Read Online Crimson Desire by Elisabeth Morgan Popolow - Free Book Online Page B

I opened my eyes, I saw Sang in front of me, tied up with a crimson ribbon that was neatly made into a bow on his head. It was inside his mouth and over his eyes and wound around his limbs and stomach. I was so happy to see that he was here and not somewhere else and embraced him in which he said from his gag, “Lily!” and embraced me lovingly back.
    Annabelle was ecstatic. “Do you like your gift, hm? Do you like it?”
    First of all, Sang wasn’t an it, but I couldn’t say that to her, could I? She was little miss perfect, after all. I gave her a crooked smile and replied to her liking, “I love it.”
    “Oh, I knew you would! Chester always makes me happy, and I know that you love him as well. Let’s make this night worth it.” She popped the cork off a bottle of champagne, and it fizzed all over the carpet. She poured two glasses, and I looked over for a third for Sang.
    Annabelle said, “Oh, no, slaves don’t get champagne. They must watch their masters and learn.”
    I tensed the muscles in my arms and was going to punch her, but one glance at Sang tied up in that scarlet ribbon as a present and I let it go. Would it really be worth it? Fuck yeah. But the consequences were far higher.
    We toasted our glasses, and I swallowed mine down in a few gulps as Annabelle finished hers. Sang stood perfectly still, not moving his feet an inch. I grasped his hand and guided him to the bed where I sat him down and joined him. I peeled the ribbon off his body and embraced him tightly.
    Annabelle strode to the window, screwed it open, and jumped outside.
    “Come out, Chester and Lily. We’re having a night-time tea-party!” She twirled around, the green lace dress she was now wearing flaring out like a parasol. Sang and I exchanged glances, shrugged, and leapt from the window to the outside.
    The clouds were thin and feathery, and the sky was a warm salmon pink striped with orange. The sun was almost at the bottom of the horizon. There were round white tables and cushioned seats filling the huge space behind the orchard. Chinese lanterns were strung from a cable suspended up high, and there was a long table in the center holding all sorts of sweets, tea, and pitchers of what I presumed to be blood.
    And the people. There were people everywhere, swarming like insects, chattering like squirrels. Some were wearing expensive clothing while others only wore rags, and some even had metal collars attached to their necks. It sickened me, and I decided not to look at anyone. Nope, Lily, just don’t look. I couldn’t take it.
    Annabelle flamboyantly bounced onto a seat, and Kristy instantly came over and set three glasses and a tea-cup in front of her. “Lily, Chester, come join me,” she sang.
    We both grabbed a chair and sat side by side with Annabelle on the opposite stretch of the table. She took a small sip of steaming tea and then gulped at one of the glasses that had a peculiar blue liquid in it. I asked, “What is that you’re drinking?”
    “Oh, this?” She tilted the glass, its contents splashing over the rim. “It’s alcohol. Want some?”
    I shivered nervously and said, “No, thank you. I can’t drink alcohol.” I could drink a tiny bit if I wanted but I didn’t want to risk it, no way in Hell.
    “Aw.” She pouted. “At least drink some tea with blood.”
    She snapped her fingers, and Kristy rushed over to us and handed an intricate tea-cup decorated with verdant ceramic roses. It smelled minty and fresh, and I sipped at it, and my eyes widened as I was taken aback by how strangely delicious it tasted.
    “So, for this party, I am the Red Queen. Although I prefer the Green Queen. Green is my favorite color, did you know that?” Her words were slurred, and her menacing aura pulsed off of her freely as if it was an electrical tower.
    “I would’ve never guessed,” I spoke, resisting the urge to laugh.
    “And you, Chester, you’re the Cheshire Cat, and Lily is Alice. Doesn’t it fit us all so