When the Ace falls • Yumekira

Prologue

Moscow — Russia

"Forgive me Father for I've sinned".

She muttered under the veil. The words that left her mouth sounded empty of emotion and even the slightest regret. Because regret wasn't something she knew how to feel or how to deal with. She never learned and nobody ever taught her.

Her attention was drawn to the altar in front of her. It would be empty if it weren't for two lightning candles whose flames failed to bring anything close to warmth or security to the visitors. But she didn't care since she was the only person inside the ancient-looking church.

Her hands were untied in front of her and anyone looking from afar would think she was praying or murmuring something sacred. But they couldn't be more wrong. Because the truth was that she knew. She knew every single damn thing she'd done wrong. She'd been facing the consequences any time soon and for the first time in her life, she was certain nothing could harm her.

The bells sounded low and distant and the whisper of the Russian winter outside the heavy wooden doors were a reminder of how deep in her own thoughts she'd gotten. A smoke made its way to her lips when she felt the familiar sensation — which had been estrangely present this semester — of her heart racing inside her chest. And Kira had never been more aware of it than now. Never.

Kira stared at the sculpture in front of her and remembered her childhood times, when she'd been obligated to go to church even though nobody in her family was truly religious. She'd never understood the reason to go there every Sunday, eventually she learned to obey just like Rir also did. But not this time.

This time it was entirely different because she wasn't there for appearances or forgiveness. She was there to finally end a ritual that had begun even before she was born. She was there to break free and nobody could stop her.

Inside the pocket of her black velvet overcoat, her fingers clenched around the golden poker chip: a reminder, a promise, an oath. She smiled faintly and looked back at the altar.

In the back of her mind, she heard the oath that changed everything.

"You and me, together. Until then very end. Freedom is what I intend to give you. It is yours if you accept it."

Back then, Kira didn't flinch. Didn't smile either. She just stared at the other girl almost blankly even though the a flashing of something more dangerous, deeper, had been hidden since she wasn't ready to revealed it yet.

But she saw me even back then. She always did. She smirked.

She got up from the space she'd been kneeling in and left the gray-stoned-church without looking back.

Kira held the chip in her pocket, squeezing it a little bit before smiling. She held it between her fingers, analyzing the golden details and the Japanese writing in it. With her fingernail, she touched it carefully.

You're everything that's forbidden for me, aren't you, my sweet temptation? Kira smiled once more.

Suddenly, the Russian winter didn't seem so cold anymore... at least, not for a while.

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Hey guys! This one was shot because it's just a prologue but the chapters will be longer!

Hope you liked it and please be patient with me since English is not my mother language. ☺️