Aster was aware of the looks she was getting on the way to the nightlife area of the cruise ship. It was still early enough that respectable people were out for a night cap or finishing their late supper and taking a stroll on the moonlit deck. So what did they think of the mermaid seductress? Well, it didn’t matter, Aster was used to catching stares, it’s not like she also wasn’t the most flamboyant thing going on the little island they escaped from. It almost felt natural.

  Once she got to the area of the ship she was heading toward, there were other flashy people, so she knew she was in the right place. It was a good thing too, because the blue satin high heels were killing her feet already.

  Aster put on her customer service smile and braced herself to act interested in a repulsive man. Why did this already feel harder than it used to?

  The gambling room had double doors that were open, with a small sign politely advising that closing time was 2 am. People milled about, mostly men, with a cloud of cigar and cigarette smoke, loud laughter and the smell of liquor that permeated like an unsettling aura.

  Aster supposed you would have to be a little drunk or impaired to enjoy this. She missed her box of goodies that had burned up in the fire. She sighed.

  “You’re too pretty to be sad.” A sweet familiar voice came from behind her. “Bored already?”

  Aster whirled around, thinking for a minute it was Prin although it was not like something he would say.

  A pretty young woman waved at her, her glossy golden fingernails catching the light like twinkling stars.

  The girl was wearing a deep blue dress like the sky at twilight with a fashionable matching caplet on top. Her dark hair was tucked up under a silver hat that matched her shoes. Her makeup was impeccable, with winged eyeliner and luxuriant lashes framing her eyes that lit up with a campfire’s amber glow.

  Aster started blankly for a moment, before a cascade of glittering diamond broaches that adorned the shoulder and right side of the dress’s neckline rang a distinct and joyful bell.

  “Oh Kit! You look so gorgeous!” Aster exclaimed, reaching out to take her friend’s hands in her excitement. There was nothing of the baby-faced young man barely grown, and (almost to a bittersweet extent) everything of an older elegant young lady.

  Kit laughed. “Don’t give me all the credit, the salon did my makeup and hair.”

  “I’m genuinely surprised.” Aster said. “And I don’t even know why. But it’s something that doesn’t happen very often. Is the dress aunt Cora’s?”

  “Oh no, it’s mine. Or, well, it once belonged to my mother but she cast it aside for the insult of not growing along with her. Why do dresses always get smaller the older you get? Is what she says.” Kit laughed again. “I guess you could say I was just angling for the chance to get dressed up so I keep something on hand.”

  Aster took a step back, holding Kit at arm length to examine again the whole of him.

  “You look gorgeous too, but I suspect you already know it.” Kit said.

  “Thank you.” Aster said distractedly. “Do you dress like this often?” She took his hand and examined the long slender fingers and the metallic magnificence of his manicure.

  Kit gave a little shrug. “Not really. Just the occasional costume party, pageants, plays, talent shows, that sort of thing.”

  “Oh? What’s your talent?” Aster wondered.

  “Why would I need a talent when I look like this?” Kit took his hands back from Aster and did a little spin.

  Aster laughed. “Your talent is beauty.”

  “I plan on making “looks good” the skill that carries me through life.” Kit batted his eyelashes. “It’s gone swell so far.”

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  Aster rolled her eyes. “You’re too much. I’m sure having rich parents also helps.”

  “It doesn’t hurt.” Kit admitted. He lowered his voice so as not to be heard so easily over the din of conversation. “Is he here? Oh, there he is. Don’t stare!”

  Aster ignored this advice and turned around in a swirl of gold sequins to stare directly at Lance. No, it was Lane, wasn’t it? She hoped she didn’t say the wrong thing to his face. Although . . . maybe it would do him some good not to think he was such a living legend in his own time.

  Aster saw him at the table, dealing cards in what seemed to be a very casual manner, maybe a practice round, or just a friendly game. She took a step and Kit touched her arm to stall her.

  “How long does he need to stay here?” Kit asked. “Maybe you should just leave him alone unless he tries to leave? Trying to stop him could make him suspicious.”

  “I might not even have to do a thing.” It hadn’t occurred to Aster before this moment that all of this preparation may have been for nothing. Wasn’t she basically just a glorified lookout? Not glorified even. She turned and headed to the bar instead. “Let’s just get a drink.”

  Aster ordered something strong and plain, side eyeing her younger companion when he got the same. Had she been ordering for him, it would have been something sweet and fruit-filled, something more suited for a kid’s palate.

  “Don’t over do it.” She teased.

  “I can hold my liquor.” Kit assured. “You’re just a tiny thing, yourself. Why don’t you-u not over do it.”

  “Oh where’s the fun in that?” Aster asked.

  They took their drinks to a table near the door but with a good eyeline to where Aster’s target was sitting. This was kind of fun, like playing spies.

  “Hmm.” Kit looked through the crowd, seeming to be searching for someone. Then sighed.

  “What’s up? I’ve got time.” Aster prompted.

  “It’s just, this was something like a school trip. Well, a group of kids from the boarding school are here anyway. And one of them, I have been kind of, sort of seeing. Under – Undercover.” He took a big drink and hiccupped adorably. “Pun intended.” He grinned and moved his hand in a so-so gesture. “He’s only okay in that department but any port in a storm!”

  “How old are you anyway?” Aster asked. She wasn’t one to be scandalized but Kit had that thirteen going on thirty quality that was quite worrisome.

  “Oh I’m almost eighteen, don’t worry. I’m on my last year at school.” Kit said. “Good riddance.”

  “I don’t know how you stood it. I know I couldn’t.” Aster said. “But if you had been there it would have been a whole different thing.”

  “It’s just the thing to do, didn’t seem like an option.” Kit said. “But anyway, this guy, he left my room drunk and in a huff, you know? And I haven’t heard from him since. It’s alright, I mean he’s kind of an asshole anyway.”

  “So that’s what you’re sighing around for. A man. And not just any man, an asshole.” Aster smiled at her companion.

  Kit sighed again. “Aren’t they usually?”

  “I think you know what I’m going to say. I’ve said it to a hundred other people and most of the time it was even true.” Aster winked. “You deserve better. And you should forget about him.”

  “Heh, I know.” Kit said. “Do you really not have anything going on with your friends? I mean either one or both?”

  “Who, Prin and Elwin?” Aster was surprised this was being brought up again. “No, no ‘course not. I have to admit the thought crossed my mind in a moment of weakness here or there. But they just aren’t receptive to anything like that. I think they’re, sha’ll we say, late bloomers? Bless their hearts, I believe they grew up very sheltered and are just now getting out into the world and learning how people interact, does that make sense? Their normal teenage boy hormones have not caught up to them yet, is how I see it. It’ll come, ya know? Just a matter of time.” If there is even anything normal about the two of them. Aster banished the thought.

  Kit gave her a wide eyed look, more puppy dog than wolf in those amber-gold orbs, at the moment. “Elwin does seem very sweet, but Prin? Perhaps might they be trying to give you a different impression of themselves then the truth?” Kit waved one perfect hand dismissively. “Goddess knows we all have a multitude of faces.” He gestured at his own with a mischievous look. “Sometimes literally.”

  Aster was perplexed. Kit was clearly hiding something that he had already almost come out with several times. “What happened?”

  “Nothing, nothing at all. Don’t worry about it.” Kit assured.

  “No really, you can tell me.” Aster said. “Prin and I don’t keep secrets from each other. Is it something to do with him?” Well, we don’t keep any more secrets, Aster added silently to herself. Did this have something to do with the Eating Prin? She remembered the world-weary and tousled appearance of the two of them on their last meeting. Maybe they were even trying to tell her something then, but she hadn’t stopped to listen.

  “No, nothing happened.” Kit said. “It’s not anything bad, or anything like that. Nothing happened between me and either of them. Yet.”

  The last word made Aster scrunch her eyebrows together. She tossed back the rest of her drink and stood to get another. “Want anything else?” she asked Kit. She was just going to have to let it go for now, the realization would go down better after another drink.

  “Surely not buying our own drinks are we ladies?” A man’s voice with a slight southern drawl spoke from behind Aster.

  Aster had momentarily forgotten her objective and allowed it to sneak up behind her. There was Mr. Brock, in all his (not glory) smiling down at her like a mustachioed snake.