Rhea wants nothing more than to kill her father. But not just because he's any run-of-the-mill scumbag. No, he's a god. And he's the one who cursed her with being a goldblood -- half human, half godling. Good for her, she's willing to do anything to...
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Impossible.
I grit my teeth and take a small breath to calm myself.
"I couldn't turn him away, when he stumbled into my shop," the shopowner says. I am barely hearing him.
"No, I am so, so grateful," I say. My eyes never leave him. Him. Bran's son. Milos.
The name repulses me.
I have never had a kill survive. Never. My assignments are perfect.
Were perfect.
I cannot figure out how he made it out of that manor alive. The amount of poison in his body would have felled a prize stallion. That weak boy, who couldn't lift a single finger against his father -- he couldn't have had a chance.
"He's looking a lot better today," the shopkeeper continues, a content smile on his face.
Of course he does.
Who wouldn't, when given the blood of the gods?
I cannot believe I, of all people, wasted my blood on this mortal imbecile.
The gods must be laughing cruelly at me now.
I am - I am -
I do not know how to feel.
I am - was - am the perfect killer. Assassin.
And I am sure that he should've died.
So how did he survive?
The shopkeeper leaves me with the boy, but I barely notice.
I run a few fingers over his forehead, brushing away a few errant strands of hair. His skin is hot and clammy. His hair sticks to his skin.
"How did you survive?" I whisper, leaning over to study his face.
He looks gaunt. Gray. His eyeballs move about under his eyelids.
I wonder what is he dreaming in his poison-induced delirium?
Perhaps I should be content with his misery. Or perhaps I should put him out of his misery.
I could easily do it. There are enough herbs in this room that would finish the job.
But I do not have Zella's knowledge of plants and poisons. And I cannot take chances that the shopkeeper would be able to see through my crude and quick work.
But I should kill him now.
He's no threat to me, for sure. At least, he isn't now.
But -
He is a loose end. It is unsettling, to know he is still alive. Will still be alive.
And all because I was fool enough to save him last night.
