Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,110

it does.

“You hated the Portocale curse, but it wasn’t a priority of cases to solve. In a way, you enjoyed knowing another died,” Pandora tells me, and then turns and winks, while pressing her finger to her lips in a shushing motion.

As if she believes all she thinks to be true, she doesn’t give time for a rebuttal.

“I won’t tell on you to Violet. She’s too soft. She’s also remarkably arrogant for one so soft,” she continues, returning her attention to the screen. “You really do let too much slide with her.”

She releases a mock sigh, tsking me. All the while, her attention stays on the TV.

The chain finally shows enough of a gap to catch a glimpse of a black line that almost resembles a tattoo.

I don’t have a tattoo.

“What do we have here?” Pandora asks, as I try to move my hand out of sight.

I glance up, just as she moves her hands outward, and the chains part enough to show her the front of my hand.

My gaze quickly drops on reflex, the curiosity burning as steadily as the sizzling fucking skin on my hand. A watching eye symbol seems to be getting branded on the patch of skin between my thumb and index finger.

A breath of pain hisses between my lips when it gets particularly scorching. Suddenly, the pain subsides, though there’s a constant dull burn that stays steady.

“What’s this magic, Van Helsing?” Pandora asks in a calm tone, eyes narrowing.

Since I have no answers, I don’t speak, but I do take the opportunity to shove my hand through the opening. The chains latch on, and my blood boils once more, rendering me helpless for long enough to be sealed back in place.

Uselessly struggling against the chains, I look for any possible silver. Then I feel something hard against my wrist. Surely, she didn’t leave a weapon on me. The witch isn’t that careless.

I’m certain I feel it, though.

My eyes move to her, doing all I can to give nothing away. Maybe she’s so crazy she overlooked it while spinning me in the unknown-metal chains.

“I see you’ve kept your edge over the centuries,” I note, admittedly sounding bitter about it.

She smiles and bats her lashes, enjoying the compliment.

“Indeed I have, Van Helsing. How kind of you to notice,” she says.

My eyes flick to the screen, hoping she does the same thing. Instead, she keeps her gaze on me, while my brow furrows at the sight of Violet in…

What the bloody hell is the girl wearing now?

“I can only assume Bobo picked the uniform for the Simpletons,” I note, staring with some horror at the overalls covering the baggy T-shirt.

She’s wearing a sweatband around her head, and her hair is pulled up in a ball on her head. Don’t even get me started on the high-top white sneakers.

Idun steps forward in her sports bra and unnaturally tight-and-indecently short shorts.

“She can pull that look off better than you,” Anna says to Violet.

Violet glares at her, since this is the perfect time for her to be glaring at a ghost only gypsies can see. On live TV.

She’d look a fool to anyone who couldn’t hear or see Anna.

In all honesty, she’d look a fool to those people too.

“Now is really not the time,” Violet bites out.

“She’s too stupid to understand she’s not being brave,” Pandora chides, still not looking away from me. “You have a Simpleton girlfriend with a Portocale spine. You see her as someone clever, crafty, and quirky. Young love. It always makes you an imbecile when reality comes crashing down.”

My gaze returns to hers, as she shows true emotion for the first time. Anger and bitterness crest in her eyes, as the chains tighten on me.

“Bobo was the love of my life, but he unfortunately had no spine. His heart took up too much space,” she says, as tears gather in her eyes.

“Neoprys and Portocales are the only ones to have ever harmed Simpletons in any manner—body or mind,” I’m fast to point out.

“Oh, but you broke their spirit. They had so much respect for all of you, Van Helsing. Especially you. As broken as you were, you’d always taken up for them. You’d always shown Bobo even more respect than you’d shown a woman. Even the woman you intended to sacrifice a piece of silver for. Such a huge sacrifice for all eternity,” she says, the last part dripping with sarcasm.

“Honestly, Pandora, it’s nothing but a dead horse you’re all beating. I’ve suffered severely for my