Page 22 of Sins and Virtue

“I was betrayed.”

Silence masked the air, turning the conversation dry.

Curiosity played in Blair's hazel eyes. It was so clear she wanted to pry; she wanted to know more, but she didn’t dare to intrude as she closed her lips.

A knock rang on the door, followed by a serene voice calling out. “Blair, are you ready?”

“Shit!” Mykotyonokmouthed, covering her hand over her lips.

My brows jumped at her overreaction.

“Seriously, we need to go before Reverend Mother gets mad!” What I presume was another nun, a young nun, began to knock. “Blair!”

“Just a moment, Marie!” Blair’s eyes bulged out as she strode towards me; her hands landed on my wrist as she pushed me around the room, running in a circle, finding somewhere to hide me.

“Pretty sure the bathroom works,” I murmured, being a smartass on purpose.

“Shut up!”

She snapped her head at me, scrunching her nose as she redirected me as she twisted the knob, opened the door, and shoved me inside with a harsh push. Lifting her index finger in a menacing show of authority, as she said.

“Stay put! If I find you putting your nose where it doesn’t belong, I swear to God—”

“Who are you talking to, Blair!” Marie whined, starting to knock incessantly. “Seriously, if we end up late, I won’t leave you anything for dinner! Oh, and tomorrow’s breakfast too!”

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she bit her tongue.

“Blair!”

“Go on, sister, you wouldn’t want to get punished.”

She fluttered her eyes open as the fire in them had gone out. The will to fight back vanished. Her light ceased to exist.

My chest twisted at the thought.

No, she couldn’t go, not like that at least.

“I’ll be waiting for you, kotyonok.” My words of encouragement were the last she heard as she slammed the door shut in my face.

A contented smirk found its way on my lips.

I just loved pushing her buttons.

But then again… There was something about the look in her eyes that didn’t settle right. I approached the door apprehensively, feeling drawn to it. It was almost as if Blair was on the other side, in a maze of despair looking for a ray of hope in this saintly place, but everywhere she looked for answers, she came up empty.

She sniffled for a bit as my hand fisted against the door, hating to think of her cry. Hating to think that something tormented her while I couldn’t do a single thing about it. That only lasted a second before she pushed off the door and exited the door.

“Finally! What took you so long?” Marie sighed, pleased.

Blair deflected. “I was just fixing myself up.”

The sound of her heels echoed while they walked. Taking the leisure to open the bathroom door and listen to their conversation further as I sat on her bed.

“Ah, nonsense, you look perfect just the way you are.” Well, that was one undeniable truth. Blair didn’t need all that extra unnecessary makeup most women used; even if she did use it, it would only enhance her beauty. “Also, who were you talking to?”

“Myself.”

“You talk to yourself?”