Read Online UNBREATHABLE by Hafsah Laziaf - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Hafsah Laziaf
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again.
My room is across from Julian's.
“If you need anything,” he adds quickly.
“And Lissa?” He says, opening the door to my room again. “You’re safe here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“You can’t always be here,” I say.
His eyes hold mine, dark and penetrating. “I will. Always.”
“Who’s Rowan?” I ask, before I can stop myself.
“He works for the Queen,” he says slowly, and that’s all.
“So the Queen wants me.” I tilt my head. “But no one knows why.”
He nods. “Not even the Queen knows why.”
And with that, he closes the door behind him.
The bed is large, satiny blue, inviting me with plush pillows. A folded nightgown is set on one corner and a small bowl of colorless porridge sits on the bedside stand. A few steps to my left is a door leading to a small bath.
I eat, wash and climb into bed with a sigh, relieving my aching limbs.
The full moon casts a ghostly white glow in the room, making me feel like I’m elsewhere. I turn so I can see the moon in the distance, an oddly shaped round. It’s nothing like Earth’s dimmer moon, a perfect round riddled with craters.
One hundred and fifty years ago, humans came to Jutaire when Earth became too dangerous for life. They came on a ship, Gage had said, the ruins of which still exist close to Jute territory. Days after they landed, rain spilt from the sky.
They welcomed it as they did on Earth and it killed them. I’ve listened to the story from Gage’s lips nearly every rainfall. And each time I stared out the window as the rain splattered on the glass, and wondered—why didn't the Jute warn us?
Half the human race bled beneath the crying skies. Of the half remaining, Gage had said, yet another half disappeared without a trace. I looked at his face, as the full moon glowed across his sharp features and pale hair.
“Where did they go?” I was younger then, much younger.
“The Lost Colony? It’s too long of a story for me, Lissa,” he said. He leaned against his rickety desk and scribbled something on a fraying sheet of paper. He gestured toward the dingy shelves lining the wall. “It’s all in the books.”
But it wasn’t. I scoured every single book in search of the Lost Colony. There’s nothing that tells of the humans who disappeared. But they can’t have died. No, something else happened to them. I just know it.
And only now, days after he has died, do I remember: He lied.
He knew of the Lost Colony. And he died with his secret.
It takes one month.
I’ve perfected the use of a dagger, a bow, and a double-bladed staff and learned how to fight with my bare hands. Of them all, I prefer a dagger the most, and enjoy a bow the least. The way the curve of the dagger handle fits into my palm and moves as I do gives me a feeling of control, unlike a bow.
I’ve grown accustomed to expecting the feeling I get when Julian looks at me, stands near me, and breathes near me. But I will never grow accustomed to the feeling itself. It always feels new, fresh. I can’t get enough of it.
We part ways wordlessly at the hall. He was quiet today, his eyes dark and brooding.
I wash up and sink into bed, feeling the impact of my exhaustion only when the comfort of my covers envelops me. As always, I tuck two daggers beneath my pillow.
They make me feel safe, and now that I know how to use them, they will keep me safe too.
I stare at the ceiling, and remember my first night here, beneath another full moon. And in the blank, ethereal white glow, I see my thoughts.
The Jute, who want me.
My mother, who my father claims is dead.
Slate, who wants to be with the daughter he lost.
Chancellor Kole, who will do anything to protect his daughter.
Dena, who will do anything to get rid of me, and get Julian back.
And Julian, who gets more and more distant with each passing day. Something bothers him. I wish he would share his burden. I wish I knew what he wanted.
And me. What do I want? I ask my
My room is across from Julian's.
“If you need anything,” he adds quickly.
“And Lissa?” He says, opening the door to my room again. “You’re safe here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“You can’t always be here,” I say.
His eyes hold mine, dark and penetrating. “I will. Always.”
“Who’s Rowan?” I ask, before I can stop myself.
“He works for the Queen,” he says slowly, and that’s all.
“So the Queen wants me.” I tilt my head. “But no one knows why.”
He nods. “Not even the Queen knows why.”
And with that, he closes the door behind him.
The bed is large, satiny blue, inviting me with plush pillows. A folded nightgown is set on one corner and a small bowl of colorless porridge sits on the bedside stand. A few steps to my left is a door leading to a small bath.
I eat, wash and climb into bed with a sigh, relieving my aching limbs.
The full moon casts a ghostly white glow in the room, making me feel like I’m elsewhere. I turn so I can see the moon in the distance, an oddly shaped round. It’s nothing like Earth’s dimmer moon, a perfect round riddled with craters.
One hundred and fifty years ago, humans came to Jutaire when Earth became too dangerous for life. They came on a ship, Gage had said, the ruins of which still exist close to Jute territory. Days after they landed, rain spilt from the sky.
They welcomed it as they did on Earth and it killed them. I’ve listened to the story from Gage’s lips nearly every rainfall. And each time I stared out the window as the rain splattered on the glass, and wondered—why didn't the Jute warn us?
Half the human race bled beneath the crying skies. Of the half remaining, Gage had said, yet another half disappeared without a trace. I looked at his face, as the full moon glowed across his sharp features and pale hair.
“Where did they go?” I was younger then, much younger.
“The Lost Colony? It’s too long of a story for me, Lissa,” he said. He leaned against his rickety desk and scribbled something on a fraying sheet of paper. He gestured toward the dingy shelves lining the wall. “It’s all in the books.”
But it wasn’t. I scoured every single book in search of the Lost Colony. There’s nothing that tells of the humans who disappeared. But they can’t have died. No, something else happened to them. I just know it.
And only now, days after he has died, do I remember: He lied.
He knew of the Lost Colony. And he died with his secret.
It takes one month.
I’ve perfected the use of a dagger, a bow, and a double-bladed staff and learned how to fight with my bare hands. Of them all, I prefer a dagger the most, and enjoy a bow the least. The way the curve of the dagger handle fits into my palm and moves as I do gives me a feeling of control, unlike a bow.
I’ve grown accustomed to expecting the feeling I get when Julian looks at me, stands near me, and breathes near me. But I will never grow accustomed to the feeling itself. It always feels new, fresh. I can’t get enough of it.
We part ways wordlessly at the hall. He was quiet today, his eyes dark and brooding.
I wash up and sink into bed, feeling the impact of my exhaustion only when the comfort of my covers envelops me. As always, I tuck two daggers beneath my pillow.
They make me feel safe, and now that I know how to use them, they will keep me safe too.
I stare at the ceiling, and remember my first night here, beneath another full moon. And in the blank, ethereal white glow, I see my thoughts.
The Jute, who want me.
My mother, who my father claims is dead.
Slate, who wants to be with the daughter he lost.
Chancellor Kole, who will do anything to protect his daughter.
Dena, who will do anything to get rid of me, and get Julian back.
And Julian, who gets more and more distant with each passing day. Something bothers him. I wish he would share his burden. I wish I knew what he wanted.
And me. What do I want? I ask my
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