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But before it could make its choice, darkness consumed the space.

“What the fuck?” Tess sputtered.

Blade went to pull her hand away from the planchette, but I stopped her just before she broke contact. “Not until we say goodbye.”

“What?!” Her eyes bugged out as the lights began to flicker and the cars began to move through the tunnels.

I nodded to the bottom of the board where a big, bold “goodbye” was printed. “We need to end the conversation, or it's going to get worse.”

“She’s right.” Tess stammered before shouting down the tunnel. “We are closing this session!”

Though the planchette skidded over the wood, we dragged it toward the “goodbye” marker. I should have been relieved when it finally hit, but the flickering didn’t stop. “What the fuck?”

Before we could make another attempt, a big boom sounded from behind the gallery wall. Suddenly, the paintings that had been bolted down before began to spin wildly.

Blade went white as a sheet as Tess let out a shriek.

“I told you we shouldn’t fuck with this!” I shouted, bearing down desperately on the planchette. “Evil spirits are not welcome here! We are ending this session!”

As the words left my mouth, booming laughter filled the manor. My blood ran cold as I dropped the planchette and grabbed a hold of Tess, ready to defend her from whatever we’d unleashed.

The laughter was growing closer. But on a second breath, it started to sound more familiar. My lip curled into a snarl. “Cyrus?”

She stepped out from around a corner, clutching her stomach. “You should see your fucking faces.”

Tess picked up the planchette and tossed it, sending the wood clattering at Cyrus’ feet. “God, you’re such an asshole!”

Blade shook her head in shock. “But the ride wasn’t on…?”

“Electric panel’s down that way, behind the grandfather clock.”

I frowned. “Would have been nice of you to tell us that instead of scaring the shit out of us.”

“Wouldn’t have been nearly as fun, though.” Cyrus took a deep breath, straightening her spine. “It’s what you get for fucking around. You guys were taking forever, and I wasn’t going to wait around all night. Sunset is just around the corner.”

A glance down at my watch confirmed what she said. A few hours to go, but just enough time for Tess to get into her costume and for the three of us to start preparing.

The anticipation of hunting Tess was almost enough to make my irritation with Cyrus ebb. With a grin, she nodded toward the exit. “Enough fucking around. Fright Night is calling.”

69

TESS

Grabbing the top of my fishnets, I positioned them over my thighs as I looked myself over in the mirror.

Black fishnets hooked into the structure of the bustier bodysuit that hardly even covered my nipples. The wet-looking faux-leather clung to my hips and waist.

Some of my work outfits were more full-coverage than this cheap halloween costume.

I shook my head as I ran my hand over the broad white collar that covered my collarbone and throat. A black cross laid over the center of my chest.

This is so ridiculous.

The nun costume had been tossed in the cart at the last second, a late addition that had made my Freaks laugh. Nash had joked that it was like we were back at Heirs.

But when the time came to get dressed, it was the outfit even Cyrus wanted to see me run away in.

The black veil still let pieces of my bleached hair poke out.