The Nightcolt Manor

(16)

"You want.. to throw a party.. at the Manor?" Nadine said slowly, her face a mix of shock and disbelief. She knew that her friend tended to be a bit impulsive, but she never expected this of all things.

"Uhh, no. That's a really, really bad idea." Nadine said briskly with a nervous laugh, putting her hand on Shannon's chest make her stop walking as they stood outside of the grocery store. "Oh, come on, Nadine! It's just a one time thing. Besides, since you're stuck like glue to that house-- and I got you the contract, I thought maybe I could bring the party to you!"

"No, Shannon! We can just go out somewhere!" Nadine insisted frantically. "Ugh, when did you get so moralistic? You used to love this shit in college." Shannon rolled her blue eyes, obviously growing irritated with Nadine's lack of enthusiasm on the plan. "Shay, that was college. This is my actual job-- and yours too, y'know."

"They won't know!" Shannon insisted with a grin, "Tonight. I'll be there at nine." Shannon said, walking away as soon as she said it and not giving Nadine any more time to argue.

Nadine could only stand there in panic as she watched her friend walk away happily, as if she didn't just possibly blow everything for her and Heath.

"Shit."

* * *

As soon as Nadine was at the Manor, she practically busted through the door, slamming it shut behind her.

"Careful. I do like my stained glass doors, darling." Heath said as she stepped through the vestibule into the foyer. "Heath," She started, grabbing his satin waistcoat frantically, "my friend-- she wants to throw a party tonight!"

"A party..? Are you asking me permission to go to her so-called 'party'?" Heath asked confusedly, obviously in just as much disbelief as Nadine was.

"No, I mean, she wants to throw a party here. At the Manor!" She clarified, letting go of Heath and pacing back and forth, her hands rubbing her temples to try and soothe the incoming migraine she was bound to have.

"Did you fail to tell her no?" Heath said even more confusedly, tilting his head down at her as his dark eyes watched her pace back and forth, the click of her shoes sounding on the tile with each repeated step. Nadine suddenly felt Heath's ice-cold fingers grab her wrist, pulling her towards him so she would stop pacing.

Nadine huffed out a sigh, looking up at him. "That's the thing. Once she gets her mind set on something, she'll do it, and not even I can talk her out of it.." she said frustratedly, once again bringing a hand up to rub her forehead. "Gods, she'll probably have 40 people here by midnight." She continued with a mutter.

She looked back up at Heath who had an unreasonable expression on his pale face. He seemed to consider her for a moment before speaking, "Is there really nothing you can do? Those fools.." he mumbled the last sentence lowly, looking away from Nadine.

"I'm sorry. Listen, I'll call her and try and talk her out of it again." She pleaded, taking Heath's hand in hers. He turned back to her as she did so, his face softening just a little at the feeling of her warm hand.

Please don't be too angry.. She thought desperately to herself as they looked at each other. She let out a small breath of air as she saw him nod his head slowly and she opened her mouth to say something when he cut her off with a raised finger.

"If you truly cannot make her discontinue this little celebration, then do not, by any means, allow them to enter the library." He said sharply. Nadine blinked and he was gone, leaving her to look around in confusion.

She let out a grunt of frustration at his sudden disappearance-- although she couldn't help the slightly relieved feeling that ran through her at how 'accepting' Heath was at the situation. If accepting is even the right word to describe it.