The Grim (Ravens #3)

xxiv. mortality revived

 Emma was intersected before she even reached the concrete prison they called a palace. Her hood was drawn up, and while she had rinsed the blood from much of her exposed skin, it was still caked in the creases of her palms, dug underneath her nails. She used to try and rid herself of all evidence in a past lifetime. Lady Macbeth, she was, as though washing away the blood would wash away her sins. Not anymore. Macbeth had been replaced by a dark void, one that could stomach its pain, that could live with its mistakes. One that was not filled with cowardice.

Her arm was gripped by a taller figure, their grasp firm and serious, but familiar. She hardly had to look up to see who it was. Ezra, of course. His blue eyes were narrow, a mixture of anger and concern and confusion altogether. "You killed three of our own people on a government-sponsored mission. You need to explain," he snapped.

"Keep walking," she muttered. It was a public area; there were people around. She kept her head down to avoid any and all staring eyes. "It's a goddamn long story, and if anyone else hears it, I'm screwed." They reached a somewhat secluded area in the residential streets of the city. At this time of day, most people were returning home from work, and few wandered the streets with the sole purpose of listening to the conversations of others.

"Care to start?"

"You don't believe in the City of the Forgotten, right?" she asked, unsure of where to even begin. While Ezra knew more than just about anyone else in Monarchia, he knew hardly the tip of her iceberg. All that laid beneath the surface was a mystery to him, a history he didn't even realize he didn't know.

"People don't just disappear into thin air. It's all bullshit."

"They went to the Fortress," she cut him off quickly, and when he raised a doubtful eyebrow, she continued. "I know this because I was leading a group at Poison Frog, and my brother was the leader of the City."

Suddenly Ezra slowed down, his shoulders relaxing and his hands fidgeting in his pants' pockets. "You said you didn't have siblings."

"If you haven't noticed, I've tried to drop my past, but that clearly hasn't worked out," she murmured. "I have three, and I intend to keep it that way. Do you get it?"

His face dropped, because he understood. He sighed; the regret flying out in his exhale and the clear display of shame were enough to verify that Emma had made the right choice in sparing his life. "That kid, the one Hunter hired us to kill, that was your brother, wasn't it?" Emma simply nodded, but looked away as Ezra's admission of what had in fact happened was a little too much for her to handle. It was not a spontaneous brawl in a back alley, but a paid attack. She couldn't quite decide what would have been better. On one hand, it meant Sebastian was innocent, but on the other meant he had brought the pain upon himself, that to some extent he had deserved it. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry."

She felt as Ezra's arms wrapped around her, drawing her close against a brick wall. He made no romantic gesture, no move to kiss her, but simply held her, supported her in a way to show his true condolences. "I never would have done it if I knew, Ness," he continued, and while he cringed at the use of her alias since he knew it made her so uncomfortable, there were just enough people walking by that her real name was a little too dangerous. Emma noticed, of course, but didn't make any comment. It was a small move, only a single word, but confirmed his loyalty to her, confirmed that he was more concerned now with protecting her than how she might respond to him. She'd learned that it was in the most miniscule of moments that one could learn most about those around them. This was one of those times.

Emma lifted her head to see three guards marching down the narrow street, all of their eyes locked on the couple. She took a deep breath, and glanced towards her left wrist. That damn tracker. No where was safe.