Falling Between (The Vaettir Serial, #1) Read Online Free Page A

on the plate, suddenly disgusted with it.
    “Black isn't your color,” Alaric commented. “I tried to pick your clothes, but I was over-ruled.”
    “Who picked them?” I asked.
    “Sophie,” he replied. “She chose them while you were still sleeping. I take it you will be staying with us?”
    I pushed my sandwich plate away. Yeah, definitely done. “Like I have a choice,” I answered sullenly.
    Alaric laughed as he spun down off of his stool in one liquid motion. “I suppose not.”
    I suddenly felt the tears welling up again. I didn't know why they chose to hit just then, a delayed reaction I guess. I looked down at my uneaten sandwich and cried, because I didn't know what else to do.

Chapter Three
    A laric had waited while I cried. He didn't try to comfort me. I was grateful. It would have been just a little too strange having one of my captors showing that type of compassion.
    My tears had left me numb and thoroughly without an appetite. I left the sandwich on the counter so Alaric could walk me back to my room. He reached my door first and held it open for me, the picture of a perfect gentleman. Yeah right. I turned and looked at him, hoping he would leave me alone without a fuss. He didn't.
    “I'm tired,” I said, hoping to appeal to his sense of mercy.
    “I know you've been through a lot-” he began.
    “That's a vast understatement,” I interrupted.
    “And I know you probably don't have warm, fuzzy feelings towards any of us right now,” he went on.
    “Keep going,” I sighed. “You're on a roll.”
    Alaric laughed. “Your ability to be sarcastic under the direst of circumstances is quite impressive.”
    “Would you rather I screamed and begged for my life?” I questioned.
    “It might be interesting,” he replied. “Though your life is in no danger.”
    I sat down on the foot of the ornate bed, smoothing the thick comforter with my hands. “You don't have to die in order to lose your life,” I argued.
    He raised an eyebrow at me. “And your life was so great before?” he questioned.
    I glared at him. “It was nothing special, but at least I had a choice in what I did.”
    “And you chose to shut yourself up in your little house,” he said softly. “No, I don't think we took you away from very much at all.”
    I continued to glare. “You know, I preferred you when you were flirtatious.”
    He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “As my lady commands.”
    I smiled, then quickly wiped it away. A girl shouldn't smile at her kidnapper, even when he was trying to cheer her up. “I'm tired,” I said again.
    He nodded. “I wouldn't go wandering,” he advised. “Many things less pleasant than my sister wander these halls.”
    With that ominous advice ringing in the air, he left the room and shut the door. I leaned down and took off the high-heeled boots. Apparently I'd just been dressed up to meet with Estus. He was their leader, in some way, so I suppose he merited proper attire.
    I paced around the room, not happy to be left with only the form-fitting dress to wear. There were a few dressers in the room that matched the bed, so I started going through them. Many of the drawers were empty, but eventually I came to two drawers filled with clothes. I found some silky red pajama pants with a matching shirt, but passed them over. I didn't actually want to go to sleep. I wanted to find a way out.
    I searched through the clothes a little bit more and came out with a pair of black jeans and an indigo blue tee shirt. The jeans fit me like a glove. My imprisonment had obviously been well-planned. Gre-at.
    I felt slightly better in normal clothing. There was even a pair of black running shoes underneath the dresser. It was as if they actually wanted me to run. I was happy to oblige.
    When I could find nothing else of use in the room, I sat on the bed to wait. Hopefully everyone would go to sleep and I could search for an exit unhindered. I wasn't sure how anyone could even tell that it was night-time