[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
yacht moored to a small dock in a tiny inlet at the foot of a dirt path.
The trail wound gently up the side of the mountain. With every step, my imaginings
of what awaited me at the top became more dire. Valentine liked to play games. I could
only imagine what he would make of two deliciously human playmates.
A gated house slowly came into view as I hiked a shallow rise. Starting with a roof
laid in iridescent tiles, an open villa made of pale stucco spread over several acres.
Horses grazed in a small paddock on one side of the compound. The beauty of the
surroundings only served to crystallize the fear I felt at facing whatever it was that
Valentine had planned.
Tile felt smooth and cold beneath my bare feet when I entered the airy portico. I
turned in a slow circle as the true expanse of the house spread out around me.
Hallways snaked out from the center in several directions and a staircase spiraled up to
the second floor. If Valentine wanted Zach and Sam to stay hidden, it would be
impossible for to find them.
The house was silent. Even with the pressing heat, it felt like a tomb. Still and eerily
quiet.
Valentine's voice washed over me like a cool bath, shocking and refreshing at once.
"Normally I ask guests to remove their shoes in my home. But, I see that might not
be sufficient for you."
I looked down at my feet. I couldn't remember putting on brown socks.
Embarrassed heat rose in my face and I could feel my cheeks redden as I realized that I
wasn't wearing socks. Dirt from the trail caked both my feet in a layer so thick that it
looked as if they were covered in a thick layer of fur.
"I couldn't find shoes." My voice was small and embarrassed.
"Indeed." His smile was knowing. "Forgive me for leaving you alone this morning.
There was business requiring my attention."
The thought of him standing over me in the dark, hands and eyes sliding over my
unresisting body, brought an unwelcome shiver. "It's fine." I hoped he couldn't hear the
quaver in my voice.
"Marta," he called. "Show Helena to her room. She needs to freshen up."
My gaze turned instinctively, expecting to see a dark-skinned peasant from the
village below that Valentine had bewitched to serve him. I was painfully, horribly
mistaken.
Her eyes as they surveyed me lacked any spark of recognition. Not the slightest hint
of emotion colored her expression. Under a modest cowl bleached white like death
pallor was the dour face of Sister Mohan.
I heard the heavy thud of my chair striking the floor before I even realized I had
stood. My hand shook as I gripped the table's edge. "What is this?"
Valentine moved smoothly up beside me. "A friend of yours, I understand."
Sister Mohan stared at me impassively.
Tears burned behind my eyes. I had so much wanted to believe that the Sisters
were safe, that knowing me hadn't destroy them. "What have you done to her?"
"Nothing." He held a hand up to his chest, as if offended at being so besmirched.
"She was just a wretched creature when I came upon her, begging on the streets for
scraps."
"Sister Mohan!" I shouted in her face, without even a twitch as response. My voice
broke. "Please."
"It's no use." Valentine circled behind Sister Mohan. They watched me with the
same emotionless eyes. "The woman that you knew...Sister Mohan, was it? That
woman no longer exists. She was Marta before she knew you, and so she shall be
again."
It took all my strength to face them. I couldn't stop the trembles that raced down my
body. "And Sister Maeve? She's here, too?"
"I'm not familiar. Marta was alone." His voice was casual, unconcerned.
The Sisters would never separate willingly. Did that mean Sister Maeve was lost, or
hurt, or worse? I knew I might never find out.
"Why would you do this?" I sank back down in the chair, overwhelmed by the surge
of warring emotions. Sister Mohan was safe, but under Valentine's control.
"For you." He came to stand behind me, fingers lightly stroking my hair. "I hoped it
would make you happy, seeing a familiar face."
"But, why is she like this?" The sweeping movement of my hand took in her stiff
posture and emotionless stare. "That isn't what I want."
"Marta is here to serve. Too much freedom might go to her head."
"And that's what you're going to do to me." My voice was cold, anger finally winning
out over sadness and fear.
"Never you." His fingers traced my cheek, a touch so light that I might have
imagined it. A shift of the wind and I felt his lips pressed above my temple. When he
spoke, his words quivered against my skin. "I want you just the way you are."
I pulled away and stood, backing away from him. "She was going to show me to my
room." My heart beat hard enough that I was sure he could hear it.
Valentine smiled slightly and nodded to Sister Mohan.
She turned away quickly and I had to move fast to follow her. By the time I caught
up, we were halfway down the eastern hallway.
I grabbed her arm. "Sister Mohan."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]