Read Online Heartfelt Sounds by C.M. Estopare - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C.M. Estopare
Tags: BluA
Ads: Link
command—a light promise between girls made after a night of nightmares.
“And now Nyx has run off. Disappeared in a night. Poof!” Akane throws up her hands. Lowers them. Stares at me blankly—glares at me harshly. “Now, the city's occupied by foreigners—you want me to tell you how long Chima hoped Nyx would return? You want me to tell you about her tears when I told her the truth?” Akane breathes, her tone grim, “Tell me, Naia, do you still hope? Do you still believe in sisterly bonds? After all that has happened—are you still okay with lying to yourself?” her words slur from her mouth and she cocks her head of red hair. Even her hair has been cut.
I bite my lip—hard. A metal taste enters my mouth and I realize I've dug my fingernails into the wood of the table. But I don't relax—I can't.
“I haven't lied to her!”
“Things are going to get worse.” she tilts her head again. Smiles crookedly—all teeth. “You think your disguise will save you? You think I can? Shanti? You think— you think Chima will ever forgive you?”
I shoot to standing—the legs of my chair screeching loudly against the tiles of the floor. “I won't sit here and be insulted by you, Akane!”
“Maybe you'll stand. Maybe I'll sit. Maybe I'll watch this last sunset with you.” she swallows. “ Our last sunset.”
I sit. Pull the chair closer to the table. I look at her.
“I'm boarding this window up tomorrow.” she tells me. “So better enjoy this while you can. Before I destroy it.”
…
When Akane boards the bay window up, Shanti begins to sleep on the floor of the parlor.
“Are you our watchdog?” I ask her one night, jokingly.
But Shanti takes the question seriously. “I am better than that. I am your guardian.” Violet eyes are murky. Bags hang low under her eyes as if she hasn't slept in days. “When the reckoning comes, you'll thank the Fates I slept here.”
Her words frighten me—they send a shiver up my spine.
The reckoning?
I had no idea what she meant.
When I bring it up to Akane, she simply shrugs it off.
“You know how old she is, right?” Akane smirks. Rolls her eyes as she piles beige sacks of rice in the far corner of her room. “Shanti's been through some things. Seeing all those soldiers outside day after day probably brings back memories—bad ones. But if you're alone in your room—why not come sleep with me?”
I imagine Chima is lonely as well—without Nyx in her room. I think to bring this up—maybe we three could sleep together? But I shake the thoughts away when I remember—Chima is angry at me. Angry enough to…possibly hate me.
I take Akane up on her offer, moving my mat and single pillow into her spacious room. I lay my mat parallel to her own and find myself sleeping easier with another person so near to me. I trusted Akane. She reminded me so much of Yarne—her strength. Her fearless portrayal of the truth. She is like a mother to me. And one night, I woke to her curled about me. Combing pretty fingers through my shortened hair. Cooing to me as if I were her child.
I feigned sleep, enjoying the closeness. Savoring it.
Strong arms curled around me—hugging me tight. I could feel the wiry strength of her muscles as she pressed her arms around me. I could smell the scent of her skin—strange as it was, jasmine. An expensive scent. A scent that promised light purple petals and warm ginger winds. I found peace in her embrace. A melting peace that pressed the sands of sleep into my eyes and forced the outer world to fall away.
Safe.
I felt safe.
Truly and completely safe.
And I wondered if I've ever felt this way before.
…
Fourteen days.
Fourteen days of peace. Of safety.
We were only granted fourteen days before the soldiers returned—screaming at our door. Shanti shrieked. Rushed up the stairs and attempted to tear me from Akane's embrace.
Around the doorway, Chima appeared.
Just as the door downstairs exploded. The men whacking it away with
“And now Nyx has run off. Disappeared in a night. Poof!” Akane throws up her hands. Lowers them. Stares at me blankly—glares at me harshly. “Now, the city's occupied by foreigners—you want me to tell you how long Chima hoped Nyx would return? You want me to tell you about her tears when I told her the truth?” Akane breathes, her tone grim, “Tell me, Naia, do you still hope? Do you still believe in sisterly bonds? After all that has happened—are you still okay with lying to yourself?” her words slur from her mouth and she cocks her head of red hair. Even her hair has been cut.
I bite my lip—hard. A metal taste enters my mouth and I realize I've dug my fingernails into the wood of the table. But I don't relax—I can't.
“I haven't lied to her!”
“Things are going to get worse.” she tilts her head again. Smiles crookedly—all teeth. “You think your disguise will save you? You think I can? Shanti? You think— you think Chima will ever forgive you?”
I shoot to standing—the legs of my chair screeching loudly against the tiles of the floor. “I won't sit here and be insulted by you, Akane!”
“Maybe you'll stand. Maybe I'll sit. Maybe I'll watch this last sunset with you.” she swallows. “ Our last sunset.”
I sit. Pull the chair closer to the table. I look at her.
“I'm boarding this window up tomorrow.” she tells me. “So better enjoy this while you can. Before I destroy it.”
…
When Akane boards the bay window up, Shanti begins to sleep on the floor of the parlor.
“Are you our watchdog?” I ask her one night, jokingly.
But Shanti takes the question seriously. “I am better than that. I am your guardian.” Violet eyes are murky. Bags hang low under her eyes as if she hasn't slept in days. “When the reckoning comes, you'll thank the Fates I slept here.”
Her words frighten me—they send a shiver up my spine.
The reckoning?
I had no idea what she meant.
When I bring it up to Akane, she simply shrugs it off.
“You know how old she is, right?” Akane smirks. Rolls her eyes as she piles beige sacks of rice in the far corner of her room. “Shanti's been through some things. Seeing all those soldiers outside day after day probably brings back memories—bad ones. But if you're alone in your room—why not come sleep with me?”
I imagine Chima is lonely as well—without Nyx in her room. I think to bring this up—maybe we three could sleep together? But I shake the thoughts away when I remember—Chima is angry at me. Angry enough to…possibly hate me.
I take Akane up on her offer, moving my mat and single pillow into her spacious room. I lay my mat parallel to her own and find myself sleeping easier with another person so near to me. I trusted Akane. She reminded me so much of Yarne—her strength. Her fearless portrayal of the truth. She is like a mother to me. And one night, I woke to her curled about me. Combing pretty fingers through my shortened hair. Cooing to me as if I were her child.
I feigned sleep, enjoying the closeness. Savoring it.
Strong arms curled around me—hugging me tight. I could feel the wiry strength of her muscles as she pressed her arms around me. I could smell the scent of her skin—strange as it was, jasmine. An expensive scent. A scent that promised light purple petals and warm ginger winds. I found peace in her embrace. A melting peace that pressed the sands of sleep into my eyes and forced the outer world to fall away.
Safe.
I felt safe.
Truly and completely safe.
And I wondered if I've ever felt this way before.
…
Fourteen days.
Fourteen days of peace. Of safety.
We were only granted fourteen days before the soldiers returned—screaming at our door. Shanti shrieked. Rushed up the stairs and attempted to tear me from Akane's embrace.
Around the doorway, Chima appeared.
Just as the door downstairs exploded. The men whacking it away with
Similar Books
