Chapter 7 7

Aine walked into the dressing room carrying five shopping bags.

The chatter stopped instantly.

Sierrah was sitting at the center vanity. She saw Aine in the mirror. Her eyes narrowed.

She stood up and walked over. She kicked one of the bags Aine had set down.

"This is a dressing room, not a trash can," she spat.

The bag tipped over. A silk scarf spilled out onto the dirty floor.

Aine bent down to pick it up.

Sierrah stepped on the scarf. She ground her heel into the fabric.

"Heard you slept your way into Julian's car last night," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Nice trick with the water. Did you practice drowning, you masked freak?"

Aine stood up slowly. She looked Sierrah in the eye.

"Move your foot," Aine said quietly.

Sierrah laughed. "Or what? You'll cry to your daddy?"

She raised her hand and slapped Aine.

It was hard. Aine's head snapped to the side. She tasted copper. Her lip split.

The room gasped.

Aine didn't hit back. She just stood there, letting the blood pool on her lip.

The door opened.

Augustine stood there. Lazlo was behind him.

Augustine saw the blood. The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

He walked in. The other dancers parted like the Red Sea.

"Mr. Haynes," Sierrah stammered, backing up. "She started it! She was-"

Augustine ignored her. He stopped in front of Aine. He reached out and tilted her chin up. His thumb brushed the corner of her mouth. He looked at the blood, then at her eyes.

"I'm fine," Aine said, pulling away.

He turned to Sierrah.

"Get out."

"But I'm the headliner!" Sierrah shrieked.

"Lazlo," Augustine said, his voice bored. "Fire her. If she's in the building in five minutes, have security throw her out."

"You can't do this!" Sierrah screamed as security grabbed her arms. "She's a witch! She set me up!"

They dragged her out.

Augustine waved his hand, dismissing the rest of the girls. They scrambled out.

It was just Aine and Augustine.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed Aine's lip.

"You let her hit you," he said. It wasn't a question.

"You walked in," Aine said.

"Don't use me as a weapon, Aine," he warned. His eyes were dark. "I don't like being manipulated."

"If you miss her, go hire her back," Aine said.

He grabbed Aine's chin again, harder this time. "You have a smart mouth. Someone should shut it."

His gaze dropped to her lips. For a second, Aine thought he was going to kiss her. The air was electric.

Then he let go.

"Sing well tonight," he said, turning away. "Don't waste my time."

Aine watched him leave. She turned to the mirror. Her lip was swelling.

She applied concealer.

One down.