Ephemeral Secrets

Do not read

Please do not read this chapter its an unaccidental unedited let out.

I left out the back door, quieting my footsteps trying to make sure no sound was heard. It was first light; The sky was mellow and crisp with a blue orange painting the clouds. The wind swept the air with a rosy musk leaving it smelling like a summer prairie. I rushed to the gate out back our hut and mounted Heera. With a sprint we were gone with the wind, the tournament was about to begin. Fayez and Darian were playing with swords and making bets they know they'll never fulfill, so I went to go talk to mama Safiya, "kheĭ Mila how's Fayez"? she said.

I had told her about the beating last week, my brother is still recovering. "he's doing better but I'm worried they're going to come again; I don't know if I have enough energy this time." Last time I fought them off but how many times am I going to have to risk exposure before they finally leave us alone. "You will figure it out don't worry." I hope but only God can save me now. о, Аллах, моля те, помогни ми с тези притеснения.

She hands me chocolate cheesecake and starts to talk about her son Ayed being drafted, but I tune out. There is a soldier watching the market from the bathroom huts. He keeps talking into his radio, mumbling something I can't hear. Every time I see a soldier my heart starts to race, and my chest forms a knot and then I'm back to being four in Hyderabad, suffocating in the refrigerator losing air and turning blue, my throat feeling like sand and the walls closing in on me. I watched as the color on ammi's face started to fade and papa being dragged in chains away by the shadow hunters.

I still have nightmares and wake up every night. Fayez doesn't remember them, but I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the night I became an Arcanum cursed to be in the shadows and live in this town. Where were forgotten each day, everyone here is ready to be killed or sent to war, but I still hold hope that we'll be able to leave one day. They blow the fanfare the tournament has begun, Rayko mounts his horse and gets ready to duel Nikolay they must fight till one of them dies. Both look saddened and I can't help but pity them, that's what happens to us Arcanum.

The Bulgarian government sends an official to host the end game at the moon festival which is in 90 days. Each town enters two contestants to fight in the tournament and only one of the five hundred will survive the festival. If the town doesn't sacrifice and participate in the tournament, they'll cut off our food and raid the markets. Rayko and Nikolay have been friends since they were nine and now, they must watch one of them die. That was the Bulgarian government hoped for at least.

Last night when the moon first started to show we snuck behind the lilac keeper's and made a promise with the golden valor. They were an association that made trades with us but pretended to be loyal to the Bulgarian government but often these promises cost a worthy price this time it was my life for theirs.

The plan was for me to dress up in armor and duel with Rayko except instead of killing him I would just stop his heart with the snake poison I got from the valor. "You have to be crazy Mari; this won't work you'll die." Nikolai spoke frustrated from the far corner. "

I know but I have to try you guys can't duel who will be here for Milena." I argued. Milena was Nikolay's little sister; he's been taking care of her since their parents disappeared eight months ago. The rebel guard is still looking for them. "Do you guys want the goods or not kids, you're holding up the line if you aren't paying and I don't go time to hear you bicker all day." Uncle Rooky kept complaining swishing the snake poison in the mahogany bottle he was holding.