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Chapter 52: Charlotte, Part 2
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The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 53: The Intrusion, Part 1
NINEDays pass, and I don't see him. At the party, I couldn't avoid him; he refused to let me out of his sight. Now, he avoids me as well as I avoid him. He writes me down for house duties, keeping me busy, and I don't know if it's punishment for volunteering my help without his permission. I make sure to steer clear of the library, despite every cell in my body begging me to go. He is in my veins like an addiction, but I know it isn't healthy. I know the feelings I'm developing for him are disastrous for us both. I need to keep my wits about me. I need to ensure the line between us doesn't blur more than it already has. On the eighth day, I'm in the Unfortunate bathhouse, alone, after a ten-hour kitchen and laundry shift. I reach for the taps and turn them. Cold water shoots out of the circular shower head above me, and I gasp as it drenches me. It wakes me up and soothes the tension in my muscles. In a few deep breaths, the stream turns from cold to hot. Steam billows, rapidly fil
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 54: The Intrusion, Part 2
I walk two steps behind Vince through the manor, and he never turns to see if I'm following. As he escorts me away from the Unfortunate quarters, it dawns on me that he has other plans. Swallowing hard, I clench my tunic at my sides and wring it in my grip. "You said you would walk me to my quarters…" I murmur, and he grins over his shoulder. "I am. You sleep with Kade in his bed, don't you?" I stammer, caught off guard. "N-no." "No? Do you want to rethink your answer or stick with your lie?" "I fulfil my duties in his bed. It's not where I seek relaxation or reprieve." "You fulfil your duties in my mother's library, mostly." He snorts, casting me a knowing smirk, and I feel the blood drain from my face. "That's right. You and Kade aren't as clever as you think." What else does he know? Kade and I haven't spoken about the assassination of his father since we had dinner on the balcony of his mother's office. If anyone else knew, surely we'd be dead by now. I slip under a mask of
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 55: Omittance
KADEHe turned and rested against the door, his hands behind his back. He flickered his gaze over his Unfortunate, who had guilt written over every slice of her flesh. What did she do? Why was she with Vince? It took everything in him not to grip her small biceps and shake the answers from her. "You two are friends now, are you?"She pulled a face. "I'd sooner hang myself with my bed sheet." Nine turned and strolled into the sitting area, stopping only when the large, leather lounge was between them. He pushed off the door and wandered closer. He moved along the back of the lounge, and, with every step he took, she took one too, keeping the space, always keeping something between them. "I am only here because he brought me. I had no intention of intruding on your intimate moment with Miss Charlotte." "Intimate?" Kade huffed a gentle laugh. "Try again, Unfortunate." He had never been, nor intended ever to be, intimate with Charlotte. He didn't care about her or what they were doing
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 56: Unfortunate
NINESwallowing, he pushes my hair off my shoulder, then glides his palm into the nape of my neck. I stare at him. I stare deep into his midnight irises. I know better than to be here, to allow him to make me comfortable, warm, and content. I lived the last eight days as an Unfortunate should, and he lived his as a Fortunate should. We didn't intertwine, not for a second. And it was the loneliest eight days of my life. Irritation flickers in my chest. How dare he groom me. How dare he make it so my life is mundane and miserable without him? How dare he make me crave his company and his touch. I lift myself a little higher, moving my face in line with his. I glance at his mouth, then back to his eyes. They flash, igniting a fire in the pit of my belly. "Careful, Unfortunate. You shouldn't tease the man who's spent the last seven nights fucking you in his mind." My ears burn, and I can't help myself. I kiss him. I glide my hands around his neck and move into his lap. I wrap my legs
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 57: Caught
NINEMy eyelids flutter, and I twist under the blanket, searching for a more comfortable position to sleep on Kade's bed. Beside me, he sleeps peacefully, but I can't. Every creak and groan of the manor startles me awake, and the intimidating shadows of the enormous room morph into Vincent. And Michael. And Henry. And Elizabeth. Fear and guilt eat me up, and hot flushes of anxiety crawl over me. I should feel safe. I should be at ease, but I'm not because I'm breaking the law, and Vince knows it. No matter how powerful Kade is, he can't save me from the structure and laws of society. Intrusive thoughts of Vince send dread hurtling through me, further progressing my anxiety. If Kade ever finds out what happened in the bathhouse...I shudder at the thought of what he'd do. I shuffle my head on the pillow, moving closer to Kade. He sleeps with a frown, and my lips quirk at the crease between his brows. I reach out and graze the pad of my thumb along it. It smooths out, making my hear
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 58: Irreversible
KADEHer answer was the justification he needed. She cared for him, and as long as he took care of her, she was loyal to a fault. She would do anything he asked; of that, he was certain. He couldn't say the same about many other people in Freeport, and if he wanted to climb the ranks, if he took over the family, he needed loyal people around him. "We made a deal, Unfortunate, that night on the balcony. You remember," he said to Nine, ignoring the drop of blood rolling down her throat. She opened her eyes, and he saw her resignation. It was the same look she had in her eyes in Michael's recording. Vincent ambushed her in the communal Unfortunate bathhouse. She did the only thing she could do; get through it, and it'd be over soon. Nine gave her head a minute shake, but it was unavoidable. Michael would die tonight. The knife tucked into the waistband of the back of his pants dug into his flesh, and he welcomed it. Since he was a boy, he made a habit of sleeping with a knife, and a g
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 59: Enough
NINEKade deals with Michael's body alone, and I stay on the lounge, staring at the fire, watching the flames as they dance. Every second he takes is torture. I don't know if he's okay or if he's been caught. I don't know if the shock of it all is too much for him to bear. I said I would help him. I should be out there with him. Exhaling, I throw off the fleece blanket and swing my legs off the edge of the lounge. I sit up, wincing at the pain radiating down my neck and glance over my shoulder to the bed. I can't help him carry Michael's body, but I can help him clean. I can get the room ready for when he returns. I lift off the couch, unsteady on my feet, and walk to the bathroom. I go through the cupboards, looking for anything that cleans blood splatter and leaves no trace, but there's nothing besides hair soaps and razor blades. I leave the basin and enter the linen closet behind the bathroom door. I pick out a new fitted sheet and duvet and place them on the lounge. Then, I mak
The Unfortunate Trilogy Chapter 60: Thirteen
KADEHe stuck to the cover of dense shrubbery and the long shadows it cast. His hands felt light without the weight of his father's body in them. His muscles trembled, and his thighs vibrated. The air was loaded with chaos, with the promise of much-needed rain, so he marched as quickly as possible, hoping to beat it. The walk back from the incinerator was much quicker than the walk to it. The scents of burning flesh and fabric still hung in his nose but lessened every second he spent in the fresh air. The incinerator was a big hike. Every major family had one of their own at the back of their property line. They burned trash, yard clippings, and the occasional Unfortunate. Lucky for him, it was trash day, so the incinerator was turned on at midnight to heat up for the day ahead. Michael's body didn't disintegrate immediately. It wasn't hot enough for that. It was a slow burn. Like hellfire, it slowly consumed the fabric, then Michael's flesh, then his bones. Kade ran his hands ove
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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
