The Horror Emporium: A Horror Anthology
Page 18
“Yes, that,” Lachesis mumbles.
She still hasn’t answered Clotho’s question, and it doesn’t escape either of our notices. Something feels different in the air between us. Lachesis has always been the flighty one, the one who cares too much for the humans. Setting up the path of their lives makes it easy for her to grow attached to them. I’ve never judged her for it, because it makes sense. Logically, spending so much time planning out their paths makes it almost unavoidable.
“You’ve always been favored,” Lachesis whispers, turning to face me head on.
“Sister,” Clotho gasps.
I raise my eyebrow, taking in the gravity of the situation. Between us, Lachesis holds an Olympian Dagger. I push her hand aside and lean close to her face, my lip snarling up in distaste.
“If you think being the sister who brings death is the same thing as being favored, then you’re dumber than I thought. Go ahead.” I wave my hand toward my chest. “Stab me. See where that leaves you, Lachesis.”
“I’ll be rid of your cruelty!” She adjusts her grip on the handle.
I swallow, looking between the two of them. Clotho doesn’t seem nearly as shocked as I feel. “You knew about this?”
“No,” she whispers back. “Something seemed off about her today, though.”
“Stop talking!” Lachesis growls, pointing the dagger toward the empty street. “I. Hate. The. Favored!”
“We know.” I roll my eyes, holding my hand out to her. “Hand me the knife.”
“No.”
“Hand me the dagger, Lachesis. Or by Olympus, I will take it from you.” I hold my hand out flat, and look my sister square in the eye, waiting for her move.
Today has taken such a turn. Here I was, basking in the glory of finally being rid of Misery Nelson and my own sister has decided to betray me. I’m not even sure what this means for us. We’ve never tried to fulfill our roles separately before. Will humanity cease dying if she kills me?
Will one of my sisters be responsible for taking over my duties?
Will Ananke birth another? Pushing those intrusive thoughts from my mind, I shake my empty palm, waiting for the dagger.
Lachesis looks at my palm, then to Clotho. She sucks in a pitiful sob, and before it can grow too loud, she lays the dagger gently in my hand.
My fingers close around the blade and I immediately disperse it into the Ether. Where did she even find an Olympian Dagger?
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, looking between Clotho and myself. “I don’t know what came over me.”
A faint laugh drifts to me on the wind and I turn in time to see a child with a head full of dark curls run around the corner of the house we’re standing in front of. Looking up at the house, my heart skips a beat. We’d made it home. In front of us, the Nelson home stands. I swallow, turning around to face our own.
In the window, a curtain moves and chills blast up my spine.
“I think, maybe, you weren’t responsible,” Clotho sighs.
I glare at Lachesis, noting the dark circles already manifesting under her eyes. She looks even paler than normal; the subtle, dewy glow that usually radiates from her is nowhere to be found.
The sound of more laughter drifts to my ears, sending a chill down my spine as I search for the source of the noise. Walking backwards up our driveway, I eye my sisters warily. Something strange is going on, indeed.
“Attie . . .” Clotho points over my shoulder.
I spin around, coming face to face with a young girl who couldn’t be more than nine years old. Her thick black curls tumble around her face as she laughs—a too sweet, tinkling sound. The child pushes her hair out of her eyes and looks at me with the brightest blue gaze I think I’ve ever seen and my heart skips.
“Misery.”
“I’m sorry I broke your window!” Her voice morphs into something darker as her eyes deepen. The sapphires that haunted me for two decades are gone, swallowed by an empty blackness. A void.
I swallow, staring at the apparition until she pops out of sight—out of existence, hopefully. Just as I turn back toward the house to put an end to this day, to this chapter in our lives, a breath on the back of my neck sets off an explosion of goosebumps down my spine.
“I didn’t mean to, I promise,” Misery teases against my skin. I know it’s an illusion, but for a moment, I can feel the nails scratching gently down my arms as she whispers against my skin.
“I’m so glad I get to play with you forever, now,” she giggles.
Epilogue
The old shopkeeper stares at the door, waiting, but no one comes through. No one returns. A flickering candle sits in front of him, the soft light dancing back and forth across his face, casting sinister shadows along his weathered skin.
“The Horror Emporium has all your needs,” he mumbles, looking down into the flame. “Whether Fate is a cruel bitch, the monsters live below, or the devil is in the streets, you can be sure to find what you’re looking for,” he sighs. “But beware your choices. You can never go back.”
He straightens. “Thanks for stopping by.”
He blows out the candle and darkness takes over, a wispy trail of smoke curling toward the shelves.
The door dings as a customer comes inside . . .
Acknowledgments
Poppy:
I want to give a super special shout out this time to MalMal. She has been this force of nature since she came into my life, even before she was my PA. As a reader, she was the most helpful little fanatic that could have ever possibly stumbled into my reader group and our friendship just grew from there. This anthology wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for her. Misery Loves Co. would have definitely never happened because I’m the nice author. I don’t kill everyone! I usually leave that to Katie and Kendra, they’re so mean to their poor little characters. Mallory pushed me to write something different than I’ve ever written before and I’m so grateful she did.
Thank you to my 3way for always being there when I need to hear my ideas reworded and picked apart so they can be built into something better. I love you girls, as always, and could not do this author thing without y’all. Thank you for coming into my life and changing it for the better!
Thank you to Dani Black for editing Misery on such short notice. You’re a rockstar.
Thank you to my readers, without y’all, I’d be typing at 3AM for no reason.
Kendra:
First and foremost, I need to thank Poppy and Katie for being not only the best friends I could have ever had, but for being the greatest people to write with, too. Y’all complete me. You know that GIF of Dr. Evil saying that? That’s what I mean right now. You two build up my ego every day, keep me from going insane, and make me laugh on the daily. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Which takes me to Mallory Kent. Mal, I’m so glad I messaged you and was like “Hey! I need you to be my PA. Join us!” and you were like, “Uh, yeah! Of course!” and now you’re such a major part of my life, too. I named my MC after you for shits and giggles because this antho is definitely your fault. I hope you enjoyed reading about yourself. Lol.
Thank you to all the readers who embrace my weird and make this all possible. Thank you for giving me a reason to get weirder with my stories each time. Lol. I’m sorry about this ending. Kind of. Stay awesome!
K.A. Knight:
Poppy and Kendra you complete me....like a bad love song or a romcom. You are the good to my murderess mind, thank you for always being there and allowing me to kill everyone in this book! I love you girls, more than you will ever know. Mal, thank you for not letting me go insane even I add another idea to the list of fifty we already have, you are such a wonderful person and my life is better with you in it. (See, I can be sweet)
Jess, as usual, I don't know how you make my rambling look good but you did! Bri, I'm sorry I scared you so bad you couldn't sleep...not really. To all my readers who take a chance on this book, thank you for sticking by us no matter what we write. You are the reason we do th
is, why we work so hard and I hope you will always stick by me.
Murder queen out! *Mic Drop*
About the Authors
Kendra, Katie and Poppy met online and soon become fast friends. The friendship turned into a sisterhood and so the Three-Way began! With stories still left to tell, make sure to keep your eye on our triad!
Kendra lives in Texas where the summers are scorching, and the iced tea is straight sugar. When she isn't writing, she likes to go on real life adventures with her husband and son and hopes to one day scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.
Find out more on Kendra’s website or join her group to stay up to date.
K.A Knight is an indie author trying to get all of the stories and characters out of her head. She loves reading and devours every book she can get her hands on, she also has a worrying caffeine addiction.
She leads her double life in a sleepy English town, where she spends her days writing with her fur babies.
Read more at K.A Knight’s website or join her Facebook Reader Group.
When Poppy Woods isn't arguing with fictional characters, she can be found chasing her three-year-old around their Georgia home or working at one of her evil day jobs. On the off occasion that she isn't working, writing, or momming, Poppy is usually reading.
If you catch a Poppy in the wild just remember: Cocktails and chocolate are a valid form of bribery.
Poppy’s Facebook group
Poppy’s Newsletter
Also by Poppy:
Unsung Veil Series:
A Call to Pride (Book 1)
A Call to the Heart (Companion Short Story)
A Call to War (Book 2)
Dinoverse Series:
Dances with Raptors by Poppy Woods
Rexes and Robbers by Kendra Moreno
Dark Fantasy Reverse Harem:
Shipwreck Souls
Featuring: Kendra Moreno, K.A. Knight, Poppy Woods
Horror Emporium
Head Case
Also by Kendra:
Sons of Wonderland:
Mad as a Hatter
Late as a Rabbit
Feral as a Cat
Cruel as a Queen: Sons of Wonderland Companion Book
Steampunk Reverse Harem:
Clockwork Butterfly
Dinoverse Series:
Dances with Raptors by Poppy Woods
Rexes and Robbers by Kendra Moreno
From the 3way:
Featuring Kendra Moreno, K.A. Knight, Poppy Woods
Dark Fantasy Reverse Harem:
Shipwrecked Souls
Head Case: A Classic Retelling
Horror Emporium
Also by K.A. Knight:
THEIR CHAMPION SERIES
The Wasteland.
The Summit
The Cities
The Forgotten
DAWNBREAKER SERIES
Voyage to Ayama
Dreaming of Ayama
HER MONSTERS SERIES
Rage
THE LOST COVEN SERIES
Aurora’s Coven
Aurora’s Betrayal
Scarlett Limerence
Coloring Book
CO-AUTHOR PROJECTS
DARK TEMPTATIONS (Bonus scenes): Volume One
Capturing Carmen
Circus Save Me
Taming The Ringmaster
Shipwrecked Souls
Horror Emporium
The Wild Interview