Read Online Fates' Folly by Ella Norris - Free Book Online

a
day, thought of me? I was about to continue with my silent
self-admonishment when I realized the corners of Riley's mouth were
turned up. The bastard was smiling.
    "What the hell do you think is so funny?" I
asked.
    Riley looked up at me, a full smile spread
across his face. "Let's just say I'm congratulating myself."
    "On what?"
    He didn't get to answer because Bartholomew
walked back in carrying a glittering purple book.
    "Nice organizer," I said.
    "Let's see," he said, ignoring my comment.
"Except for personal grooming appointments, it appears that my
schedule is free for the most part, so…I'll just pencil you in,
T.T... Monday through Friday at four and Saturday and Sunday at
ten. "
    "Are you insane? That's every day! I don't
get home from school until four, and what the hell does T.T. stand
for?"
    "Quit bouncing, I obtained that piece of
furniture in 1696, and though it survived the French revolution, I
don't know if it can withstand your girth."
    I leaned back until I heard a distinctly
satisfying creak. "No problem Barty. What did T. T. stand for
again?" I said, using my sugary sweet southern bell voice.
    Barty smiled his creepy smile again. "Trailer
trash."
    I stood up, one step away from wiping the
smug smile off Barty's face when Riley threw his arm around me and
forced me to the door.
    "Thank you, Bartholomew," he said, as he
pushed me into the hall.
    "My pleasure," Barty said. "See you tomorrow
T.T." I heard him coo before he closed his door.
    Riley dragged me further down the hall. I
jerked my arm out of his grasp.
    "Why didn't you let me at least try to get in
a good kick or punch? It's not like you didn't let me go at him
earlier, knowing what I was going to do."
    "It wouldn't have served any purpose, other
than proving to you that Barty was capable, and considering your
lack of fighting ability, that wasn't really needed."
    "So why did you let me attack him the first
time?"
    Riley grinned. I had a feeling I wasn't going
to like his answer.
    "Because we need him, he really is the best,
and I was counting on your special ability to interest an otherwise
bored Bartholomew into taking you on."
    "What ability?"
    Riley faced me, taking my hands in his.
"We're going to shift now," he said.
    "What ability?" I asked.
    If possible his smile grew wider. "Ahh, Myra.
Your ability, I've begun to discover- your gift actually- is being
a major pain in the ass."
    And then we shifted home.

     

Chapter 6: Pollen and Peter Minus the
Pearly Gates
    I ate some cookies,
drank a glass of milk and tottered into my bedroom. I was
practically crawling into my bed before I realized two things. One,
I was no longer wearing shoes- I had lost my mismatched flip flops
somewhere between the Underworld, San Francisco and home- and two,
I had not addressed the where will Riley sleep question.
    I walked back into the living room. Riley was
sitting in my orange chair. He was smiling. He actually had a very
nice smile- I just wished it wasn’t always at my expense.
    "Okay, why are you laughing at me now?"
    "I'm not laughing."
    "So what are you doing?" I asked.
    "I was waiting to see how long it would take
you, once you went to bed, to ask me if I was taking you up on your
offer to stay here for the night. It took you one minute, twenty
three seconds. I have to admit you were much faster than I had
estimated."
    "You should never underestimate this girl's
mental prowess," I said, lightly tapping my temple. I sat down on
the couch. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where I left my shoes,
would you?"
    Riley smiled. "Twenty minutes and…” he pulled
a black pocket watch out of his… well, pocket, "eight seconds it
took for you to notice."
    I rolled my eyes. "Could you tell me where I
lost them, please?"
    "Somewhere in between San Francisco and here,
they didn't make the shift. It happens sometimes." Riley
shrugged.
    "Oh great. Any particular body parts I should
be worried about?"
    "No. I don't think there's any real pattern
to warrant concern