on.

I weave my way between everyone's limbs, while trying not to draw attention to me. My plan is to find out who is behind my invitation, or at least why I'm here.

The table lined with food and beverages is similar to last year, except it's missing the two girls from last year. They were one of my last memories before everything went blank. Them talking about the Alpha has burnt into my mind now. I wonder if they ever did find Asher.

Doubtful.

As I stand there, I realise I don't have a clue what I'm doing. My invitation did say that I was allowed on any floor, which is worth exploring. If the Apha's associates actually party here, I might be able to corner them. If they are drunk, it will be even easier to convince some information out of them. That's the decision made then.

As I approach the foot of the stairs, the Guard letting people up to the landing immediately pulls the rope back. I'm surprised, initially. I had expected to give my name and for him to check it off. Being let in with a single glance in my direction is a surprise I'm not sure about.

"Keep walking past the landing. The parties better right up the stairs," the guard tells me.

"I think I want to check out the first part before I go upstairs," I reply. The fact that they keep that part of the party so separate and secretive has got me as curious as Sky was about it last year.

The Guard however, grabs my arm before I can breeze past. "Right upstairs, please."

"Don't touch me," I growl, pulling away.

I hop up the stairs as quickly as my shoes will allow. His words burn in my head as much as the phantom grip does on my skin. This entire night is filled with strange experiences, and I have a feeling it's only going to get worse. I could have questioned him but that would be pointless. I'm going to go to the landing, to avoid what he instructed. He's obviously in command of whoever wrote my invitation. If they want to see me, they can come get me themselves.

Another curtains of shimmer keeps the party on the landing separated from the outside. I push it back, emerging into the area that's like a completely different world.

The simplicity of the downstairs party becomes apparent the moment I drink everything in. This is clearly themed after what the Desire Pack truly believes in. The night, and some lights to brighten it. No one seems to be as blinded as I am, as I try fathom the glittering stars on the ceiling that scatter down to the floor at my feet. They are the main source of light, flickering across people's faces as they dance and talk animatedly. It's a lot calmer up here, but everyone is obviously having a good time.

I keep the wall as I scale around, my eyes adjusting to the brightness that entwines with the darkness. Shadows conceal me in an unnerving manner. Anyone could hide in the thick coat of darkness back here, while everyone toward the middle of the room dance under the galaxy of stars.

"You're the living proof that following instructions is more difficult than anyone believes."

I jump at the sudden intrusion of privacy. One moment I was alone back here in the shadows, happily observing people and wishing I wasn't so socially awkward. The next moment, someone is right beside me, their arm against mine, their voice right in my ear.

"Excuse me," I mutter in surprise, stepping back a little to confirm some space. "Are you talking to me?"

I could hardly see the man. All I know is he has dark hair and dark eyes, and isn't familiar in the slightest. His suit is probably the most prominent part of him, being bright white and all.

"I am. Myles by the way," the man says warmly, holding his hand out.

There are so many questions I want to ask him, especially revolving around his first statement. How did he know I hadn't listened to the Guard? What if that was just a coincidence, and he meant something else that my mind is too suspicious to comprehend? As far as I'm aware, I've never heard the name Myles in my life, so he can't possibly know anything too incriminating about me.

Unless of course, he's another hired person.

"Alaya," I reply, deciding to be friendly, despite my suspicions about him.

"I think you should come upstairs with me," Myles says cooly, following his sentence with a sip out of his champagne glass. I flinch. He seems to notice. "It's quieter up there. I promise you'll enjoy it more than this place."

My eyes narrow at him unintentionally. Either he is the king of coincidences, or he knows something. He confirmed my thoughts with his next works, "I also have a few answers to give you about that invitation you have shoved in your bra, and the memory you thought you drunk away."

I exhale slowly. Maybe it's the fact that I've been through so much, and all these surprises have built up a wall of indifference. He simply told me he was working for the author of these strangers notes, that he is another piece of this messed up puzzle I'm losing pieces too the more I search. As confusing as this is, I'm still willing to figure it out, otherwise I can kiss sleeping at night goodbye.

"Are they upstairs?" I ask.

"They?"

I dig the invitation out of my bra, which he unnervingly knew about, and handed it to him, back side up. How he read the words in the darkness, I'm not sure. The moment he saw the A, I knew he figured out exactly who I was talking about.

"Perhaps. Why don't you come with me and find out?" Myle's taunts.

My jaw clenches. "I'm going on my own terms."

Turning around, I walk toward the stairs again. If I'm actually going this, there is no way I'll be following him through any back doors or up any strange stairs to get to the final level. I'll be going up normally, where everyone can see Myle's and I.

"You're fast for someone in a dress like that," Myle's notes, as I make my way up the stairs. I'm quite happy ignoring this Myle's. He is a purebred Desire Pack member and probably trouble I don't want to get involved in. If anything, he's done his job in luring me with his manipulative words and disturbingly white suit upstairs.

"You can go now," I note.

Myle's cuts in front of me, stopping me before I could make it through the door that soft music floated under, clearly concealing the last party behind. As the man faces me, I finally properly look at him. Yep, Desire Pack all over. He has those defined cheekbones and arched eyebrows hidden under his fringe of hair. His strong features are probably similar to mine. No wonder he was hired.

"Then you wouldn't have anyone to open the door for your then, would you?" He says with a sly wink, standing back as he holds the door open.

"How gracious of you," I mutter, strolling into the room.

The room strikes me as oddly familiar. It's an eerie feeling, considering I don't remember ever stepping foot on this room before. Then again, my memory has failed me before.

"You have the same look on your face as you did the first time," Myle's says in my ear, before he breezed past me into the party.

Eyes widened, I followed him. A raised dias kept people away from the middle of the room, keeping the people at the table on top raised on a pedestal. No one danced, but everyone talked and drunk that strange liquid I've been avoiding the entire time. Myle's lead me toward the far end of the wall, close to the bar laden with colourful glass bottles on the wall. My eyes brushed on the occupants of the table.

The first person I noticed was a cobalt haired man leaning back casually on his seat. He watched me directly over the rim of his glass, a slight smile slanted on his lips as he takes a sip. He quirked an eyebrow at me, so I moved my glance to the girl next to him.

She stares at me too, with the strangest coloured eyes I've ever seen. They matched the rose coloured liquid in her glass, like the colour of soft petals in the spring. Her hair is as dark as the other man's eyes.

Both are too strange for words.

"I hope you're ready to explain some things," I growl at Myle's, moving a few glances from other people to us.

Myle's looks awfully casual for the situation. "I know you're confused. So am I."

"Explain?"

"I've been hired, and before you ask who by, I don't know. The thing is, we have had this conversation. That was before I stole your memories. And the beautiful thing is, I plan to do it again, since apparently you're not ready yet."

My mind whirled to the point where I was convinced I maybe did have a drink.

"Ready for what?"

"What's the point? I'm going to steal your memories anyway," Myle's says. My eyes narrow at him, and he sighed. "He doesn't think you can handle anything it yet. He wants you ready for him."

"Are you on drugs?"

"I wish. Listen, I'm sure I'll see you next year. Maybe then I'll get the go ahead-"

He didn't have a chance to finish before I turned around and made a run for it. There is no way I'm going to stand there and listen to a man whose words made no sense, yet answered my questions about my lost memory. If he's true about being able to steal it again, I'm done for. I would rather get out of here, and keep my memories safely in my head.

I push past people who gasp and protest, but I ignore them. Myle's doesn't follow me, as I throw the door open.

As I run out, I'm surprised to be in a completely unfamiliar room. It's blank, and definitely not the staircase I had expected to see. When I go to enter into the room with Myle's again, I see it's nothing but an empty broom closet.

Maybe I am drunk. When did that happen?

I walk through another door, and another, until I'm convinced I'm crazy. The last door I throw open leads me outside, shocking me back into a sense of reality as I emerge into the night. This is the real night, not some star painted nightmare room for inside the party. By the looks of it, I opened so many doors I reached the back of the entire building, now on the outside grounds of the place, somewhere at the end of the formal lawn the rounds to the front.

It's a breath of relief to be able to breathe in the beautiful fresh air around me, feeling normalcy fill my veins again.

"Finally," someone said behind me. It was the sweetest voice I had ever heard speak. My entire body froze as if on command, taking in every word out of the man's mouth. "Alone at last."