Black Ice ✓ | Deathsworn #1

Chapter 28 ∞ Outskirts

Even though I was confident we would not run into any trouble we could not escape, I was still cautious. Erenol was biologically the oldest one here, but she was also the most immature—or maybe the oldest one was Maun, but I wasn't sure because I never asked. Either way, I was technically the youngest.

I was a little surprised by Maun's disposition. While I could tell he was a little nervous, he remained calmer than I imagined he would be.

These two had gone through a lot, I imagine. This was probably nothing new for the both of them, though. Compared to them, I lived a fairly comfortable life.

I tugged my hood forward, making sure I was buried in the shadows as I stood up and began to leave. They followed me carefully, and we inched out of the backdoor.

The waiter was kind enough to guide us out, seeing us off with a nervous smile.

"Please be careful," he said.

"Will do. Thank you," I told him. I turned to my two companions. "This street should lead us right into the plaza," I said.

"Do we go back to the House?" Erenol asked.

"It's a little far," I told her. "A twenty-minute walk if we're fast. We should be fine, but I think we ought to avoid the alleyways for now. There's a chance we might get cornered—and I don't really want that happening. We should take the main streets," I said.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "But you hate the main streets. Don't you hate large crowds?"

"I don't have the luxury to be picky right now, do I?" I pointed out.

We didn't waste our breath and began moving, making sure to blend in with the thick crowd so that we wouldn't easily be followed. Personally, I hated it but learned to tolerate it over time. I still had my fear of large crowds, although I was capable of keeping it better under control now.

I kept my breathing under control as usual and ignored the flipping in my gut. I tried not to show my discomfort as I looked around. Even though Erenol and Maun were on either side of me, I couldn't help but feel as though I would lose them easily.

Venerya was such a populated city. In the day, during these hours, the crowd was the worst. I was sweating under my hood even though it was quite cool. I was tempted to throw it back and get some air, but that would be unnecessarily drawing attention to myself. I didn't have the most usual of appearances in this place after all. That'd be like standing in the middle of the storm holding a kite, waiting to be struck by lightning. It wasn't the ideal scenario, especially since we were currently being tailed by unknown people.

I suddenly felt suffocated, vision lightly spinning having to wade through the sea of so many people. My hands snapped forward to grasp at the clothes of the person nearest to me, and I ended up snatching Maun's sleeve so hard that he nearly took a tumble.

Seeing him so weak, almost flying with a small tug, I mustered an apologetic smile. "Sorry," I said.

He stared at me, as usual, with his wide and clueless eyes—perhaps wondering what he had done to be treated in such a manner. I shook my head.

"Don't lose your way," I instead told him, trying to find a reason to justify what I had done. I was starting to realize how good I was with making excuses. "The crowd is thick. You might get lost."

He frowned at me but didn't protest—probably because he couldn't. He was probably thinking he had no intention of doing anything that would cause him to 'lose his way.'

"Evy," Erenol began, halting midway abruptly and raising the ire of those behind us as a result.

The pedestrian behind us clicked his tongue and rounded about us harshly. I pulled Eren to my side and followed the point of her gaze. I realized a couple of guards were standing ahead of us, eyeing each one of those who passed by.