Page 74 of Cursed By Fate

I pivoted to Jared and friends but too late. Thwack!

I saw stars as I slipped out of consciousness. Not the pretty diamonds in the sky, but the shapes that spiraled around a cartoon cat’s head. As long as I didn’t get an obscene lump protruding from mine, I’d be fine.

I hoped.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Thick oak trees circled me like wooden sentries. The air smelled of damp bark and honeysuckle.

“Again, Aurelia,” a voice commanded. Cold, sharp, and painfully familiar. Rightly named Atropos, the Inflexible.

My wings expanded, heavy on my narrow shoulders, and I struggled to take flight.

“You look like an anvil some scrawny human tried to throw,” Atropos said. “You’re a fury now. Show some grace.”

I pushed through the discomfort and launched myself into the air. My feet kissed the ground with barely a whisper.

“Less clumsy that time,” the Fate said. The closest to a compliment I’d get.

My neck and shoulders ached. “May I take a break?”

“Breaks are for the weak, pet, and we aren’t in the business of fostering weakness.” Her eyes gleamed with malice. “What do you think? Should we be finished with you? There are plenty of other girls ready and willing to take your place. A soft bed and a warm belly—luxuries they don’t currently have, but you do.”

Luxuries or basic human rights? I wanted to respond, but I held my tongue. I’d learned very early on not to make flippant remarks, especially to Atropos.

“I can keep going.” The mere thought of disappointing her or her sisters filled me with ice-cold fear.

I flew again, letting the glow of the sun warm my face as I rose higher. I loved training outdoors, if only because I could pretend to be free.

“Remember: you don’t want them to hear you coming,” Atropos said. “Stealth is every bit as important as strength. Some of your targets will be stronger than you. Smarter. Faster. You must use every advantage.”

“Yes, Fate.”

I flew again.

“If I hear your feet hit the ground, you die. If I hear the rustle of your wings, you die. If I hear you breathe, you die.”

I flew again. And again.

I flew until my lungs burned and my face was slick with sweat.

“Not terrible,” Atropos said. “Your potential grows with each passing day. Your mother was wise to send you to us for training.”

My mother had many qualities, but wise was not one of them. Greedy. Selfish. Manipulative. Opportunistic. Never wise.

“We’ll have to work on your appearance,” Atropos said. “You’re too young and fresh-faced to be intimidating. Your nose resembles a child’s drawing of what they think a nose should be.”

My finger traced the length of my nose that I’d inherited from my father. His temperament. His heart. His nose.

Still, I heard myself say, “I can change it, if it would please you, Fate.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Your magic isn’t that far along yet. With your luck, you’ll end up with a third eye in the middle of your forehead.” She tapped her chin. “Although I suppose that would be intimidating.”

I bowed my head. “Then I can find someone to change it. Or I can cast an illusion spell when I’m with you, so that you don’t have to look at it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Such a dramatic girl. I only made an offhand remark. Nothing to fret about.”

“That’s the problem with training all these girls,” Clotho said, emerging from between the trees. “We give them powers and they give us headaches. Sometimes I wonder whether we chose poorly.”