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Chapter 32: Good Girl, Part 2
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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 33: The Run, Part 1
NINESeven days pass in a flurry of lessons I don't retain, and long, lonely hours cooped up in Kade's bedroom. I flick through books that are much too hard to read and watch tiny, blue dancers in the flames of the fireplace as it turns chunks of wood to ash. Two days later, I'm requested in the laundry to help cover for a handful of Unfortunates made bedridden by illness, and I jump at the opportunity to do something. Anything. I shove a pillowcase into the murky depths of the tub and rub the fabric together. Hunching, I swipe my forehead over my bicep, wiping at the beading sweat that coats my skin as the noisy driers spew humidity into the room. Unfortunates mill about, like goldfish in a pond, doing their daily duties and paying me no attention as I make my way through the pile of pillowcases. The fabrics are uncomplicated, white with no stains, making my job relatively straightforward. I breathe a sigh of relief. It's easy down here, hidden among piles of washing. If I overheard
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 34: The Run, Part 2
I push off the basin and through the throng of condemning Unfortunates. I rush up the stairs and through the laundry folding area, trying my hardest to keep in the tsunami of emotion. I barely know the Unfortunates—any Unfortunate, really—but we're all connected through our circumstances, upbringing, social standing, and suffering. To be shunned and removed from the collective experience as if my suffering no longer matters… it hurts. In a blur, I escape the manor and run. I run through the garden, trampling flowers under my feet, snapping jutting twigs with my elbows. I sprint through the paddock, uncaring about the shrill siren wail that comes on suddenly and pierces my skull, uncaring about the rumble of dogs barking. I make it to the lake in no time. My lungs burn. My feet sting. I gasp for air and turn left, rushing toward the cubby house of Kade's youth. I don't know why I come here. Maybe because it's the farthest point on the land I've been. It's the farthest I can get from T
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 35: The Run, Part 3
KADEHe nudged his heels into Vanta's side, and his prized stallion trotted along behind Vince as he approached the pack of dogs. "Home," Vincent commanded with a flick of his hand, and the dogs fled, speeding back in the direction they came. "How do you know they'll go back to the manor?" Nine asked, knowing better than to speak out of turn. Vince scowled. "They're well trained. Unlike you."Nine shifted, and Kade rolled his eyes. Gripping his saddle horn, Vince planted his boot in the stirrup and lifted himself onto Tariq's back without a struggle. Clicking his tongue, he pulled on Tariq's reins harder than Kade did, and Tariq veered with a bounce, moving the way Vince wordlessly commanded.Kade and Nine followed Vince as he led the way. A kilometre later, they broke out of the thicket and into the clearing. Vince took his horse from a trot to a canter. Then the canter quickened into a gallop. When there was enough space between them, Kade could breathe. He dipped his head, placin
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 36: The Consequences
NINEI spend the next week in agony, confined to my quarters, to a cot no bigger than me. Outside of showering in the Unfortunate communal bathhouse with people who consider me a traitor, my only other human contact has been Portia. I'd have bashed my head into a stone wall days ago if it weren't for her. It's driving me mad not knowing my fate. Am I to lie here and choke on my explanation? Am I to wither away as anxiety chisels at my bones?I startle as a shadow darkens my doorway, expecting to see Vince with his rifle, ready to fulfil the sentencing of the council. Instead, Thirteen loiters. "Master Kade would like to see you in the garden." My heart picks up in its beat, and Thirteen's face gives nothing away. No smugness. No sympathy. No fear. She's simply indifferent. Sucking in a deep breath, I lift myself off the cot and follow her out. She escorts me through the maze of flowers, and I squint under the midday sun, my eyes taking longer to adjust to the brightness after an et
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 37: Vincent's Birthday, Part 1
NINE"It's eight-fifteen," Portia announces, storming into the bathhouse, a hair brush and hair pins in her hands. "I'm well aware of the time.""Then you must also be aware of how quickly you're running out of it. You haven't even done your hair."Grunting, I grit my teeth and attempt to tie the sheer lilac tunic at my shoulder for the umpteenth time. I can't get it to feel comfortable. I can't get it to sit correctly. Cursing under her breath, Portia throws the hair brush and pins into the basin and slaps my hands away from the fabric. I drop my hands and watch as she effortlessly ties the a-line tunic the way it's meant to be tied. "Why are we dressed like this?" I ask, eyeing up the floor-length tunic. Its neckline plunges to my sternum, and my nipples are distinguishable through the ruffled fabric. "Master Vince chose the attire for tonight. Consider yourself lucky. Master Kade had your dress altered."I compare in the mirror. The colours of our tunics were the same, but wh
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 38: Vincent's Birthday, Part 2
His charcoal eyes darken with every inch of my dress he takes in. On his arm, is a redhead in a glistening, crimson dress. She beams at Kade, recognition flaring in her hazel eyes. "I see you've taken the liberty of having your Unfortunate's dress altered. Rude, but okay." "Vince," Kade states, speaking his brother's name like he's not welcome at his own party. "Happy Birthday." The Unfortunate Kade sent for whiskey returns and places it on the tabletop. Kade draws it to his lips and takes a long sip. His body language changes during his sip. He straightens and pulls his shoulders back, no longer wanting to linger by the dance floor. Vince notices too, and mischievousness flares across his features. He gestures to the woman beside him. "You remember Charlotte, don't you? She was telling me you two recently shared a lovely night together." I bristle and absorb the strange sensation deep. I divert my attention to the dance floor. "I remember," he bites out. And his confirmation su
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 39: Vincent's Birthday, Part 3
NINEOnyxObsidian.Volcanic glass.The way Kade's darkness speaks to my soul is unlike anything I've ever known. Raven eyes that once stirred fear in every fibre of my being are the only ones bringing me comfort now. I shiver as bitter, cool air seeps into my pores and penetrates my bones. His face disappears, dissolving into nothing, hollowing me out. My eyelids flutter. "Don't stick them in dry. Warm her up first." Something brushes against the apex of my thighs, and I jolt, my eyes shooting open. I groan, blinking into the void, desperate to rid my eyes of the greasy blur coating them. I turn my head toward gentle murmurs of conversation, and my brain rolls in my skull, making me nauseous. Another brush against my inner thigh, and I straighten my head. I peer at the fuzzy wooden banisters that hold up the ceiling, then tilt my head and focus on the shadowed gathering of people to my left. Damn this vision. I try to lift my hands to swipe at my eyes but barely get a twitch out
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 40: Vincent's Party, Part 4
KADE Rolling up his sleeves, Kade filled the bath to the rim, adding magnesium sulphate crystals and a few drops of lavender bath oil. He returned to the lounge room to a sleeping Nine, haphazardly fallen against the armrest of his leather couch. His stomach twisted at the sight of her. How could he let this happen? The night was full of distractions. He should have sent Vince away when he showed up with Charlotte. He should never have allowed him to take Nine. He never should've left the table in a bid to lose Charlotte. Thanks to Vince, he chased his tail all night. Thanks to Vince, he was too late. He approached her sleeping form and knelt beside the couch. Nine had always had a full face, beautiful and healthy, but now, shadows obscured it, settling underneath her eyes and in her hollowed cheeks. As she was, drowning in his oversized jacket, she looked too young to be in his room, in her situation. It made him sick to his stomach. "Nine..." He smoothed his palm across her forehea
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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 72:
KADEHer tears stopped flowing and her chest relaxed as he carried her up the stairs toward his bedroom. When they were inside, he locked the door and carried her to the bathroom. Kade didn’t say anything as he placed her, feet first, on the white tiles, and she released his neck to pull his jacket tighter around her. He looked over his shoulder at her before bending down to turn on the tap. Dark circles surrounded her swollen, red eyes. Her cheeks were hollow, her lips cracked. He wished he could heal her instantly, but it wasn’t possible. The healing she needed would take time, and although he knew he wasn’t the patient type, he had to be… for her.Hot water splashed against the pristine porcelain as he reached to the other edge of the bath and retrieved the plug. When he plugged it into the drain, the water filled the tub. Steam rose, getting thicker and thicker the longer the tap ran. Afraid to burn her already sensitive skin, he adjusted the cold tap until the billowing steam beca
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 71: Carried Away
KADEA deafening bang cracked through the air, vibrating the wood underneath his feet, and a shrill squeal pierced his ears. His stomach cramped, tightening itself into a painful knot. His first reaction was to shoot forward and as he slid the palms of his hands over her body, he expected blood. Her body shook as if she was in pain, but there was no evidence she was shot. Her shrill scream chilled his blood. The icy vessels cut through his veins and carved their way through his heart, making it twist in his chest. Nine sobbed uncontrollably as Soyer unchained her from the post, and she fell forward into Kade’s arms. He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her breakable frame, and held on for dear life.Odd threads of guilt swirled inside of him as happiness manifested in his core. A dead body laid in a crumpled slouch beside him, but it was because of that dead body he now had everything he ever wanted. The sound of chains being cut clicked over the sound of the excited crow
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 70: The Execution, Part 2
NINEHis smell is bliss. It’s all the things I’ve grown to like about this world rolled into one. In some nonsensical way, it reminds me of lush green grass, clear blue skies, and fluffy white clouds. His smell is happiness—something I’ve only felt when I’m with him. I told him I loved him not so long ago. It was a declaration I made out of desperation—like he has done just now. His three words roll off my skin, failing to absorb and hit me where they should. What did he say to me when I told him I loved him? ‘I can’t love you, Nine.’ It’s funny how things turn out. I blink, pulling myself from my thoughts, and focus on his concerned gaze. He has beautiful black eyes. When light hits them at the right angle, they sparkle like the sky at night. I wonder if he knows that. “You should go,” I croak, pulling against my chain. I wince as sharp bits of metal cut the sensitive flesh of my wrists. “People are staring.”“You think I care how they see me?”He takes his fingers from my face, an
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 69: The Execution, Part 1
KADEHe felt sick.As he sat at the table in the front row, his stomach twisted and clenched, threatening to expel the slice of toast he had for breakfast. It’s a miracle he kept the buttered carb down as long as he had. Since Nine was taken and locked up, he hadn’t been able to swallow a single thing besides water.He was exhausted. Every day he fought for her freedom, but it wasn’t enough. The harder he pushed, the more Vince and the council resisted. They didn’t want to see an Unfortunate rise from the ashes. They didn’t want an Unfortunate to become one of them. They were intimidated by her and what she stood for. Or at least most of them were. Kade knew Vince only wanted to see him suffer, but he’d do more than that. Without Nine, he would die.Kade understood that the best thing for her was to sentence her to death. Only in death was she safe from them. Safe from him.Trumpets sounded off in the distance, and Kade clenched the armrests of his chair. He knew this wasn’t a dream, b
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 68: The Fortunates
I flinch as a rogue drop of cold, stagnant rainwater falls from a crack in the stone ceiling and splashes on the tip of my nose. It sobers me, and I blink away the fog. I'm still alive. Still locked up. Still a pending Fortunate. I grant my cheeks reprieve from the iron bars that hold me captive and pull away from them. Kade hasn’t visited me, and I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed. Both emotions wage war inside me. I expect his priorities have shifted by now, and he's impartial to what’s happening in my life. He killed his father. He got what he wanted. Why would he stay? I’m just a girl who caused him more trouble than I'm worth. Even so, my lovesick heart twists painfully in my chest, and I grit my teeth. God. I miss him. I miss his face, his smell, his eyes, and the firm press of his hand on the small of my back when he holds me close. I even miss the way he purses his lips when he’s displeased. I hate that I miss it. I hate that I miss him…after everything he’s done
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 67: His Heart
KADEHe stared at Kathryn. His heart raced, and his pulse pounded like crazy in his neck. Nine, a Fortunate, could it be? Vince threw his tantrum, but it was white noise to the thrum of Kade's soul as it vibrated within him. The more he stared at Kathryn, the more he absorbed her features, the more he saw Nine in her. The violet irises. The auburn hair. The heart-shaped face. "Bullshit," Vince boomed. "Do you think I'm stupid? That I'm dumb enough to believe that she is of the same blood as me?""Believe what you want. She is my daughter, and you can test my blood to prove it."Kade flicked his attention over the council members. They looked disgusted. They looked embellished in scandal. Within the hour, the whole of Freeport would know about this. "How did this happen, Kathryn?" Rita asked, sitting forward."I was very, very young when I fell pregnant, barely completed my education." Choking, Kathryn dropped her head and took a breath. Her husband placed his hand on her shoulder and
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 66: The Twist
NINEThe chamber room is as it was when I left it, minus Thirteen's crumpled body. I kneel on the floor, keeping my attention cast down. The only other person in the room is Kade, and he leans against the opposite wall, staring at me. Both of us are covered in dry mud, and Vince made sure we couldn't get our story straight prior to summoning the council. I don't know how he will spin his tale to get me out of this. I don't want him to get me out of this. Maybe this is for the best. In a few minutes, the meeting will start, and I'm a goner. "You said you loved me."I flick my gaze to his and hate the way my heart beats for him, the way it bleeds for him. My love for him has worsened every second in his presence since I realised it. Like an infection, he's poisoned my blood."I do," I say, my voice void of the tenderness I feel inside. "Do you?""Yes.""You've got a funny way of showing it." "If I kissed you and declared my love for you, would the outcome be any different?"He swallow
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 65: The Chase
KADEHe chased her. His heart pounded a million miles a minute, and his lungs burned, but he kept pushing. The sun bounced off her auburn hair like a beacon. He had to catch her before someone saw her running, but damn, she was fast. Nine sprinted through the bush and manoeuvred around the debris like she'd done this run a million times. Sticks stabbed his ribs and cut at his face, his neck, but he didn't slow. He couldn't slow. In a few minutes, he entered a clearing, and ahead of them was a wide lake. Nine ran toward it like she knew how to swim. She didn't. Freeport was surrounded by lakes. Unfortunates weren't taught how to swim for that very reason. Even so, her feet sank into the mud that lined the lake's edge. She fell into it and kept going, dragging her feet behind her, digging through the sludge like she had a chance. He shouted her name as he closed in on her, but she kept pushing. His shoes sunk into the mud, and he had no intention of going further into the sludge. "A
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 64: The Chambers, Part 2
I don't want to believe it, but deep down I know it to be true. I gaze at the whip in his hand. It looks nothing like the whips I saw in the unfortunate camp. It lacks metal accents and has no pieces of bone strapped to its delicate tips. Still, it looks like it can do a fair bit of damage. Kade brandishes the whip, lifting it above his shoulder, and brings it down with more power than I imagined him capable of. It snaps against her skin with a crack so loud it hurts my ears. It takes her a second to feel it. Her shrill scream comes a heartbeat later. It gets louder and louder until she catches her lips between her teeth and swallows as much of it as she can.Thirteen. She's supposed to endure thirteen of these lashings? I choke down my own pain in fear of making it worse for her. Selfishly, in fear of making it worse for myself. I look at Kade. If it's something he doesn't want to do, I can't tell by looking at him. The expression on his face gives no indication of how he might be f
