To Rhial

52

Adam

The snowstorm bellowed as Vetia idly ran her eyes over me, perplexed.

"We're next to the road. The spot where you were supposed to meet me at sunset when we got out."

"Got out? Then where's Tells? And how did you get out?"

"Not sure where Tells is. I'm going back to get her tomorrow, so we can grab her and get the hell out of this city. We'll follow you to wherever Brenden and Desmond are, and we're good. Apparently Tells cut a deal with Simira, that she'd let us out if Tells did some stuff."

Vetia's eyes turned cold. Her face lost its confusion and turned grim. "She cut a deal with that bitch? To get out? What did Tells have to do?"

"I don't really know. I just got the rundown."

"Then tell me the rundown, Adam."

I hesitated for a moment. The way her eyes pierced me was almost alien. "I guess it had to do with getting her father out of power so she could be Viscount. I think Tells just did some stealth stuff, helped out here and there, I don't know. I was just there when the Viscount got his head lopped off..."

She looked down at the fire in my hand and pulled aggressively at her blonde hair. Her lips were moving, but I couldn't hear her talking.

"You say something? The wind is getting pretty loud."

"Like I've said, don't fucking talk about them like that!" She snapped out, still staring into the fire.

"Vetia, I can't hear you over the storm!"

She looked up at me blankly. "Oh, no, I was just saying you should come with me to Montak's. I'm sure he'll let you crash there for the night."

"Montak? What? Where? That's not really good manners, is it? To bring a stranger into some guy's house?"

"You won't be imposing." She had a sort of distant look, no matter what emotion she expressed. Even as she casually smiled with her response, it's like something was missing behind her eyes. "So, Adam, how did arena fighting go? Got yourself one hell of a sword there." She poked at the blade and then glanced at her bleeding fingertip before licking at the wound. She grimaced, mouthed something to herself again and then talked aloud. "I know, really useful."

"Uh, yeah, it was a gift from Captain Zev."

"Montak's is right up here. Did you learn how to use it? Score any glory kills?" A chill ran up my spine. I had never seen her look any more like a serial killer than in that moment. The dead eyes and really wide smile that was almost perfectly genuine. It had to be her joking, right? Her eyes were so unsettling, I didn't respond.

"I'm just joking, Adam. You don't need to be so afraid and shit." She blinked rapidly a few times and her eyes lost their distance. It was like she finally came back into the moment. She traced three quick circles into the air and fixed her finger, pointing ahead. With a reassuring smile, she said "Montak's is right there."

We approached the snow-covered log house with a four-pointed wooden star above the door. I was covering my eyes from the snow when I bumped into Vetia, who had completely stopped moving.

"...at the table by the door, Montak hurt, Lotti in bed." She stopped talking to herself and looked up at me coldly. "Adam. You're going to stand out here, right next to the door, hidden. I'm gonna walk out, and somebody is going to follow me. As soon as you can see her, I want you to lop her head off with your sword."

"Vetia, what the fuck are you talking about."

"Adam, do what I said." Her eyes were full of fear and rage as she turned. "I need you to trust me. I need you to hit this animal as hard as you can, or shit's gonna get real messy."