As Black as Ebony by Salla Simukka Read Free Book Online Page A

loudly.
    Here, here, here , echoed down the empty hallways. No one answered.
    “Strange,” Aleksi said.
    Lumikki looked at the petals and smelled their heady, sickly scent in her nostrils. She knew the roses were meant for her. Her stalker wanted to remind her of Briar Rose. Apparently, he didn’t know that Lumikki had already remembered the name. That brought her some degree of satisfaction. Lumikki knew that in at least one area, she was ahead of her stalker.
    Once upon a time, there was a key that fit a small chest. Two little girls often played with the chest. It was their treasure chest where they hid jewelry and rocks and bird feathers and perfect pinecones and beautiful autumn leaves and corks and marbles and all the secrets they shared. They were princesses and, when they grew up, they would use the riches in the chest to travel around the world.
    Then came the day when the chest was emptied. All of the girls’ wonderful treasures disappeared. The chest was filled with other kinds of treasures and secrets. But no one could use them to travel around the world. And besides, one of the girls would never travel anywhere ever again.
    Once upon a time, there was a key that had waited long and patiently.
    Once upon a time, there was a key that wanted to open the chest again and reveal its secrets.
    Once upon a time, there was a key that was moved from its old hiding place to wait in a new hiding place, a cold crevice of rock.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, EARLY MORNING

Lumikki woke up hot and anxious. She glanced at her phone. It was 3:20 in the morning. A time she should be happily sleeping the deepest possible sleep. Sampsa’s arm was wrapped around her, the boy radiating warmth. Usually that felt good, but right now it was too much heat. Wriggling out from under his arm, she climbed out of bed. Sampsa mumbled in his sleep, but then rolled over and continued his quiet snoring. Happily sleeping away in perfect safety. Lumikki looked at the back of Sampsa’s head and his mussed hair, slowly letting herself fill with the tenderness she felt for him.
    Sweet, sweet Sampsa. Sleeping like an innocent child. Strangely innocent even when awake. Fearless because he had never really had to fear. Knowing his own worth because no one had ever called his worth into question or trampled it into the ground.
    Lumikki closed the door behind her as she went into the kitchen. She turned on the light and tried to decide whether to make coffee. Then she definitely wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep, but right now she really needed that strong smell and familiar taste. The sharp bite of the first sip that soon turned to a sensuous feeling of calm and refreshment. Sharpening her senses.
    She was just about to grab the espresso pot when she saw her phone display light up. A text message. Who on earth would be texting her at this hour of the morning?
    My Lumikki, you’re awake. I can see the light in your window. Don’t even think about waking up your snoring boyfriend. This is just between the two of us, like all important things.
    Lumikki’s mouth went dry. It was hard to swallow. Breathing felt difficult. The text message had been sent through an anonymous server, so the phone only displayed the provider’s number, not the sender’s. Her stalker was leaving nothing to chance, and he hadn’t left any traces of himself even by accident. Escape. Hide. Lights off .
    That was Lumikki’s first reaction, but she knew all of that was pointless. She had already been seen. She couldn’t hide. So with as steady steps as she could manage, she walked to the window and looked out into the darkness. She forbade her hands from shaking and pressed them against the glass, shading herself a small peephole out into the outside world. There was no one in the park. The shadows of the trees didn’t move. But there were too many dark places to count where her stalker could be standing, hidden. Or he could be in the opposite building. He could be standing