Turning around cautiously, our eyes meet, and she retracts her hand like I burned her. And boy do I want to. It might even bring me a semblance of joy—for a moment at least. “Nope. Sorry to disappoint,” I say to Miranda.
“Kallie? What are you doing here?” Her question seems odd. I would’ve thought she wouldn’t give me the time of day. Honestly, I expected her to turn around in disgust.
“Just visiting,” I answer. But then I remember what Callumhad said about her special gift, and I tread lightly.
Miranda eyes me curiously. “Where have you been? Benny and Belladonna have been beside themselves with worry. Is Callum here too?” It’s no surprise that she’s asking about him. Still, hearing his parents mentioned twists something deep inside me, but I keep my expression unreadable.
“No, he’s not.”
“Aw, trouble in paradise?” she mocks.
Scoffing, the urge to light her ass on fire is back with a fiery passion. “Spare me, Miranda. I don’t have to explain anything to you. So just be on your way, and leave me to my day.” But as the words escape me, doubt creeps in. I really need to be more mindful of what I say and to whom. Gods, this is a recipe for disaster.
“Sorry. It’s kind of a reflex.” She sounds almost sincere, and that makes my guard rise more. “Seriously, where have you been?” The sound waves she used on me in Nefarium don’t come, and I’m surprised. Maybe she figured it didn’t work last time, so why bother? I don’t know, but something feels off.
“I’m not sure,” I tell her honestly. Because I really have no idea. I hardly know where I amnow.
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I get it. But you should come back. At the very least, Callum’s parents are really worried. I haven’t seen them this way since…” She trails off, lost in thought. I don’t pry. It’s not my business anymore.
“You knew Serena?” The question comes out before I can stop it.
“I did. Here and there. From the back, you looked just like her. It was like seeing a ghost.”
That piques my interest. “What makes you say that?”
“I haven’t seen her around for a while, and those are her clothes. I just thought you were her.” I try to get a read on her. I can’t tell if she’s lying, or if there is something deeper in hermeaning. But before I can respond, she continues, “I have to get going, but I’ll see you around.” This whole interaction is blowing my mind right now.
“Wait! Don’t…don’t tell anyone you saw me.” Regardless of how I feel, my eyes plead, hoping there’s a decent human being somewhere in the depths of all that bitchiness and she hears me.
“Saw you? The last time I saw you was a few months ago, right before I had to get a nose job.” She throws me a wink and blends into the crowd. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
“Find anything you like?” The lady behind the table startles me, and I whip back around to face her.
“Yes, actually. But I’m afraid I don’t have any…coin with me.” Coin?Coin.I have no fucking clue.
“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Atticus says behind me, and I nearly jump in the air. “Which one were you looking at?”
“This one.” I point to the intricate onyx handle, still captivated by its detail.
The merchant picks it up, a glow shining on her face. “Ah yes, this is a good one. I carved the design myself. I carve all of them, actually, but this one was particularly difficult.” She goes on and on about the design, which—don’t get me wrong—is stunning, but the blade is also just as unique.
“What is the blade made out of?” She raises her eyes to meet mine, and her small smile quickly widens to a full grin—kinda creepy, honestly.
“Bone.”
TWELVE
Kallie
I never considered blades being made of anything other than metal, but bone makes sense—it’s strong as fuck.
“It’s stunning,” I tell the merchant. “But like I said, unfortunately I don’t have any money.” Right on cue, Atticus decides this is the perfect time to swoop in.
I wish people would realize I don’t need to be rescued or saved. If me escaping that torturous prison taught them anything, it should have been that.
“I got it,” he says.
I look at him over my shoulder. “No, you don’t. Besides, that was for rebuilding your house.”
