The fall

Chapter 40

Blake

The black market was louder than I expected, a cacophony of voices shouting over each other, the air thick with the smell of spice, metal, and something faintly rancid. From my spot on the rooftop, I could see everything—the merchants haggling with buyers, the guards pretending not to see the illegal deals happening in plain sight, and the occasional figure who moved with too much purpose to be just another buyer.

I adjusted my hood, making sure my face was fully concealed. The spies' information hadn't left much room for doubt. The Valortorian soldiers were here, and they were after something dangerous—a weapon with a poison that's  deadly to my people. The Valortorian council wasn't even pretending anymore. This wasn't just about war; this was extermination.

I tightened my grip on the edge of the roof, my knuckles turning white beneath my gloves. I'd  already spoken to the informants. They confirmed everything. "Buy the weapon before Valort does," I'd ordered, and they'd respond with a firm, "Yes, sir."

Still, I didn't trust anyone to handle this but myself. That's why I stayed, watching, scanning the crowd below for any signs of the weapon—or worse, any soldiers who wanted it.

Then I heard it—a sharp voice cutting through the chaos.
"I said, don't touch me."

My eyes snapped to the source. A woman in a black robe and hood stood in front of a merchant, her blade drawn and steady in her hand. Her voice was firm, unshaking, and the way she held herself... it reminded me of Penelope.

I sighed, already knowing what I was about to do. I didn't want to get involved. This wasn't my fight. But as much as I hated it, I couldn't let go. She'd end up dead, and as much as I tried to convince myself I didn't care, I knew Penelope would've stepped in without hesitation.

Damn it.

I dropped silently from the rooftop, landing just behind the merchant. He spun around, his eyes widening as he looked up at me. I didn't say anything, just stared him down, letting the weight of my presence do the work. It didn't take long—he muttered something under his breath and backed off, disappearing into the crowd.

The woman turned to me, her hood still hiding her face. "Who the hell are you?" She asked sharply.

"Are you alright?" I ignored her question, scanning her for any sign of injury.

"I was handling it," she snapped, lowering her blade slightly but still keeping it in her hand.

Before I could respond, the merchant's voice bellowed from behind us. "After them! Bring me the girl!"

I clenched my jaw. Of course. I knew stepping in would lead to this, but there wasn't time to regret it. The merchant's men were already closing in, pushing through the crowd.

I turned back to the woman, grabbing her wrist before she could protest. "Come with me," I said, not waiting for her response.

"What—hey!" She shouted, but I was already pulling her though the throng of people.

The market was a maze, crowded and chaotic, but I knew how to move through it. I kept my grip firm on her wrist as we weaved between vendors, dodging crates and barrels, slipping through tight spaces where the merchants men couldn't follow. Their shouts grew fainter as we moved deeper into the chaos, but I didn't slow until we were clear.

Finally, I spotted an empty alleyway and ducked into it, pulling her in after me. I leaned against the wall, catching my breath, adrenaline still pumping through me. Haven't felt that in a while.

She yanked her wrist out of my grip, glaring at me. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her voice sharp.

I glanced at her, my breathing still evening out. "If I hadn't, you'd be surrounded right now," I said evenly.

She crossed her arms, but she didn't argue, her hood still obscuring her face. For a moment, I studied her, trying to piece who she was and why she'd been there.

Before I could ask, I shook my head and pushed off the wall. "We're not safe yet," I said, keeping my voice low. "Stick close to me. And don't do anything reckless."

I really do sound crazy, It's as if I'm talking to Penelope.

She let out a scoff but didn't move right away. We slipped back into the shadows together, the noise of the market still ringing behind us.

The narrow alleyway was quiet, the noise of the market muffled by the high walls around us. I kept my eyes on her as we slowed to a stop, trying to catch my breath. Something about her felt...familiar. The way she held herself, the sharpness in her tone.

Then she reached up and pulled back her hood.

My heart stopped. It didn't just drop—it plummeted, leaving me breathless as I stared at her. Penelope.

Her crimson red hair framed her face just as I remembered, her soft yet sharp eyes glinting with the same fire that haunted my dreams. But her expression... it wasn't the one I remembered. She looked worn, a shadow of the woman I knew, her face marked by pain and exhaustion.

She looked at me, her lips parting slightly, and offered a quiet "Thank you... for helping me."

The sound of her voice sent my pulse racing. I could barely breathe. "Penelope," I whispered, the name catching in my throat like prayer.

She froze, her entire body stiffening as her eyes darted up to meet mine. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her blade, but she didn't draw it. Instead, she flinched, her brows furrowing. "What?"

I pulled back my own hood, watching as her expression shifted in an instant. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me. Her lips moved, barely forming the word. "Blake?"

Hearing my name from her lips almost undid me. I took a step forward, my han reaching out to touch her, to confirm that she was real—that this wasn't some cruel trick on my mind. But she recoiled, stepping back sharply.

"Penelope," I said softly, the ache in my chest growing as I watched the horror spread across her face.

"What...what are you doing here?" She asked, her voice breaking. Her eyes glistened, and her hands trembled at her sides.

I frowned, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I could ask you the same thing. I—" I stopped, my voice faltering. I wanted to say so much, to tell her I'd been looking for her, that I'd searched endlessly. But the words caught in my throat, choking me.

Her eyes darted away as she pressed herself against the wall. "No, no, you can't be here," she said, her voice trembling. Her shoulders shook, and I lift my head to get a clearer look on her—to realize the she was crying.

"Penelope," I said again, more firmly this time, stepping toward her. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to feel her in my arms again. But when I moved closer, she shook her head violently and stumbled back, her breathing quick and uneven.

"Don't." She whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Don't come closer."

I froze, my hand falling to my side as helplessness washed over me. "Why?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Her eyes darted to mine, wide and filled with an unbearable mix of sorrow and fear. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but she couldn't seem to get the words out. Instead, a sob broke free from her chest, and she buried her face in her hands.

I stood there, frozen, watching as she fell apart before me. My Penelope. My beloved. And I couldn't do anything but watch.

"Penelope..." I whispered, my own voice breaking. But she didn't look at me again. She only turned her face away, her shoulders heaving with silent, heart-wrenching sobs.