Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
"Yes," she confirmed, still smiling, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"You leave the Isle?" I asked again, trying to clarify. "I was under the impression that women here never got to leave."
Her brows rose in mild surprise. "How far have you gotten in your classes?" she asked, her tone playful yet curious.
I shifted, feeling a bit out of place. "I’ve only attended a few, I’m still learning," I admitted.
"Well," she said with a grin, "I'm going to jump ahead and tell you that depending on their station, some women do, in fact, leave the Isle."
I felt a pang of surprise ripple through me. I hadn’t expected that answer. "I heard you attended the trade show," Esther added casually.
"That’s one way to put it," I replied, my tone darkening slightly as memories of that night resurfaced—the drugging, the disorienting fog that followed, and now all this added information to go with it.
Sensing the shift in my mood, Esther didn’t linger on the topic, easily carrying the conversation forward with her bright, bubbly tone. It was almost disarming how naturally cheerful she was. I’d forgotten that about her.
"Some of those women, not all, were from here," she continued. "But again, only certain ones, depending on their station or duties, are allowed to leave."
"So... what’s the catch?"
Esther laughed, a sound that rang through the foyer like music. "No catch, really. It’s just the way things are. Some of us have responsibilities that require us to leave. But don’t worry," she winked, "you’ll get the hang of it soon enough."
I couldn’t help but smile at her infectious energy. "I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to all of this," I confessed quietly.
"You will," she reassured me, her smile softening. "You already have started to. I can tell. There’s something different about you.”
Different? A part of me bristled at the idea. I didn’t want to change, to become like them. Another part of me, the part I was afraid to acknowledge, wondered if she was right. Had I already started to let go of the person I was before? I didn’t like the thought, but deep down, I couldn’t deny it. Things had shifted. I wasn’t fighting as hard. Maybe it was the exhaustion of constantly resisting and getting nowhere, or maybe it was Alexander, and the way he wrapped himself around my world until I couldn’t tell where he ended, and I began.
“And on the bright side, you’ve got me back, your best friend."
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Best friend? The title felt too intimate considering the brief time I’d known her, but Esther’s sincerity was undeniable.
Her eyes filled with warmth and affection. She genuinely meant it.
"Best friend?" I finally said, trying to keep my tone light, though there was an awkwardness in my voice I couldn’t hide. "I didn’t know we’d come that far."
Her smile didn’t waver. She just laughed softly, waving away my hesitation. "Oh, come on, Lolita. Don’t overthink it. I mean, who else do you have right now?"
The question lingered in the air, hitting harder than I expected. I swallowed, feeling the weight of my isolation creep in. She wasn’t wrong.
"Keres and Pandora?" I said though it came out more like a question than a statement.
Esther puckered her lips and shook her head. "They don’t get to be your best friends. I saw you first." She grinned, a playful glint in her eyes that was impossible to ignore.
For a moment, her light-heartedness was infectious. Then the memory of Anya crept in, dragging a wave of guilt with it. Here I was, living in luxury, sleeping in a bed that felt like a cloud, next to a man who was too gorgeous to be real, indulging in lavish meals, all while my best friend’s whereabouts remained a mystery. I hadn’t even tried to ask about her. I was too afraid to bring her up again after what had happened the last time.
I never forgot about her, though. Like now, every time I felt myself slipping deeper into Alexander’s world, I couldn’t help but wonder if Anya was suffering somewhere. It reminded me of a conversation we’d once had. "If you get on with a rich guy, bring me along for the ride," Anya had joked, flashing her usual mischievous grin.
I laughed then.
I wasn’t laughing now.
Esther studied my face and then nodded, as if confirming something. “You need to get out of this big house for a few hours. I told my brother—not Diabolus—I was coming to get you. Keres and Pandora will meet up with us in town. How does that sound?”
The offer was too tempting to pass up. The idea of staying in the house alone, with nothing but my thoughts, felt suffocating. I nodded, managing a small smile. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Esther’s face lit up with excitement. “Perfect!” She clapped her hands, then called out for Ambrose.