Another Villainess

Chapter 23

Raindrops platter against my palm as I stand outside the bar, holding my hand out flat to the sky.

I sigh.

"Still raining," I say, looking over at Eden, who's staring up, the raindrops dripping from his face.

"It's getting dark. It isn't safe here." He looks sideways to me.

I watch him.

While Eden was in the bar's lobby, getting his sword back from the old man, I requested one more thing from Garrin Forten before he returned upstairs. A background profile on Eden. It was a request I had in mind when I overpaid him. No, one I had in mind even as I planned to come to Leisl.

Forten said it should be ready by tomorrow, so I suppose it's not so bad that It's getting dark.

"Let's stay here for tonight. It's too late to go back to the duchy."

Eden nods. "There's an inn we can stay out. Come stand out of the rain, Leondra." He walks out from under the overhead, giving me space to come back under.

"Alright."

As the sky darkens and Liesl's nightlife wakens, Eden leads closer and closer to me, yet his protection doesn't seem to shake my unease.

By the time we arrive at the inn, the rain has come to a complete downpour, drenching me even as Eden holds his jacket above my head. The night sky is lit up by the red and orange lanterns trailing down the streets. Music and occasional hoots fill the air, people crowd the streets opposite to the sidewalk we walk on, not even noticing the pouring rain.

I enter the shabby, brown inn and approach the clerk. Her appearance is youthful, but her serious and keen expression does not hint at it at all. The dress she wears is similar to the red-haired woman who was crying at Green Gate, except its color is dark blue instead of red, and there are no rips.

"Two single rooms, please. Just for one night."

She nods and tells me it will be twenty-three silver. I rustle through my second coin purse, one that held all the silver coins (I'd save myself the hassle and give her a gold coin, but I gave Forten that pack), and counted out twenty-three for her.

"Have a nice stay." She drops two rusty keys in my hand, each with a small tag attached, one labeled 212, and the other labeled 213.

We walk up the stairs to the inn's second floor, looking out for our room numbers.

"I'll take this one." Before I open door 213, I look to Eden. "If you need anything knock."

Before I can enter, he leans in, reaching behind me to hold the door shut. He looks down at me, his expression unreadably straight. I stare up at his face, his brown hair hanging down, covering his eyes in a shadow. His close face makes me nervous and I look away. That uneasy feeling returns in my stomach.

"What are you-" 

"What type of knight would I be if I slept soundly as the lady I served stayed alone in a dangerous town at night?" His eyes lower down my wet dress, and he suddenly returns to looking at me. "I will stand guard out here." He releases the door and backs up, his usual bright smile and cold eyes returning.  

"No, that will draw even more attention." I sigh and rub my temples. "It will be fine. You're right next door and the walls should be thin. If I need you, I will call loudly." He frowns as I continue. "Besides, I will be bothered all night knowing you're standing alert outside my door. Sleep so we can both feel well tomorrow. It's an order."

I would very much prefer he wasn't right by my door while I slept. 

He scratches the back of his head and sighs. "Yes. . . Leondra." He hesitates much but eventually goes into the room next to me, and I go into mine, collapsing on the bed and immediately squeezing my eyes shut to think about the day's events. 

I've gained nothing in this place so far. Alana's party information won't be ready for at least another week, and it's scheduled a month or so from now. I need to prepare before then. The only thing I can do now is to somehow get Eden's profile tomorrow from Forten without him finding out. 

I open my eyes and look to the window, outside lights reflecting against the walls, giving the room an eerie red tint. I still hear the music and bustle outside. 

Slowly I drift off into a shallow sleep.

. . .

BAM!

I wake with a startled jump and look outside. It's still dark out-- I can't have been asleep for more than a few hours. The rain is pouring harder than ever, so much that it seems even Leisl's nightlife has retired, as the crowd's chattering is gone, as is the red tint from the lantern glow.

There's another loud crash from outside, lightning lights up the sky and room as thunder roars over the rain. 

There's a knock at my door.