When We Were Still Human Vaughn Foster (the kiss of deception read online .txt) đ
- Author: Vaughn Foster
Book online «When We Were Still Human Vaughn Foster (the kiss of deception read online .txt) đ». Author Vaughn Foster
Val tensed, then checked over her shoulder in anticipation of an armed battalion. There wasnât one, but even still, the comment had her unnerved. âHow did you know I was staying there?â
This only spurred another round of laughter from the barista. âWell, youâre not an angel. If you werenât here to see the king, then you wouldnât be here. Outsiders canât pass the wards. And if they do, they have to deal with the Hosts.â
âTrue.â He made a valid point. Val hadnât necessarily tried to fit in. But now, with her grey clothes, pale skin, and stargazed meandering, she realized she must have stuck out like a sore thumb.
âHere,â he said, handing her a glass. âThis place must be overwhelming for a mirage. I promise, youâll get used to it soon enough.â
âThanks.â Sarcasm lacquered her voice. She hesitated, then tacked on an âIâm sure,â a bit softer this time. He seemed like a nice guy, overall. It wasnât his fault she was trapped, lost, and cursed. Val forced her mouth to return his smile, then took her drink to an open table.
âYeah⊠Iâm sure.â Val sighed, swirling her straw in attempt to gauge what exactly was in the glass. A melted rainbow was her first guess. Each of the seven colors were fierce and glowing, yet complemented the others in the unearthly concoction.
Not finding any visual hints, she closed her eyes and took a sip.
Oh my God, Val! Come on, you have to do another shot!
No! Iâve already done like five!
Even number! Weâll be real nurses in two months! Whenâs the next time weâll get to drink like this?!
Val shoved the drink back, and blinked. That was⊠She had completely forgotten about that day. She moved to get up but was just as soon pulled into another memory.
Happy 14th birthday, Val! Come on, blow out the candles!
Oh my god! Grandpa, you flew all the way from Toronto?
Of course. I wouldnât miss it for the world!
Val tried to fight whatever drug spiked through her system. She couldnât think about these things right now. She needed to focus, needed toâ
Valerie Stevens, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I love you more than life itself and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Jasâ
I know youâre busy with school now, thatâs why Iâm not proposing. But I want you to know that, ring or no ring, Iâm not going anywhere.
Jason⊠I love you.
I love you too.
Tears burned down Valâs face. She shoved away the glass and pushed herself back in her seat. She pressed harder into the metal, hoping it would swallow her; hoping that the drink was actually poison that would put all of this to an end. That first memory was the night sheâd passed her penultimate exam of nursing school. Her friends had dragged her to one of the local college bars and celebrated until two in the morning. Then her family⊠Jason...
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She hadnât thought about that life in over a year. Now, all the buried feelings were dragged naked to the surface.
A cold hand rested itself over her shaking fist and the shock flung her back to reality.
âThose drinks are meant to summon your happiest memories.â Vladimir stood beside her and offered a soft smile. âPoor guy probably wasnât thinking itâd only make your day worse.â
âI thought vampires couldnât do sunlight,â Val mumbled, not bothering to argue against his company.
He didnât wait for an invitation to sit. âA curse of my grandfatherâs,â he said, pulling up a chair. âOne I have...evolved out of.â
âWhatever.â She turned away and placed her head in her arms. âIâm not going back with you.â
He reached out to touch her, but she slapped his hand away. His face became riddled with confusion, and she countered with a cold glare.
âWhat part of ânoâ donât you get?â
Before he could open his mouth, fear, adrenaline, and probably whatever was in the rainbow drink, surged forth. Val pushed the table over and vaulted the patio railing.
Five minutes later, Vladimir was nowhere in sight. Even still, Val continued to wind through golden streets and alleyways. It was a stupid plan, she was well aware of that. She had no idea where she was going or how long until she even reached the city border. But the planning part didnât matter. That bestial instinct had slid into the driverâs seat. A clawed foot pressed on the gas and Val found her body driven faster.
She rounded a corner and nearly barreled into a group of women. Val dodged at the last minute by kicking off the nearest wall and sailing over. She swore again, but this time a somber realization broke through the frenzy. Her speed wouldnât have been possible if she was still human.
Val skidded to a stop, forcing herselfâher thinking, careful, rational selfâback to the surface. She flexed her fingers and counted to ten, eyes clenched shut. When she was positive that she was in control, she opened them. A gigantic lake stretched before her with the opposite shore only a green streak. Angels lounged on all sides, under umbrellas or spread out on blankets. Some ate, some laughed; no one seemed to notice her. Or perhaps, they just didnât care enough to make a spectacle.
Something hit the back of her leg and she jumped back, raising her arm to strike. She looked down, and blinked, confused at the sight of a little girl holding a glass
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