Blood Red (89 page)

She had to open the doors. She needed to see, to know if her dreams were real. She reached out and touched the brass door handle. She thought it would be hot to the touch, searing her skin. But it was cool, 176

Blood Red

not a thing of flesh. She pulled the handle and pushed open the door.

It swung in slowly, creaking slightly. The creaking sent shivers down her spine. She berated herself for her inaction. Only action would chase her fear. She kicked open the other door and rushed into the room, sword up and ready.

The room was empty.

Red swung around and surveyed behind her. She was alone. The vast room was devoid of others. She moved to the desk and touched the chair. She felt something there. A residue of some power. She glanced at the chair her Granny had sat in. She looked around the room and remembered it all clearly.

Sniffing the air, she could almost smell the sweet essence of jasmine. A scent her Granny had always had.

Tears welled in her eyes. She squeezed them shut, refusing to let them fall. Red fell to her knees and lifted her head to the sky.

“Why! Why did you do this to me! You have forsaken my future and damned me forever!”

“You are not forsaken, my child. You are blessed.”

Red turned toward the cracked voice. She stared hard through the veil of tears.

Two tall spindly men stood in the open doorway.

They both smiled, their mouths barely twitching. The smile never reached their cold gray eyes. Their faces were wrinkled and their skin gray. They both looked to be over a hundred years old.

Red stood erect, her sword and dagger displayed at her sides.

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“My, you have grown into quite a formidable woman. Stronger than we ever expected you to be,”

one Brother spoke.

Red stared at them both, unmoving.

The other brother nodded. “Strong breeding, that.”

Red flinched. “Do not delude yourselves into thinking that my strength has anything to do with you.” Her voice was hard and cold.

One Brother smiled. “But it has, my dear, it has everything to do with us, and you know it.” He moved into the room, bridging the gap between them.

Red tensed. She raised her sword an inch, preparing.

Both Brothers moved boldly into the room, flanking her on each side.

“Do you not see? You are everything we hoped you’d be.” He stepped closer to her. “Ruthless, manipulative, selfish, cold, and cruel. Everything a father could ever hope for in a daughter.”