The night's air bites harder now, its teeth sharper to cut to the bone. A starry sky watches from above, and below bricks hold me. Propped against the stone wall of a building, my tired eyes open to Kym's worried face. She crouches before me, her dark eyebrows scrunched up.
"Hey, you." She lets a small smile tease on her lips. "You're awake."
"What happened?" The words come slow and groggy.
"You went ghost white after the show," she tells me. "I kept asking if you were okay, and you kept mumbling something about an obsidian crown. You were really out of it, and I got a little scared, so I asked the Baroness if I could bring you outside for some fresh air. You were able to walk just fine, but as soon as we got here you just conked out.'
Her eyes dart to the mouth of the alleyway, faint voices trickling in.
"You weren't out long," she continues. "A few minutes maybe. Sounds like the show is letting out now. We should get back to the Baroness."
"Yeah, good idea," I agree as I get up. Jelly legs wobble under me, but I'm able to stay up after a moment of questionable balance. I sturdy myself with the wall again, Kym taking hold of my arms to help. That worry flashes in her eyes again, and for a moment that old thought occurs. Now could be that moment. Now could be the chance. Here we are, alone, with little time before we need to reconvene with the others. It would be so easy. Just lean forward and let our lips find each other. For a moment, I think I see her desire for it, mixed in with the concern. Maybe it would make the both of us feel better, in our own ways.
"Well hello there, lovebirds," a snide, irritating voice calls from the end of the alley. With a disgusting smirk and an arm around Telarria, Wassim approaches.
"Was the performance too intense for you, Rokkoh?" Telarria asks with a sneer. "The singing was bad, but it wasn't that bad."
"Do everyone a favor, Wassim, and fuck off," Kym snarls as I straighten up.
"How rude," he feigns offense. "You really need to lighten up a bit, Kym. Let loose, relax. Life is more fun when you're not so uptight."
"Yeah, we're only teasing," Telarria adds.
Kym and I go to pass the couple, but Wassim sidesteps to block our path. A darkness fills his eyes, something sinister playing on his grinning lips. Despite my fatigue, everything in me longs for little else than to see my fist bruised from knocking his teeth in. If I could muster the strength, it would be effortless. I wouldn't even have to reach very far; he stands within a swing's length and is only a few inches taller than Kym. My only worry is if Telarria got caught in the crossfire, but then again sometimes collateral damage is unavoidable. Sure, the Baroness would find out quickly; the evidence would be unmistakable. But sometimes the punishment is worth the crime.
"Tell you what, gorgeous," he lowers his voice. "How about you let go of the fainting spell here and come see how fun life can really get with the right company? I'll even be nice and have Telarria keep him occupied so he won't get too jealous or lonely."
Kym's grip on my arm tightens. Her angry hold becomes less supportive, now more of a way to hold herself back. She grits her teeth underneath her scowl. But her restrained flames feed my own pyre. Whether by passion, adrenaline, or divine fury, my body finds its strength. Pushing away from the wall and closing the small distance, my left hand takes a firm grasp of his shirt collar. With a pull I wrench Wassim even closer, lifting him until his tiptoes dangle barely above the ground. For a brief but sweet moment, his eyes go wide in surprise and fear. His breath catches for a moment, a gasp escaping him as he rises.
Fuck, this feels good, this power, this righteous terror.
"Children!" the cold voice cuts through the chilling air. My hand releases Wassim's shirt at the sound; he stumbles only for a moment when he lands on his feet. At the end of the alleyway stands the Baroness, scowling eyes staring us down. Cy helps the two younger boys into the carriage.
Kym moves forward and pulls me along. The Baroness's icy glare watches as we pass and climb into the carriage. Once the whole party has filed in, the horses kick off and we all return to the quiet of the ride into Allendar. This time, however, Kym interlocks her fingers with mine, a nice little respite amongst the silent tension.
YOU ARE READING
The Rokkoh Adventures
FantasíaFrom growing up as an orphan to becoming a mighty paladin, Rokkoh has gone through many things in his life. He has witnessed magical wonders, the depths of human depravity, and the strength of love throughout trials and time. Follow along in these f...
