The Broken Destiny Read Online Free Page A

left me a huge inheritance so I could afford luxuries and most people took advantage of that. The shoveling of boots on the wooden floor nearby startled me – I dropped the milk and spun round. My stomach churned. Quickly, I reached for the lamp on the countertop beside the fridge. We had had a water fight in the kitchen a few days earlier and had burned out some of the circuits that lighted up the bottom floor, so we were making do with an old touch lamp that didn’t seem to be working properly just then. I hit the sensor one more time. The lamp dimly lighted up the counter but the entire bottom floor was still flooded with darkness.
    “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” a smooth voice said.
    It was a male voice. I slammed the refrigerator door shut in shock, let out a small yelp as my finger got caught in the door, inwardly swearing at myself.
    “Who’s there?” I inquired. “What are you doing here?”
    My knees trembled. I am sure it was a dream I had earlier , I tried to convince myself.
    “Eating grapes,” the silky male voice said, slicing through the silence.
    I frowned at that. I could see him moving out of the shadows toward me, but I couldn’t quite make out his features, the majority of his face still covered in darkness. He stopped just shy of the light. His slight figure leaned against the edge of the wall that led up to our room.
    “I asked you a question,” I said furiously.
    “Uh-huh,” he said. “And, as I said, I am eating grapes.”
    He promptly swallowed.
    “Oh, and staring at your sexy legs,” he added, a hint of mischievous amusement in his voice.
    I stood anchored to the spot. I had gone downstairs wearing nothing more than a shirt and thick knee-high socks. My cheeks reddened.
    He picked at another grape. “Want some?” he mocked, extending the bunch.
    His voice was slightly muffled as he was trying to talk with his mouth full. I twitched and took a step behind the counter, feeling exposed and embarrassed. Pulling the shirt over my buttocks to cover my underwear, my cheeks searing with heat I said, trying to gather my thoughts. “If you leave now, I won’t scream,” and pointed toward the door.
    “Go ahead, scream.” He chuckled. “I like screamers,” he said, stuffing more grapes into his mouth as he leaned back into the shadows, leaving only the outline of his body visible.
    I narrowed my eyes and folded my arms across my chest.
    “How did you get in?”
    He pointed to the door.
    “Well, use it again and leave.” I also pointed to the door, almost afraid to raise my voice.
    “It’s not up to you,” he said calmly.
    He didn’t have an accent, so I knew he must be from either the English School or the Military School. His voice was so smooth and I felt myself grabbing onto thoughts just to hear him talk again. “No boys are allowed in our wing, especially English speaking boys,” the words coming out shakier than I intended.
    “I am not a boy,” he said arrogantly, picking at the stem of a grape.
    From his outline, I could make out that he had broad shoulders, and an athletic build. I could hear his leather jacket scraping against the hard surface of the brick wall as he moved toward me – I fell silent. I had no comeback. First I saw the color of his hair, and then I felt his eyes on me. I could feel them burning through what little clothes I had on. I felt his presence nearing, like an electrical storm ready to consume all in its wake, when suddenly, the upstairs light went on. He retreated back into the shadows. I pulled my shirt over my legs and headed up the stairs.
    “What, no goodnight kiss?” he hollered.
    The arrogance in his voice was sickening.
    “Jerk,” I mumbled to myself.
    “I heard that!”
    His voice lingered in the quiet of the night for a moment. I drew in a nervous breath. His charm had gotten to me. Sonja came into view as I made my way to the top landing, her dark eyes fierce; almost bewitched with anger. It may have been jealousy. I had