Shaking her head, Daphne Elizabeth looked at Jaya. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “For bringing me to my senses.” And then she pushed through the crowd of people and clip-clopped her way downstairs.

Caterina’s eyes were unreadable behind her half-mask, but her lips curved up in a little smile.

How mature, Jaya thought. She’s going to walk out of here, still smiling.

Suddenly there was an enormous, earsplitting shriek. It took Jaya a moment to realize it was emanating from Caterina. She launched herself at Alaric, her fingers hooked into claws. People gasped and turned to watch as she began clawing at his face, his neck, his arms—really anything she could get her hands on—all the while screaming and calling him names. She was fury personified. Alaric was having no trouble holding her off, but she kept going at him anyway, her face splotchy with impotent rage.

“Well, don’t just stand there!” Jaya said in her most imperious/commanding tone to a group of young men standing next to her. “Help me peel her off him!”

Her voice spurred them to action, and with their assistance, she was able to pull Caterina off Alaric. “Let him go,” Jaya kept saying to Caterina, hoping she would eventually get through the rage fog. “He’s not worth it. He’s not worth it, Caterina.”

Finally, realizing she was no match for two big guys and Jaya, Caterina slumped forward, her hair in disarray, her carnival mask askew. She ripped it off in disgust, and panting, said to Alaric, “You’re the vilest specimen of the human race. I hope you know you’ve done this at the cost of every friend you have. I will destroy you.”

Alaric regarded her with such cold indifference, even Jaya felt the chill. “You greatly exaggerate your sphere of influence and how loyal people are to you, Caterina.” Then he, like Daph, turned and walked off, his head held high and gelled hair stiff and unyielding.

Caterina turned to address the crowd. “Please,” she said, in her most dignified voice, which was impressively dignified, considering her hair was sticking up in about sixty-seven different directions and her face was still red. “Continue to bid on the items. It’s for a very good cause. The fireworks will begin in a few moments.”

She glanced at Jaya; there was a flicker of pain on Caterina’s face that was gone as quickly as it had arrived. Then she strode off through the silent crowd, her head held high.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jaya took off after Caterina and caught up with her on the stairs.

“Wait!” she said. “Caterina. Are you okay?”

The fireworks show began, but Jaya barely registered the colors or the gasps of awe from the crowd.