The Final Storm

18. Welcome to Delhi!

Shaking her head, Adaira lay back down. Bad premonitions? Did she think she had suddenly turned into a fortune teller? She had to be imagining things. Everything was all right. Everything had to be all right.

He especially.

Reaching into the loose Indian clothes that felt strange yet comfortable in the steaming heat of the jungle, she touched the crumpled stack of letters that had accompanied her all the way from England. Carefully picking out the only one that was relatively smooth and unrumpled, she stared down at it with a slight ache in her heart. This was the last letter she had received before she had left her homeland. She had managed to arrange for the letters to end up at a friend's house in London, so they wouldn't be intercepted by her father. Otherwise, she would never have received this.

She hadn't had the courage to read it yet.

Come on, Adaira! What are you afraid of?

Bloodstains on the paper. Last words. A death-blow to hope.

That was supposed to be a rhetorical question!

For a moment longer, Adaira lay there, full of hesitation. Then she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and unfolded the piece of paper. In the dim light of the embers, she could just make out the letters in front of her.

Dear Miss Adaira,

When writing to you, I want to fill the pages in front of me with nothing but happy words and beautiful imagery. Yet, now, I find myself unable to, and I am at a loss regarding what to write. For, alas, over the last few days, I haven't had many chances to lie by the riverside, sip drinks and take in the lovely scenery. Nor have I been in the mood, to tell the truth. Recently, the atmosphere in the city has become strange. It has been unnaturally quiet, and whenever I step out of the Red Fort, I receive strange gazes from the people around me, as if I had pigeon droppings on my uniform. Or maybe as if I were made of pigeon droppings.

I feel more and more apprehensive. During the last few days, messengers with reports of unrest in various parts of the country have been arriving in Delhi. People are getting restless, and I feel as if a dark cloud is hanging over the city. Now, even the servants in the fort show strange expressions whenever they see a British uniform. I have a strange feeling, as if something is going to happen soon.

Dear me, look at the nonsense I'm spouting! I am making you worried, aren't I? If so, don't be. I'm sure all of this is just due to my overactive imagination. Soon, this boring mission will be over, and I will be coming home.

Not to England, by the way. To you. I look forward to the day I can hold you in my arms.

Yours forever

Captain James Carter

Instinctively, Adaira's hand clenched. When she noticed, she quickly loosened her grip and smoothed out the paper in her hand as if it were a precious treasure. Maybe, in a way, it was. Sniffling, she put the letter away and gazed up at the patches of night sky visible through the canopy of leaves above. The stars seemed infinitely far away. Just like Captain James Carter.

No. Not infinitely.

Her hand clenched into a fist once more, not in fear this time, but in determination, and she glared up at the stars as if daring them to cross her.

Sneaking a hand into her pocket, Adaira felt the comforting weight of her gun.

I will not be a star-crossed lover. Even if I have to shoot those blasted sparkly things out of the sky myself! Just you wait, James Carter! Wait a little longer. I'm coming for you!