Crimson Heir

Chapter Eighteen

The night sky was pale and looked like a rare blue. No star in sight as the moon shone behind thick clouds. Midnight air was sharp in its own icy way. The first night that snow began to fall in slow, light fluffs. Taking over any amount of green along the fields and pilling up on each branch of the trees.

I wore a black cloak that draped down to the back of my ankles. My shirt was the same red of those roses I saw. I decided to wear a pair of jeans that fitted a little loosely on my hips but held them up with some ribbon I ripped off of the dresses I had in the closet. It was essential to wear the combat boots I had found since my feet won't handle the cobblestone streets once I get out of here.

The dagger my mother gave me sat on the edge of my bed, it's dark matter not shining off any light. Its hilt was smaller than the size of my fist. When I picked it up, the leather grip felt scabbard. It was used before, probably many times. I secured it in a makeshift sheath that was tucked at my waistband and I stared out the window.

The city outside of these gates was mostly all cobblestone or brick as this was the more upper-class city of this country. I lived in Cyrim which was about thirty minutes outside of Lyrie, the city I'm in now. The difference between the two was most of the rich lived here and the brotherhood was started in Cyrim. Which makes sense why Klein is in charge, he is in the heart of the city. Yet, I grew up in ashes and low-class living. Maybe explains why I hate wearing those stupid dresses and the uptight fashion clothing the vampires choose to wear.

It was time to head out as the snow started to pick up in thickness and speed. Snowflakes the size of pebbles were free-falling so elegantly in the sky. Beautiful wasn't good enough to describe. I have never seen so much snow before and it made me feel remorseful for doing this one more time, but it was the last time. I needed out. I want to be somewhere else.

I opened the window slowly, checking to see if any guards or knights were around the window. No one was in sight, surprisingly. It'd be easy to spot if someone was around as the white ground was so bright under the faded moon. I was far too weak to jump down like I was last time so I pulled out the tied sheets from all the bedding I had on the over luxurious bed. I whipped it out of the window and fastened it to the headboard of the bed. Once it was secured, I climbed onto the windowsill and turned around. Gripping the handmade rope, I started out of the window, keeping my feet firmly against the building as I slowly let myself down.

I looked down to see a few feet from me and the ground so I hopped down and the plush snow softened my landing. It was far colder outside than it was inside as a shiver ran up my spine. The cool air made my breath into light clouds in my face.

"Whew," I muttered to myself.

Time wasn't on my side as I needed to get a good head start before Marcino checks in on me. My feet felt heavy in the snow as I had to manually pick each leg up from the thick snow. It could almost reach up to my knees even in boots. This might end up in my disadvantage. I won't let it. I picked my pace up as I passed the gardens and got to the forestry area. The snow didn't build much under the trees so it was smooth sailing from here.

I reminded myself of the roses and kept a conscious eye out for them in case they show up but there wasn't any voice or lead tonight. The surroundings felt different to me, no energy radiating through the green grass, or bronzing leaves. The river flowed with purpose and looked frosty by the river bends. The rocks under the snow looked like pillows along the rigged layer of the forest. There was something strange, honestly.

It felt like a lifetime following the river down. I had to cross the water at some point and the thought of freezing any more than I am now, made my eyebrows furrow. But it had to be done in order to leave. I started towards the river and placed one boot in. The cool rush of water hit against my leg and it felt like glass shards slamming against my very flesh. Then I swung my other leg in and treaded through the rushing water. My whole body tensed and shuddered in the water as I lifted my arms up, marching slowly through until my chin could barely lift out of the way. Barely having to swim, I finally got to the other side and was drenched. Water weighed me down and caused minor tremors as I walked away with the chilling water soaking through my clothes and in my boots. My hair slicked around my face and neck and the feeling was like slime against my skin.