The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 25: How did you?

The man's expression twisted. He froze, the knife falling and clattering beside Levi's astonished face. Blood squirted down from the back of his neck, dripping onto the floor. Jasmine appeared behind him, her eyes behind the fox mask confused, but cold. Then the man lost consciousness, collapsing atop Levi. Jasmine tried to help pull Levi out from under him, but she was weaker than usual, still clumsy. It took a minute, until Levi's head cleared before he could help her enough to get free.

"Levi...who are these...these men? How did you...did you kill one of them?" Jasmine asked, shock in her voice. Levi saw that she was still shaking, and she swayed, dropping her knife as she planted both hands on the ground to stay upright. He got to his feet. Started unbuckling one of the scabbards from the dead men. It fits. This is messed up. But it fits. And he would have killed me if I hadn't done it.

"I'm...I'm not sure. I think they're from the Deathless City. You wouldn't wake up so I had to let them take you. Lean on me!" Levi offered his shoulder and though Jasmine's eyes behind her mask were wide with astonishment, she accepted.

"Men from the Deathless City. I'm sorry, I-I can't think right now. You should leave me, just go, get out of here." She cried out but Levi just took more of her weight, pulling her up.

"It's fine. I feel good. Better than I should. I'll get you out of here!" He declared boldly and despite her protests, steered her out into the hallway. "What did you take back there? You wouldn't wake up."

"It's not important. These men from the Deathless City, they'll keep coming." She started to regain some of her strength, Levi could feel her taking up less and less weight. They passed the doctor in the hallway. He was on the ground, blood on the back of his head. Levi leaned down, saddened. Jasmine just looked away.

"He's not breathing." Levi sighed, and they kept going, this time Jasmine walked on her own power. Levi felt lost in the building, the white sterile walls had too many different rooms and turns to follow. Fortunately, Jasmine seemed to remember the way, and they got out. "Where are the other doctors? The nurses?"

"Out. There were only two others to begin with. But the doctor said the others were looking for victims of the Shatterstorm." Jasmine remarked as Levi spotted a door at the end of the hallway which had light behind it. "There's the exit. We should be careful. There could be more outside!"

"These men, they knew you were here. They were looking for you. How did they know?" Levi wondered as they got closer. Jasmine paused. After thinking for a while she replied,

"The Deathless City is persistent, they have endless resources and ways to find out what they want. They're probably eager to hunt the royals of the Rainlands. I'd make a good bargaining chip." She stood outside the door, peering through the little window at the top. "Doesn't look like anyone's outside, but I don't trust it. Think we should go?"

"Let's do it. I feel good. We can find somewhere to hide, maybe go out on the trail again." Levi said, excitedly. Jasmine shook her head.

"Levi, you've eaten nothing for days. We need to get proper supplies in Ceda, we can't just go out there, it's weeks to the next city." She said grimly. Levi was discouraged. Oh...right. I haven't eaten. I can't even feel my stomach anymore.

"Okay. Do you have any money?" He asked quietly. Jasmine nodded, holding up a bag from inside her clothes.

"I'm a daughter of the Rainland's Emperor, Levi. What do you take me for, you?" Her mask was still on but Levi imagined that inside she was grinning. "But if I go into anywhere to spend it, they'll remember I was there."

"Then I'll go. Give me some money and I'll get us supplies. Should be fine, right? They won't remember me, the Deathless City has no reason to know I even exist." Levi pointed at his face, smiling. "This time, I got this."

"Uhm yea...yea that could work." Jasmine sounded less excited than he thought she would be but she agreed. "We go out the door on three, duck to the right, make for the center of the city. Just follow me, don't get separated okay?"

"Got it."

The two of them stood by the door. Jasmine gently turned the handle while peeking out the window.

"3." She whispered.

"2."

"1!"

The door opened and Jasmine rushed out, Levi close behind. He followed her footsteps, noticing that she was still a bit unsteady. Regardless, she turned right, and Levi had a split second to take in their surroundings. So this is a city? Wow! He thought as he examined the buildings which were much bigger than any they had had in Eastrain. Many of them were formed from bricks rather than wood, and it was a strange sight to Levi who was so used to two story houses and little farms. He kept an eye out for any more men from the Deathless City but didn't see anyone on the streets. Jasmine led them deeper into the buildings until eventually they stopped in a little alleyway between two large apartments.

"I think I saw a place we can get some food back there. Did you see anyone following us?" She asked. He shook his head. "Me neither. I think we're okay for now, but we need to get out of here as soon as possible. Here, take this." She opened the coin bag and took out a large sum of money. "Make sure whatever you get is easy to carry and will last. Dried meat, oats, bread, grab as much as you can. I'll be out here. Got it?"

Levi accepted the coins, remembering how Anton had once offered him a similar gift. Feeling a little saddened, he turned away and crossed the street. There was a sign above the store in big red letters,

Dag's Corner Store