Page 45
Story: The Duplicity of Thieves
The girl is analytical. Either she’s had this conversation dozens of times, or she spoke to Josie about this specific scenario.
“You’d be stupid to think that I’ve never had this conversation before.”
She can read minds, too. Great.
“I don’t…I…” I try to piece together my thoughts. “She’s one of the most interesting people I have ever met.”
“She is.” Vivian nods in agreement. “She’s complex and closed off. I’ve known her a long time, and I still haven’t figured her out. She’s kinda terrifying and recklessly impulsive. She probably plucks people’s eyeballs out for fun. Do you see what I’m getting at?”
“And that makes her not worth it?” My voice rises in anger even though I don’t mean for it to. Vivian’s mouth pops open in shock before she snaps it closed.
“Listen, Aedonaeus, I’m pulling for you. I really am. When she was with you it was the first time I’ve seen her enjoy herself in a long time and forget about things.”
“So she enjoyed herself the other night?” I grin.
It feels kind of pathetic to need validation that Josie likes me in some capacity. I’m not insecure, but then again maybe I am. Josie is the first girl I’ve ever had to chase.
“I’m not at liberty to say.” She gives me a sly smile. That would be a yes.
I chuckle. “Are you at liberty to say anything?”
Vivian’s tone turns serious. “Jo doesn’t appreciate people speaking for her. There was a time where she didn’t get much say.”
More half-explained statements. It’s more than I’ve gotten from Josie, but she only confuses me further.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Enough about my sister. Unless you’re here to discuss how you want to be a healer, I’ve gotta go.” Vivian eats the last bit of her sandwich quickly, and tosses the rest of her uneaten lunch in the bag.
“That wasn’t a long lunch.”
“Did you see the waiting room in there? If I don’t go back we’ll be here late into the night, and my fiancé is cooking dinner for me. Don’t wanna keep her waiting. She’s a stickler for time.”
“You’re really not going to tell me how to find Josie?” I ask incredulously. I thought we were playing a game that would end in Vivian caving. She’s nice with the same edge that Josie has. I should have known better; she’s loyal.
“You found her once, who says you can’t find her again?”
“Say I do. How do I get her to agree? You said it yourself, she’ll probably try to get out of it.”
“I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” She gives me a soft smile. “It was good to see you, Aedonaeus. I’m glad you’re not actually a full-on jerk.” Vivian disappears around the corner, leaving me sitting there.
I will see Josie again. I know that much. It happened once, it could happen again. Still, I’m not patient, and knowing that I finally had a possibility of finding her through her sister kept me confident. I figured she might give Josie up to me with how awestruck she seemed at our interactions. I’m no closer than I was before I came here. Instead, I’m leaving with questions, and the understanding that I’ve been failing the very people I vowed to help.
Part II
One for our Inhibitions
Chapter ten
Josephine
The museum from Stafford’s note looms in front of me. It’s made of magnificent white marble, standing out against the historical background of the capital. It’s nothing like I expected, which was a shack in a swamp. It’s so white that it makes me think someone must have a job of just cleaning the outside of this place.
Clouds hang in the sky threatening to cry. People mill about. Children run up and down the stairs while their parents discuss architecture or something. That’s just what I assume people who bring their children to a museum do. There’s a gold banner hanging over the doors with ‘The Wonders of Tartarian Times’ printed across it.
I make my way inside, and I’m ambushed by someone with a pamphlet. The woman smiles wide, and I must look angry because she backs off immediately, not finishing her introduction. I flip through the pages while following the signs. Decorating the halls are paintings of the gods—Zeus and the like. Hades is surprisingly absent.
I pause to marvel over the ancient weapons. A plan starts to form in my mind. Staff never said I couldn’t take anything. These would display nicely in my chamber, and I bet the way they make someone bleed is magical. I shiver at the thought and my mouth waters. How many lives did each blade and spike take?
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45 (Reading here)
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134