The Shadows Have No Face || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

Golden Eyes Within a Boiling Pot

In the grand cosmos of terrible things, what I did was near the top. I did it to survive, but it was stupid. It put people in danger—people I loved. I was young, I was a child. The world is cruel, yes... but I never expected it to steal the freedom from someone so young.

I took it back, barely took it back. They held on as long as they could. They fought till the very last breath. And only when they were on their knees did I finally run.

I never thought it would be so difficult to run away—and stay hidden. Then again, I never imagined I would make it this far. I spent more than half of my life on the continent, forced to watch over a dormant powerhouse. And now... I was on the other side of the ocean, at the farthest point west, living in the land of summer.

No one knew who I was, and there was no trace of my past here. Adriata was a safe haven for people like me. The busiest shipping port on the West coast, full of opportunities and places to hide.

I lived a fairly simple life. Working at the Western Haven Pub down by the watchtower gave me plenty of entertainment, and my small apartment a few blocks down was all the space I needed.

The pub was in the perfect spot to never go a minute without action. Everyone who knew this city came here—probably because the ale was cheap, the food tasted like home, and the company was just the right amount of crazy.

I'd been working here for the past century, building my way up to a barkeeper. It was better than bussing tables—that was for sure. It was such an entertaining job. People loved spilling their deepest secrets and telling drawn out stories of their travels. I probably learned most of Prythian's history just from people's stories.

Though, it was strange—this freedom I had here. There was a part of me that still clung to the broken pieces of my past, still reminisced about the times I was forced to endure the worst of torture in the name of protection.

No, I would not let the past destroy my future. I was as free as I could be—with a new name, a new life. Nothing was going to take that away from me.

Nothing.

~)(~

I heard from a coworker that they were in the Summer Court, but I never expected them to show up here, on a day I was working. Two tall men crammed into the building, their wings so towering that they had to duck under the hanging lights.

I only ever heard of them, their travels and achievements. Electric power filled the room with a weighted reminder of the two threats now seated at the bar. I didn't want to, but I eavesdropped on their conversation—just to see if it was something worth listening to. It wasn't. 

Why would the two come here while a party was happening in the palace? The Summer Solstice was one of the most intense party days of the year, and for the High Lord of Night to attend with his family and Inner Circle was shocking. So why was his General and Spymaster sitting at my bar?

A party came through the doors howling for drinks, and I immediately recognized those familiar faces among the group. Willem spun on the stool and laughed when Rey tried to shove him off.

"Well, well, well! What a surprise seeing you here, Niana," Rey said. Her cheeks were red with intoxication.

"You know me, always working on holidays," I said, already pouring a drink for her and Willem.

He was stealing glances across the bar at the two males in their own bubble. "Did you do something illegal again?" Willem asked.

I inhaled my spit and choked, dropping a glass in the icebox with a clank, earning a confused look from the long-haired Illyrian. I smiled in response and returned to my friends, glaring at Willem.