Dead Girl Walking Read Online Free PDF Page B

tired of being a reaper. It's exhausting making every appointment. If you miss one, Edon will skin you alive.”
    Leila gulped anxiously and her stomach flopped. The scroll burned her skin just thinking about her first reap.
    “Not literally,” Emblyn clarified.
    “Even so,” Violetta said, “there are days I wish I could be with Rebekah again. I know we can't ever be together in the way we were as children, but I wonder if she’ll even recognize me when it’s my turn to move on. We change bodies so many times as reapers that I wonder if she'll see me for who I am.”
    “Of course she will,” Emblyn said. “You're her sister. You'll always be sisters. Now enough with the sad talk, who wants to play cards?”
    “I'm going to head to bed early.” Leila wasn't in the mood to play cards. She got up from the sofa, walked into her room, and shut the door. She fell onto the mattress in a heap and shut her eyes.
    “ How do I look?” Mara asked. She'd made her own costume for the ball. Their father would be livid. A black corset covered her torso. She also wore a shiny red skirt and had sewn on giant playing cards. “I'm the Queen of Wands,” she said. “Do you get it? From the card game we were given last year. I think it's funny.” She spun around, her black heels clanking against the wooden floor. Her long locks of dark hair flowed around her shoulders.
    “Come here.” Ophelia brought Mara toward the vanity and gently guided her to sit. “Let me do your hair.” Ophelia brushed the tangles away and braided her hair down the back. “We should get you a crown. After all, you're queen tonight.” She knew it was unlikely Mara would ever be queen. It was probably why she wanted to dress up as queen for the ball. It wasn't appropriate though, even if it did make both girls smile.
    “I made my own,” Mara boasted. On a black bow, she had attached three playing cards along with a bit of lace. “Help me get it in my hair.”
    “Mara, you know you can't actually wear this downstairs. It's cute, but father will freak out.” She didn't mention the rest of the patrons at the party would be discussing her ensemble as well.
    “Come on,” Mara whined. “I made it myself. I thought you, of all people, would support me.”
    “I do support you. It's why I’m telling you if you wear that downstairs you'll be grounded for the next decade.”
    “That's a long time.” Mara sighed and stared up at her sister with bright blue eyes. She knew one person who would be surprised but not angry, her maid. “Can we play a trick on Sophia?”
    Leila awoke early the next morning. She changed into a cream dress Emblyn had loaned her and put her hair up just like Violetta had the day before. Quietly, she tiptoed out of her room and down the hall. Her eyes widened in shock when she ran into a young brunette gentleman slipping out of Violetta's room. She stood in the hall, frozen.
    “Good morning,” he said and smiled politely. Leila averted her gaze.
    “You're naked!” She blushed, staring up at the ceiling awkwardly.
    “Yes, I needed to use the latrine.” He certainly didn't come across as bashful.
    Leila laughed under her breath. “And you thought you needed to strip down before walking outside?” She backed up against the wall, letting the stranger walk past. She waited until she heard the front door click and took a deep breath. “Roommates,” she muttered.
    She headed out the front door, hoping the stranger was nowhere in sight. Hearing the squeak of the latrine door shut, she walked around back and found two horses tied up. “Sorry, Vi, borrowing the beast for the day.” She saddled up and gripped the reins. “Here goes nothing.” She held on as best she could. She'd never ridden a horse, but she'd seen enough people to know how it was done. She held tight, directing the horse away from the cottage and back toward the kingdom.
    She rode north for hours, and her stomach grumbled in protest for skipping breakfast.