Broken (The Captive #5.5)(33)

"Genny! Genny!" She didn't know how long Camille had been calling for her but her sister gave her a disgruntled look when she arrived at her side. "What is wrong with you?"

Genny blinked, shook her head, and forced a smile. "Nothing is wrong."

"I've been calling you for the past fifty feet and you just kept walking."

"Sorry," she apologized as Camille looped her arm through hers. "I guess I was daydreaming."

"About him," Camille teased.

Genny forced a laugh but it was difficult to get the sound out when her chest felt like it was being crushed. "Maybe a little."

"Did you enjoy your ride?" Camille inquired as she leaned against her side.

"It was a wonderful time," she admitted.

Camille glanced up at her from under the thick fringe of her lashes. A wistful smile played across her mouth before her head dropped down to Genny's shoulder again. "I'm glad. You deserve some happiness."

Genny kissed the top of her sister's head, she was tempted to tell her about what had happened between the two of them today, but it was still so new to her and she wasn't sure her sister would understand. "I am happy," she said instead.

Camille squeezed her arm as they continued down the street. They passed a few of the Watchmen but by now most of them had retreated to the club in the center of the village for the night to stand guard. They passed by the large stable that served as cover for the club that had been built beneath it. Genny had never been inside this club but just passing by it she could smell the aromas of blood and sex that wafted out from within. No human would ever know it was there, but any passing vampire would be able to find it immediately. Unlike the more luxurious clubs the aristocrats attended, both male and female vampires gathered within the small club that every village had.

The closer they got to Felix's small hut, the more the gulf inside of her became a block that seemed to be tied around her neck. She hoped that he would decide to take tonight's earnings and go to the club but just being inside that hut made her feel imprisoned. The light flickering from the candles inside the other huts they passed looked almost inviting, but the light coming from Felix's seemed more like a bad omen.

Even before they arrived at the rickety shelter, she heard Marie's voice drifting out from within. She exchanged a questioning look with Camille as Marie's high, flirtatious laughter filled the air. "Sounds like she's been drinking," Camille muttered.

Genny nodded her agreement, she forgot all about her concern over why Merle had been ordered to retrieve Atticus when she rested her hand on the knob. Thrusting back her shoulders and lifting her chin, she braced herself before opening the door and stepping into the hovel. "There they are! My girls!"

The scent of cheap wine filled Genny's nostrils seconds before her mother's palms squeezed her cheeks and then she kissed her puckered lips. Genny recoiled from the wretched scent of stale wine wafting from her and the cool feel of Marie's lips as if she'd been slapped. Marie must have consumed enough wine for ten men if she was willing to touch her again, let alone kiss her. She couldn't remember the last time either of those things had happened.

"Oh Genevieve, always so reserved, sometimes I wonder if you are my child," Marie said in a falsely bright tone.

"So do I," Genny muttered.

Marie laughed as she danced over toward Camille who took an abrupt step behind Genny in order to try and avoid her. The fact that her youngest child wanted even less to do with her than Genny had was no deterrent. She grabbed Camille's arm and tugged her forward. "So beautiful, my Camille. You look so much like me!"

So much like you used to look, Genny thought as she took in Marie's haggard appearance. Vampires usually stopped aging in their early twenties but nearly seventy-five years of hard living had taken their toll on Marie. Her hair was the same wheat blonde color as Camille's but it hung lankly around her face and was currently darker in hue due to the fact that it had a thick layer of grease built up on it. Her skin didn't have Camille's healthy peaches and cream glow but was a sickly pale color that reminded Genny of a human on their deathbed. Even her once red lips were faded to an unhealthy bluish white. Her high cheekbones stood out sharply, and her clothes hung limply on her frail frame. It had been only a few days since she'd last seen Marie, but she appeared to have lost five pounds in that time.

Genny didn't care what it was Marie had been involved with while she'd been away or what she was up to now, just as she was sure Marie cared little about what she had been doing. There was a reason she was here tonight, a reason she was being so overtly loving toward them and Genny knew she would reveal her reasons soon.

Camille's lips skimmed back in revulsion and she finally succeeded in tugging her hands free of Marie's grip. Marie laughed as she twirled away toward where Felix sat in his chair in the corner. There were a couple flagons of wine on the floor at his feet; his brown eyes were bloodshot as they went from Genny to Camille and back again. His brown hair had been slicked back with grease from his narrow face, rat-like nose and stubble lined jaw.

"Money," he barked and held out his hand.

So that's it, Genny thought as she reached into her cloak and pulled out her small money purse. Marie must have run out of her own funds and had now returned to whisper in Felix's ear. Marie slid onto Felix's lap and turned sideways so that her legs draped over his arm, then glanced up at Genny with malice in her eyes. Genny refused to break eye contact with Marie as she moved closer to Felix. The cracks of the open palm she dropped the money into were filled with dirt; his fingernails were ragged and brown. She had no idea how Marie allowed this man to touch her, but then she supposed that they were both perfect for each other.