Page 26 of Hunted by the Fallen
My money is on thelatter.
Lukas stops outside of another metal door. This one is in the center of the building. Otherwise, I might’ve thought it led to astaircase.
My anxiety spikes. He looks back at me. I wonder if he can hear my pulse. “You do not need to be afraid,Veronica.”
Like I would believehim.
When I say nothing, he turns around and pushes the door inward. Fluorescent light streams into the candlelitroom.
A melodic feminine voice reaches me. “Lukas. This is asurprise.”
The Light angel disappears inside. Ifollow.
“Apologies, Odette. I didn’t have time to sendword.”
A stunning woman stands behind a long table covered with glassware of varying sizes. Her red hair is twisted into a braid, hanging over her left shoulder. I’d thought a sorceress would look like a witch from my childhood fairytales. But a long, crooked noses and wart covered skin is a far cry from the stunning woman standing across from me. Full, dark eyebrows frame her eyes and contrast with her milky, flawless skin. The air rushes out of my lungs when her attention moves tome.
“Who do we havehere?”
Lukas steps to the side. “The reason behind my unexpected visit. Veronica.” He holds a hand out. Does he expect me to takeit?’
I step forward, ignoring the hand still hovering in the air in front of me. Lukas drops his arm back to hisside.
“Oh.” Odette’s eyes gleam, noting our interaction. “She’s a feistyone.”
I look at thefloor.
Lukas says, “As you cansee.”
Odette chuckles. “It’s nice to see someone willing to stand up to you, Lukas. It doesn’t happen oftenenough.”
I hear him sniff. “Veronica is definitely one of akind.”
I continue to stare at the floor. I don’t know what I’m doing here, and I wait for their banter to end so I can figure how why Lukas brought me to visit asorceress.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Comecloser.”
Realizing Odette is speaking to me, I inch toward the table. I stop just shy of touching the wood. I lift my head, but keep my chin dipped in a slightangle.
She extends a well-manicured hand. Bright red nails catch the light. “Give me yourhand.”
Seeing no other option, I comply. I place my palm in hers and wait for whatever comes next. Odette does notdisappoint.
Her eyes roll back, and her eyelids flutter violently. Her shoulders twitch, and her limbs shake. Her neck seems to be made of rubber. Her head falls to the side and rolls forward, taking away her creepy, white-eyed stare. Then, without warning, her head snaps back up. It seems like she’s looking at me, but that’s impossible. She would need her irises to see.Right?
I’m not given time to ponder her vision. A strange, mechanical voice passes through ruby red lips. “You areblessed.”
I know she’s talking to me, but I can’t help but to disagree with her. I don’t feelblessed.
“You are alsocursed.”
ThatI believe. She continues to hold onto my hand, but while the rest of her body twitches and shakes, her grip remainsloose.
Lukas steps into the corner of my eye. “Cursed?”
“Yes,” the eerie voice continues. “Great power resides within. Restrained by wards built by one of mybrothers.”
I try to understand what she’s saying. Wards? Brothers? I long to ask my questions, but I don’t want to risk interrupting whatever trance she is in. I want to hear what else she has tosay.
