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Chapter 40: Vincent's Party, Part 4
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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 41: The Aftermath
KADEKADEKade had killed before. Twice. The first time, he was eleven. He attempted to help an Unfortunate escape by sneaking up on an unsuspecting moderator and stabbing him in the throat. The moderator died, but three others were watching from a tower Kade didn't see. They shot his Unfortunate friend, Caleb, and dragged Kade, kicking and screaming, back to his father. As punishment, Michael locked Kade in a sweltering tin shed for days. No food. Not enough water. Through the speakers, the rules of society were repeated over and over, making sure it was well and truly drummed into his head—and it was. He came out hating every Unfortunate he saw. The second time, he was fifteen years old. He was coming back from a late night stroll along the lake when he ran into a pregnant Unfortunate. She was using the cover of night to escape. He was surprised she'd gotten as far as she had with a belly as big as hers. He thought about turning her in. But he couldn't. He pointed her toward some
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 42: The Father, Part 1
NINEWith sunrise on the horizon, I stare at the gilded ceiling. I lie awake in a bed too big for one person, reliving the nightmare repeatedly as the remnants of whatever he put in the drink filter through my blood. And I'm alone. My sleep was disturbed the second Kade's side of the bed cooled. I don't know where he went. To Charlotte? Elizabeth? The thought turns my stomach, so I push it from my mind. The manor creaks and groans as the wind batters it, and the shadows of Kade's belongings wreak havoc on my imagination, taking it to scary places.The locking mechanism to the door clanks. My heart leaps into my throat as a streak of fear blusters down my spine. I grip the heavy blanket, pulling it as tight to my chin as possible, and sink lower into the giant bed, not wanting to be seen. I squint in the darkness, desperate to make out the shadow. It has to be Kade, but I don't move until I'm sure. He steps into the room and closes the door without making a sound. He leans against the d
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 43: The Father, Part 2
Kade turns to stone against me, and it lifts the hairs on the back of my neck. He waits for a beat as if imagining the sound. Another round of knocks rips him from the bed. He swears and swipes a hand over his face. "Give me your shirt," he demands, and I sit up and grip the hem. "What? Why?""No time to explain."He helps the shirt over my head, and I fold my arms over my breasts, drawing my knees up. Kade grips me by my biceps and pushes me down. "Pretend to be asleep."His breath leaves him in a quick, panicked pant as he pushes my knees down and covers me with the blanket. Fear trickles through my veins. "Kade, what's happening?"He slaps his hand over my mouth and brings his lips to my ear. "This is life or death. Pretend to be asleep. Don't open your eyes, no matter what you hear. Do you understand?"Fear evolves into panic. It prickles in my eyes and tightens my lungs in my chest. I nod anyway, and I close my eyes. Twenty erratic pulses of my heart later, the door is unlocke
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 44: The Dinner
NINEKade doesn't leave me alone for days following the incident at Vince's birthday, and I can't decide if I find his hovering comforting or suffocating. He lingers at his desk, insisting he has a lot of work to do, but every so often, he'll leave his seat and engage in tidying or endless snacking. The only time I can enjoy solitude is when he orders me to the balcony on the third floor to prepare for a supposed meeting he's having over dinner at sundown. I place my palms against the stone banister and peer down at the garden. Overlooking me, the mandarin sunset paints the skyline in brilliant streaks of amaranth and blood orange. Above the display of colour, stars twinkle like diamonds nestled on a velvet cushion. Ambrosial and fresh wafts of lily and rose hit my nose on the tail end of cool evening zephyrs, and, in the distance, the silhouette of an old city carves its way across the skyline. I sigh. For a moment, I imagine I'm on the balcony of my own castle, in a dress not as s
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 45: The Mother
KADEHe had never said those would out loud before. He thought them on a daily bases. He dreamed them. He let them consume him. But he never spoke them. Weight lifted from his chest. Someone else finally knew the biggest secret he kept, and he knew she wouldn't tell a soul. If she did, it implicated her too. Nine's violet eyes watered, the first display of emotion he'd seen regarding the way Michael treated him throughout his childhood and well into adulthood. It validated him. It validated his emotions, his trauma. "How?" Nine asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How did he…" "Kill her?"He thought back to that night when the storm raged harder than ever. Horizontal rain hit the windows, thunder shook the walls, and the howling wind whipped underneath the eaves, threatening to rip the roof off. Michael wanted to take her to the city. They had never left for the city at night time before, so that struck him as odd.After his mother said goodnight and left the room, Kade stared at th
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 46: The Library, Part 1
NINEWe linger on the balcony long after the discussion ceased, neither one of us wanting to leave. It's nice to be alone in a place other than his room. If I try hard enough, I can pretend we're not at the manor altogether. I fill the silence with small talk he's more than happy to indulge. The whiskey I drank works its magic on me in no time. I'm not drunk, but I'm relaxed. Under the influence, but not inebriated. "And," I say, pointing to my chest a second too soon. "I was the best reader out of any Unfortunate in my age group." As he sits in front of me, he smiles and drags his finger across his lip. He rests his ankle on his knee and holds his whiskey over his shin by the glass's rim. "What kind of books do they read in those camps anyway?"I shrug. "A bit of everything. Although, the stories were hard to follow as most of them were missing pages. Some of them, whole chapters had been ripped out." "For what reason?""I imagine they contained ideals they didn't want us thinking
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 47: The Library, Part 2
Up ahead, a light goes out. I shriek and run away from it. I rush down another row, then turn left. Adrenaline spikes my blood. Excitement sparks in my gut. What is he doing? Another light shuts off, then another. I dig my heels in and stop. I pant into the silence, immovable, as light after light goes out until I'm in the centre of the only halo of light still on. "You cheated," I call out, twisting to face each edge of darkness."Cheated? I wasn't made aware of the rules of your game." He curses. "You look so sexy." I swallow hard as the skin behind my ears pulls tight. I press my thighs together and take a minute step back, moving toward the bookcase. I'm hyper-aware of my nakedness, of the warm, bright light showcasing every inch of me. My nipples ache, and my breasts grow heavy."Are you going to tell me what you read in your illegal sex book?"I turn my head to the left, confident I heard his voice come from the shadows over there. "It was an oral pleasure scene, I think." "Yo
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 48: The Library, Part 3
Kade snakes his hand up my spine, between my shoulder blades and into my hair. He tightens his fingers in the strands at the base of my skull and forces the kiss to break by pulling my head back. I open my eyes. Our shallow breaths clash, our stares meet, and I'm overwhelmed by a crushing wave of desire. It crashes on top of me, whipping my cells into a frenzy. "Kiss me more," I tell him, breathless. "Kiss me all over."He dives for my throat, and I grip him tightly. A moan leaves my lips as he kisses every inch of my neck with a wicked medley of his lips, his tongue, and his hot breath. With one hand in my hair, he roams the other over my hips, backside, and breast. He kneads my pliant flesh with vigour and soundful appreciation, and I close my eyes as he moves his mouth along my collarbone, then my breasts. He releases my hair to cup them with both hands. I tip my head to watch as he engulfs one nipple, then the other, with a husky groan that ripples through my body. I curse and gri
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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
