CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 95: THE PARTY DISASTER I

A few hours before the party, Felicia had practically buried herself inside Athena’s walk-in closet.

Clothes were flying. Literally flying. A red dress sailed over Athena’s head and hit the floor.

"NOT THIS ONE...jTOO SAD," Felicia declared dramatically from inside the closet.

Athena sat on her stool, face in her palms. "Felicia, I don’t feel like going."

Felicia stuck her head out, eyes wide. "Excuse you? Athena Ashbourne, you’re going. I didn’t shave my legs this morning for NOTHING."

Athena blinked. "...What does your legs have to do with me going?"

"It’s the principle!" Felicia shouted, vanishing back into the jungle of clothes.

Another dress flew out. Followed by a shoe. Then a hanger. Athena dodged all three.

God Felicia is definitely going to be the death of her.

"Felicia. Please. I’m serious. I don’t want to go to that stupid party."

She’s having a very bad feeling about all this party thing.

Felicia poked her head out again, hair messy, eyes sparkling like she was on five cups of caffeine. "Girl, the SCHOOL GROUP CHAT is on FIRE because of you and Eryx."

Athena groaned. "Don’t remind me...please."

"I mean," Felicia said, dramatically fanning herself, "the way he threw you over his shoulder? The way he put his big-ass hand on your soft butt? And THEN...SLAPPED IT? Fuck I swear I got wet when I watched it."

Athena covered her face. "Felicia..."

Felicia grinned like Christmas came early. "Athena, be honest. Did your ass cheek jiggle? I need to know for scientific purposes."

"FELICIA!" Athena nearly fell off the stool.

Felicia cackled and dove back into the closet. "I’m just saying! If a man doesn’t risk suspension for touching me, do I even want him?"

Athena groaned louder. "I hate my life."

"Oh, stop." Felicia waved a sparkly dress in the air. "You’re going to that party. You’re going to look hot. And you’re going to show that flame boy you’re not something he can throw over his shoulder whenever he feels like it."

Athena squinted. "You literally enjoyed the whole thing."

"I enjoyed it EXTREMELY," Felicia confirmed proudly. "But that’s not the point."

Athena sighed. "I regret being friends with you."

Felicia threw another outfit onto Athena’s bed. "NO....you don’t." She threw another dress away like it personally offended her.

Athena, already exhausted, deadpanned. "Felicia, that’s a Gucci dress. It’s expensive...$1000"

"And? It’s giving grief and taxes. Next!"

Athena sighed and tried on the next outfit anyway. A fitted black dress. She isn’t going to let Felicia throw away her clothes before she wore it and say...ugly.

Felicia took one look and wrinkled her nose. "Nope. You look like you’re going to poison a king."

"...How is that a bad thing?"

"You’re supposed to look hot, not medieval deadly. NEXT."

Athena changed again, this time a red bodycon dress. She walked out, hands on hips. "This is cute."

Felicia tilted her head, squinted, then shook her head violently.

"Hmm. Cute? Yes. Deadly? No. And you need to look dangerous, Athena. Dangerous enough that if Eryx sees you, he combusts on the spot."

Athena groaned. "Felicia, please. I’ve tried on EIGHT dresses. And am I going to the party for Eryx?"

"And we’ll try eight more if we must!" Felicia declared like a soldier ready for war, purposely ignoring the Eryx part.

They were two steps away from giving up when Felicia froze. Her eyes locked onto something half-hidden behind a few sweaters.

A white dress.

Net fabric. Spaghetti straps. Structured bra cups. Cinched waist. Flared skirt ending mid-thigh.

The air shifted.

Felicia reached for it like she was holding the Holy Grail.

"Athena... Athena... ATHENA."

"Oh hell no," Athena said instantly, backing away. "No. No. No fucking way."

"This is PERFECT."

"No it isn’t..."

"This dress was sent by the heavens."

"Felicia, that dress is..."

Felicia gasped dramatically. "...stunning? Ethereal? Designed to make a man fall to his knees?"

"OLIVER bought it for me!" Athena burst out.

Felicia blinked. Then shrugged. "And? You’ll still look hot in it."

"That’s not..."

"Athena, baby." Felicia cupped her cheeks. "Listen to me carefully. He bought it. Yes. But Oliver isn’t here tonight. Your sanity is barely here tonight. And this dress? This dress will fix your entire EXISTENCE."

Athena stared at her. "...Felicia, nothing about my existence needs fixing."

Felicia looked her dead in the eyes. "You’re in a love pentagon with four demonic guys and one boyfriend. PUT. THE. DRESS. ON."

Athena groaned, muttered curses under her breath. Why does it look like Felicia isn’t planning to help her? She’s way to excited for someone telling her to ignore the phantom fours. More like she’s setting her up with them. After all the thoughts, she finally grabbed the dress and retreated into the bathroom.

Two minutes passed. Three. Four.

Felicia was pacing like an anxious mother outside a delivery room.

"Why is she taking so long? Is she fighting the dress? Is the dress winning?"

Then the door opened and Athena stepped out.

And Felicia’s soul left her body.

Her jaw dropped. Her eyes widened. She slapped a hand over her heart dramatically.

"OH. MY. GOD."

Athena fidgeted, tugging the short flare. "See? It’s too much."

"TOO MUCH?" Felicia shrieked. "Athena. Do you have eyes? Do you know what you look like right now?"

Athena frowned. "Like someone making a mistake?"

"LIKE SOMEONE ABOUT TO BE A PROBLEM," Felicia corrected. "A THREAT. A MENACE. You look like you’re worth starting an international war over."

Athena flushed. "Felicia."

Felicia circled her like a stylist preparing a supermodel. "Eryx is going to PASS OUT. Theodore is going to freeze the entire room. Azrael will scream. Rhydric will combust quietly."

She clapped her hands. "ATHENA, YOU LOOK DEADLY. Exactly what I wanted."

Athena sighed. "...Fine. Let’s just get this over with."

Felicia grinned like the devil.

"NO. Let’s get you worshipped tonight."

.

.

.

The Midnight Atrium came alive long before Athena even stepped foot near it.

Gravecrest’s most elite students were already pouring through its towering glass doors, the sound of laughter and bass spilling into the night like something wild had been released.

Inside...it looked nothing like a school venue.

The Atrium was a cathedral of moonlight, a massive dome of curved glass arching overhead, catching the stars and swallowing them whole.

The moon hung so bright above it that the entire ceiling glowed in soft silver, bathing the room in a dreamlike haze.

Marble floors reflected everything the lights, the bodies, the shimmer of dresses worth more than some people’s rent.

Every step echoed like it mattered.

Students didn’t just walk inside. They floated, draped in expensive fabrics, hair glossy, expressions sharp with entitlement.

These weren’t ordinary teens. They were the ones born into power, wealth, and legacy,

the ones raised to believe they were untouchable.

A group of rich girls by the glass railing, champagne flutes in hand, whispering about who would show up with who. Some bragging about how much their clothes cost.

The dancers at the center, dancing with confidence and too much cologne.

A few scholarship students lingering near the walls, pretending not to stare at the luxury they’d never touch.

The Phantom Four was already present, already dominating the room without so much as a gesture. Their presence alone bent the atmosphere, bending everyone’s attention toward them, compelling whispers, admiration, and fear.

Rhydric, the Alpha of the East, was leaning casually against the corner of the Atrium. Beside him, Ian and a handful of his pack members were clustered, low voices discussing strategies or just showing off their presence. The glint of wealth, the cold precision of their expressions, and the way they commanded the space without needing to move made it clear: these were people you did not cross.

A few steps away, in another corner, Theo and Azrael were playing snooker. Theo moved with practiced ease, swirling the cue in his hands, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as he joked about Azrael’s aim. Azrael, calm as ever, measured the shot and still failed miserably. Which gave Theo another opportunity to tease him.

And Eryx... Eryx was sitting alone at the far edge of the Atrium, one elbow resting on a table, his molten gold eyes flicking toward the entrance repeatedly. Every time the glass doors swung open, he tensed slightly, scanning the crowd, searching if Athena had showed up yet. Why the hell was she taking so long. Or isn’t she coming? She’d better not play with him. If Athena didn’t show, he wouldn’t hesitate to go and drag her down himself. No one here would stop him.

Meanwhile, Armand, Alaric, Levi, and Leo were huddled in a more secluded corner of the Atrium. Leo, true to form, was saying something absurd, something that drew a stifled laugh from Levi and a faint frown from Alaric. Armand’s expression on the other hand, stayed neutral.

The music thumped across the Atrium, bouncing off the glass dome and mingling with the lights that pulsed in waves. The DJ had taken his place on a raised obsidian platform, hands moving fluidly across the controls, sending synchronized waves of bass that shook the marble beneath their feet. Students moved in clusters, drinks in hand, laughter and conversation blending into a chaotic symphony. Silver and blue swept across the crowd in slow waves, reflecting off dresses, suits, and the crystal glassware, casting everyone in surreal, almost cinematic shadows.

"So..." Leo drawled loudly enough that Armand sighed without looking up, "should we pretend we didn’t see the video? Or should I start applauding Eryx for slapping one of our own like he was testing the ripeness of a fruit?"