Chapter 183: Karen’s Rules

"What do you think about this outfit?" Karen Donovan asked, standing in front of the full-length mirror with a skirt held in each hand.

One was a soft blush-pink mini skirt made from textured designer tweed, with pearl buttons running down one side and a thin gold chain resting along the waistband. It was pretty, and feminine.

The other however was completely different, a fitted black leather skirt with a high waist and an asymmetrical hem that stopped dangerously high on one thigh, finished with a slim silver buckle at the hip.

Olivia looked up from her bed and considered both properly.

"The pink one makes you look sweeter, especially with that white top you picked out. And it’ll look good with your heels." She tilted her head before pointing toward the other one.

"But I’d choose the black. It shows off your waist better, and with your legs, you can actually pull off that length without looking like you’re trying too hard. Besides, we’re going to a party full of beasts. Sweet probably isn’t what you’re going for tonight."

A pleased smile immediately spread across Karen’s face. "That’s the problem with having a body like mine. Everything looks good on me."

She turned slightly toward the mirror, admiring her reflection from another angle. "Sometimes I wonder how other girls even shop without getting depressed."

Olivia was sorely tempted to roll her eyes, but she resisted. Karen tossed the pink skirt carelessly onto her bed and held the black one against her waist instead, turning from side to side as she imagined the completed outfit.

"The beasts have no idea what’s waiting for them tonight. I’m going to make sure every head turns the moment I walk in." A smug little smile curved her lips at the thought.

Then Karen suddenly paused. "Where did you say Fatima went again?"

At the question, Olivia’s heart missed a beat. Her fingers tightened instinctively against her thigh, and she couldn’t quite bring herself to meet Karen’s eyes.

"S-she stepped out. She’ll be back soon." ℯℯ𝑙.

It wasn’t a particularly satisfying answer, and for one terrifying second, she thought Karen might question her further. But Olivia should have know, Karen didn’t give a shit.

Karen had more important things on her mind than worrying about some loser. She turned back toward the mirror, holding the black skirt against herself again as she considered which top would complement it best. Before she could make up her mind, however, the door clicked open.

Olivia swallowed as Fatima came into view. But Fatima wasn’t alone, and that was what had Karen pausing the moment she saw who stood beside her.

Liv stood right beside Fatima at the doorway, one hand curled around the strap of her bag as she stared into the room.

It had been two days since the incident, and Karen hadn’t visited Liv once since leaving the hospital that day. What neither Fatima nor Olivia knew was that Karen had practically forgotten about her. Even the empty bed hadn’t been enough to remind her. Fatima and Olivia hadn’t dared bring Liv up either, knowing how volatile Karen’s moods could be.

Now all four girls stood in silence. Fatima in particular was nervous as hell. She had been the one to bring Liv back to the hostel, and she remembered perfectly well the tantrum Karen had thrown when she’d discovered she would be sharing a room with she and Olivia in the first place. Adding the roommate Karen had conveniently forgotten existed seemed like the perfect recipe for another explosion.

For a moment, Karen’s face froze as several emotions passed across it too quickly to hide, but there was no mistaking the anger that flashed in her eyes. Then she noticed the way the other girls were looking at her.

Olivia had gone tense, while Fatima looked like she was preparing herself for the worst. Even Liv remained cautiously by the doorway instead of stepping fully into what was supposed to be her room. For perhaps the first time, Karen wondered if she had taken things too far for all three of them to look this frightened of her.

So almost immediately, a smile spread across her face. It was bright, sweet and so sudden that the other girls knew better than to believe a second of it.

"Liv! You’re back!" Her voice was full of excitement, as though she had been eagerly awaiting her return all along.

Yet it did nothing to ease the tension in the room. None of the girls moved, their attention fixed on Karen as they waited to see how long that cheerful mask would last.

Karen dropped the skirt without another thought and hurried over to Liv, grabbing her by the arm. "What are you standing there for? Come on in."

Like a robot, Liv allowed herself to be pulled farther into the room, although she threw a lingering look back at Fatima as the girl closed the door behind them. Fatima had been the one keeping her updated throughout her stay at the hospital, telling her about Karen’s attitude and everything that had been happening around campus in her absence.

But even without Fatima telling her a thing, the fact that Karen hadn’t visited her once throughout her entire stay spoke volumes.

She had nearly lost her eye because of Karen. If she hadn’t run her mouth at the Basilisk Prince for her sake, she would never have been struck with venom in the first place. She had defended Karen without hesitation and nearly paid for that loyalty with her sight. The realization that it apparently meant so little to Karen hurt more than Liv wanted to admit.

It was at that moment that Karen finally seemed to register the empty bed. She guided Liv toward it and made her sit before reaching down to take her chin, tilting her face gently from side to side as she examined her.

"Poor thing," she murmured. "You’ve slimmed down quite a lot."

Nausea churned in Liv’s stomach at the sudden display of concern. Karen touching her and pretending to care now felt almost insulting. She immediately knocked Karen’s hand away, causing one of Karen’s brows to rise.

"Don’t worry, I’m good," Liv said instead.

Typically, Karen would have reacted badly to anyone swatting her hand away, but perhaps even she realized she was the one at fault here because, after a brief pause, she let it slide.

Karen clapped her hands together instead. "Good. Now that you’re here, you should know we have a party—"

"I’m not going," Liv said before she could even finish.

Karen tilted her head, as though she wasn’t entirely sure she’d heard correctly. "Excuse me?"

"I’m not going. I need to rest." It was the only explanation Liv could bring herself to give.

What Karen didn’t know was that Liv was still deeply traumatized by what had happened. Her injuries might have healed enough for her to leave the hospital, but the thought of being surrounded by beasts again filled her with anxiety. Right now, a party was the last place she wanted to be.

Karen laughed in disbelief. "I don’t think you understand. It’s not a choice. We have to be there to—"

"If I hadn’t come back to the dorm today, would it still not be a choice?" Liv cut in, the frustration she’d been holding back finally creeping into her voice. "Or is that just another one of your rules, Karen?"

For a moment, Karen looked genuinely taken aback by her boldness. The instinct to retaliate was there, Liv could see it in the sudden tightening of her face, but Karen caught herself before she could react. She was the one who needed something from Liv this time, and apparently, even Karen understood that throwing another tantrum wasn’t going to get it for her.

"Fine, I admit it," she finally said. "I should have visited you, but you’re here now. I gave you a roof over your head in Ophidian, and the least you can do is show up tonight and not fail me. The other girls are going to be there, and I’m not going to let them outnumber us." There was such determination in her voice that it was obvious she genuinely believed she had made a reasonable argument.

"Wow," Liv breathed, finally seeing Karen for exactly what she was. "You are a fucking bitch."

"What?" Karen shouted, her features twisting instantly.

There she was. Liv almost wanted to laugh. She pushed herself off the bed at once and stood face-to-face with her, no longer willing to shrink beneath the temper that had intimidated her for so long.

"If this is about the roof you supposedly gave me, then I’ll gladly leave," Liv told her. "I had a better time in the infirmary than I’ve had living here with you. This place already makes me sick."

Before Karen could react to that, or Liv could make good on her threat to leave, the doorbell rang. Just like that, the confrontation came to an abrupt halt, their anger giving way to a shared tension as every pair of eyes turned toward the door.

Perhaps determined to prove she wasn’t some coward who could be frightened inside her own House, Karen was the first to move. She crossed the room, grabbed the handle and pulled the door open.

Venus stood on the other side. His face gave nothing away as he looked directly at Karen and announced without preamble, "Caelis wishes to see you."