Page 8 of Serpent & Saviors

“It depends,” she remarked.

“On?”

“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me? I’ve got a therapist, you know.” She narrowed her eyes, causing me to laugh.

I tucked the information away for later, thinking I might see about finding out who she was seeing. Colleague to colleague, so to speak.

“It’s not meant to be that way, although it may seem like that’s what I’m doing. I guess dating a counselor changes getting to know you a bit, doesn’t it?”

“I think you forget, I’m a married woman.”

“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten. But this entire moment has date night stamped all over it. You admitted it yourself. Not to mention, you’re dressed up, so am I. We’ve been intimate, so acquaintance isn’t an appropriate term. We’re not quite friends, so we can’t say we’re friends with benefits. I’ll be taking you back to my hotel room when we’re done, so…”

“Fine, ask me something.” She sighed, a blush making another appearance.

“How about I preface it as a game?”

“I’m not sure about that.” She looked around nervously.

“It’s easy, I promise. It’s two truths and a lie.”

“I’ve never played it. I know how, don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what,” I teased.

“Like I live under a rock. I’m honestly drawing a blank on the lie since you’ve put me on the spot,” she breathed out. “You go first.”

“Seems fair, since I suggested it. Let’s see. I co-own a business in Seattle. I almost drowned, and I’ve been married before.” I made sure that each statement had the same tone, with no inflection in which one was the lie.

“So, I guess which is the lie?”

“Yes, and then it’s your turn.” I couldn’t wait to hear hers.

“Co-owning a business in Seattle?” Her voice wavered.

“Nope, I do actually co-own a club in Seattle. I’ve never been married before.”

She let out a long breath, and then it dawned on her. Whipping her head up, she stared at me wide-eyed. Nan always said it was easier to get someone to open up if you shared your vulnerable side.

This was an easy way for me to let her know in a small way that something significant had happened in my life. But why did she look so terrified?

“Yes, I almost drowned. I don’t think I like the look in your eyes right now, Victoria. Have I said something that’s upset you?”

I drew both of her hands in mine and rubbed small circles on the undersides of her slim wrists. Concentrating solely on her lips, I noticed she counted each complete circle I made. Her mouth opened and then closed, and at that moment I would have given anything to read her mind.

I blinked wildly, feeling an intense desire to confess the one day I tried to forget. How was this man able to draw me out so quickly? The more I let him in, the more connected I felt.

On every level, this was much easier than I thought it would be. The day we’d spent together had been everything. I hadn’t tasted that level of freedom in years. And now, here I sat in the teahouse with him, feeling beautiful and so damn normal.

My mind drifted. Each of us girls had something horrific that happened during our captivity. Mischa’s would be the day she was buried alive and the other time when she was gagged and whipped. Autumn’s would be that fateful day when she was subjected to her favorite fan’s desire to brand her.

Winter’s had to do with large dogs. I’d overheard her being taunted by the Mask on several occasions, and he frequently brought his dogs to visit her, locking her in with them. I shuddered violently, knowing the evil he was capable of. And mine…mine was drowning in the lake beside the castle.

“Maybe a little, but it’s only because I almost drowned, too. I have a major fear of large bodies of water,” I said.

Immediately, his arms went around me, and a small sob escaped my lips.

“Shhh, it’s okay, trust me, I understand. The thing is, whatever your experience was, it didn’t end there. Neither did mine. We were the lucky ones.”