y felt like a

focating in its luxury. A makeup artist worked diligently, applying layers of foundation like spack

k. A woman in a white dress that was far

f the bridesmaids, dressed in a pale gold gown that highlighted her slim f

yes doing a quick, dismissive scan. "Who would have thou

cked in, analyzing the micro-expressions. The slight tremor in the corner of Hephzib

hzibah announced, waving a dismissive han

ll, exquisitely wrapped box. She opened it to

, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Let

rceive the imperceptible, detected a subtle shift in the air pressure around the compact, a faint shimmer of airborne particles under the light tha

the altar. Turn the sham wedding into a complete circu

ace, a perfect imitation of the girl she was suppo

her fingers brushing

ssed her cousin's face. "Of course,

nerously. She leaned in, her smile widening a

nstant, E

phzibah's wrist like a steel clamp. The motion wa

escaping her lips. The powder puf

he stammered, her eyes

ll warmth. "A gift this nice," she said, her voice a low, chilling

he powder puff with her other hand and, before her cousin could scream, pressed it firmly

perance, swept in with a gaggle of other relatives

iles v

ing a whimpering Hephzibah's wrist, her face

d. She began clawing at Eliza's arm. "You ungrateful lunatic! How

ged her face into an expression of fear and confusio

, running to her mother. "She j

the room. "Violent." "Trash." "

silently a

it b

in spread across her face. She giggled. Then s

ice filled with awe and terror. "T

had tak

e of her bridesmaid dress, babbling about spiders in her hair. She sh

ychotic breakdown, h

e, whose face had drained of all color. The woman understood. She understood what her d

of security, who had been drawn by th

oice perfectly level, "you

nt of her wedding dress. When she looked up, every person in the room was staring a

e