Page 23 of Polar Fates
“No, I’m not. We were lured here, bewitchedsomehow.”
She chuckles gently. That smile of hers is making me angry, but I grit my teeth, hoping she won’tnotice.
“But you wanted to find us, didn’t you? You wanted to find thePortal?”
I repress a growl. My bear side is gettingstronger.
“Yes, but we wanted to make our own decision to go through it ornot.”
Her chuckle turns into a laugh. “Dear child, you don’t make decisions we haven’t already made for you. We are the Fates, we make everyone’sdecisions.”
I meet her gaze with a defiant stare. “And if I don’t want you to make mine forme?”
“Then you come to me,” a cold voice says behind me. I whirl around to look at the woman who said that. She’s younger than Lachesis, but not by much. Her hair is like spun gold, falling down to below her hips. While she is beautiful, her expression is cold, unfriendly. There’s a twist to her lips that tells of a lot ofscowling.
Behind her, another woman follows with the creepy girl. Three women. TheFates.
“Meet Atty and Clotho,” Lachesis introduces them and the blonde womanfrowns.
“Atropos. Call me Atty at your ownperil.”
I shudder at her expression. From what Alis told me, Atropos is the Fate who cuts the threads. Not to set people free, no, but to kill them. Officially it’s when their time has come, but Alis wasn’t too sure about that. Seeing Atropos, I can imagine she might cut threads prematurely out of spite. Now I know what Lachesis meant. If I don’t want them to make decisions for me, the alternative isdeath.
That realisation turns my stomach and I have to fight against the bile rising to my throat. Are we all really just puppets in their hands? Are none of our decision our own? Have they pre-planned our entire lives and nothing we ever do is out of our own freewill?
Then what is the point of living? These Fates could just as well write stories rather than having real people act themout.
“Listen to us before you judge,” the third woman, Clotho, says softly. Her voice is melodic and beautiful, and for once, here’s a Fate who doesn’t look scary. She smiles at me and it actually reaches her eyes. Her dark locks frame her pale face like a painting, highlighting her high cheekbones and thin nose. She’sstunning.
That’s when I notice she replied to mythoughts.
“Can you read mymind?”
Lachesis laughs. “Of course, how else would we decide yourfate?”
“Does that mean it’s not alreadydecided?”
Atropos chuckles coldly, but it doesn’t hold much humour. “Oh, she’s a clever one. Careful, sisters, she might see through all our evilplans.”
Clotho clucks her tongue in disapproval. “Atty, stop the charades. She’s our guest and you should treat her assuch.”
Atropos scowls. “I didn’t inviteher.”
“No, you didn’t, but Lach and I did, so you’re overruled. Now you can either behave orleave.”
The golden-haired woman looks tempted to storm off, but shestays.
Using the quiet moment, I ask, “Where are mymates?”
Atropos sneers, but Clotho smiles benevolently. “They’re next door, don’t worry about them. Now, you probably have a lot ofquestions…”
“I want to see them,” I interrupt her and her smile wavers alittle.
“As you wish. Followme.”
With a swirl of her gown, she walks out of the room and I hurry to follow her. The other two Fates stay behind, but I couldn’t care less. I need to see myguys.
The house we’re in is airy and bright. White painted wood reflects the sunlight streaming in through high windows on both sides of the hallway. Somehow it reminds me of a beach pavilion in the south of England I oncevisited.
