Page 11 of This Ravenous Fate
Relief washed through her when she finally spotted her youngersister. Josi’s curls were fastened into a sleek bun with white silk bows that matched her dress.
“Hi, my dove.” Elise tried to pull Josi into her arms, but the girl was far too bubbly to be contained. She grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I get to show everyone my ring!” Josi exclaimed, flaunting it. “I’m Josephine Mireille Saint and I am the heir to the Saint empire.” Her smile widened. “My sister is going to be the best pianoist in France—”
“It’spianist, darling.” Their mother had waltzed back over to fuss with Josi’s curls. Josi tried to back away, but their mother’s grip dug into her wrist. “Where’s your coat? Good heavens, you’ve had it for only a day, Josephine, don’t tell me you already lost it.”
“It’s in my room.” Elise gently pulled Josi back. “I’ll get it.”
Her mother nodded slowly. “While you’re up there, please change into the dress we picked out earlier.”
***
It was meant to be a quick stop in her bedroom to put on a new dress. But the sight of the curtains billowing in the evening breeze and her white carpet alight with the glow of the sunset made her pause.
She still remembered jolting awake, the stars bright in the night sky, to hear footsteps nearing her bed. The next moment, her back was on the floor, Layla’s hands around her throat. Elise could still feel the pierce of Layla’s nails. But the crescent moon scars they left on her neck were the least of her injuries from that night. And eventhough the ruined flesh above her heart was a constant reminder of the attack, the most pain came from beneath the scars. Ghosts lurked. Sometimes they whispered, sometimes they screamed, other times they were just faint enough to pull Elise’s focus and settle under her skin, nudging and pulling at her until she wanted to rip her own flesh to bits. Most days, Elise wanted to step out of her body and watch herself break. She couldn’t determine what caused the pain—loneliness, guilt, regret, anger—whatever it was, it was burrowed so deeply in her, Elise feared it would never leave her.
Layla Quinn consumed her thoughts.
Was there something Elise could have done to prevent the violence they shared between them? To prevent Layla from turning into a monster—
Elise’s jaw tightened.No. It wasn’t her fault.
Sometimes Elise imagined what she would say to Layla should they ever cross paths. She wrote it in the margins of her sheet music during practice when she couldn’t focus. When the music wouldn’t flow from her due to the agony tearing her thoughts apart.
I still feel you under all of my scars. It still hurts.
Over and over Elise scribbled those words, willing them to lose their meaning. But the pain never left.
She wondered if Layla ever felt the same way. If she ever thought about Elise as much as Elise’s mind called for her.
Sometimes it didn’t make sense to Elise how her feelings contradicted each other. The aching sadness that rushed through her at the sight of her childhood bedroom was followed by a quick burstof fury. Fury at the person that made her afraid of a space that was supposed to be sacred to her.
Elise slammed her window shut. The curtains fell still, and silence filled the room, but anger continued trembling through Elise’s hands.
A knock at her door forced Elise to relax. She turned to see Josi, with Sterling standing just behind her.
“Mother sent us to check on you. It’s almost time for you to play!” One of Josi’s ribbons had come undone, and it hung loosely down the back of her neck. If she noticed, she didn’t care. “Oh, and there’s my coat. Thank you, Lisey.” She pulled the coat over her shoulders and ran out of the room.
Elise couldn’t help but smile as she and Sterling followed her sister down the hallway. The back of Sterling’s hand brushed against her wrist, and she looked up at him. “I liked being her brother for these last few years, but I am glad you’re back,” he said.
A gentle laugh escaped Elise. “You can still be her brother. In fact, she’ll need you more than ever now.” Elise felt the hard ridge of one of his revolvers as he nudged her with his hip. She squeezed his hand. “Do not leave her side tonight.”
Sterling nodded. “Of course.”
***
For the first time all week, Elise played for an audience. Her fingers flew gracefully over the piano keys while the song unfurled around the massive room. Hundreds of people watched her, but she paidthem no mind. When Elise played, she lost herself in the music. The Bach piece she had chosen to perform for the party was a complex one that she’d stumbled through as a child and eventually dissolved her confidence with each mistake. Now, she played it flawlessly.
The silence that passed after her last note seemed to stretch on for an eternity. But then the room exploded into enthusiastic cheers.
Elise stood and took a bow. As she straightened up, she looked for her father. His smile of approval made her chest feel light with relief. Elise made her way off the stage to stand with her family.
Mr. Saint addressed the crowd with a champagne glass clutched in his hand. “I must say, I don’t think I’ve heard proper music since my daughter went off to Paris,” Mr. Saint said. A low chuckle rumbled through the room. “This city prides itself on its music, but it is often overshadowed by the horrors we face on most days. Ten years ago I lost my eldest daughter and founded this empire. Together, we have rid our home of many reapers and I hope, earnestly, that we continue to do so to keep her name and this city alive.” Mr. Saint raised his glass. “I would like to open the floor to toasts. First, I begin by blessing my lovely daughter, Josephine, with the duties of first heir to this empire.” He threw Josi an endearing smile and she grinned back. “Next, I wish my daughter, Elise, continued success with her musical endeavors.” Elise couldn’t help but notice that his proud smile had faded and was more strained than the one he’d given Josi. Elise’s own happiness wavered as she nodded to him.
Mr. Saint continued, “It is with great excitement and pride that I welcome a new initiative to this Saint empire. We have spent so longeliminating the beasts that plague our home, but now I believe it is time to turn to new avenues of danger prevention. Miss Thalia Gray, a talented, ambitious young scientist whom I have known for many years, has excelled in her reaper research. She is close to developing an antidote to the poison in reaper bites and, with her help, our empire will grow stronger than ever, and reapers will become less of a threat.”
Excited murmurs moved throughout the room, and Thalia beamed from her seat a few tables away, lifting her hand to wave at everyone. Elise’s stomach flipped. Who cared about piano and music when a possible solution to reaperhood was at hand?
