Drip Drop Teardrop, a Novella by Samantha Young Read Free Book Online Page A

months before when told his wife and child had
died from an illness that sounded suspiciously like plague; my
disinterest made others follow suit, and callously I did nothing to
stop it. I even laughed at the poor man’s misfortune. So he
attacked me, slashing me deep across the face, screaming that now I
would know what it felt like to be abhorred. And he was right.
Anonna flinched from me. Foolishly I convinced myself I understood,
having worshipped beauty all my life I realised how difficult it
must be for her to be faced with my disfigurement. But I thought
that underneath she still loved me. I realise now that instead she
had turned to my father.”
    “ So you kind
of made a big mistake giving up your life for hers huh,” she stated
sadly, actually feeling bad for him. At least she knew if she made
the decision to save her Aunt Caroline that she was doing it for
the most decent person she had ever had the privilege of
knowing.
    “ Yes,” his
voice was low again, hoarse with the old pain. “But Anonna got her
comeuppance.”
    “ What
happened?”
    “ The plague
ravaged Londinium and although the city remained important during
Roman reign it never really recovered economically. My mother died
in childbirth, my father was wifeless. A year after my death he
offered marriage to Anonna. She was sleeping with him as well as
the governor. When the governor heard of my father’s proposal he
told Anonna that he would make her his mistress, a wealthy
mistress, if she refused my father. My father was struggling
financially at the time, he still had his wealth but he wasn’t
adding to it, so Anonna snubbed my father and became a kept woman.
Her own father had died in the plague so she didn’t have anyone she
was disappointing.”
    “ Except your
father.”
    Brennus nodded at her,
his eyes soft on her. “Yes. Except father. Who foolishly, like me,
loved her.”
    “ What
happened to her?” She almost dreaded knowing.
    “ The governor
was cruel. As soon as she agreed to the contract of being his
mistress his attitude changed.” Brennus’ eyes darkened. “She was
subjected to vile things. Things even she didn’t
deserve.”
    “ Oh my
God.”
    “ Yes. If I
were a harder man I would say it was justice for what she had done
to me, but, in the end, it had been my choice to sacrifice myself
for her. One night the governor beat Anonna so badly she begged for
death. So I came.”
    A well of
deep sadness opened up inside Avery and she felt her eyes prick
with tears. Unbelievably, she felt for him. For him . “You granted her mercy even
after what she did to you?”
    “ Yes,”
Brennus replied softly. “I gave her the choice.”
    Avery gasped. “Anonna is
Ankou?”
    At his slight nod, at the
clenching of his jaw, her heart began to race a little. She felt a
little sick. “Anonna is Ankou.”
    So… his ex was immortal.
Did they still…? “Do you still see her?”
    Brennus raised an
eyebrow. “You think the Ankou have time for social
events?”
    “ Yeah. You
have spirit dudes to help you out remember.”
    He chuckled. “OK, so
sometimes we bump into one another. We aren’t supposed to
though.”
    “ Do you bump
into Anonna?”
    “ She bumps
into me.” He frowned and looked away. “Like me, death has changed
her.”
    Great. His ex was still
hanging around. “Where’s her area?”
    He shifted uncomfortably.
“Texas.”
    Avery felt even sicker.
“Has it always been Texas?”
    Brennus threw her a look.
“You know it can’t possibly have been.”
    “ How long has
it been Texas?”
    He inspected a piece of
lint on his trousers. “Nine years.”
    For some inexplicable
reason Avery felt more than a little annoyed. “She followed
you?”
    He shrugged.
    “ Your ex
isn’t quite over you, huh?”
    Again with the
shrugging!
    An awful thought
occurred. “I don’t look like her, do I?”
    At his deep chuckle Avery
narrowed her eyes on him. This sooo wasn’t funny. “Avery.” He shook
his head. “You are