Fates Intertwined

29. | Bow and Arrow

The market was busy and bustling with chatter and laughter. Children played and chased after one another while men and women crowded stands, dropping coins for food.

The beige hooded figure slipped through the crowd easily, fluidly snatching from the stands. No one noticed them. On their back, they carried a quiver, arrows poking out. A smirk pulled at their lips.

Jumping over the crates stacked, the figure landed on their booted feet with ease. It was obvious the figure was female, predominantly due to the teal dress that bore her build. A knot sat between her breasts, lace lining both the top and the sleeves that fell from her shoulders.

It was a new dress, one she had been gifted by the Syren.

She glanced around before turning into an alley. Another figure followed.

"You're following me." She spoke, pulling off the wall and turning to face the figure that stood feet away. Her hood covered her face, along with the shadows. Her identity was concealed.

The other figure, a man, didn't conceal himself. Or if he did, he failed horribly.

"Aurora." He smirked. He said the name with such familiarity that, even without seeing who he was, she knew it was the man who she had been desperately trying to avoid.

At the use of her name, she pulled the hood off her head. "How did you know it was me?"

"I'd recognize ... handiwork anywhere." He took slow steps toward her. Her gaze drifted toward her gown once more. She had to admit, it was a beautiful gown.

She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Why are you following me?" She diverted the conversation.

"You know, it's beginning to seem like you're purposefully avoiding me. Or is this just a game you like to play?" His lips quirked up, eyes dancing in humor. "You hangout with me once and spend the next fortnight avoiding me."

"Maybe. Maybe not." She shrugged. Just then, the bell rang. "I'm late." She turned to leave.

"Late to what?"

"Nothing of your concern." She called over her shoulder.

Pebbles fell from the roof of one of the buildings, and his gaze rose to find a shadow above. With a bow aimed straight at Aurora.

He took off, just as the arrow was fired. Aurora grunted as he shoved her against the wall of the building, concealing them from the assassin above.

Her brows furrowed. "What are you—"

"Shh." He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. He leaned back, searching for the figure from the shadows, but it was gone. He turned to face her once more, but her gaze was focused on something else.

On the ground, in the spot she was just in, stood an arrow.

She glanced up before she moved to the arrow, plucking it from the ground. It was metal-tipped, but she opened her palm, revealing the burn mark on her palm. The arrow burned her.

"Aurora," He whispered, taking her palm into his hand. The arrow hit the ground. "Didn't you feel that?" He asked, staring down at the palm that was slowly beginning to heal.

"It's vervain. Nothing to worry about." She shrugged, taking her palm from him. Her skin heated, her heartbeat thrumming. "I need to go." Then she was throwing her hood back up and disappearing into the crowd.

He attempted to chase after her but lost her amongst the horde. He sighed, running a hand through his sweat-streaked hair.

He made his way through the familiar pass of the woods, hearing the rush of water and following it. It was quiet and peaceful, aside from the birds chirping, the running of water, and the rustling of the trees. He had gone this way over a hundred times for the past few months, hoping by some miracle that she'd happen to be on this path.