The Ebony Violin by L V Smith

Author:L V Smith [Smith, L V]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Timber Ghost Press
Published: 2023-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

I made my way to the salon to have breakfast where I found Célestine sitting at a table with her friend, Runi.

Célestine’s long ash-blonde hair was up in a messy bun, and she was wearing a poofy-sleeved, mock neck dress, the hem of which was a good four or five inches higher than anything I’d seen her in before.

She was such a pretty woman. So smart, quirky, and flirty. With skin that looked so soft. It was easy to forget how insane she was. I knew myself to be especially vulnerable to this particular phenomenon. A big white smile and shiny blonde hair had once led me into a marriage with a bipolar narcissist who treated me like a cat treats her toy.

As for Runi, I hadn’t seen the old woman since that first night. She looked even more extraordinary up close. I could tell by the black swirls poking up from her cuffs and all over her scalp that she was probably tattooed all over under that old hippy dress of hers.

I sat down at the small table beside them. “Bonjour.”

“Bonjour.” Célestine offered a bright smile.

The old woman stared at me, saying nothing. Her eyes had no pupils or irises, just milky white. I assumed that meant she couldn’t see, but she still had a way of looking right at you.

“Have you seen Brandon this morning?” Célestine asked in English.

“Not since last night.” I shook my head. “Listen, could you do me a favor?”

“What is it?” She pressed her lips together in a coy smile that made me want to lick them.

I wasn’t going to let her derail me. “Do you think you could lay off the creepy family history stuff with Brandon? He’s kind of already on the verge of a nervous breakdown and all this nonsense you’re putting in his head is not helping.”

“I’m sorry that you do not find the truth to be helpful.”

There she goes being crazy again.

“You’re supposed to be teaching him French. That’s why you’re here. So how about you just do your job, okay?”

Her blue eyes locked on mine. She stood slowly and gave a little curtsy that was as irritating as it was endearing. “Your wishes are my orders, master.”

She then turned on the heel of her leather boot and walked out. Runi was quick to follow, but slow to get up. She kept those milky eyes on me until she was gone.

“Jesus,” I sighed once they were gone. I thought I might have come off as a bit of dick, but sometimes that was what you had to be to get people to listen to you.

For breakfast I had two cups of coffee and several rounds of toast, served with cream butter and every possible flavor of jam. Afterwards, I headed over to the guesthouse to continue my search for Hope. I didn’t find her in her room, and in fact everything looked to be in exactly the same spot it had been the night before. I called her phone again, but there was no answer.

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