Fruit of Misfortune (33 page)

“Not today. Not for some time now.”

***

“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you
when I know I’m right. Should we go inside?”

I nodded. I knew the family hated me, but
right now, I didn’t care. What I wanted was to see David again, to
know he was alive—even if
he
hated me, too.

There were suitcases by the door. The murmur
of voices was coming from the interior of the house. I followed the
chatter to the kitchen and stood at the doorway. Eight faces stared
at me, but I was only looking at one.

After a moment, David pushed his chair back
and stood up. His head was as bald as mine.

“We need to talk,” David said.

My stomach tensed. I nodded and followed him
into the library.

“Is it true—about you and Eros?” He avoided
my stare.

“I only left with him because I wanted to
convince—”

“So you did. You left me to be with
Eros.”

“No! I left because I wanted to save
you.”

“I don’t need to be saved, Isis. Can’t you
understand that? All I ever needed was you.”

“David—” I took a step toward him, and he
turned his back to me.

“I’m leaving with my family in a few
minutes.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ll be safe with
Galilea.”

“Where will you go?” I asked, but he didn’t
answer. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“I wish I could believe you.”

I fought the tears. “David, I love you.”

He turned and locked his gaze on mine.

“You’ll never see me again. Don’t try to find
me,” he said, and walked out.

I sank to the floor and cried. I was so angry
with myself, so frustrated with my life. I hit the wooden coffee
table in front of me. It broke in two, like I had minutes earlier.
Galilea came running in after the loud crash. She knelt beside me
and put her arm over my shoulder. Although she didn’t say a word,
her being there, sitting next to me, was comfort enough.

Hours passed until I was finally all cried
out.

“I’m going home.” I sniffed. “I’m going to
figure out this mysterious purpose of mine, and I’m going to fight
to save the people I love—even if most of them hate me.”

“I see,” Galilea said. “Well, I can’t keep
you here if you don’t want to stay.”

“I’ll need a sidekick.”

“How about a sidekick and two smarty pants
scientists?”

“That’ll work.” I nodded.

“When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

My husband and son, Oscar and Max – Thank you
for putting up with my fantasy worlds, my crazy, and me.

My fans and readers – Thank you for choosing
to read my stories. Without you, I don’t exist.

My friends and family – Thank you for the
ongoing support.

My assistants extraordinaire, Judith Lauren
Frazee and Courtney Whittamore –Your whining makes me write,
and I love you for it.

My editor, Elisabeth Kauffman – Thank you for
supporting me since day one and for sharing your knowledge so that
my stories can reach newer and better levels.

My beta readers and street team – Thank you
for taking the time to give me feedback and for helping me spread
my stories. You are
truly
invaluable.

My sister, Krystle Mendiola – Thank you for
being my Isis. 

Dr. Scott Gunn, Geneticist – Thank you for
your time and
knowledge and for allowing me to use you as a
character in my book.

Giousé Carbone – Thank you for being the
creepiest bad guy I’ve ever written.

Paulina Martinez – Thanks for the fan
support, the friendship, and for being the other Isis.

Susana Martinez – Thank you for being
Paulina’s mom.

Besties, Veronica Altamirano & Veronica
Rodriguez – Thanks for being great friends. Sorry I killed you in
this book.

Iliana Mendiola – Thank you for always being
there for me. Sorry I killed you in this book. 

Kyparissia “Kypis” Mendiola – Thanks for
giving my characters a place to go in search of answers in
Greece.

Philip John Homewood – Thank you for letting
me use your mother’s name. Let there be no doubt that Eileen Marina
Byrne is eternal.

Bianca Calin – Thanks for inspiring Galilea’s
character with your short hairdos. 

Nely Cab is a Writer of
stuff, a Master Coffee Drinker, a Food Maker & Eater, an
Imaginary World Conqueror, and an Air Breather. She talks to
herself—a lot—in her South Texas home while she plots stories about
fantasy worlds and sips coffee from a pitcher. She's known for
cooking far too much food and has a tendency to overdo…well,
everything. It is rumored that she is fabulous. Nely Cab is the
best-selling author of the Creatura series.

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