The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

Author:Bethany Baptiste
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks

The two rested on the steps leading up to the altar and the apse. An effigy of a crucified Jesus looked down on them sadly. Leslie pulled out a vape pen, sucked at it, tilted her head back, and breathed a plume to the ribbed heavens.

Venus cradled her pounding head. “Are you seriously about to do that here?”

“I bet Jesus has bigger problems than me and my vaping.” Leslie took another puff for emphasis. “Now, you ready to confess?”

“There’s nothing to confess.”

“If you’re trying to get into Heaven, lying in God’s house has more damage than my smoking habit.”

Venus had hoped that Leslie would take the hint if she kept quiet.

Leslie took another hit, vapor fluttering out her nose. “I’m waiting.”

Well, that didn’t work.

“Life is shit.” Venus admitted one truth, but not the one Leslie desired.

Another puff. “That’s true, but I know you’re lying to me.”

They locked unfaltering gazes, agreeing to an unspoken rule: Blink and lose.

Time ticked on by.

Leslie finally turned her gaze to the rosette window that baptized Venus with colors, situated at the far end of the nave.

For some odd reason, it felt wrong to lie in a church even though she didn’t believe in what it stood for. “You know that rally that turned nasty a few days ago?”

Leslie partook another drag, nodding. “Yeah, didn’t sixty-four of us get killed? What of it?”

“Actually, it was sixty-five,” she corrected.

Once more, they regarded each other before Leslie pocketed her vape pen.

“I don’t have time for your lies,” she said, rising.

Venus cocked her chin to gaze up at the redhead. “I’m not lying.”

Leslie rolled her eyes. “Good seeing you, Venus.”

Venus shot to her feet and yanked down her dress’s zipper. She snapped up Leslie’s hand and parked it in between her breasts. Leslie tried to pull away, but Venus escalated her grip.

“What in the hell are y—?” The words crumbled in Leslie’s mouth as her fingertips discovered the truth. The taste of copper flushed Venus’s mouth. The struggling ceased.

“You still think I’m a liar, Leslie?” She released what didn’t belong to her.

Leslie plopped down on the cold stairs, leering in disbelief. “I knew something wasn’t right when he didn’t come tonight. What did you get him mixed up in?”

Venus grimaced, zipping up her dress again. “Who are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t be so dense, Venus!” Leslie flashed, her anger echoing through the church and Venus. “Glenn wouldn’t have made that goddamn sacrificium potion for you unless someone forced him into doing it! And that someone had to be dangerous and powerful!”

The allegation slammed into Venus so hard it knocked the air from her lungs.

As her mind raced for answers, words fumbled out of her. “Elder Glenn didn’t—No, he couldn’t have—”

Leslie cut her off, her voice raw. “And you’re in denial, kid. As of tonight, there’s nineteen of us in this region. Four have a discipline in healing and only three showed up.” She fished out her vape pen again with quivery hands, bringing it to her mouth for a desperate suck.

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