Dance of Daggers

The masquerade gala was a carnival of lies. Crystal chandeliers shone light on the guest masks and the air smelled of champagne and secrets. Elena stood at the top of the grand staircase, her emerald beautiful gown shimmering like snake scales, her mask a feathered half face that hid everything but her eyes sharp and wary. Below, Liam held court, his laughter too loud, his blue tie a flag of arrogance.

Noah adjusted his black tie, he was putting on a mask made with a simple strip of leather. "Do you have to do this?"

"Yes, I do." She gripped the railing and her mother's locket cold against her chest. A copy, Serena's voice hissed in her mind. A lab rat.

Adrian came beside her, shining brightly and cute in a blood red tuxedo, his mask edged in gold. "Care to dance with the devil, Hart?"

Noah stepped between them. "She is not interested."

"Says the guard dog." Adrian smirked. "Relax, soldier. I don't bite... unless asked."

Elena slipped her hand into Adrian's. "One dance. Then you leave him alone."

Noah's jaw tightened, but he melted into the crowd, a shadow among flames.

The orchestra swelled, violins weeping as Adrian spun Elena onto the floor. His grip was firm, his steps precise. "You are trembling."

"I hate dancing."

"Liar. You hate losing control." He dipped her low, his breath warm on her neck. "Why did you really invite me?"

She smiled with all her teeth. "To make Liam jealous."

Across the room, Liam watched, his mask slipping. Adrian chuckled. "You are so cruel."

"I learned from the best."

The music quickened. Elena let Adrian lead, her mind racing. Where is the clone? Is it here? Watching?, Thoughts of the clone kept bothering her mind.

"You are distracted," Adrian murmured. "Thinking about your twin?"

She stumbled. "How do you know?"

"Father's labs aren't as secure as he thinks." He twirled her, his voice hardening. "She is flawless. No scars. No defiance. Everything he wants you to be."

Elena's heel came down hard on his foot. "Thanks for the pep talk."

Adrian laughed, the sound rich and dangerous. "There she is."

A scream shattered the music.

A waiter lay sprawled near the champagne tower, a knife stuck to his chest. Blood pooled on the marble, ruby red against white. The crowd surged, throwing their masks away, panic rising.

Noah fought through the chaos, grabbing Elena. "We need to go. Now."

"Wait." She crouched by the body, ignoring Adrian's curse. The waiter's uniform was stained, but his face...

Not a waiter.

"This is the guy from the lab," she breathed. "One of Voss's men."

Noah yanked her up. "Move!"

They sprinted through a service door, Adrian on their heels. The hallway was dark, lined with crates of wine. Another scream echoed, closer.

"Split up," Noah ordered. "I will draw them off."

"Them?" Elena asked.

Gunfire answered.

Elena ran, her gown tearing on a crate. Adrian then pulled her into a storage room and slammed the door. They stood chest to chest, breath mixing and the air thick with the smell of old linen.

"You are bleeding," he said using his thumb to brush her cheek.

She hadn't felt the cut. "Why are you helping me?"

"Guilt's a powerful motivator." His gaze dropped to her lips. "So is curiosity."

She shoved him back. "Don't."

Footsteps pounded outside. A man barked, "Check the closets!"

Adrian pressed a key into her hand. "Voss Biotech sublab. Underground parking. End this tonight."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't." He kissed her, quick and fierce, then went out, shouting, "They went left!"

Noah found her ten minutes later, his shirt torn, knuckles bloodied. "Where is Adrian?"

"Distracting them." She showed him the key. "We need to go."

"It's a trap."

"Everything is a trap." She stepped into the stormy night, rain soaking her gown. "But I am done hiding."

The sublab was a concrete crypt beneath a parking garage, its entrance hidden behind a flickering NO ENTRY sign. Elena's keycard sparked the door open. The air hummed with machinery, cold and sterile.

Noah gripped his gun. "Stay behind me."

"No." She strode ahead, heels clicking. "This is my fight."

The lab was a maze of glass pods and blinking monitors. And there, in the center, floated Subject 34-C her clone, perfect and lifeless, wires snaking into its skull.

Elena's reflection stared back.

"You are late," Serena purred, stepping out from the shadows.

Noah aimed. "Don't move."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Put the toy down, puppy. Or I will fry her twin." She held up a remote, finger hovering over a red button. "One press, and poof, Elena 2.0 wakes up. And you?" She smirked at Elena. "You become obsolete."

"Why?" Elena whispered. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"Because you are everything I was supposed to be!" Serena screamed, her mask cracking. "Richard's heir. Clara's darling. Even your clone gets a throne!"

She lunged for the button. Noah fired.

The remote shattered. Serena cried, clutching her hand. "You idiot! Now no one can stop the transfer!"

Monitors blared as the clone's eyes snapped open vivid green, empty as a doll's.

Elena grabbed a fire axe. "Then I'll stop it myself."