Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“Thank you.”
Grabbing a piece of toast, I quickly ate it while simultaneously collecting my documentation card and other essentials into a small satchel. As I approached the front door, my mother called out, “Be safe, Korinna!”
“I will, Mom.”
Stepping outside, Nefertari's distinctive SUV waited for me at the end of the driveway, its design unique with sleek lines and ambient lights. The moment I slid in, she shot me a sidelong glance, her eyebrows drawn together in a mixture of concern and curiosity. Her makeup was done impeccably. There was a hint of mauve on her full lips, light eyeshadow framed her dark eyes, and a touch of blush highlighted her enviable cheekbones.
“I know that look. What happened?”
“Long story.” I heaved a sigh and leaned my head back against the seat. The inside of the SUV smelled like her usual perfume, Midnight Jasmine.
“We’ve got a long day, so start telling.”
“It’s been one thing after another. You won't believe what happened yesterday.” I began sharing the tale of Aidoneus' sudden appearance at the café, my nerve-wracking journey home, and my parents' subsequent attempts to keep me under their protective wings.
Nefertari listened intently, her expressive eyes widening with every twist in my story. “Damn, Kore. That's... intense. What would they want from you, though?”
“I have no idea. If not for work or going out to eat with you, I would barely leave the house—aside from the usual shopping that needs doing.”
“Yeah, I know. Don’t get mad, but this seems more of a result of something Ezra’s ass probably did.”
“I thought the same thing,” I admitted.
“You know that would be fucked up, right? But maybe that’s why he’s been acting so weird. He did joke about you two running away to sector three.”
“Ugh, I almost forgot about that.”
Sector three, Tartarus, was the slum of Nixon City and a bleak, miserable contrast to the other two sectors. Closer to the sea, its buildings were worn down by the salted air, time, and neglect. The only way to access it was by traveling through a dense woodland, passing the Enforcers manning its perimeter, and then getting over an electric and barbed wire fence.
I looked out the window, contemplating whether I was the reason for the Triad’s interest, or my boyfriend’s stupidity. I felt a little bad about not fessing up about the woods incident even to her. Part of me wanted to believe too much time had passed for that situation to be relevant, but the other couldn’t get over what Aidoneus had said.
He’d killed for me.
I could only assume that made me indebted to him in some way. Thinking about all the what ifs made my head hurt. It wasn’t like I could drive over to Elysium and knock on his door to demand answers.
“I don't want to get into this now. Tell me how your internship with the city's historical archives is going? Have you dug up any juicy secrets?”
Nefertari lit up at the mention of her favorite subject. "I’m having fun with it. Girl, some of the things I’ve come across are so damn scandalous. Others are completely fucked up. I see why the Triad’s PR works so hard.”
Our conversation shifted smoothly as we drove around, viewing potential homes. Before long, we found ourselves seated at Lunar Lagoon, a cozy bistro known for its eclectic mix of modern and traditional dishes. Surrounded by green foliage and the gentle hum of diners, we indulged in plates of herb-roasted chicken, a medley of seasonal vegetables, and honey-drizzled baklava for dessert. Amidst bites of the flaky pastry, my NyxPhone vibrated, signaling an incoming message. I saw Ophelia's name on the screen.
Kore, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have gone behind your back. It's just... I was worried.
I wiped my fingers on a napkin, debating what to say back.
This was one of the reasons I didn’t tell her anything. I trusted her in the sense I knew she’d never do anything to hurt me, but I didn’t trust her to keep my secrets between just us.
“Your sister?” Nefertari guessed.
“Yeah. Ophelia feels guilty. We'll sort it out later. Let's focus on the last place we're visiting. I have a good feeling about it.”
We finished our meal and then headed out of the bistro. The waning sunlight painted the cityscape in shades of amber and gold, casting a surreal glow that made everything look like a scene from a vintage film reel. I could never get over how different Nixon was from day to night. It went from stunning and picturesque to a beautifully hellish nightmare.
As we reached the SUV, I took a deep breath of fresh air and glanced over at Nefertari. “Thanks for tagging along with me today.”
“Huh? You don’t have to thank me. I wasn’t letting you go house hunting alone or without me.”
“I still appreciate the company.”