When Truth Fails by Lucianna Gray Read Free Book Online Page B

said the younger brother. While they may share the same bright blue eyes, the younger brother had sandy colored hair.
    “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Ellie said, pulling up a chair. “It’s all good.” They all stared at her blankly. “I mean,” she began again. “I mean that it’s okay. You don’t have to pay me back. Magnus is right. If we split up, it will be safer for everyone. Just be sure and stay out of trouble and I’ll consider that a debt repaid.”
    The boys nodded. “We were caught stealing fruit,” said the blonde.
    “We will go out of town and find a new place. Start fresh.”
    “Keep out of trouble,” added the blonde. He grinned. Ellie had seen that grin on the faces of her students before. She knew what that meant. While she could have felt anger well up inside – the motherly instinct – she chose to ignore it in favor of her survival instinct instead.
    After the breaking of bread and some grateful goodbyes, the house purged its guests into the streets with the brothers heading out of town and Magnus and Ellie headed toward the market. Ellie was beginning to get used to this lifestyle and that thought worried her. She made her way through the back alleys with Magnus in the lead. Their target was the market for provisions so that they could set up camp outside of the city.
    “The woods are a perfect place to hide,” Magnus said. “We can set up a nice quiet camp so that we can figure out what we will do later.”
    There was a hop in Magnus’ step. It was different than normal – not that she knew what normal was with him. It was a strictly “running from the cops” type of relationship. She chuckled at the thought. I sure know how to pick ‘em, she thought.
    “How many apples do you think you can shove in that tunic of yours?” Magnus asked, coming to a full stop. They were still under the cover of the shadows of the alleyway.
    “I can carry some. I mean, I don’t have any pockets or anything,” she said looking down.
    He pulled her aside and gently pushed her back against a wall. Ellie was surprised at her own lack of objections as he pulled her tunic up so that it bunched up over her belt. He was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her cheek. His hand fell onto her shoulder.
    “Cassius,” she whispered. What? she thought.
    “What?” he said, taking a step back. They both stared each other down, trying to read the expressions on their faces.
    She broke the silence first. “I’m sorry. It’s just. I mean, I need to get to Cassius. What you said about your sister. I know that he can help.”
    “Right.” The faint smile on his face disappeared. “Of course.”
     

Chapter Two
     
    The marketplace smelled like smoke and rotting summer. It was also buzzing with people – and flies. Mostly flies. In comparison to the grocery stores that Ellie was used to, this place was disgusting and the thought of eating anything there was… Ellie bit her lip. All she had for breakfast was a piece of bread. In fact, all she’s had for a long time was just bread. But the wares available at the marketplace varied from meat to exotic fruits (some that she had never seen before) and fabrics of all colors and shapes. It was fascinating.
    She hadn’t spent the time to really appreciate the fact that she was experiencing what she had only been dreaming about for the last half of her life. An overwhelming feeling of hope filled her chest until she realized that she might not get to really appreciate this in comparison to her own home. Because she probably wouldn’t make it back to her home again.
    “What are you doing?” Magnus whispered loudly.
    Ellie snapped out of it. “What?”
    “Why are you standing here? Come on. We cannot stand still. We must keep moving so that nobody can see us.”
    Ellie nodded. That was the makeshift plan that they had come up with at the breakfast table.
Gather provisions.
Don’t get caught.
Set up a base so that they can find each other if