bloodstained claws.

chapter 1

The sun was dipping over the tall skyscrapers as Octavian slipped out of his window silently. It was dusk, slowly turning to night. The sun struggled to keep afloat in the sky, spilling out crimson hues that beamed weakly through the stifling clouds. The light very feebly reflected off the buildings and was of no use at all. Street lamps were beginning to flicker into life, taking the place of the declining sun.

Octavian quietly made his way down the walls of the massive house his parents owned, taking only the support of the vines that showered down from the terrace and the few bricks that jutted unevenly out of the wall. He practically skidded down. It was a short height because his room was on the first floor--but dangerous nonetheless. But he chose to take the risk every night, unwilling to be anywhere near his family as long as he could.

He walked soundlessly down the street, knowing every inch of it. Anyone who had spent a large portion of their nights away from home would. And that's what Octavian had been doing for the past few years. He had no choice. Because if he stayed at home, he would have to spend all his time listening to his parents berate him and uphold his sister as if she was a princess.

And to them, she was. Everyone knew the story of the two siblings. Azila, the child prodigy--The perfect child everyone dreamt. Her intellect and personality made it obvious that she was going to take on after her father and manage the family business as soon as she was old enough. And then there was Octavian. The disappointment. The one who made everyone go silent and turn away when he entered a room. He had failed every class and struggled to make conversation with people. People couldn't imagine how his family dealt with him.

Octavian's reality was a nightmare. Which made it inevitable for him to want to escape. And he did, every night. It was only for a few hours, but those few hours felt like heaven for him.

He avoided the street lamps, retreating into narrow alleys devoid of any light. If anyone saw him lingering outside, they could very well let his parents know. And that would be terrible. If he lost even this small amount of freedom, he knew he would go insane. His nightly excursions under the shadow of this obscure place were all that kept him alive.

He knew the way by heart. He had gone down these twisting and turning alleys so often that though they were a maze to newcomers, they were very straightforward to him. The tall buildings and the wide roads of the city were not as spread out as most people thought. In these areas, the walls of the small houses and shops crumbled and every inch was covered in graffiti. It was the last place someone would expect a member of Octavian's family to go to.

Octavian emerged from the twisting alleys into a small square. The street lamps were dim here and glowed with a yellowish light. The square was surrounded by bars and small stores. Octavian exhaled, finally allowing himself to breathe freely. This was the one place where no one was going to judge his every move.

He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of the smoky air. He could smell the savoury wafts of sizzling barbeque being cooked at a party. He could smell the stale memory of shops and offices that were open for the day, but not anymore. The fragrance of cigarettes, alcohol, and sweet confections mingled with the scent of exhaust fumes, creating a complex and intoxicating mix. These scents might have been questionable to others, but to Octavian, they were the perfect blend of liberty and tranquillity.

All of a sudden, someone ran into him, colliding with him and disturbing his rare moment of peace. Startled, he fell back. But before he could hit the pavement, his paws skidded out and saved him from the fall.

'Oh my God, I'm so sorry!' gasped the cat who had knocked him over. 'I am so so sorry about this!'

Octavian regarded him with an air of confusion and doubt. He was almost fully sure this cat was being sarcastic. Because why else would he be shaking and whimpering for bumping into someone? He was shorter than Octavian by a few inches and had a scrawny spidery build. His coffee-brown fur was accented with dull golden hues and his chocolate-coloured eyes were filled with fear.

'Uh, it's okay, I guess,' said Octavian, unsure how to react. He stepped back a little, feeling awkward.

Octavian watched the whimpering cat look this way and that. His ears were pulled back and his hair stood up as his trembling head surveyed his surroundings. All of a sudden, Octavian caught sight of the cuts and bruises the cat carried. They weren't clearly visible through his fur, but they were there.