Strange Fates (Nyx Fortuna) by Marlene Perez Read Free Book Online Page B

life.”
    “He used to volunteer at this soup kitchen on Nicolett. I’d cruise by every few weeks to pick up a bag of groceries and we became friends,” he said. “He was working on something special.”
    “Special how?”
    He shrugged. “I didn’t really understand it, but it had something to do with the water.”
    I processed the information. My aunts were gathering wealth. Either that, or they just enjoyed the power over humans. “Anybody else know about this?”
    “Nobody,” he replied.
    “Make sure it stays that way,” I warned. “The Fates make that troll look like a teddy bear.” He gave me a sharp look and I added, “Or so I’ve heard.”
    “Anything for you,” he said. His look of hero worship made me squirm. I’d only disappoint him, eventually. Or get him killed. Or both.
    “What now?” I asked him.
    “I want to go home,” he whispered. “I want to forget it ever happened.”
    I gestured to the car. “What’s stopping you?”
    His face blanched. “It’s not mine. I don’t want it. I never want to see it again.” He broke into noisy sobs and I realized that he was even younger than he had first appeared.
    “C’mon, I’ll buy you breakfast,” I said. “And we’ll figure out what to do next.”
    He drove us to a restaurant called Hell’s Belles, which was a few blocks from the Greyhound station.
    The place was crowded with mortals and mages alike. All the tables facing the door were already occupied, so we had to settle for the counter.
    “Funny,” I said. The fry cook was a demon, and so was the waitress serving coffee at the counter.
    “What is?” Jasper asked.
    “The name,” I said. “Hell’s Belles, get it?” It was the perfect name for a demon-owned establishment.
    He shrugged. “Not really,” he said. He turned his attention to the menu.
    The prices were reasonable, though. Jasper ordered like he hadn’t had a decent meal in years. “And a hot chocolate, with lots of whipped cream,” he added.
    “Just coffee for me,” I said.
    The food came and the smell of hot biscuits and bacon made me regret not ordering anything. Jasper handed me one of his biscuits and shoved the little bowl of gravy at me. “You’ve got to try these.”
    The biscuits had been beaten into submission until they were melt-in-your-mouth fluffy. Everything was hot and fresh.
    The diner gradually emptied out until we were the only customers left.
    The older demon came over to refill my coffee. She had the eyes of an old basset hound, but the nose of a young one. She sniffed the air delicately. I hoped my disguise would hold. The coffee spilled over into the saucer as she scanned the diner, but she finally retreated to the kitchen.
    “How long have you been in Minneapolis?” I asked Jasper. It was a long shot, but maybe he had some useful information, besides the fairly old news that my aunts were looking for me.
    “About a year,” he said. He shuddered, remembering. “Tank and I ran away, but all our money was gone within two weeks. We thought we were so smart, breaking into the old fort.”
    He stared into his hot chocolate for a long time, but finally roused himself. “You know the rest. What about you?”
    “Just got into town,” I said.
    He leaned in closer and asked in a whisper, “How did you know? About the troll?”
    “I felt him,” I explained. “Trolls are predators. I know that hunted feeling like the back of my hand.”
    I glanced around cautiously, but we were the only customers. I was probably telling him more than I should have, but didn’t they say confession was good for the soul? Besides, Jasper would be on the next bus out of town. I’d make sure of it.
    He wrapped a couple of the biscuits in a paper napkin and put it in his pocket.
    I wasn’t hungry anymore, but I did the same.
    “You’re on the run?” he asked.
    I shook my head. “Not anymore. No more running. I’m going to kill the people who murdered my mother and then kill myself.” He didn’t