Read Furever After for Free Online

have rooms upstairs, but they’re rarely used, since we so often see visitors. You’re welcome to them, but they may be a bit musty.”
     
    The two of them once again spoke in that strange language. I couldn’t identify it; it sounded like no language I’d ever heard before. Ethan turned to me. “How much is it?”
     
    “I think you two can have it for free,” I said, laughing. “You look like you’ve had a rough day.”
     
    He smiled that strange smile again. “You’re very kind. We appreciate it. To be honest, we don’t have very much money; we’re kind of on a budget here.”
     
    That seemed strange to me. Neither one of them looked like they struggled for cash; in fact, both had the air of people who knew their way around money. But it wasn’t really any of my business, so I didn’t pry. “I’ll go get the rooms ready, then. You two finish your soup, and if you want more, just ring the bell there. Some more will be out shortly.”
     
    They thanked me again, and I stepped into the hallway and went upstairs to get everything ready. For the first time in what felt like ages, something exciting was happening again.
     
    —
     
    I knocked lightly on the door of the room, and James opened it. “Yes?” he asked.
     
    “I’ve brought your dinner,” I said. “I figured you two would be hungry again soon, and since you’re guests here, I thought I’d bring it to you. Don’t worry, it’s not soup again. The cook whipped up something special for you, so I hope you enjoy it.” I could see past James to where Ethan lie on the bed in his beat-up jeans and a plain white t-shirt, the fabric clinging to the contours of his well-toned body. It was enough to make me forget my manners for a moment.
     
    “Thank you, Liz,” James said, his smile gentle. “It’s much appreciated. We actually just woke up from a nap a few minutes ago. Well, I did. Ethan’s snoring ensured that.”
     
    I laughed. The two of them liked to tease one another, but they seemed like such good friends. “Did you sleep well? Is the room okay?”
     
    James nodded. “We slept very well, and the room more than meets our needs. We’re rather simple men, when it comes down to it. Give us a warm meal and a soft bed, and that’s all we need. The nap helped to take care of some of the chill from earlier.”
     
    “That’s good,” I said. “You have to be careful not to catch a cold from being soaking wet all day.” As we spoke, I heard the doorbell below jingle. “I’ll check back later to pick up the dishes. You can just leave them in front of the door. Have a good night!” James nodded as I pivoted on my heel and ran downstairs. Another set of customers, on a day like today? That was extremely surprising.
     
    What I saw when I got downstairs made my blood run cold. The men that came in did not look like regular customers; they were dressed all in black, with chains hanging from their clothing. Their leader bore a nasty scar that ran across his face, and he had his foot on one of the tables. He had spiky blond hair that was raised in a faux-hawk through the center of his head, and most of his companions bore similar stylings. What struck me most about the men was their eyes; they looked yellow, almost cat-like.
     
    “Can I help you?” I asked, keeping my voice and smile pleasant despite the apprehension I felt.
     
    The man looked at me, his eyes raking over my body in a way that made me feel as though I need a shower. “You have no idea, little girl,” he said. His sneer was cold, and the gazes of his friends made me want to hide. “But actually, we’re looking for a couple of guys. We think they may have stopped by here earlier.”
     
    A couple of guys? They couldn’t mean James and Ethan. What would these thugs want with them? “Sorry, but you’re the first customers we’ve had today.” I shot a glance to the counter and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that it had been cleaned.
     
    The man chuckled.