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I Marked The CEO Mine 21
It was sunset. They had the memorial park to themselves. Noah brought himself down to his knees close to Lucindas grave. Snow droned down on the graveyard, covering Lawrence s shoulders, fat chips getting tangled in her eyelashes, wetting the tip of her nose. She edged around the bend of the sepulcher, her whole body strained. Could he lose it? Could he paw at the frozen soil and pound on the tombstone and wail until there were no more tears he could shed? He couldnt feel as quiet as he looked. It was unthinkable, a front. Yet, Noah scarcely checked the grave out. He set down his ally in the snow and shut his eyes. Lawrence gazed. He was so still and beautiful. With his eyelids shut, he checked outright harmony out. She was half enamored, half befuddled, and remained as such for a few minutes- - until she was so frozen, she needed to rub her arms and stamp her feet to heat up. What's going on with he? she at long last murmured. Chi showed up behind her and danced around her sh
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Coat pocket, Chi said. Youre welcome. She searched in the pocket of the coat- - a similar coat shed been wearing at the burial service in Prussia- - and took out a fresh out of the box new, pricey looking sets of show glasses. She didnt trouble asking Chi where or when hed got them, she just held them dependent upon her eyes and bent the concentration. There. Both of them stood confronting one another, few feet separated. Her previous selfs dark hair was hitched in an energetic bun, and her woven material dress was the pink of an orchid. She looked youthful and blameless. She was grinning at Daniel, shaking this way and that on her feet like she was anxious, keeping a close eye on him with unbounded power. Daniels eyes had a prodding search in them; a lot of round white peonies were in his arms and he was giving them out to her individually, making her snicker harder each time. Observing intently through the show glasses, Lawrence saw that their fingers won't ever contact. They
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It was Gabbe whod found him after more than a month, whod helped him crawl out from the crevasse, whod put splints on his wings and carried him away from this place. Shed made him vow to never do it again. Shed made him vow to always maintain hope. And now here he was again. He got to his feet and, once more, teetered at the edge. No, please. Oh God, dont! I just couldnt bear it if you jumped. It wasnt Gabbe speaking to him now on the mountain. This voice dripped with sarcasm. Noah knew who it belonged to before he even spun around. Noah lounged against a wall of tall black boulders. Over the colorless earth, hed spread out an enormous prayer tapestry woven with rich strands of burgundy and ochre thread. He dangled a charred yaks leg in his hand and bit off a huge hunk of stringy meat. Oh, what the hell? Noah shrugged, chewing. Go ahead and jump. Any last words you want me to pass along to Lawrence ? Where is she? Noah started toward him, his hands balling into fists.
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Chi could have been undetectable to the lovely young lady with corn-hued twists who was remaining in the entryway in a long cranberry-shaded outfit - yet Lawrence wasnt. At seeing somebody in the tub, the young lady raised back. Gracious, Princess Lys! Pardon me! she said in French. I was informed this chamber was vacant. I- - Id run a shower for Princess Elizabeth- - she highlighted the tub where Lawrence was dousing - and was going to send her up alongside her women. Well- - Lawrence really focused, frantic to put on a show of being more grand than she felt. You may not s-send her up. Nor her women. This is my chamber, where I planned to wash in harmony. I ask your exoneration, the young lady said, bowing, multiple times. Its okay, Lawrence said rapidly when she saw the young ladies fair hopelessness. There must simply have been a misconception. The young lady curtseyed and started to close the entryway. Chi looked his horned head up over the outer layer of the water and m
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Then she realized what Chi had meant by going three-D. She had literally stepped into Lyss body. Lawrence glanced around her, terrified. To her horror, all the other girls in line were motionless. In fact, everyone Lawrence looked at was frozen stiff. It was if the entire party had been put on Pause. See? Chis voice Noah e hotly in her ear. No words for this, right? Whats happening, Chi? Her voice was rising. Right now, not a whole lot. I had to put the brakes on the party, lest you freak out. Once were straight on the three-D business, Ill start it back up again. So . . . no one can see this right now? Lawrence asked, waving her hand slowly in front of the face of the pretty brunette girl whod been standing in front of Lys. The girl didnt flinch. She didnt blink. Her face was frozen in an unending openmouthed grin. Nope. Chi demonstrated by wiggling his tongue near the ear of an older man, who stood frozen with an escargot poised between his fingers, inches from hi
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Should I bed down with your father, then? the king sneered. Knowing Your Majesty likes guns, Lawrence said, straining to keep her tone polite, I have brought you a gift--my fathers most prized hunting rifle. Hed asked me to bring it to you this evening, but I wasnt sure when Id have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. She had the kings full attention. He was perched on the edge of his throne. Whats it look like? Are there jewels in its butt? The . . . the stock is hand-carved from cherry-wood, she said, feeding the king the details Chi called out from where he stood beside the kings chair. The bore was milled by--by-- Oh, what would sound impressive? By a Russian metalworker who has since gone to work for the czar. Chi leaned over the kings pastries and sniffed hungrily. These look good. Lawrence repeated Chis line and then added, I could bring it to Your Majesty, if youd just allow me to go and retrieve it from my chambers-- A servant can bring the gun down tomo
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Like? Like she was happy when she died. I was happy. Ecstatic. The whole thing was just so beautiful. Her mind raced. Knowing hed be there for me on the other side, knowing that all I was doing was escaping something wrong and oppressive. That the beauty of our love endures death, endures everything. It was incredible. Incredibly dangerous, Chi said shortly. Lets not do that again, okay? Dont you get it? Ever since I left Noah in the present, this is the best thing thats happened to me. And-- But Chi had disappeared into the darkness again. She heard the trickle of the waterfall. A moment later, the sound of water boiling. When Chi reappeared, hed made tea. He carried the pot on a thin metal tray and handed Lawrence a steaming mug. Where did you get that? she asked. I said, lets not do that again, okay? But Lawrence was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to really hear him. This was the closest shed come to any kind of clarity. She would go 3-D--what had he called i
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Ted happened here, Lawrence said, taking a moment to let it all sink in. The Tempest. Romeo and Juliet. Were practically standing in the center of all the greatest love stories ever written. Actually, youre standing in walnut shells. Why do you have to be so glib about everything? This is amazing! Sorry, I didnt realize wed need a moment of bardolatry. His words Noah e out lisped because of the needle clipped between his jagged teeth. Now stand still. Ouch! Lawrence yelped as he jabbed sharply into her kneecap. What are you doing? Un-Anachronizing you. These folksll pay good money for a freak show, but theyre expecting it to stay onstage. Chi worked quickly, discreetly tucking the long, draped fabric of her black gown from Versailles into a series of folds and crimps so that it was gathered along the sides. He knocked away her black wig and pulled her hair into a frizzy pouf. Then he eyed the velvet capelet around her shoulders. He whipped off the soft fabric. At last, he
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Every other time one of her past selves had died Lawrence s release from the flames and into the Announcer had been simultaneous. Something was different; something that was making her see things that couldnt possibly be real. Wings on fire. Daniel! she cried out. What looked like Daniels wings soared through waves of flames, catching fire but not smoldering, as if they were made of fire. All she could make out were white wings and violet eyes. Daniel? The fire rolled across the darkness like a giant wave across an ocean. It crashed onto an invisible shore and washed furiously over Lawrence , rushing up her body, over her head, and far behind her. Then, as if someone had pinched out a candle, there was a quick hiss and everything went black. A cold wind crept up behind her. Goose bumps spread across her skin. She hugged her body closer, drawing up her knees and realizing with a jolt of surprise that no grou
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Chi watched Lawrence pick it up. Gotta look ones best in the afterlife. He was sitting atop the head of a startlingly lifelike sculpture of the former pharaoh. Laylas mind told Lawrence that this sculpture represented the pharaohs ka, his soul, and it would watch over the tomb-- the real pharaoh lay mummified behind it. Inside the limestone sarcophagus would be nested wooden coffins; inside the smallest one of them: the embalmed pharaoh. Watch out, Chi said. Lawrence hadnt even realized she was resting her hands on a small wooden chest. That contains the pharaohs entrails. Lawrence jerked away and slid the star shot out from her dress. When she picked it up, its shaft warmed her fingers. Is this really going to work? If you pay attention and do as I say, Chi said. Now, the soul resides directly in the center of your being. To reach it, you must draw the blade precisely down the middle of your ches
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In the darkness before him, a figure slowly filtered into view. First, the wings: undersized and gossamer-thin. Then the body deepened in color just enough for Noah to see a small, pale angel sharing his Announcer. Noah did not know him. The angels features were soft and innocent-looking, like a babys. In the cramped tunnel, his fine blond hair blew across his silver eyes in the wind that Daniels wings sent back each time they pulsed. He looked so young, but of course, he was just as old as any of them. Who are you? Noah asked again. How did you get in here? Are you Scale? Yes. Despite his innocent, infantile appearance, the angels voice was gravel-deep. He reached behind his back for a moment, and Noah thought perhaps he was hiding something there--perhaps one of his kinds trapping devices--but the angel simply turned around to reveal the scar on the back of his neck. The seven-pointed gold insignia of the Scale. Im Scale. His deep v
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All the rage left Chi like air being let out of a balloon. How do you mean? When I die, its not because of anything that Noah does. Its something that happens inside me. Maybe his love brings it out, but--its my fault. That has to be part of the curse, only I have no idea what it means. All I know is, I saw a look in his eyes right before I died--its always the same. He tilted his head. So far. I make him miserable more than I make him happy, she said. If he hasnt given up on me, he should. I cant do this to him anymore. She dropped her head into her hands. Lawrence ? Chi sat on her knee. There was the strange tenderness hed shown when she first met him. Do you want to put this endless charade to rest? For Daniels sake? Lawrence looked up and wiped her eyes. You mean, so he wont have to go through this again? Theres something I can do? When you assume one of your past selfs
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Noah nodded. And when they get here, the rebels will expect me to fight. Lawrence winced. Shed been with Noah twice already when he was gearing up for battle, and both times it had led to something shed never wanted to see again. What should I do while youre-- Im not going into battle, Lu Xin. What? This isnt our war. It never was. We can stay and fight other peoples battles or we can do as we have always done and choose each other over everything else. Do you understand what I mean? Yes, she whispered. Lu Xin did not know the deeper meaning of Des words, but Lawrence was nearly sure that she understood--that Noah loved her, that she loved him, and that they were choosing to be together. They will not let us go easily. The rebels will kill me for deserting. He replaced her helmet on her head. You will have to fight your way out of this, too. What? she whispered. I cant fight. I can
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The wardrobe was jammed with colorful, exotic garments, but one object caught her eye: a large curved helmet. It was heavy, made mostly of thick leather straps stitched together with tight seams. At the front was a smooth bronze plate with an ornate fire-breathing dragon carved into the metal. The dragon was the zodiac animal of the kings birth year. Chi floated toward her. What are you doing with the kings helmet? Lawrence slid the helmet onto her head, tucking her black hair inside it. Then she opened the other side of the wardrobe, thrilled and nervous about what she had found. The same thing Im doing with the kings armor, she said, gathering a heavy tangle of goods into her arms. She donned a pair of wide leather pants, a thick leather tunic, a pair of chain-mail gloves, leather slippers that were certainly too big but that shed have to make work, and a bronze chest guard made of overlapping metal plates. T
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Lawrence probably seemed crazy to Lu Xin, barging in here wearing a singed animal hide and a necklace made out of bone, her hair a wild and tangled snarl. How long had it been since shed looked in a mirror? Had a bath? Plus, she was talking to an invisible gargoyle. But then again, Lu Xin was standing vigil over a dead guy, giving Lawrence dont-mess-with-me eyes, so she seemed a little crazy herself. Oh boy. Lawrence hadnt noticed the jade knife with the turquoise-studded handle, or the small pond of blood in the middle of the marble floor. What do I-- she started to ask Chi. You. Lu Xins voice was surprisingly strong. Help me hide his body. The dead mans hair was white around his temples; he looked about sixty years old, lean and muscular underneath many elaborate robes and embroidered cloaks. I--um, I dont really think-- As soon as they learn the king is
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I wont set foot in there. Noah pointed at the temple. Lilith was close to tears. Then you dont love me. I love you more than I ever thought possible, but it doesnt change a thing. Liliths thin body seemed to swell with rage. Could she sense that there was more to Noah s refusal than merely some wish to deny her? Noah didnt think so. She clenched her fists and let out a long, shrill scream. It seemed to shake the earth. Lilith grabbed Noah s wrists and pinned him against the tree. He didnt even struggle. My grandmother never liked you. Her arms trembled as she held him down. She always said the most terrible things, and I always defended you. Now I see it. In your eyes and your soul. Her eyes bored into him. Say it. Say what? Noah asked, horrified. Youre a bad man. Youre a--I know what you are. It was clear that Lilith didnt know. She was gras
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She did, and it looked different than it had before. The veldt of stars was endless, the dark of night folded again and again over so many bright spots that the sky was more light than black. Its beautiful. Its about to be a tabula rasa. His lips curled into a twisted smile. Ive grown tired of this game. This is all a game to you? Its a game to him. He swept his hand across the sky and left a dark swath of night in his wake. And I refuse to concede it to that Other simply because of a cosmic scale. Simply because our sides are in balance. Balance. You mean, the scale between the fallen angels who allied themselves with you, and those who allied themselves with-- Dont say it. But yes, that other. Right now there is a balance, and-- And one more angel has to side, Lawrence said, remembering the long talk Arriane had given her at the diner in Las Vegas. Mmm-hmm. Except this time, I wont leave it to chance. It was a shortsighted goal of mine, the whole starshot bit, but I
