Page 24 of Crown of Death
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the expression ‘hot as sin,’” Cyrus says as Fredrick climbs back in and puts the car into gear. “It sounds like a negative description, but the way she saidit…”
It takes me a moment to grasp why I feel so…scared, shocked, right now. My eyes go back to the door I walked out of, and then to thiscar.
“You…” I stutter. “You could hear her from that faraway?”
Cyrus looks over at me, and I can tell he’s forcing himself to be patient. “Yes,” he respondscoolly.
I feel my face grow hot now. I look out the window so I don’t have to look him in the eyes. “She didn’t…she wasn’t saying anything bad. But don’t go letting it inflate yourego.”
Somehow I can feel it when hesmiles.
I don’t want to think about if what my roommate said about my captor is true ornot.
I remember after a moment that we did not collect Mina. When I look around, Cyrus answers my unspokenquestion.
“She’s following behind us in your vehicle,” heexplains.
I turn around, and sure enough, she follows just behind us in mycar.
“But I never gave her the keys,” I say, my browsfurrowing.
“Mina possesses a multitude of skills that led to me inviting her into my inner circle,” Cyrus saysevenly.
Apparently she is as deadly as shelooks.
We drive across town. To the border between Greendale and Cherico, to where the nicer homes are. We continue toward the outskirts, to where the city gives way to thecountry.
Fredrick pulls off the main road, to what I realize is a wide driveway. A huge stone fence surrounds the property and an iron gate swings open when we drive up toit.
A beautifully manicured lawn sprawls out before us. Bushes, trees, endless flowers are placed in carefully planned-outbeds.
And at the end of the driveway is one of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen. It looks like something out of a TVshow.
A great spire tower makes up the front of the home. White stone sides the entire thing and black, heavy-duty windows are sprawled around. To one side, I see four heavy wooden-looking garagedoors.
It’s so beautiful. Elegant.Elaborate.
“Is this yours?” I askbreathlessly.
“It is now,” Cyrus says as Fredrick parks the car next to another. A small, round woman climbs out, looking toward us in waryanticipation.
Fredrick climbs out. Speaks a few words with the woman, taking the keys. She climbs back in her car and drivesaway.
“You just bought this?” I question. “You’ve been in Greendale less than, what? Three hours? And you now own a homehere?”
He gives me a charmed little smile, one that makes me feel ignorant and foolish. He doesn’t say a word as he climbs out the door Fredrick opens and steps out. To my surprise, he quickly walks around the car and opens mydoor.
He looks at me and holds his hand out formine.
He has two faces, Eli—Rath had warned before he was drugged and takenaway.
I have to remember that, I tell myself. I see it now, and I can just feel it—how charming Cyrus can be when he wants to be. And then how deadly he can turn within onesecond.
But I take his hand, and let him help me out of thevehicle.
Fredrick and Mina retrieve my bag, as well as a few other suitcases. More than a few. There are eight of them in total besides my own, and I wonder just how long this deadly group planned to stay here after Edmond calledthem.
We walk up the grand stairs to the door, a massive, twelve foot tall double one. Inserting the keys, Fredrick unlocks it and stands aside for Cyrus to enterfirst.