Clockwork Butterfly, A by Rayne Tabitha

Author:Rayne, Tabitha [Rayne, Tabitha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Published: 2013-12-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Mae waited by the chamber trembling. The little butterfly was wrapped in her sweaty palms buried deep in her pocket. She had kept it close since the day it had simply fluttered in through her open window and on to her shoulder. She knew it was a message from Lena and it gave her a thrill to stroke it lightly every now and then, sure that it would give her a clue of Lena’s whereabouts. The usually cooperative Archmatrias had been tight-lipped about Lena’s departure. Mae knew she would be in a correction facility somewhere, but there were many of them and she wasn’t allowed off the premises. She hadn’t prepared herself for how much she’d miss her little fuck buddy, as she called Lena and most all her other ‘apprentices’. Mae had tried to deny her feelings toward the once innocent Lena, but they had been jabbing holes into her consciousness since the day she had been taken away.

And now, here she stood at the doorway. Marguerite was unusually quiet. It seemed formality ruled outside the dining room where they’d shared many laughs.

“Remember, he’s refused all other collectors, we need this to work, Mae.”

“I know,” Mae replied irritably. She didn’t need to be reminded. It was all anyone had gone on about for the past two weeks. The pressure to succeed was unbearable, and Mae realized sadly how she’d taken Lena’s position for granted and almost made fun of her when she felt nervous or overwhelmed.

“Well, then, good luck.” Marguerite pressed the button and Mae stepped in.

“Who are you?” asked a frosty deep voice. Mae thought she felt the little copper creature twitch in her pocket.

“Mae,” she said, her eyes adjusting to the dark of the closed curtains and dim lighting.

“You’re not going to touch me. You know that, don’t you?”

“I have to.” Mae shifted, again feeling the butterfly come to life in her fist. “It’s my job.”

The silence was thick and oppressive, and Mae felt intimidated for the first time in her life. His voice was deeper and darker than she expected. She knew he would be unwelcoming, but she had expected some of the warmth that Lena had spoken of to at least be hinted at in his voice. Instead, it was just cold and level. Like a machine.

“Why don’t you come and sit by me?” she asked, perching onto the arm of the sofa.

“Just leave,” he said more forcefully, and the butterfly nipped her hand. She jumped up and squealed, pulling her hand out of her pocket to see blood springing from her palm and the butterfly flapping madly around the room.

Suddenly, sunlight flooded in as Angelo threw open the curtains to see what had happened. Horror flashed across his face as he saw Lena’s butterfly stutter and flap toward him. He caught it tenderly and placed it on the windowsill. He stormed over to Mae.

“Where did you get it?” He grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her face right up to his.

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