The Unfortunates (Unfortunate #1)

The Unfortunates (Unfortunate #1) Read Free Page A

Book: The Unfortunates (Unfortunate #1) Read Free
Author: Skyla Madi
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behind it, the more nervous the other girls seem. My stare flicks over each of them. Water wells in most of their eyes—some even sob—but I’m not going to show weakness. The Fortunates are a dominating bunch. They like fear—they crave it, probably live off it, and these girls will be chosen before I am.
    The rude redhead seems to have the same idea as me. She’s hunched into herself, her arms still crossed over her chest. She remains firm, her eyes not betraying whatever emotion she feels inside.
    The estates begin to loom over us and we travel clos er to the one in the middle. Its large brick structure with thick, white columns that seem to bear the weight of the building stand out to me. Carved into the stone is a picture of the side of a lion’s face—Sario—one of the leading Fortunate families. I swallow hard. This family goes through slaves quicker than any other. Class taught me that the father lives in the city and his two sons run the household. I shudder at the thought of why they go through so many slaves. Flashes of girls screaming while the fat, greedy men beat and rape them assault my mind and I quickly push it from thought. I won’t let that be me.
    Soyer stops the cart an d leaps off the top, hitting the ground with a thud. He slowly turns toward us, his lips curling into a wide, evil grin as his creepy, brown irises zero in on us. “Get out and line up at the door.”
    I’ m first to exit the cart and I force my chin up on a slightly proud angle. It’s a cover to trick them. Deep down, I fight the urge to cower in the corner of the cart and hide from everything. On the other side of those large, wooden doors our selection is waiting, our future.
    I trail up the dark, square tiles and walk up the three wide ste ps. Every time my foot connects with the concrete step, my heart thuds. Boom. Boom. Boom . I stop in front of the doors. I’m so close I can smell the lacquer. I hold my breath, but the smell forces its way through my nostrils and assaults my senses. I hope I get assigned anywhere but this house . My eyes stay locked on the head of the black lion carved flawlessly into the wood. It quickly reminds me who I am and who these people are. Predators and prey…
    It seems I filled my own head with fairy-tales between the camp and here. Please don’t let this become my home. We’re told the Sarios are the most brutal, the most unsympathetic, hard to handle family out of them all. If that’s true, I might just entertain the idea of suicide if I’m chosen to live here.
    I feel the other girls line up behind me, but I don’t dare look over my shoulder in fear of betraying my own emotions. I hear the heavy lock of the door shift and my teeth chatter together once, twice, three times before I clench my jaw to stop it. The doors pull open and my eyes immediately fall onto the Unfortunates that hold the large, brass handles. They avoid making eye-contact with us and it puts me on edge. I eye their nice crisp, white tunics. I have to admit, they look healthy. They look well-fed and looked after, and for a brief moment, I wonder if the Sarios are as bad as everyone makes out… I peel my gaze from the Unfortunates and onto the wide, marble staircase in front of me. A man—an important looking man—leans against one of its elegant rails.
    “You’ve outdone yourself this time, Soyer.” He stalks down a few steps, reminding me nothing of the brave lion on the door and more of a sly wolf. “They’re all gorgeous.”
    Behind me, I hear a whimper. Whoever it is, they need to get their emotions in check before they’re swiftly dealt with. Don’t stand out and get a job in the kitchen. That’s my plan.
    “How many do you need, Michael? I thought I’d let you have first choice.”
    Michael rubs the palm of his hand over his stomach like he’s contemplating his next meal… definitely a wolf . “Two, I need two. If it was for me, I’d pick the redhead…”
    His dark, grey eyes flick over us

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