Page 4 of Sweet Nightmares
Jane clenched her teeth. Where was the honor in beating a woman? These men were just as bad as her husband.
Acid frothed in Jane’s esophagus. She hated these men. No, more than hated them. If she could, one day, she was going to make them pay. But first, she had to survive, and if it was money that they wanted, then she’d get it.
She only had to Bargain with a Mirror God.
Easy…
The punishment for getting caught bargaining underage was high. However, how could it be worse than this?
She’d have to do it.
In New Swansea, the country was run by Mirror Gods, also known as Bargainers, who traded magic, wealth, and knowledgefor a cost… often a wretched one. However, people couldn’t bargain with them until they reached the age of majority, twenty-three. However, that often didn’t matter because there were entire markets and businesses devoted to making mirror bargains, so people didn’t have to. They would get mirror objects and then sell them to the public. That was how Jane could easily buy Mirror Cosmetics to cover her bruises.
At twenty-three, every citizen had to do their Mirror Rite—bargain at least once with a god—or receive seven years of bad luck. Gangs, businesses, and markets took advantage of this fact and paid those performing the rite to bargain on their behalf.
Jane hadn’t thought much about her rite yet; she still had two years before she was of age, and she figured she’d take one of the businesses up on their offer. She’d make a low-level bargain with a harmless mirror and get some money out of it.
But now, if she wanted to live, she’d have to bargain for seven fortunes’ worth of money, and lower-level, harmless mirrors would never,evermake that deal. Jane wasn’t even sure if they could. There seemed to be a hierarchy of Mirror Gods, but they were never made public.
One thing for sure was that the Looking Glass—also known as the Mirror of Nightmares—was the most powerful god in the country. He was one of the only gods whose deals and magic extended outside of his mirror cage. But there was no way in all the heavens and earth that she would bargain with him.
So, who else?
Midnight was powerful but known for being unhinged.
Beautiful Decay was powerful but cruel.
Chaos had been dormant for years, but she would have been a good option. She was a psychopath, but she enjoyed making good deals with pretty women. She especially enjoyed talented women. Jane was both beautiful and talented, but sadly, Chaos hadn’t let anyone inside her prison in thirty-nine years.
Jane was pulled out of her thoughts by a young brunette woman, possibly Jane’s age or a bit older, who approached her and murmured, “I am sorry, miss, but it’s time to heal you.”
Jane flinched. This woman’s healing hurt just as much as the beatings, which was precisely why every time the brunette came to heal, she apologized for it.
“Wait, wait,” Jane said a little frantically. “Before you do all this again, perhaps we could make a deal.”
The leader raised an eyebrow.
“I might not have a magic pussy, but I can make a mirror bargain for the money you need.”
The leader narrowed his eyes. “A bargain that size would come with a steep price.”
Well, considering you’re going to murder me, a steep price seems far better cost than that, Jane thought, but instead,she said, “I’m willing to pay it.”
“I want an endless supply of riches.”
Jane swallowed. That was an impossible deal.
“And I want it from Nightmare.”
Jane gasped. He was playing with her. No one got a good deal from Nightmare. No one. This was just another means to torture Jane. What the fuck had her husband done for them to hate him—and by association, her—so much?
“Why not Beautiful Decay?” Jane dug her fingernails into her wooden armrests.
“Only Nightmare will do.”
Chapter Three
Age 21.
