The Bride of Glass (Glass Vault Book 2) Page 5

  “Hello.”

  Startled, Ben turned around and stumbled a few steps before catching himself. His eyes focused to where he heard the female voice with a British accent. A red-headed woman close to his age stood a few feet away.

  He scanned her from head to toe and back up to her pretty face but first stopping on her exposed cleavage. The swells of her breasts were perfect, and he hurried to look back up at her face before she thought he was a pervert.

  “Um, hello. What are you wearing?” The woman who was close to his age had on a blue dress with buttons centered at her breasts that floated down in between to her hips. Her hands were covered with olive green gloves, and the skirt of her dress flared slightly and crinkled in different places. Ben found this completely odd.

  The red-head looked down at herself and brushed her gloved hands over the skirt of her dress. “Oh this? This is for work. Did you think I would actually be wandering around town wearing this?”

  Ben let out a chuckle and ran a hand along his jaw. “I didn’t think that far out. Where do you work, anyway?” There wasn’t anywhere near here he could think of where she would be wearing a dress like that, unless she was in a play.

  Smiling, she twirled a wild curl with one of her gloved fingers. “I work at the end of the street at the museum. I’m on break at the moment. Work is slow, and we have no customers.”

  Ben’s eyes scrunched halfway closed when he thought about it because there was no museum on this street. She must be mistaken. “There isn’t anything on this street besides trees.”

  One of her red eyebrows rose on her forehead. “Have you been to the end of the street today?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I was at the end of the street last week, and there wasn’t anything there.”

  “Why don’t you follow me, then?” The red-head turned on her heels and sauntered away.

  Ben didn’t hesitate, and he jogged after her. “What’s your name?”

  She smiled flirtatiously. “I go by Fannie.”

  “Fannie,” he said softly, trying out the name. He liked it.

  They walked slowly through the trees. She kept quiet, and he darted side glances at her, noticing the light sprinkle of freckles running across her nose. He hadn’t seen them from afar. She was more than pretty, she was beautiful.

  Ben was ashamed he was twenty-three years old and hadn’t had a girlfriend in over two years. He mainly kept to himself and found it hard to converse with anyone, but maybe that could change with Fannie. He wouldn’t mind hanging out with her sometime.

  She stopped in her tracks, causing Ben to halt beside her. Turning her head, she looked him dead in the eye. “And?”

  “And?” Not sure what she was asking about.

  “Your name?”

  Ben brought his lip in between his teeth and sucked on it. Suddenly, the lip felt dry. “Ben.”

  “Ben. I like it.” Fannie took off walking again, and they stepped around a large green bush. “See, there it is.”

  Ben’s pale blue eyes grew and grew until they couldn’t open any wider. “You weren’t kidding, were you?” He turned his head from Fannie to the large stone mansion and then back at her. “This…this wasn’t here before.”

  She looked at him as if he was crazy. “It’s been here a while. You must have not been paying attention.”

  “Look, uh, Fannie. I come out here every week. Believe me, I would have noticed this place. How could anyone not notice it?”

  “The trees were cut the other day.” She pointed at the tree stumps surrounding the building.

  Ben’s eyes narrowed at the trees like they were hiding all kinds of secrets. “Something isn’t right here, Fannie. I think I better go and talk to someone.” Who was he going to ask? His non-existent friends and family? He could ask one of his neighbors, which was what he decided to do.

  “Wait.” Fannie grabbed his arm. “Come with me inside, and I can show you around. It’s only me in there today.”

  He wanted to tell her no and jet, but with that pleading face of hers, he could spare a few minutes to see if he could solve the mystery before leaving to find someone. “Okay, but only really quick.”

  “Perfect.”

  They walked to the archway. Fannie reached for the golden knob on a wooden door and opened it. Ben closed the door and followed her down the hallway, paying more attention to her hips swaying side to side than the details of his surroundings.

  After walking down several hallways, they reached a large circular room with strange glass displays throughout. Gruesome and interesting.

  He observed a Peter Pan scene with Peter hovering in the air above what must be Wendy’s bed, a knife hidden in his hand behind his back. Wendy’s hand was in his other, following wherever he might lead.

  “This way, Ben,” Fannie drawled. He turned around and walked to where she was standing in front of a Jack the Ripper display.

  “You know, I can’t believe they never solved that case.” At the same time, he understood they didn’t have a lot of the technology the world had today.

  Fannie smiled with amusement beaming in her eyes. “She was incredibly smart.”

  He puckered his lips. “It wasn’t a woman.” Not that he didn’t believe a woman couldn’t do something like that because there were plenty of women criminals, too, but the letters were signed Jack.

  “Anyway, I need to go back to work, Ben.”

  “Yeah, I better get going. I’m going to talk to a neighbor at my apartment building and will get back with you.” He stepped to the side in front of a display that had a large bridge with what appeared to be a broken goat on top, and a violent wind pulled him inside the Billy Goat’s Gruff scene.

  Ben closed his eyes for a second and when he opened them, all he could see was sun, and he wasn’t where he should be. He was on top of a bridge, a freaking tall bridge, and the first thing he did was reach for his fanny pack to pull out his cell phone, but there was no fanny pack.

  There was a sword at his hip in its place. His body shook, but it wasn’t him trembling, it was the entire stone bridge. Looking around, all he could see were fields of grass and tall trees. He thought madness was going on, and insanity had taken over his mind. Ben decided to dart across the bridge, so he pumped his legs as quickly as he could, but the quaking slowed him down.

  Sunshine concealed his vision until something huge crashed down in front of him, and he fell harshly to the ground. One second he could see a beautiful, tall, naked woman, and the next she appeared to be a grotesque beast with saggy skin. He spider crawled backward to avoid the woman or beast.

  Ben felt entranced, so he closed his eyes tightly as he stood to take off running, but a hand swiped at him. His ribs bit into his lungs, and breathing was no longer an option. He wanted to rub at his throat for air, but his arms were trapped in the large, smelly hand.

  The sun was already scorching his skin. Along with the lack of air supply, all he felt was burning until there was nothing left except blackness.

  Billy rubbed at his head and felt a little dazed about where he had just been, but he was ready for adventure, so he began his journey over the bridge.

  Chapter 9

  Perrie

  I help Vale carry the remains of Catherine’s body up the stairs. As we shuffle through the house, Fannie seems to be nowhere around. She’s most likely still angered about not being able to use the knife on Catherine.

  When we step out onto the backyard patio, I watch Vale throw the limp body onto the grass. Picking up a can of gasoline he found in the garage, he sloshes it all over the body. I stare, feeling fulfilled about what we did to Catherine earlier.

  Blood is splattered up and down my arms, and I almost want to taste it. The strike of a match pulls me away from my thoughts, and I watch Vale toss it toward the still body.

  Fire ignites, and I watch each flame crackle and burn away the flesh. Vale’s powers are limited outside the Glass Vault. If we were inside the museum, he would be able to do anything, including light up a quick flame with his fingertip. The museum is connected to the Underworld, but it’s not quite connected here fully yet. The more souls that are sent to the Glass Vault, the stronger he becomes.

  We watch the fire eat the skin at a rapid pace until nothing but ashes remain. Vale’s eyes haven’t left the body, but when the last flame dies, he saunters to me.

  Grabbing my arm, he pulls me against his hard chest. “You were miraculous in there.” Then he squeezes my arm tightly, digging his fingertips into the muscle. “Never hesitate like that again, do you understand?”

  I don’t know why I hesitated. There should have been no reason. It felt good, more than good. “Yes, Vale.” I’m the only one allowed to call him that, even Fannie must call him Master.

  “Good. Now go get cleaned up, and I’ll meet you afterward. There’s a shower on the second floor, and a room down the hall.” Nodding in the direction of the house with a now blank face, he releases my arm, and I rub at it before the tightness fades to nothing.

  I turn from him to do as he says. Walking back through the house, I slowly ascend the stairs with a clenching in my chest. Ignoring it, I find the small bathroom on the right. There’s already a towel and rag set aside on the countertop and a large rectangular mirror.

  My long, brown hair is wild and untamed, hitting right at mid-back. A thin white streak of hair is on each side of my temples, and my brown eyes are rimmed with black circles from lack of sleep. The pale scar lines my throat in a way that looks like it’s smiling at me. For a second I think I don’t know who I am or what I am, but then I know. I’m the Bride. Vale’s Bride.

  Covered in blood and dirt, I unbutton each button of the white dress, releasing it over my shoulders and let it glide to the floor. I remove my
underthings and start the shower.

  The water beads my body with coolness, and I heat up my skin with a crackle of electricity until the water feels warm as it hits my flesh.

  Something flashes through my head and I slide down to the floor, letting the pellets continue to rain down on me.

  A girl with long, straight, black hair, warm brown skin, and a solo blue eye. The other covered with a patch. It’s the girl I hit with a spark at the museum, but she’s different. The vision knocks harder.

  Nev came over to watch movies while my dad was at work. Dad didn’t look himself this morning, and I knew why. Today was the day my mother left us. It may have been years now, but to dad it was like yesterday, but I preferred not to think about it.

  We’re waiting for Maisie to show us her surprise. She told us a week ago she came up with an idea but wouldn’t let either one of us know what it is.

  She said she planned on starting it in a month when summer break began after our sophomore year, but she couldn’t wait a second longer to start.

  Nev is sitting in the chair already enchanted by an old werewolf movie I turned on for him. He hasn’t seen many of the old classic horror films, so Maisie made it a purpose for him to start a few weeks ago.

  “What do you think she’s going to surprise us with?” I ask while fiddling with the end of a blanket on the couch.

  Nev releases a smile when he starts to think about it. “I’m thinking it’s something to do with what she’s been into recently, which has been pirates.”

  That’s true. She’s been carrying around a lot of different books lately. I think two of them did have a pirate boat on them. “So, your guess is a pirate accent?” I laugh.

  Rolling his eyes, Nev looks back toward the TV. “If she got this worked up over a pirate accent, I’m going to be thoroughly unimpressed.”

  A knock comes at the front door, and Nev looks anxiously toward the sound. I’m not sure what he’s nervous about. It’s only Maisie.

  I check the peephole to prove to myself it’s her, and it is. She’s turned to the side, so I swing open the door.

  Maisie jumps through the open space and waves her hands in the air. “Surprise.”

  Nev practically leaps around the chair and runs to Maisie, grabbing her face to look at his. “What the hell happened to your eye?”

  Her smile grows wider, and she pats his hand away. “You like it?”

  Okay, so Nev was right. I look to him as he’s observing her face. “Pirates, remember?”

  “Damn it, Maisie.” He looks a little pissed, but then he cocks a side smile, most likely impressed with himself for knowing her surprise had something to do with pirates.

  I take a closer look at the eyepatch, and it’s a parrot. The patch part itself is the body. A head sticks out on one end, tail feathers on the other, and tiny feet at the bottom. It’s blue and red and looks to be well crafted.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t add a pirate hat with a skull on top of it.” I laugh and shake my head.

  She taps the side of her head with her pinky finger. “I will add that thought for another day to my growing list.”

  “What list?” Nev pipes in, his face covered in interest.

  Clapping her hands together, Maisie brings them in front of her mouth, all fingers shooting toward the ceiling. “I’m starting my own business. Time to do away with boring black eyepatches. Those with one eye deserve to express you don’t have to hide the eye, you can embrace it.”

  “Technically, the eye would still be hidden behind a patch,” I point out.

  Maisie brings her index finger up and points it at nothing. “That’s true, but the barrier protecting the eye can be vibrant. To show my support, I will wear one from now on.”

  What an idea, but I like it. “Go ahead.”

  Nev shakes his head and walks back to the chair, not quite getting what is going on.

  Laughing, Maisie walks to Nev and messes his black hair up to irritate him and then plops down on the couch.

  Did I remember something? I try to tug it back, but I can’t. It’s gone, but it was there. I slap the bottom of the tub as hard as I can, letting the small puddle of water splash against the walls.

  I push the sides of my head together so hard I think I may hear a slight cracking sound, hoping it will bring what was there back, but it doesn’t.

  The beads from the showerhead continue to pour until I don’t care about it anymore. Standing to turn off the water, I step out to grab the towel and dry off. The mirror is covered in fog, and I lean forward, bringing my index and middle finger to it and draw a picture of a tree. I’m not sure why I’m doing this, but I add two clouds above the tree.

  I finish drying off and bend down to pick the dress off the tile floor. The ensemble appears to have made it back to its original state—pure white and bright as a snow flake. Stepping into the silky material, I button it back up.

  When I open the door and take my first step out, Vale is leaning against the wall, file in hand. Damp hair falls against his forehead. There must be another shower downstairs I missed. He leans his head forward when he sees me, and a wet spot is left behind on the cream paint of the wall.

  “Took you long enough,” he says blankly, running the file across his perfectly chiseled fingernails.

  I don’t want to say what took me so long because I’m not quite sure. “I wanted to make sure I removed all the blood from my nails and make them extra clean,” I lie.

  His blank expression grows into a daring smile like I said the sexiest sentence, running the tip of his tongue across his lower lip.

  I watch his tongue slowly slide back into his mouth, and I stare at those well-formed lips. Everything is forgotten besides him. Turning away from him, I walk toward the bedroom, knowing he’s following behind. I want him to follow me. When I walk into the room, there’s a large bed on one end and a wooden desk straight in front of me. I turn around to face Vale, and he’s already a hairsbreadth away.

  “You know what you are doing to me, don’t you?” Vale leans his forehead against mine, and his breaths increase.

  I do know. These are the times when Vale isn’t commanding or threatening. These are the times I go mad. I place my hand against his chest where his heart sits, but I feel nothing beat against my hand.

  Quickly, he whips us around and presses me against the wall, crashing his mouth down on mine. The kiss is so rough I taste metallic against my tongue. Pushing at him, I back his legs against the wooden desk, kissing him with the same force, and my body aches for more.

  Spinning us around, Vale pushes me until the back of my legs hit the desk. Then he flips me around by the shoulders and grips each wrist with the palm of his hands like I’m chained to him. My heart speeds in my chest as my hands collide with the desk, and I feel him pressed against me from behind.

  His warm breath flutters against my ear. “Should you hike up your dress, or shall I?”

  My body is inflamed with how much I want him.

  Vale removes his hands from my wrists. With one hand, he runs it along the inside of my thigh while the other trails just below my breasts. I let out a moan I don’t want to hold back.

  “You do it,” I whisper.

  Vale lets out a low groan as I hear the zipper of his pants slide down, then he yanks up the skirt of my dress. He trails rough kisses and bites down my neck, and I never want him to cease.

  Afterward, Vale leans on my back, both of us breathing deeply. His warm arms leave my waist, and I feel only the cold left behind. He never stays, always immediately walks out of the room without a word. I’m left standing alone—the ecstasy slowly fading away.

  I want to follow him wherever he went, but I don’t. Something in me doesn’t want to—the way I normally would. Tugging off my boots, I toss them on the ground and step toward the bed to pull back the covers.

  A clean scent radiates from the black cotton sheets, even though they haven’t been laid in for a while. Closing my eyes, I try and drift off to sleep. I’m not sure how much time has passed, but eventually I feel the bed dip. I’m curled on my side toward Vale who is nestled at the edge of the bed, facing the wall away from me.

  Always when we sleep, he drifts farther away and won’t touch me. Why he doesn’t sleep in another room if he doesn’t want to be near me, I don’t quite understand. I close my eyes and let myself fall away from him to escape what is soaring to the surface.