Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page B

Antoine.
    “Suit yourself, but I’m just breaking in. I need to be ready to find the girl again. I’m not letting this opportunity pass us.”
    I hopped through the open window and took in my surroundings. The sparse furnishings were obviously more for show than living.
    Garnier jumped in behind me and I was surprised how quickly Antoine and Vincent followed.
    Antoine surveyed his surroundings. “I could use your help getting everything sorted out.”
    “The father figure thing is getting really old,” I said.
    “Like eight hundred years old,” Garnier joked behind me.
    “Just because you look old enough to be our father, doesn’t mean you can order us around,” I said.
    “Well as long as you continue acting like a kid—“ Antoine started.
    “Enough, both of you,” said Vincent. “We just need to all pitch in and make this place livable. You want to be free, Guillaume? Well, responsibility is part of freedom.”
    “This isn’t really my thing.” I pulled out another stale cigarette.
    Antoine took it away.
    “It’s now acceptable to forbid you from smoking indoors.”
    “Why do I care what’s acceptable, or not, by society?” I reached for another cigarette.
    “Don’t.”
    “Or what?” This was no longer only about the cigarette, decades of tension wrapped up in our words.
    “After watching for this long, we’re all weak. But my human shape is bigger than yours, and I am pretty sure I would be able to win the fight.” His jaw clenched.
    I shrugged and walked out to go smoke on the roof.

6
    Guillaume
    I lay on my back looking up at the blue sky, while enjoying my cigarette. I noticed the vibrations caused by someone stepping up on the roof and sat up to watch Garnier approach. His steps were slow and steady. His face, inscrutable. I continued to study him, wondering what his reaction would be. He was always unpredictable—I guess we all were—but after visiting Marguerite he would be doubly so. He sat next to me.
    “Why are you fighting with Antoine? What is going on?”
    “I wouldn’t call it a fight. He decided I shouldn’t smoke inside, and I didn’t agree with said decision.” I spoke aloud. There was no need for the others to take part in this conversation.
    “We are all a bit on edge right now.”
    “So we are … ”
    “Did you find her?”
    “Yes, I followed her home. I need to talk to her, maybe observe her, I don’t know.”
    “So why are you here?”
    I wondered the same thing. Part of me was ready to go. Ready to find answers. No one else was going to solve the problems caused by our low supply of essence. Maybe this was why I hesitated. No one else was concerned. No one else really cared and I wondered why I should.
    “Today is Saturday. She could leave the house at any time, or not at all. I refuse to watch the whole day. I’ll go back Monday morning, since she should have to go to school. It will make it easier to trail her then.”
    “Are you sure it was she who woke us?”
    “She did the chanting.”
    “I guess so.”
    “How was your visit?” I brought the subject to Marguerite. After the way things had ended with her, she was never too far from my thoughts.
    “Her gravesite hasn’t changed at all, though it seems the whole cemetery is much bigger now. Everything was peaceful.”
    “That’s good.”
    “I guess … ”
    “She deserves her peace.”
    He nodded.
    “But I think I made my peace too,” he said.
    I appreciated the sentiment, but I couldn’t return it, and my thoughts were already on to something else. “We need to get our strength back, Garnier. I can’t remember feeling this weak since we were made.”
    “Why? We no longer have anyone to protect. I understood the necessity when we were protecting her … but not now. Now it would be selfish. Now is the time for us to be normal.”
    “Normal? How long do you think this essence will last us? Months? I think it is most likely weeks. How is experiencing life for a couple of weeks