Read Online Strange Fates (Nyx Fortuna) by Marlene Perez - Free Book Online
Authors: Marlene Perez
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said.
“Yes, it is definitely something.” She took my hand and held it tightly. I wanted to hang on, to pretend, just for a second, that something more was possible, but there wasn’t going to be a happy ending to my story, just a blood-drenched one.
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth stared out the window at the snow falling. I’d never realized before that there could be so many different ways for it to snow. This time, the snow was well behaved, dropping from the sky in dainty swirls.
The view was gorgeous, but I don’t think she really saw it.
“Are you guys hungry?” Jenny asked.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Elizabeth said.
I nodded. “Do you want to go out tonight?”
I wasn’t keen on the idea of fighting the weather; from the looks of it, neither was Elizabeth.
“You can’t go out in this,” Jenny interjected. She acted more like Elizabeth’s jailer than her roommate.
Contrarily, I said, “Why not? It’s better than sitting around all night.”
“I’d rather stay here,” Elizabeth said. She shot me a pleading look out of those green eyes of hers and I was lost.
I smiled at her. “If that’s what you want.”
Jenny snorted in derision, but I pretended to ignore her.
“It’s too cold anyway,” I said.
“I’ll build a fire,” Elizabeth said.
“It’s a gas fireplace,” I pointed out.
“Exactly,” she said.
I laughed and she grinned triumphantly. She flicked a button and a flame lit. Instant roaring fire.
I had to admit it was cozy, sitting snug in their living room as the storm raged outside.
I settled back into the sofa and watched the snow fall. Contentment made me nervous. Is this what it was like, not to have a sword dangling over your head all the time?
What prompted my aunts’ rage? They would leave me alone for months, years sometimes, and then Gaston would appear. I didn’t kid myself that it took him that long to find me. How could I finally get them out of my life?
I turned the questions over and over in my mind. Elizabeth’s resemblance to my dead ex wasn’t a coincidence, but what was it? A trap? Good fortune? Something somewhere in between?
I realized that Elizabeth was looking at me expectantly. She’d obviously said something I’d missed.
“You’re staring.”
“You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I’m not sure.”
Apparently, it was up to me to provide the entertainment. “Up for a game of poker?”
Jenny looked from Elizabeth to me. “I’m going to bed.”
She was barely out of the room before Elizabeth jumped up and went into a discreetly concealed cabinet near the fireplace.
“Let’s make this game interesting,” she said. She handed me a bottle from the cabinet and sat next to me, so close that our legs were touching. She’d given me a bottle of Mezzaluna Italian vodka, my favorite. Coincidence?
“This is my favorite,” I said.
“Mine, too,” she said.
“I have the devil’s own luck,” I warned her.
She grinned at me. “I’m willing to take the chance.” She grabbed the bottle and poured healthy amounts into each glass. “What are the rules?”
“Lowest hand drinks?” I suggested.
We popped some microwave popcorn and used that to bet with.
I watched Elizabeth’s face as we played. My gaze was drawn to her, despite my best efforts to keep my mind on my cards.
An hour later, I wished I had picked some other rules. Elizabeth had spectacularly bad luck and had lost the last five hands. I wasn’t one of those guys who needed to get a girl wasted to get her to make out with me. At least my ego hoped I wasn’t.
I’d won again, but this time I pretended I had the low cards. Elizabeth had somehow gotten closer to me. She’d inched closer, probably without realizing it, during every hand.
“You’re cute,” she slurred. Her pale skin was flushed, and my eyes traced the lines of her body as she stretched like a cat.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let anything
“Yes, it is definitely something.” She took my hand and held it tightly. I wanted to hang on, to pretend, just for a second, that something more was possible, but there wasn’t going to be a happy ending to my story, just a blood-drenched one.
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth stared out the window at the snow falling. I’d never realized before that there could be so many different ways for it to snow. This time, the snow was well behaved, dropping from the sky in dainty swirls.
The view was gorgeous, but I don’t think she really saw it.
“Are you guys hungry?” Jenny asked.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Elizabeth said.
I nodded. “Do you want to go out tonight?”
I wasn’t keen on the idea of fighting the weather; from the looks of it, neither was Elizabeth.
“You can’t go out in this,” Jenny interjected. She acted more like Elizabeth’s jailer than her roommate.
Contrarily, I said, “Why not? It’s better than sitting around all night.”
“I’d rather stay here,” Elizabeth said. She shot me a pleading look out of those green eyes of hers and I was lost.
I smiled at her. “If that’s what you want.”
Jenny snorted in derision, but I pretended to ignore her.
“It’s too cold anyway,” I said.
“I’ll build a fire,” Elizabeth said.
“It’s a gas fireplace,” I pointed out.
“Exactly,” she said.
I laughed and she grinned triumphantly. She flicked a button and a flame lit. Instant roaring fire.
I had to admit it was cozy, sitting snug in their living room as the storm raged outside.
I settled back into the sofa and watched the snow fall. Contentment made me nervous. Is this what it was like, not to have a sword dangling over your head all the time?
What prompted my aunts’ rage? They would leave me alone for months, years sometimes, and then Gaston would appear. I didn’t kid myself that it took him that long to find me. How could I finally get them out of my life?
I turned the questions over and over in my mind. Elizabeth’s resemblance to my dead ex wasn’t a coincidence, but what was it? A trap? Good fortune? Something somewhere in between?
I realized that Elizabeth was looking at me expectantly. She’d obviously said something I’d missed.
“You’re staring.”
“You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I’m not sure.”
Apparently, it was up to me to provide the entertainment. “Up for a game of poker?”
Jenny looked from Elizabeth to me. “I’m going to bed.”
She was barely out of the room before Elizabeth jumped up and went into a discreetly concealed cabinet near the fireplace.
“Let’s make this game interesting,” she said. She handed me a bottle from the cabinet and sat next to me, so close that our legs were touching. She’d given me a bottle of Mezzaluna Italian vodka, my favorite. Coincidence?
“This is my favorite,” I said.
“Mine, too,” she said.
“I have the devil’s own luck,” I warned her.
She grinned at me. “I’m willing to take the chance.” She grabbed the bottle and poured healthy amounts into each glass. “What are the rules?”
“Lowest hand drinks?” I suggested.
We popped some microwave popcorn and used that to bet with.
I watched Elizabeth’s face as we played. My gaze was drawn to her, despite my best efforts to keep my mind on my cards.
An hour later, I wished I had picked some other rules. Elizabeth had spectacularly bad luck and had lost the last five hands. I wasn’t one of those guys who needed to get a girl wasted to get her to make out with me. At least my ego hoped I wasn’t.
I’d won again, but this time I pretended I had the low cards. Elizabeth had somehow gotten closer to me. She’d inched closer, probably without realizing it, during every hand.
“You’re cute,” she slurred. Her pale skin was flushed, and my eyes traced the lines of her body as she stretched like a cat.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let anything
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