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Echo knew swimming was a passion of his. He should have stuck to that, rather than selling out the Tribe and passing state secrets to their enemies for his financial benefit.
When she walked through her front door, she was no longer Echo, only Nena.
She twirled her ponytail of long box braids around her fingers, studying Nena for the first time since she’d arrived.
I like this body language
It was her job to carry it out as commanded, and doubting the organization she’d pledged her life and loyalty to was what made her uncomfortable.
With her opposite hand, she dragged the blade across his neck, separating the soft, quivering folds of skin as if she were cutting through softened butter.
As Nena raced through the hallways and down the stairs, away from the girl in the bed who’d reminded Nena of a past she wished she could forget, she felt like she was running right back to the beginning of it all.
The history of my father’s people goes back hundreds of years to when the Ashanti and Fanti peoples warred among themselves for dominance and to trade with the Europeans who sought out African goods—goods being slaves.
Oftentimes, she found it hard to distinguish which was the real her, the socialite or the wudini.
“Do you mind having the bloke not whisper sweet nothings into your ear? He sounds loud as hell through the earrings,” her older sister’s voice suddenly cooed with syrupy sweetness through Nena’s earpiece.
lol
She could tell by the growing bulge in his pants as he held her close and the way he stared down at her with glazed eyes that he hoped to bed her tonight, but hopes were meant to be dashed.
But even Nena wouldn’t kiss this guy, Tom Cruise looks or not.
since when is Tom Cruise a heartthrob??? in what world?
And what had happened to who she used to be before, when she was Aninyeh? What had happened to that fourteen-year-old girl? Oh yeah, she’d died.
David murmured, “How did I get this lucky?” as he nuzzled her, no doubt putting a nose-shaped dent in her beautifully coarse, coily hair.
His face shines beneath a film of sweat in the suffocating heat. There lies the problem. The heat. It is not supposed to be this hot. This is not normal. None of this is normal. Therefore this, all of this, must be a terrible dream. Either that or we are in hell.
The heat from the fires makes the night unbearable, sucking out all the air. The intruders cast demon-like shadows in the fires’ light.
Nena sighed at the irony. The killer of the family was also the one who kept the peace.
Nena knew no one was coming for her except those Flushes. Because when a little man-child like that took offense, he’d burn everything down to get retribution. Even his very soul.
His smile falls, changing his looks from movie-star handsome to something monstrous.
Why was the first thing men resorted to exacting dominance over women through violation or defilement?
These boys wanted to play at being killers, but she was the real thing.
“Papa.” I want someone to save me. I can think of nothing else but self-preservation. “Papa, please, please don’t let them take me!”
:(
Paul demands my brothers take me.
Baby Jesus in a manger! Straight depravity
“I won’t do it.” Wisdom’s defiance flashes in his eyes. “Fuck you, you depraved asshole. Rot in hell.”
His arm falls on Wisdom’s shoulder, finding his twin, even in death.
He tries to be as gentle as possible as he prepares to do the devil’s bidding.
This is some next level darkness O___O
Even if by force, he had a choice. And Ofori chose wrong.
“You are a perverted son of a bitch, you know that?” Paul says incredulously. “I don’t know whether to be repulsed by you or impressed. I can’t believe he was going to do it.”
See. Even the villain don't respect you
Elin took the one step leading down into the sunken living room, her heeled sandals clicking on the white flooring, then silencing when she reached the plush rug.
Raping, pillaging, beheading, hacking people to pieces is not spilled milk.
I am a force for them, a feral animal locked on its prey. It takes four to restrain me. I am alight with lunacy. I want blood, all of theirs. I want death, my own.
If my mind had not turned to jelly and my limbs hadn’t become petrified wood, I might react properly to being called merchandise and the knowledge I am to be sold the following week. But all I can think of is water. And sleep. And maybe death, because the thought of it seems sweetest of all.
Nena looked down at the light-pink polished fingernails. The last person who’d touched her without invite was no longer of this world.
Each of us has an assigned guard to accompany her throughout the night until she becomes sponsored. Sponsored. It’s the word Paul says the buyers prefer to use. It makes them feel less like slavers and more like people “sponsoring” a new life for youth in need.
“I’m sorry about that. Sasha’s—” “A privileged, rude, racist Barbie doll?” Nena said helpfully. “I was going to say ‘different,’” Georgia finished. “Which would be wholly inaccurate. Don’t make excuses for the girl.”
Not for the first time, she found herself enjoying the way Cortland—Cort—looked at her, like she was desirable, more than a commodity or someone’s pet or a killer.
I think she's just ready for a change. He's seriously done nothing more than breathe a little lol
I am not watching to relish her death. I am learning his moves. If I ever get a chance, a big if, I can never allow him to get me beneath him. He cannot wrap his fingers around me like he is doing her. I would never get him off, as she cannot. I will need to maintain the upper hand.
I force myself to continue even while my strength is draining. It is not easy, killing a person. It is exhausting work. But I must finish him because to let him live is not an option.
His scrutiny was annoying, but she shook it off, thinking he was just trying to get in good with her.
I do not want any trouble. I wish to harm no one. But I am leaving with these items in my rucksack, and no one will stop me. My understanding of the stalemate is clear. Only one of us will be victorious, and I mean that one to be me.
our three-way stare down. Maybe she reads the determination on my face, a look that says I will not give these items up without a fight. I know I can do it, fight . . . until the death. Once you have killed your first, another may not be as difficult.
Tomorrow? We? She must be concussed. She speaks of us as a pair when there is only me, and I will be long gone.
I look like me again. I look like I belong somewhere and to someone. It makes me sad and elated. Guilt
She didn’t lie to herself that this job was like the others. This job wasn’t for the Tribe. It was only for her.
Thievery is one thing Elin, or anyone, will never be able to attribute to me. Because I only take when my hand is forced, and that includes when I must take lives.
“Find the thing that helps you remember your mum the most and keep her with
you, because you don’t have to let her go, ever. But you also make room in your heart for others to get the privilege of loving you as well.”
She’d rushed to Georgia’s aid because Cort had called her and Georgia needed her. But Nena knew it was really her who was the one in need of them.
Elin looked down at Georgia, her nose flaring in distaste. “So you’re the reason my little sister had to run off and wasn’t answering my calls.” Georgia pursed her lips and, without missing a beat, replied gravely, “You’ve had her all to yourself for a long time. Time to share Nena with the world.”
The answer comes out as quickly as breath. “To not be afraid anymore.” Elin looks at each of us worriedly, her face unable to hide her feelings. Ms. Delphine says, “But you’re safe with us. No one will ever harm you again, darling.” How can she ever understand what I mean? There is no amount of safety to keep you from harm. There is only the safety you can give yourself, and that type of safety is what I need for me.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said when she was close enough to hear him. She looked down, trying not to show how pleased she was at his compliment. “You are too.” Then her hand touched her lips. How stupid of her. That wasn’t how women complimented men. He smiled. “Thank you.”
