Dead Is a State of Mind (10 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

The day of prom finally arrived. We still hadn't figured out who killed Mr. Davis, but Mom and Chief Mendez were working on it, so I decided to give my detective side a night off and go all out for prom.

It was a full day of preparations. My first stop was the park, where I supervised the volunteers who were setting up the Dark Carnival after party. Then Sam, Poppy, and I went to get our hair and nails done at a salon. Afterward, we stopped for a box of donuts at the new place across from Slim's.

"Conveniently located," Poppy said with a snicker, meaning the donut shop's close proximity to the police department.

We went home with the donuts, and I made iced lattes. We'd be up late so we needed the caffeine. Then I tried not to break a nail or move my head at all and risk disturbing my coiffure.

I couldn't wait to put on my dress. I couldn't wait for the night to start.

"What are we going to do for the next"—I checked my watch—"four hours?"

Surprisingly, the time passed quickly, once the rest of the girls arrived. And it took longer than I thought to put on my makeup and dress.

I'd just rechecked my hair when the doorbell rang and the guys started to arrive.

"How's Gage getting here?" I asked Poppy.

"Nicholas is bringing him," she said. She lowered her voice. "In one of the hearses. We're hoping he can get into the limo without any problems."

Poppy looked amazing in a long red silk dress, her hair done in a style that made her look like a 1940s movie star.

Chief Mendez came by and dropped Ryan off. The limo was going to pick everyone up at my house and drop everyone off at home after the prom. The chief pulled the limo driver aside and had a brief talk with him. I'm sure it involved promises of pain and suffering if any alcohol crossed our lips.

I hadn't really thought about drinking, anyway. I already felt like champagne bubbles were sparkling through my veins whenever I looked at Ryan.

He had on a black tux, white shirt, and a champagne-colored vest and tie. It took my breath away, but I managed to pin his boutonniere on the lapel of his jacket successfully, although with shaking hands.

He handed me a corsage of freesias and white daisies and whispered, "I told the florist that daisies are my favorite." It was corny, but it made me smile.

Rose and Nicholas arrived with Gage in tow. I don't know how he did it, but Gage looked very handsome, almost flesh and blood in a severe black tuxedo. He brought Poppy a white gardenia wrist corsage.

"You look so real," I said, reaching out to touch him, but he jumped back.

"I have to save my energy," he said. "I don't know how long I can sustain this. And I really want to dance with Poppy."

"Of course you do," I said. "Sorry, I just didn't think."

Samantha cleared her throat, and Sean looked around, confused. The light dawned, and he handed her an arrangement of red roses that went well with her beautiful white dress with black lace.

A bunch of parents showed up to take photos. I was relieved to see that Ryan and his dad were getting along again. Both Rose and Nicholas helped Mom take photos. Lots and lots of photos. I wondered if Gage would show up in any of them.

Samantha's dad even showed up. I hadn't seen him in a long time, not since the good old days when our families used to be close. He was tall and attractive, with salt-and-pepper hair that made him look a little bit like George Clooney—or at least that's what I heard Sean's mom say when she didn't think we were listening. He didn't talk much, but he smiled whenever he caught sight of Samantha.

We had reservations at Chanticlair's, a posh restaurant in San Carlos. Nightshade didn't have much to offer in the way of fine dining, unless you counted Slim's.

We all piled into the limousine. Sam and Sean, Jordan and Wyatt, Rachel and Adam, Poppy and Gage, Candy and her date—Jared something, a senior from some private school—and Ryan and me.

Chanticlair's was packed with kids from Nightshade High as well as San Carlos High. It must be prom night for our rival school as well. I spotted Chelsea and Cassandra Morris and waved. They were seated at a table with two cute guys I didn't know.

Chelsea wore a beautiful deep green gown, while Cassandra wore a short hot pink number that should have clashed with her red hair but instead looked wonderful. Chelsea and Cassandra were seniors at San Carlos, and Chelsea cheered for the Squids. Awful name, I know, but since the Nightshade mascot was the Sea Monster, we didn't have a lot of room to talk.

I went over to say hi to them and to thank them for the loan of the yearbook.

I noticed Chelsea was staring at Gage. "Isn't that she trailed off.

"Gage Atwood," I confirmed. "It's complicated."

"But he's dead," Chelsea burst out.

"Shh, Poppy's really sensitive about it," I said.

"But how—?"

"You should know, anything's possible in Nightshade."

Elise Wilder entered the restaurant on the arm of Bane Paxton. He paled when he saw Chelsea but then recovered quickly. They'd been involved, briefly, a few months ago, but Chelsea was a completely different person now.

Elise looked beautiful, of course. Her hair was loose and was in a wild riot of curls. She wore a black dress with a lace bustier thing that both revealed and concealed her cleavage. The dress suited her well. It looked as dangerous as she did.

We were seated by a very intimidating man in an expensive suit. I glanced over at Poppy and Gage. They looked perfect together, but I wondered if he felt uncomfortable away from Mort's, at a restaurant. I mean, could ghosts eat? I didn't think so. What would he do when it was time to order?

Gage did the sweetest thing. He ordered something he knew Poppy loved and fed her bites of it from his plate.

Back in the limo, Samantha announced, "We need to frisk the guys for booze before we get there. We'll lose the deposit if anyone gets caught drinking."

I didn't have to worry about Ryan. He didn't drink. But frisking him didn't sound unappealing. I mean, we wouldn't want the prom committee to lose their deposit.

"I'm under orders to frisk you later," I teased Ryan.

"I can't wait," he replied. His tone made me blush.

The limo slowly made its way up the driveway to the Wilder mansion, which was lined by hundred-year-old oak trees. I held my breath. It was like something out of a movie.

Bianca, the woman I had met on our last visit, was on hostess duty. She showed us to the ballroom.

"Have a good time, Daisy, Ryan," she said. It was spooky how she knew our names.

Prom was being held in the grand ballroom, which had a black-and-white marble floor and was decorated in twinkly white lights, balloons, and flowers by the pound. Jordan Kelley was on the prom committee and had convinced her dad to donate the flowers. He owned a chain of florist shops as well as the only plant nursery in town. The room looked like Mr. Kelley had donated half his stock to the cause.

We found our table, which was set with crisp linens and gleaming gold tableware. With their Were blood, it's no wonder the Wilders weren't too fond of silver. There were towering centerpieces of white roses, lilies, and orchids, tied together with gold ribbon.

Gage murmured to Poppy. "There were white roses at my funeral. White roses. My mother pricked her finger on a thorn." His voice was choked, and his form seemed to go in and out of focus.

"Gage, are you okay?" Poppy asked. And his figure solidified, but he seemed shaken.

He smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't think you're going to get out of that dance. I'm going to dance with you if it's the last thing I ever do."

Penny made a grand entrance on the arm of Duke Sherrad. Everyone stopped talking and stared, but possibly not for the reason Penny had hoped. She preened at the attention, but all the fuss was caused by her highlighter-yellow evening gown, which was patterned with blue peacock feathers. The bodice of her gown was made of something resembling blue glitter, and she wore matching peacock feathers in her hair, which gave her an unfortunate resemblance to Big Bird.

Her escort was slightly more sedate in a black dinner jacket, although his yellow tie and vest made him look like an angry bumblebee.

Ryan growled when he saw Duke, but I gave his arm a little squeeze. "Just ignore him," I said.

But that proved to be easier said than done. Duke and Penny strutted to our table. She ignored me, though, and rushed to Samantha's side. "You look absolutely stunning in that dress," Penny said, then paused, obviously waiting for a return compliment. She waited a long time, since Sam only smiled and said, "Thank you."

Poppy rolled her eyes when Penny clamped her hand on Duke's arm and dragged him forward. "Doesn't Duke look handsome, Poppy?"

Poppy didn't take her eyes from Gage. "Yeah, sure," she said.

Duke made little effort to conceal his annoyance with Penny. He took her hand off his arm and made a bow in front of me. "Would you like to dance, Daizee?"

"No, thanks," I said, and turned back to my date.

I thought Ryan would come unglued, but he bared his teeth in the semblance of a smile. "Sorry, Duke, looks like her dance card is full tonight."

From the look on Penny's face, I thought she was going to lay into me, but to my surprise, she let Duke have it instead.

"I am your date, Duke, not Daisy."

"I only asked you because I was sick of hearing you whine about how you didn't have a date," he replied. Was it just my imagination or had his accent faded?

The rest of the table looked away, but I stared at Duke's face. His petulant expression reminded me of someone else, someone I'd seen recently.

"Oh, yeah?" countered Penny. "Well, I'm sick of hearing your phony predictions!"

Now
that
I didn't expect. Penny had been Duke's loudest advocate.

Duke looked flustered. "How dare you call me a phony!"

Penny rolled her eyes. "Please. A real fortune-teller wouldn't need a book called
A Goof-Ball's Guide to Fortune-Telling,
now would he? I saw it in your room, Duke."

Duke turned a deep shade of scarlet and looked enraged. "Of all the families in Nightshade, I get stuck staying with the one with the nosiest, most meddlesome teenage daughter!" he snapped.

I also didn't expect it when Penny doubled up her fist and punched Duke in the stomach.

What Penny didn't expect was the round of applause.

Chapter Twenty-Two

After Duke and Penny stomped off to continue their fight in private, the mood at our table lightened considerably.

About ten minutes later, I noticed that Penny was alone in a corner. I scanned the room, but there was no sign of Duke.

"I'll be right back," I said to Ryan.

The worst that could happen was that Penny would laugh in my face. "Would you like to join us at our table?" I asked.

From the expression on her face, I expected her to say something snotty, but instead she offered a small smile. "If you're sure?"

"Of course!" I said. "Besides, I want to find out where you got that right hook of yours."

Penny giggled with me. "Thanks, Daisy," she said. Back at the table, she immediately started ignoring me again, but I was fine with that. Penny and I would never be best friends, but I'd gained new respect for her.

A slow song started, and Ryan grabbed my hand and led me to the center of the dance floor. As I nuzzled closer to him, I thought that the way he smelled was way better than my two favorite scents in the world.

"You smell better than chocolate," I said to him.

"You do, too," he said. He put his lips to the soft skin of my neck, and I shivered. "You taste better, too."

Our lips met in a long, sweet kiss. A little while later, I emerged from my Ryan-induced fog and looked over at Poppy.

She and Gage danced cheek to cheek. Her eyes were shut, and she was so close to him that it was hard to tell where he stopped and she began.

It had been a minor miracle, an act of incredible will on Gage's part, that had allowed him to take corporeal form. I wondered what the consequences would be, besides the obvious, which was that eventually, Poppy and Gage would have to go their separate ways. But they were clearly falling in love, and the world couldn't be so cruel as to tear them apart now.

The disco ball put sparkles in their hair as they revolved slowly under its glow.

"Does Gage look a bit ... shaky to you?" I asked Ryan.

Ryan glanced over quickly. "Maybe." He pulled me a fraction closer to him. "But I'm not interested in Gage right now." He nibbled on my ear.

I was having a hard time concentrating, but I persisted. "No, really. Look."

Gage was almost transparent, going in and out of focus, but nobody else seemed to notice.

Ryan waltzed me over to where they were dancing.

"Gage, you're fading." I said in a quiet voice.

Poppy didn't lift her head from his shoulder. "Quit joking."

"I'm serious," I said.

Poppy stared into Gage's eyes for a long moment. "He's just going back to being incorporeal," she finally said.

"No, it's different. We don't have much time," Gage said. "It's for good this time."

"No," she said, loudly. A few heads turned, but when she pretended to smile brightly, they went back to whatever they were doing.

The sheen of tears in Gage's eyes convinced her. "I love you, Poppy," he said.

Ryan and I looked away to give them some privacy, but I heard her say, "I love..."

When I looked over, my sister was alone on the dance floor, surrounded by pain, loss, and death. Fake psychic or not, Duke had been right.

I grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor as tears gushed from her eyes. She kept her head down, so that no one could see.

"I'm going to call Rose to pick me up," she said.

"I'll go with you," I said. "Just let me tell Ryan."

"No, Daisy," Poppy said. "You stay. It's your prom, too. And Gage and I had a great prom before he ... had to go."

I watched her leave, and then Ryan took my hand. "She'll be okay," he said gently.

"I know," I said. "But it's just not fair. She finally finds someone..."

"It makes you think, doesn't it?" Ryan said. "About making the most of the time we have together."

He sounded as if he knew something I didn't. "Ryan?" I said, but he didn't answer. He just drew me close and held me tight.

After a few more dances, I headed for the restroom to freshen my makeup and to make sure that I hadn't sweated through my gorgeous dress.

That's when I saw Duke head for the stairs. He was going into the part of the mansion that was off-limits to prom guests. There was something furtive about the way he slunk away. I decided to follow him.