Page 7 of Tangled Fates

“You?” She laughed.

“Yes, we could kill two birds with one stone. It has been about fifty years since I last went out and with my birthday coming up, I think it's a perfect opportunity to let me explore a little and talk to whoever we supply too.”

I tried to sound confident, but I knew my voice lacked true conviction.

“The men we deal with are dangerous,” she said with a cruel smile. “Do you know what they would do if they found out who you were?”

“That’s if they…”

She cackled like what I was about to say was absurd.

“You think people haven’t searched for you up and down the entire world? Did you forget what happened seventy-five years ago?” Her nostrils flared.

I couldn’t forget it. They broke into the compound we had, one of them tried to… one of them tried to force himself on me. If it wasn't for Mother, he would have taken my virginity and taken me too. She killed six men that night, forcing us to move here to the tower that was hidden. The shiver of fear wracked my body.

Her lip curled into a smile like she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“What would have happened if they had taken you? Do you think you would be alive or maybe they would have chained you to a wall, used you for their sick pleasure and forced you to make all the vials they wanted and needed,” she sneered. “They would have done anything to take you away from me and if you think this life is bad, imagine it with no sunlight, no warmth and starvation.”

I swallowed, trying to keep my reactions to a minimum, remembering the weight of that man's body on top of mine. I could still feel his hot breath near my face and I knew she was right. I didn’t know what people would do if they found out the vials actually came from a woman.

My earlier confidence was zapped from me while all I could think about was the awful things that could happen.

“So, when I say no, it's because Mother knows best,” she said, closing the distance between us, cupping my cheek in a motherly way. “The world is a dangerous place and all they want is to use you. Mother will keep you safe.”

She hugged me. It was a little stiff and awkward, but I welcomed the closeness. She wasn’t very affectionate with me, never had been, but I didn’t realize how much I had craved a hug, needed it.

“Look, I’ve been trying to put off this trip, but I have to get some supplies so that I can reinforce the barrier,” she said, pulling away. “How about I bring back some new music for you and maybe some more drawing paper with paints or those charcoals you liked from a few years ago?”

“Can you take me to that art shop?” I asked, knowing it might be a lost cause.

“If I can get what I need and see if I can afford an amulet, maybe,” she said, like it hurt her to say it.

Mother was so dramatic. I had been out a few times, and no one even batted an eye at me, but I didn't know what would happen next time. I wasn’t a gambling woman; my life was more important than being out for an hour or two even if I didn't know how much more of this solitude I could take.

“Thank you,” I said, trying to go back for a hug but she stepped back immediately, like she was afraid she was going to get burned.

Swallowing down the hurt, I nodded before going back to my work.

“I need to leave in the next couple of days after they pick up this shipment,” she said walking away. “I’ll re-enforce the barrier so that we can both breathe easier knowing you are safe.”

“That sounds great,” I said, looking over my shoulder to see her leave.

I waited until I could hear her upstairs to let my emotions go. My existence was a double-edged sword the longer I lived. I was grateful for the years given to me, but this wasn't living. Hiding in fear wasn’t a full life, but a part of me also thought this was no life for Mother. She sacrificed so much for me and no matter how much I needed to see the world, I felt like I owed her my obedience to be thankful. There was also a small part of me that wanted her approval like any good daughter.

The first tear fell down my face until I couldn't contain them anymore. I cried silently, hoping she didn’t hear me and come in asking questions. The last thing I needed was her coming in here suspicious of my thoughts and feelings.

Meow.

Loki jumped onto the table, pushing his face against my own like he was trying to wipe the tears from my face. It only made me cry harder. I wrapped my arms around him and he purred. My stupid cat always comforted me like he knew my sadness was a heavy burden. Sometimes I wished he was a person, to ease this loneliness and make the weight of my power less suffocating.

4

GRAY

Thieves. We had heard it many times. The accusation was hurled at us like it would hurt us or make us feel bad about it. When I met Ryder, he was trying to steal from our family. He was looking for a rare heirloom that someone had paid him a million dollars for.

I caught him, we talked, and I ended up helping him. He gave me two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It was the first time I had ever made money. The feeling was euphoric, that I could provide for myself. I was a sheltered blue blood vampire who had relied on his family to provide for him. The thrill of stealing and working with Ryder gave me a sense of purpose that I never would have felt if it weren’t for him.

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