Page 104 of A Kiss From Death
“It’s delicious,” I shout, too high pitched, with a smile that isn’t convincing. “Award winning, even.” I tack on for good measure.
“Don’t lie to my face, kid.” She scowls.
I’m in deep shit, so I might as well stand in said deep shit with dignity. Sighing, I look her dead in the eyes. “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, Harry. I’m pretty sure I got a chunk of mold in my gulp, I won’t lie to you.”
I hold my breath for the colorful words and maybe fists flying at me. Bracing my core and closing my eyes, knowing I deserve every moment of what’s to come. A deep earthy cackle unlike anything I’ve ever heard has me slowly peeling one of my eyes open. Harry’s cheeks are bright red, and she’s laughing so hard, her large breasts are bouncing with each grittylaugh.
“I like her,” she shouts over to Hade, and what looks like…pride shines back in his warm eyes to her. That can’t be right…can it?
Looking back to me, she shoots me a smirk. “I know the shit tastes nasty. I won’t even touch the stuff myself, honestly, but it’s cheap, so the tavern stays packed wall to wall every night, and that’s all I could ever wish for in life.”
I nod in understanding, a genuine smile forming on my lips. This place is her home, and seeing all the happy smiling faces around me, I can tell this is a home for a lot of people.
It’s a refuge for the lost and broken.
Hade slides a generous amount of coppers her way, clearly more than the two ales cost, and she places her hand over his, giving it a firm squeeze. They share a moment in silence, and I sit back in fascination. Each new layer I peel back of Hade only cuts the fissure in my heart a little deeper with the imprint of his soul marred across mine.
She mouths thank you to him and then throws her finger up, pointing to the opposite side of the tavern in the corner. “The animals are over there, playing Jezzle.” Hade dips his head in thanks and then grips his ale in one hand and my hand in his other, whisking me away through the overpacked crowd.
“BULLSHIT!” A woman slams her fists down on the table, making it rattle.
“Sorry,darlin’, the Jezzle gods just love me more it seems.”
“You have to be cheating. That’s like four wins in a row.” She scowls.
He shrugs. “Six, actually, but who’s counting?”
Huffing, the woman swiftly gets up, her empty mug in hand, and vanishes in the growing crowd.
“Women,” he jokes to himself while blowing out a puff of air.
“Women what…?” I question boldly, stepping up to the table with raised brows. Hade chokes next to me, biting his fist, clearly amused and ready to see what unfolds next.
“Are the greatest gift from the gods.” The words effortlessly roll off his tongue, and I have to give the man some credit for the balls to not even flinch or stutter before me. As I take him in further, a sense of familiarity falls over me. I realize I’ve seen this man before. A pang of sadness washes over me, but I force it back down, not wanting to ruin the night.
A night of living.
He was the Vanquisher tasked to watch over Rayah, my little ball ofsunshine.
Taking a deep breath, I silently mourn a lost friendship that hadn’t even really bloomed yet, still growth and nourishing, ripped too soon from the soil giving it life. I mourn the memories that hadn’t come yet. I mourn the face of perseverance in its rawest and strongest form. I mourn the girl who just wanted to be seen and loved for what she was. I mourn for the change she represented. I mourn for myself in losing another precious thing.
I file it all away, and a sense of calm seeps deep within me, knowing she would want me to keep moving, keep living in her honor.
“Zale,” he announces, reaching over to grab my hand, placing a soft kiss atop my knuckles. His thick, light blonde curls fall over his brows as he dips forward. Freckles dot his nose and cheekbones subtly, and his sky blue eyes pin me in place.
“Nyxi,” I mumble back, quickly pulling my hand away. “I call next game,” I say in a tone that brokers no room for argument.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise and amusement at the same time Hade’s deep chuckle crawls up my back. “Do you even know how to play Jezzle?” he questions curiously, but not in a rude manner.
Shrugging, I respond casually. “No, but if you can win six times in a row, it can’t be too hard, can it? You can teach me the rules, and then I’ll beat your ass. Simple as that.”
An infectious smile grows across his face, and he points to the empty chair across from him for me to join. A few others sit around the sides of the table, clearly here with the group, all offering me inviting smiles.
“It would be my pleasure,darlin’,” he coos.
A pair of dice sit on the table between us, but no board or cards are present. Looking over the dice more closely, I notice they are not matching. Both are six sided, but while one has the numbers one through six etched on it, the other has different symbols.
Casually leaning back in my chair, I kick my feet up on the edge of the table and plant my hands in my lap, giving him my undivided attention. “I’m all ears,darlin’,” I sing back. A slight blush rises to his cheeks, clearly thrown off by my boldness, but his pearly whites gleam back at me in challenge.
