Sins Of Her Venom

- Kathrine Andrews:(Song of the chapter: idfc by Blackbear)

I stood in front of Alex King's house, staring up at the massive mansion. It was the kind of place you only see in movies—huge, extravagant, and so outrageously luxurious it made you wonder why anyone would need that much space.

The house was lit up like a Christmas tree, with lights outlining every corner, and the booming bass of music spilled out into the night.

A party. Of course. But why?

Did these people ever need a reason to celebrate, or did they just throw parties because they could? I didn't know, and I didn't care anymore.

Leaning against my motorcycle, I adjusted my helmet and glanced down at my outfit.

I was dressed in a simple outfit—military boots, a black mini skirt that hit mid-thigh, a purple crop top that showed off my brand-new belly piercing, and a cropped leather jacket thrown on top to complete the look.

Everything was black except the crop top, which matched the deep, metallic purple of my motorcycle.

Mom and Dad had voiced their concerns when I left the house earlier. "Maybe you should wear proper riding gear," Dad had said, his face etched with worry. "It's dangerous."

"I'll drive slow," I had promised, and I kept my word.

I don't drive fast anyway, I would never do this to my parents and make them feel guilty for buying the machine that was sent to death.

Now, as I stood in the mansion's enormous circular driveway, I couldn't help but feel out of place.

Lined up next to my bike were the latest luxury cars—Maseratis, Mercedes, BMWs.

How did these kids afford cars like this? Or, more accurately, how did their parents afford to hand over keys to teenagers?

Nick hadn't been home when I left earlier.

He had mentioned this party in passing, and it didn't take me long to figure out why he was going.

Alex was Nancy's brother, and Nancy, Nick's girlfriend, dragged him wherever she went. A small part of me felt relieved knowing Nick and Nancy were here.

At least two people in this massive house cared about me, and loved me even if I was on my own for now.

I took a deep breath, slipped my helmet off, and headed inside.

The moment I stepped through the front door, the sheer size of the place overwhelmed me.

The foyer alone was bigger than my entire house.

Marble floors gleamed under soft, golden lighting. A grand staircase with an intricately carved wooden banister spiraled up to the second floor.

Chandeliers hung like glittering crowns above my head, and everywhere I looked, people milled about, red plastic cups in hand.

The music was deafening, vibrating through the walls.

Groups of partygoers crowded every corner, some talking, others dancing, and a few making out like the world was ending tomorrow.

Then I noticed something odd—everyone was wearing masks.

Nobody had told me it was a masquerade party. My irritation flared. Was this some kind of joke?

Before I could step further inside, a woman hurried toward me.

She looked to be in her mid-forties, dressed in a plain black uniform. A maid, maybe?

"You need a mask, sweetheart." she said politely, holding out a basket filled with them.

I glanced inside. The masks were simple and elegant, covering only the eyes and the bridge of the nose. They came in a variety of colors.

I sighed and picked a purple one to match my outfit. "Thank you, ma'am" I muttered, slipping it on.

Now masked, I began weaving through the crowd, my eyes scanning for two people: Glyndon or Nancy.

I needed my earphones back from Glyndon, and I figured I could ask Nancy to help me by asking her brother for me so I wouldn't have to deal with them tonight.

The deeper I walked into the house, the more surreal it felt. The main living room was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a sprawling backyard.

The furniture was all modern and expensive—glass tables, sleek leather couches, and abstract art hanging on the walls.

A massive fireplace flickered in the corner, casting a warm glow over the room.

But despite the luxury, the atmosphere was stifling.

Laughter and conversation filled the air, but it felt hollow like everyone here was performing for an invisible audience.

Finally, I spotted them—the group I despised most.

They were gathered near the far corner of the room, a cluster of four guys and four girls.

But my attention zeroed in on the two people I couldn't stand: Glyndon and her boyfriend, Alex.

They were the leaders of this little pack of privilege, and it showed.

Even with their masks on, they carried themselves with an air of superiority.

Their masks were different from the ones the rest of us wore.

Where mine only covered my eyes and part of my nose, theirs were more elaborate—half black and half white with some gold lines, covering most of their faces.

Their lips and jaws were still visible, but the design gave them an almost haunting look like they were part of some secret society.

And they had already noticed me.

Great.