Marie's Journey (Ginecean Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF

race, there weren’t a lot of choices. Still, she wouldn’t have condemned herself to a loveless life just to eat or dress better. She nudged Verena’s shoulder with hers and when the girl turned, she smiled at her.
    Verena lowered her eyes and blushed. “Am I that easy to read?”
    Marie shrugged but tilted her head slightly and widened her smile.
    “She deserves a better life.” For the briefest of moments, Verena’s gaze went back to Darlene. “I know I’ll never be able to give her what she wants.” She slowly uncurled from her sitting position. “I need to loosen up my legs.”
    “I’ll come with you.” Marie would have preferred to stay and listen to some more stories, but it was clear Verena could use some company and neither Cina nor Laila were looking in their direction, their faces rapt by the narration. “You too deserve a better life, you know?” Marie said, unable to contain her frustration at Verena’s fatalism. “I know I deserve better than peeling potatoes.”
    “You must come from a nice place.”
    “I suppose I do.” Once again, sadness invaded her heart at the consideration she wasn’t at the Institute anymore. They moved silently, exiting the gazebo without disturbing the other girls.
    Verena led her to a darker corner. “They can’t see us from there.”
    “Does she know your feelings?” Marie looked around, letting her eyes get used to the dim light surrounding them. Only a flickering sconce illuminated the archway at the end of a small courtyard created by the recessing walls of the building. She looked up, wondering which wing the walls belonged to.
    “I was stupid enough to declare my love.” Verena laughed.
    Marie lowered her eyes to the herringbone-patterned cobblestones. “I’m sorry.” What else could she say? It wasn’t that she had any experience in unrequited love. She had kissed Idra and Idra had kissed her back. And before Idra, there had been nobody else. She was only fifteen, not old enough to have her heart broken.
    “Well, I should’ve known better.” Verena walked slowly, kicking a pebble that skidded on the stone pavement with a pleasant metallic sound. She stopped under the sconce and removed a small box from one of the pocket on her pants. “Mint?”
    “No, thanks—” Something moved under the archway and Marie jumped.
    “What is it?” Verena put her body before Marie’s in a protective, bigger-sister way. “Is anybody there?” She walked closer to the archway where the sound had originated. “I don’t have time for stupid pranks. Come out.”
    “People do this kind of thing here?”
    “Pranks?”
    Marie nodded. “Yes, pranks.”
    “All the time.”
    Marie shivered at the idea. She hated pranks. Especially if they were aimed to scare the unfortunate recipient.
    “Maybe it was a rat.” Verena made sign to go farther inside.
    “A rat?” Marie didn’t follow her. Darkness and scurrying rodents weren’t a combination she liked.
    “Probably. That’s another entry to the cellars.” Verena disappeared, wrapped by the shadows.
    Marie stood, certain she didn’t want to go any closer to the archway, but not happy to be left there outside all by herself. A few seconds later, she heard the distinct click of an opening locket and Verena’s disembodied voice calling her.
    “Why are we going there?” Marie asked to the archway.
    “Got a surprise for you.” Verena reemerged from the shadows, empty hand outstretched, a big smile on her face.
    “Are we going to get in trouble?” Marie couldn’t believe that sentence had escaped her mouth. Until a day ago, she would’ve been the one looking for trouble. She cursed, appalled at her own thoughts, and took Verena’s hand. I’ve been here less than three days for the Goddess’s sake.
    “If we’re caught.”
    Marie felt the dare in Verena’s words and stepped into the darkness, angry with herself for looking like a coward.
    “Thought so.”
    Marie felt overly pleased by Verena’s