Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
"Michalis?"
He tried reading her mind again.
Nothing.
"I won't be asking this again of you, Catalina. So tell me now. What are you?"
A heartbeat of silence passed, and when she spoke again, it was not the answer to his question.
"Is something wrong? You're scaring me."
Michalis ended the call without a word.
He had trusted a woman once.
And nearly every member of his kindred had died because of it.
He could not and would not allow himself to make such a mistake again.
I CHECK MY PHONE BEFORE leaving my desk for lunch, and pain pinches my heart when I see that Michalis still hasn't replied to any of my three texts.
Honestly, I'm tempted to text him thirty times more, but I'm unfortunately at that age where I know the number of texts you send never matters.
If someone wants to talk, you'll hear from that person, regardless of whether you've texted him once or a hundred times.
And the King...clearly doesn't.
I wait to hear from him for the rest of the day, but everything remains silent from his end, and I don't even realize what's happening until Toni wheels her chair close and presses something into my hand.
Tissue?
I touch my cheek, and I'm surprised to find it wet.
"What's wrong, Cat?" Toni asks softly.
"I'm not really sure." I try to smile, but it's just too hard. "I wish I knew, but I don't." And that's what makes everything hurt so much more.
Chapter Ten
The trains to and fro Night Bloom operate on a solar timetable. The first train bound for the city arrives one minute after sunrise, and the last train to leave the city always departs one minute before sunset.
It will serve you well to remember this, as the King's protection over the humans in his city expires come nightfall. Don't say you haven't been warned.
~ The Darker Side of Night Bloom by S.J. Wells
THE LOBBY IS VIRTUALLY empty of humans by the time I leave for work.
In the past, humans never realized preters lived among them because they didn't know what to look for, and if there was something we did notice, we'd be the first one to tell ourselves we were imagining things.
But things have changed a lot since That Day. I can't think of the right words to describe this, but when you've been around preters long enough, you just kinda know who's human, and who's not.
And those who aren't...are looking at me rather oddly.
I shrug this off at first, but it's when I hear the Nox's PA system chiming out its usual reminder that everything becomes drastically clear.
"Sunset today is at 1640 hours. It is now 4:30 p.m."
Shit, shit, shit.
This must be why Toni was so insistent I clock out early with the rest, and she would've probably dragged my sorry ass out herself if she were still here.
But she's not, since Toni had to take Colin to his pedia for a 3:00 appointment, and so I'm all alone as I run to the station like my life depends on it.
Which it kinda does.
There's been all sorts of rumors about what goes down in Night Bloom when the skies turn dark, but I have no dreams of being the first idiot to confirm what's real from what's not.
I might be heartbroken, but my brain is still working, and death is still not part of my bucket list, thank you very much.
The hairs behind my neck start to stand halfway to the station, but I don't let myself think of anything stupid.
I've just walked past a couple of preters, and I have to remember I'm no longer That Girl. After this morning's kiss, I'm now That Girl with a Thing with the King. It's only natural the resident preters of Night Bloom have become curious about me, too.
Right?
My heart feels like it's about to burst from exertion when I finally make it to the station with under a minute to spare, but the sight that greets me leaves little to be desired.
The complete absence of people - human or otherwise - makes Nox's lobby seem crowded in comparison, and I hate how it's all so silent that I can actually hear myself breathing.
Keep it together, Cat.
Curtains already cover the windows of manned ticket booths, and Closed signs hanging on toilet doors. I've just pushed past the turnstile when the speakers blare out an automated announcement, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
The last train departing from Night Bloom is arriving. Sunset is at 1640 hours, and tonight is the last full moon of the month. It is now 4:37 p.m.
I practically throw myself inside the train as soon as its doors open, and I feel almost hysterical in relief when the train starts to move.
Safe, I'm safe, thank God.
My knees wobble a bit, and I collapse on the nearest seat. The train is just as empty as the station, but it's all cool since I'm already on my way out of Night Bloom.