Shadow Moses [Fransykes]

Chapter 19

I stood by the table in the yard, leaning onto the wall. My view to Josh's balcony was perfect from there, and with my arms crossed I watched him smile at his fiancee. She was sitting next to him on a small sofa near the fence, her pale face bright as she glared at him in adoration.

I chewed my bottom lip. I couldn't hear their words, but I could hear their laughter. It made me sick. They've been doing this all morning, and I've been staring at them the whole time. They never noticed.

My head seemed to be in a balloon full of steam as my temples pulsated in the rhythm of my rapid heartbeat. Hotness ripped through my skin. I felt like I could punch someone.

Their hands were connected. Lying between them as neither of them dared to break their eye contact. My only comfort was the fact Josh wasn't attracted to women, but to be fair, I was seriously starting to question that. He seemed so happy with her. And it wasn't like I had to question why. She could give him so much that I couldn't - starting with the fact he didn't have to be ashamed of his feelings for her.

A coppery sensation spread across my tongue and I let my lip go from the firm hug of my teeth.

''You know...'' Kellin's voice made me jump. ''I've been a slave in this yard for long enough to assure you he's not into women,'' he said with a cheerful smile as I turned to look at him. ''He may be fascinated with her, but he's not jacking off to her.''

His words planted the wrong image into my head and I cringed.

''What's wrong with you?'' I pushed him back.

He laughed as he stumbled backwards. ''It kinda satisfies me how pathetic you look.''

''Well, go be satisfied somewhere else,'' I said.

''Ha,'' he clicked his tongue. ''You really are miserable.''

I rolled my eyes, without a word returning my gaze to the couple on the balcony.

''You know he doesn't have a choice,'' Kellin said, sounding serious this time. ''He has to spend time with her where people can see them, and he has to pretend like he's head over heels for her. Being a part of the high class is all about being a great actor.''

I threw him a glance. I wanted to respond, but every sentence I came up with sounded way too whiny for me to say it to him, so I didn't. Instead, I looked back to the balcony.

Kellin grabbed my hand, turning me to him. "Oliver, seriously!" His gaze was harsh. "You're better than this."

I pulled my hand out of his grip. "Fuck off."

"Look you idiot." He pulled me back to him. "They're all staring." His eyes ran across the slaves in sight. "If this is your way of keeping a secret then go for it, but in ten days he's gonna be married to that bitch whether you like it or not, and all you're accomplishing here is making the slaves hate you even more."

"Too bad we won't be here in ten days," I muttered, turning away from him.

"What?" He pulled me back to him once again.

My eyes widened. "Nothing," I said quickly, avoiding his gaze.

"What do you mean you won't be here in ten days?" He asked.

"For fuck's sake, can you leave me alone already?" I pushed him away from me.

I could feel his eyes on me even when I looked away, and as Josh and Abigail suddenly disappeared, I turned, rushing beside him, aiming for the door to our slave rooms. I hoped this meant the bitch had to leave, and the thought of catching some alone time with Josh sparked me up.