Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Gabe laughed a deep, hearty chuckle that came from his gut, which was both annoying and... catchy. I hated him for laughing, despised him for making me want to laugh along with him, and wanted to be anywhere else so that I would have somewhere I could run to get away. Of course, that was right after I could find a coffee mug—or four—to recreate one of my most favorite encounters with Gabe.

"It's not funny," I said, mumbling.

"Why don't you stamp your feet and thrash a little so you can make this a complete tantrum?"

I crossed my arms and turned away to pout with a smile I couldn't let him see. "You're a jerk."

"Alyssa, the Pure Souls don't need to eat. I wasn't laughing at you, but the idea." He walked over to the side of the bed to offer his hand. "Why don't you come with me so you can see for yourself? It isn't so scary. Afterwards, I'll even take you to the garden so we can talk."

"This isn't a ruse to get me to attend the school?" Looking at his hand and then his face, I squinted, trying to gage his sincerity. "You aren't going to bring me there and leave me to start classes?"

"Of course not."

"Is that a promise?"

My kind can't lie. Even now, David's words chose the right time to emerge, like if he couldn't be here to help me, my mind saved everything he said to replay when it was needed. Or was that just me, letting the crazy loose again?

"I promise that I won't leave you while we are at Glory Academy to start school," he said. "A simple tour and then we'll talk. Alone."

"In the garden."

I wanted to see it again, especially since Mike had already taken Suzie. The need to discover if reality lived up to its dream counterpart was strong. If it was the same, the rest of what the dreams had shown me would have to be real too.

"I promise. In the garden."

I let him help me up, and he let go as soon as I was on my feet. When he dropped my hand, I felt disappointed.

*****

We traveled from the seventh floor to the second until we were outside the golden, high-arched main doors of Glory Academy. Up close, the building was massive, and even more amazing than I had already realized. Winding stairs wrapped around exterior glass elevators, and a patio with glass railings extended from French doors on every level. At the top and final floor, the one designated for the Brothers, the patio wrapped around the building completely, separating them from all that lay below. Still, with transparent flooring, the Brothers could watch from above, removed but present.

"Alyssa, this is Uri," Gabe said, gesturing between me and the first person we ran into. "He's one of the Brothers."

"How many Brothers are there?" I asked and smiled at Uri in greeting.

Like Gabe, Mike, and Raffy, he was gorgeous. He was of Chinese descent and crafted to perfection with dark hair tied in a loose ponytail at his nape, clear skin, and an oh-so-perfect smile full of brilliant white teeth. If the Brothers were anything like the Seven Dwarves, Uri, I assumed, would be Happy.

"There are seven," Gabe said, and I looked at Uri. "Uri is the Fourth."

"He means that I'm the middle guy," Uri said, laughing. "I get to order as many Brothers around as I am commanded by. Gabe gets to do what he wants."

"Well, I don't take his orders. If you want me to tell this guy a what-for, just let me know," I said, smiling sweetly up at Gabe. "I'll be happy to."