3 Straight by the Rules by Michelle Scott

Author:Michelle Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780615708669
Publisher: Urban Fae Publications
Published: 2012-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

When I got home, I braced myself for one of Helen’s nasty surprises, but everything was quiet. Jasmine was nowhere in sight, and the shower was running. Ariel was in her room, reading.

I sat on the edge of her bed next to Drinking Tea who had settled himself on her legs. “It’s late. You should be sleeping.”

She lowered her book, revealing a pair of red-rimmed eyes. Tear-stained mascara smudged her cheeks.

“Oh, Ari! What’s wrong?”

“They’re killing Aslan!” Her voice trembled. “He’s tied to this stone table, and the White Witch is cutting off his mane. They’re going to murder him! And it’s all stupid Edmund’s fault because he wanted that damn Turkish delight. I hate that kid!”

I hid a smile, relieved that her worry was over the story and nothing more serious. “What’s Turkish delight?”

“Tommy told me it’s this candy they sell in England or something. The White Witch gave some to Edmund, and he wanted more of it. But she was like, ‘No, not until you let me kill your brother and sisters.’”

“So this boy allowed his entire family to be murdered in order to get some candy?” I wondered what kind of sicko would write such a thing in a children’s story.

“It’s not just any candy,” Ari said. “It’s the devil’s candy. It’s magic, and you would do anything to get some.” She plucked a stray thread on the blanket. “Tommy said everyone has a candy like that. Something you’d sell your family to get.” Her voice was hardly above a whisper. “For my mom, it’s drugs.”

“Oh, Ariel.” I tried to hug her, but she pulled away. The sleeve of her t-shirt rucked up revealing a new henna tattoo on her shoulder: a lion with a regal expression, and a thick, curling mane. Tommy’s hours of practice were paying off. “It’s beautiful,” I told her, impressed.

Finally, she smiled. “It’s Aslan.” She returned to the book. “Now, I have to find out what happens to him.”

Although it was hours past her bedtime, I knew she wouldn’t turn off her light without a fight. “How about if you lay down and close your eyes, and I’ll read the story?” I asked.

She agreed, and by the third sentence, fell sound asleep.

I kissed her forehead, turned out the light, and left the room.

By that time, the shower had stopped running and the bathroom door was open, letting steam into the hallway. I went into my room to change into my pajamas and found Tommy, naked to the waist, taking a folded t-shirt from the pile of laundry on the bed.

He looked as startled as I was. But his presence in my bedroom didn’t shock me nearly as much as what I saw tattooed above his heart.

One word, written in an elegant script: Lilith.

“You got a tattoo of my name?!” I stared at the letters, trying to make them spell out something other than what they did.

He yanked a shirt over his head.

“Tommy! What the hell were you thinking?”

His eyes blazed. “I was thinking that I loved you!”

“But still – a tattoo?!” I hoped William never saw that thing.

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