Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,220

inspect the vengeful Simpleton, who is unlike all the others. Even Bobo has grown sympathy for Idun already.

I rather prefer Caroline. She knows how to harbor a grudge, unlike Violet.

Violet loves you or finds you irrelevant. Nothing in between. Which means no anger.

And no fun.

Caroline’s face isn’t one of enjoyment though, when I stare at her. At least I don’t think so, but what do I know? I do know she tastes like misery and burden, also a heavy dose of self-loathing.

That’s no fun either.

Sanctuary is depressing. All the fun was happening when Idun was taunting us. I want her to wake up and play some more.

It seems as though Caroline is truly trying to rehabilitate the broken monster who tried to break her. Simpletons. Gotta admire their heart, even if it does make them fools.

Leaving Caroline to suffer through delivering her punishment, I move back into the room with Idun. But…Vancetto Van Helsing slices Idun’s head off, and it rolls from the case.

He grabs her head by the hair, shoves it back in the case, locks it, and turns to walk out, never acknowledging me. This ruse is no fun.

I want people afraid of Violet.

Then the wars will start and I will conquer the world!

Oh! Pretty pony! Oh, no, wait, that’s Vance’s ass walking out of the room.

Like a haunting spectrum, I follow him all the way out, and he turns to face me at last.

I grin.

He glares.

“Keep sewing her together. See if Violet doesn’t find a way to lock you to her at all times.”

“I just want to play with her,” I assure him. “A little bit,” I add, pinching my fingers together.

He doesn’t look impressed. Only Violet impresses him.

He hates Marta, so I love him.

Oh! It’s Hammer Time!

“Unreal,” he mutters, walking away as I tear up the dance floor in a way Violet never could. “I mean it, Anna. No more fucking around.”

I bet the vampire would let me play.

In the next blink, I’m in the room with him, and his eyes widen marginally to prove I’ve startled him.

He quickly shoves his phone in his pocket, pretending he wasn’t watching Idun scream.

“She screams pretty, doesn’t she?” I ask him, knowing he’ll get it.

He pulls his phone back out and shows me some…weird diagram.

“I’m not watching Idun TV. I’m searching for the box maker, since Violet is never going to stop worrying about the bloody potential villain,” he states in a tired tone. “You’re supposed to be helping with that search.”

“I can stare at it too,” I tell him as I salute him, and I dart to his side, staring at his phone just like he was. “How’s this helping?”

I look up to find him glaring at me like I’m a problem. I definitely taste ire.

“So much power wrapped up in one unstable, lunatic monster. It’s not fair,” he says very seriously.

I grin, feeling flattered. I love that they think I’m crazy. It’s my favorite thing to be.

It’s especially flattering to hear it from the vampire they all find exceptionally psychotic. It’s like Christmas on the lips.

I’m so much better than Violet, even if she is my favorite-ever person.

“It’s a pretty drawing. Reminds me of the inside of my old box,” I tell him, shuddering at the lonesome, dark memories.

The vampire jerks upright, staring directly at me like I’ve somehow intrigued him. I grin and jut out my chest, since that’s clearly what’s caught his attention.

His eyes are on mine instead of my chest.

Such a sweet vampire.

“The inside of your old box? Do you know what those markings mean?”

“Dun dun dun!” I call into the air, holding my arms up.

His eyes go black.

“Sorry,” I lie, pulling my arms down, mocking a sheepish Violet expression. “Seemed like the tension was mounting and I couldn’t help myself.”

“Damn it, Anna, what do these markings—”

“It means the kraken ate the dragon and had a fat-toed ogre baby,” I say with complete seriousness, not wanting to upset him again.

He looks twice as angry.

“Or it means the box maker made another box like mine, and that was the design used to form it. It’s similar, but very different at the same time,” I carry on, rolling my eyes. “Hardly seems as powerful as us.”

He stands abruptly, passes through me, and doesn’t even so much as look back.

“Rude much?” I call out.

I drop and rise, landing in the wolf’s lair. Red Riding Hood’s head is mounted on the wall—oh, no. Never mind. That’s just Violet’s cape hanging on a hook.

And this is Sanctuary, not Emit’s