Page 66 of Lovers Fate

“How come?”

“I guess it’s because Pennywise feeds off fear. IT is fueled by your imagination. What scares you deep inside? It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or an adult. Our deepest fears plague us all. “Anyone can be a killer or wear a mask to hide who they truly are.” But fear—that you can’t control. That’s personal.”

“How about Freddy?” he asks picking him up. His burnt face unable to hide his evil smile.

“He’s second because of the whole ‘I’ll kill you in your dreams’ thing, but he can still be killed. He’s easy because you know where to find him. But Pennywise…”

“Multiverse?”

I straighten and smile. “Exactly.”

He places Freddy back on the shelf. “Don’t fuck with Pennywise. Got it. “You and my uncle feel the same way about clowns,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Not everyone feels the same way about clowns,” I counter. He knows I’m talking about Kevin.

“He wouldn’t know.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Kevin hasn’t seen one yet.” I don’t miss the warning in his tone, but for some reason I don’t want him to get in trouble.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

“You mean don’t get caught? So they don’t think you’re crazy.” My stomach sinks. The air in the room shifts. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s fine,” I interrupt. “I know you didn’t mean it like that, but yeah, don’t get into trouble.”

“You can stay here as long as you need,” he says, changing the subject. I know he is trying to be nice, but I’ll only accept his hospitality this once. I can see it in his eyes that he’s going against Draco’s wishes, and I shouldn’t be here, but there is a huge part of me that wants to stay. To belong.It’s nice to have a meal inside a house, even it’s just a bowl of cereal. A nice warm bed and a hot shower that isn’t caked in mold.

Just this once.

As I follow Kaden back out into the hallway, it feels like a large brick is pushing against my chest realizing how alone I am. I have no one. No home. Not even a closet full of clothes.

“Pick which one you like,” he says, opening each door.

I glance inside each room with their plush beds and dark gray sheets, dark hardwood floors, and gray-painted walls. Modern, simplistic, but I don’t miss the one with the masquerade masks or the one with a clown theme, but then I stop in front of the last bedroom. It has an en suite bathroom, but what hasme mesmerized is the massive black wood bed with black silk sheets. The dark charcoal gray walls with drawings of roses. Gold details line the bedposts, and the tufted headboard looks handmade, like it was imported from a Gothic mansion.

“I call it Dracula’s room,” Kaden says behind me.

“It’s gorgeous,” I say softly.

The smell inside the room is different. The scent is masculine, rich, and powerful. It has a woman’s touch, but you can tell a man dominates this room.

“Whose bedroom is this?” I ask, adjusting the strap of my bag up on my shoulders. Then touching the edge of the wooden footboard with my fingertips

“No one.”

I look at the candelabras on each nightstand with gold with black taper candles made of skulls. Whoever decorated this room wanted to mix vintage with modern and didn’t miss a beat. It even has a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room

I would never want to leave this room.

“I doubt that this room doesn’t belong to anyone.”

“It’s the only room that mirrors the same theme as the main home.”

“Where is it?” I ask curiously.

He swallows nervously. “Not far.”

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