Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
They all want to be Chosen for that. They all want to be Chosen for everything because they are stupid and don’t see the Choosing for what it is. A way to make them buy into the idea that being fed to the god in the tower is a fun, once-in-a-lifetime chance that can’t be passed up.
Even my former friends are buying into it because they are dutifully sewing their stupid dresses, hoping for the chance to sit across from Finn Scott tomorrow night at dinner. To have his full attention.
I wonder if he will stick his fingers between everyone’s legs before he’s done here?
At this point, nothing would surprise me.
None of my former friends came check on me when I didn’t show for dinner. Tonight is the first night the dining room on the very top of the Maiden Tower is open for us and we had planned to go together.
It’s like I’m not a part of them anymore.
They don’t even say goodnight to me and when the lights go out, I don’t get up and go to Finn.
I simply cry myself to sleep.
Because I’m all alone now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
She doesn’t show.
I wait on the couch up on the top floor, just staring at that bookcase, until well past midnight. I even open the bookcase up, go all the way down the stairs, pass under the canal, go up the stairs, and almost open the door that I know leads to the Little Sister dorm and drag her sexy ass out of bed and bring her back here.
After a few agonizing minutes of deliberation, I actually do open that door, but I’m presented with so many different places she could be, I don’t even bother looking for her. Just retrace my steps and sit my ass back down on the couch and stare at the bookcase.
In fact, when I wake up in the morning, that stupid bookcase is the first thing I see.
“Did you sleep up here?”
I blink the sleep away and look up at Mitch, who is looking down at me like I’m insane.
“Are those yesterday’s clothes, Finn?”
Obviously, both of these questions are rhetorical, so I don’t bother answering.
“What’s going on?” His tone is terse now, so I have to say something.
“What do you mean?” Deflection probably isn’t the best choice because it just makes him angrier.
“What do I mean?” He’s staring at me again. Not like I’m insane, but like I’m… lying. “You’re acting weird. Is something going on that I don’t know about?”
“Mitch, I don’t know what you want from me. I tell you pretty much everything, but that doesn’t mean I owe you everything. And you wanna know why I’m acting weird? I mean, what kind of question is that? Have you already forgotten about Clara?” Mitch shrinks back from this accusation. “I know the rest of Tau City has. Thank god, they’re saying to themselves. Thank god that Maiden is gone, and the bells have stopped ringing, and I can go on with my life pretending that none of this is happening until the next time the bells ring.” I shoot him a sneer here. “I had higher expectations of you.”
He starts stuttering. “No, I didn’t forget about Clara. Of course not!”
“Then why are you acting like I should just get back to normal? Nothing’s going back to normal, Mitch. Nothing. Ever. She’s gone. My life is over.”
“No. No, it’s not, Finn. You’re having dinner with a Little Sister tonight. I’ve made a list of five that I think are suitable. You should just—”
“Move on?” I raise one eyebrow at him.
“Fuck one. I was gonna say fuck one. Just… to make things easier until… time heals the wound, ya know?”
Time is not gonna heal my wound. But it’s pointless to argue with him. Besides, this dinner might actually be my answer to the current melancholy. “Who’s on the list?”
Mitch smiles like this is me agreeing to his ‘fuck one’ plan. Then he pulls out a slip of paper and hands it over.
I scan it, but Jasina’s name is not on the list. Still, Mitch isn’t the one in charge here. I am. So I hand it back and look him in the eyes. “I want Jasina Bell. She’s my choice.”
“What?” His face is so scrunched up in confusion, I almost laugh. “I mean, she’s fuckable, for sure. And that display at the opening gala was pretty cool. But… down-city, Finn.” He shakes his head. “She’s got a really bad rep as a whore.”
“I don’t care. I like her and I want to spend time with her tonight. If I can’t have Clara, I at least want someone interesting. Throw in a spa day and new dress, as well. Tell the cooks I want the dining room set for dinner at seven.”
I turn to leave, so ready for a shower, but Mitch grabs my arm. “Wait. Finn. Come on, man. You can’t… I mean. OK, fine. I’ll get you Jasina. But there’s no spa or new dress included in this day.”