* * * * *
The main entrance hall now boasted refreshment tables and a dance floor. Because she’d had to transform, her start-of-term party had been pushed back to today.
Once the introductions had died down and the photos had been taken for Surge, Janelle had made her way to the side of the room and behind one of the food tables. Safety. All around the chamber, people socialized in tight groups, speaking in at least five different languages. Mr. Deville and Deon had wandered over to a group of Australian Tempests and started up a conversation.
Sweat formed on her palms at the sight of it all. Everyone had such high expectations of her, and she hadn’t even graduated high school yet. How could they expect her to lead when she’d only been a part of this world for a few weeks?
Her father appeared out of the crowd and offered a plate of appetizers. “Don't be shy at your own party,” he said.
Janelle’s stomach rumbled at the smell of fish. “What did you expect, Dad? I’m a little nervous.”
A few kids crawled under the table at the other end of the room, trying to hide under the tablecloth, and Joey stood over with a girl in her twenties. There really weren’t any teenagers to hang out with. Gary had vanished a while ago. She couldn’t blame him any…but this party would be a lot better with him around.
Her father seemed to have read her mind. “I think someone else is coming.”
Two people walked down the right hallway, Gary and a woman with black hair. His mother. Gary wore a black suit, and judging from the look on his face, it hadn’t been his idea. Janelle stifled down a snicker. Her clothes weren’t much better than his. She’d kill for her jeans back.
His mother separated from him and headed over to Deon. Her father gave her a pat on the back, turned, and vanished into the crowd.
“Geez,” said Gary, picking at his suit. “My mom must think it’s a wedding or something.”
“Well, almost everyone here’s in formal,” she said. “And I’m stuck dressing like this for…how long do Tempest High Leaders stay in office?”
He nodded at her clothes. “Life.”
“Great. So much for wearing jeans ever again.”
Gary dunked a cracker into some dip and took a bite. “Did you know my mom quit drinking three years ago? Andrina knew and never told me.” He studied the food again. “Look, I didn’t mean to pull you into all that mess with Andrina and all. I thought I was doing the right thing by helping you run away. I was stupid.”
Janelle looked down at her dress shoes and wiggled her cramped toes inside of them. Her face heated up. But at least she could talk now. “No, you weren’t. You didn’t know that would happen. And if it weren’t for you, Andrina would still be in power.” She swallowed. “Thank you.”
Gary parted his bangs from his face and shot her another one of his rare smiles.
The lights dimmed, leaving only the orange glow of the setting sun peeking in through the windows. The shadows of palm fronds bobbed up and down on the walls. Voices died down and soft music started to play over the room’s speakers.
One by one, people made their way out onto the dance floor. Within a few minutes, skirts swished and feet tapped in circles on the polished gray spiral. The air conditioning raised little bumps on Janelle’s skin.
Gary shifted leg to leg and tossed one of the crackers down onto the plate. “Um…do you want to dance?”
Janelle nodded. “Sure.”
* * * * *
This is the first book of the Destroyers Series. If you liked it, be sure to check out the second book of the series, Inferno. It is now available at your favorite eBook retailer! Or you can save some money and pick up the Destroyers Omnibus, which contains all five books of the series at an overall discounted price.
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