Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

VIVIENNE RAN from the meeting room, but she didn't know where she planning to run to. Run back home to Lewisville? It was a bit late for that.

Vivienne leaned against one of the many stark white columns in the grand lobby with tears burning in her eyes and wished she could disappear. What was Janun and her mother doing now? Eating breakfast? Did her mom make pancakes again? Maybe Janun made her throw it all away again because she was on a diet again to impress some stupid boy.

Then a sharp, cackling laugh broke through the silence of the atrium. Vivienne's head whipped around. Janun? No, it wasn't her. It was that girl Vivienne saw outside with the entourage. It was the one Calbert called "Lady Balan."

The girl with the greyish-black hair was leaning against one of the many railings a couple of floors up. The atrium was so quiet, Vivienne could hear her voice perfectly.

"I knew you would come here. I can never keep track of what fake name you're using anymore."

"Then we'll forget about names, M —"

Vivienne recognized that voice even though Blake was blocked from view. She would recognize it anywhere.

"Call me Arietta," Lady Balan corrected before Blake could finish. "I'm here on business too."

Blake sighed as though he wished he could disappear too. Vivienne saw him come into view up above her. He was leaning against the rail now, surveying the empty tiles down below. Vivienne retreated behind the columns. She wasn't ready to speak to him yet, not with these childish homesick tears in her eyes.

"Does it have anything to do with Vivienne Weisse? I see the Pearl Tower witches are milling about today. Is this all your doing?"

"My father offers a trade. Vivienne Weisse for your deal with Charles Leung."

"Is that what all this was about?" Blake suddenly laughed. He somehow sounded both angry and relieved. "You brought her here because my dealing with Leung threatens Gabriel? I'm flattered. I'm only a boy, barely twenty-one and Gabriel is afraid of me?"

"No. Not of you."

"He's afraid of Charles Leung." Blake whispered as though he suddenly put the pieces together.

"Look, I know what that deal meant to you. I know you're tettering on the verge of losing everything and this trade pact with Yagerin is the only thing keeping your company afloat. It is a lifeline that you dearly need."

"Gabriel has been trailing me," Blake laughed softly. "I wasn't aware I led such an interesting life. My 'company' is nothing. Just a boy playing in a sandbox."

"A sandbox filled with Black Waters," Arietta hissed. "Listen to me. You're not ready to deal with the likes of Leung. I know that you're not even legally allowed to drink the alcohol that you plied Charles Leung with. The rumors say that you impressed him like no one has before. So much so that he wants to marry his granddaughter to your future son."

"An easy deal to make. I do not intend to have children and Charles' wife is on her third miscarriage. You don't mean to tell me Gabriel wants a part of that deal too? Isn't he pushing fifty?"

"Stop. You should know better than to mock my father." Arietta sighed. "Be careful or you'll end up like S—" Arietta caught herself and continued in a softer tone. "I know you're not your father. You know what they say about you? You have foresight. You inherited more than your late mother's looks. You have your mother's cunning. What my father sees in you scares him. Vivienne Weisse is here to ensure you won't grow into something that can challenge him."