Scent of forgotten shadows

It was past five in the evening, and Ruelle sat curled up on the worn velvet couch, her knees tucked beneath her. The low rumble of thunder rolled outside, shaking the windows with its distant warning of a storm. Faint echoes of muffled laughter outside the heavy wooden door could be heard.

Dane had left an hour ago, hovering like an older brother Ruelle had never had the opportunity to know. He made sure she ate and rested. Now alone, she read a book Hailey had passed to her two days ago. Her friend's words were, "I was told it was going to be helpful in Seduction Techniques class," but just a few pages in, her cheeks burned.

This was the type of book that, if caught reading outside Sexton, women would be dipped in a bathtub of holy water. Yet she couldn't deny the curiosity that tugged at her as she flipped to the next page.