Infernal Ties by Holly Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

remembered. Laughter, human laughter, came from the elegant restaurant halfway up the hill. A white affair with a patio looking down over Lesser Town, I’d meant to take Quin for a meal there for months and never quite got around to it. Happy couples sat out in the fresh spring air, smiles on their faces as waiters in pristine black and white uniforms brought out local foods.  
    I couldn’t help but feel envious of them. There had been a time when I could have been there with them, part of a happy couple. Memories of Christian pressed into my mind. We would have been married by then. He had to ruin it, though. I’d found him in bed with a pixie, hours after he’d sworn that I was his everything. The pixie had whisked him away to the fairy world a week later, never to be seen again. A tear trickled down my cheek. I hadn’t even considered a relationship since. Quin kept teasing me about at least finding some fun for a night. My fists clenched. I would get my twin back. I’d protect him. He was all I had.  
    I paused when I finally reached the top of the hill. It was always something of a disappointment; one of the highest points in the city, and yet it was just an open space with well-worn earth and short grass. Each time, I hoped they had something more with the space. I took a moment to get my breath back; my ribs were aching and tightened with every breath. Petřín Tower emerged on the horizon, a simple metal affair that held some of the best views of the city at the top. I’d spent many hours looking out of the windows, admiring the old city from up there. The elegant slope of the river and the hundreds of spires in their varying forms. It wasn’t perfect, but it was home.
    Once my breathing had settled a little, I set off at a brisk walk down the worn tarmac path towards Elise’s church. It had been built on Slav pagan grounds back in the 1100’s. It stood noble and proud in its simplicity. Elise has chosen it due to the power that was woven through it and the fact that most tourists didn’t bother to wander down the path and look at it when there were so many grander churches to admire. The plain terracotta walls with the green copper spires always made me pause and drink it in. There was something imposing and yet peaceful about it. It was a place of power and sanctuary. A guard tower watching over the city.  
    I wasn’t really religious; I knew the gods existed, but I wanted nothing to do with them. Yet I couldn’t help but bow my head and try to show a little respect when I walked up the couple of steps to the heavy wooden door. I missed half a beat when the serenity of the place washed over me. I stood in the small entrance way, and allowed my eyes to adjust to the dim light.  
    No one was within sight. My muscles relaxed and the chaos that had filled my mind dispersed to be replaced by the calm knowledge that I was safe. Lowering my eyes, I gave a small nod of respect to the image of the moon goddess that was etched into the wall behind a pristine white marble altar. Elise almost caught me off guard as I found myself becoming lost in my own thoughts. Quin’s going missing was making me realise just how much I’d given up and lost over my relatively short life. I couldn’t lose him, I’d shatter.  
    Elise looked as though she was gliding in her floor-length white dress. It tumbled down over her slight form and fell off her shoulders to expose her flawless pale skin. Her long white hair cascaded down her back, almost reaching her hips; she couldn’t keep the large smile from her soft blue lips. Her make-up was ritualistic and striking, adding to her ageless appearance. She was born a few days before me and Quin, yet she seemed ancient and young all at once.
      The powder-blue lips and pale silver eyeshadow were striking against the pitch-black eyeliner that highlighted her silver eyes. She couldn’t keep the delight from her face. I opened my arms and returned her grin. She might have been my