Evelyn Disgrace

Chapter Nineteen - Evelyn Tiras

Rain patters down, soaking my hair once more. Thunder rumbles across the sky, adding a gallant streak of lightning to the artwork in the heavens. The rainfall is heavy and brusque, beginning to numb my skin and bones.

Nobody is outside of the dine and gamble. In fact, the entire street is empty, aside from the puddles of rainwater. I begin to slosh through the small lakes to the door, but right as I open it, the door opens for me.

Aster is on the other side, his expression concerned and unexpectedly worried. He appears to be searching for somebody. Perhaps Vena?

His eyes widen when they land on me. "Evelyn!"

His exclamation surprises me. I didn't expect...such a welcome. Had I been gone long? Was he coming to search for me?

When I was seventeen, I could have written and composed marvelous fantasies in my head about this idea. But now those dreams are gone, and that hope has been shifted. There are new things to focus on, and romance is hardly one of them.

But I imagine I'll always be a hopeless romantic.

"Mr. Wilmick." It's the only thing I manage to say, for his exclamation and stance has taken me aback. Was he excited to see me? Had he actually been worried?

Don't be ridiculous, Evelyn. I shouldn't be concerned with such matters, and besides that, he's a criminal. I was literally plotting to kill a man with him. These more private matters should be saved for a later date.

Aster pulls himself back, as if realizing he's much to close. I certainly agree. I should make it clear that our relationship is purely platonic. Nothing else. Even then, I'm not sure if platonic is really the correct word.

"Where did you disappear to?" he demands, his voice suddenly sharp and more commanding. Like he usually is. "You disappeared out of a thin air."

I struggle to compose a coherent thought, and Aster takes that as an opportunity to charge further on.

"Vena and Nat have left to find you. Now they're out on the streets of Camden." He glances anxiously around the street, as if hoping that the rest of the crew would appear soon enough. Then Aster's attention returns to me. "So? How do you explain yourself? Did you leave and decide to come back because you were guilty? Are you involved in the mystical arts?"

His accusations are ridiculous. I shake my head. "No, Aster. I am involved in no such mystical arts. And why would you even dare accuse me of that? What have I done to be so unfavorable to you?"

I suppose I shouldn't get myself into this petty argument, for there are more serious matters to consider. But I can't help it. This is foolishness, and I wouldn't dare become a mystic or magician. Did he truly think I'd betray them in that way?

"I..." He appears to struggle to find a composed train of thought. "I didn't know if you were trained or..."

I scowl. "That is so insulting! I wouldn't dare. Why in Vera—" And that's when I cut myself short. Oh, no. "Why in this world would I do that?" But the words still come out halfhearted."

But Aster seems to not notice, for his entire stature seems flustered. "Miss Tiras, I didn't know what to think. You disappeared, and things have been terrible the last few days and I'm sorry." He cuts himself short, as if afraid to go on.

He's sorry. Those words feel like a knife driven into my iced heart. He's sorry. For always speaking cruelly to me. For have no sympathy about my grievances. For whatever else.