Roe wasn't surprised that Kian had a place in the upper districts. What did surprise her was how modest the interior was.
It was a simple, two-roomed apartment, with one area for the kitchen and living room and a separate bedroom hidden behind a closed door. It was significantly larger than where she lived, and previous tenants hadn't bruised the walls with damage. There were no stains or cracks, and the windows had simple lace curtains and thick, weighty shutters. A small couch in the living space boasted velvet cushions that looked untouched. Behind the sofa was a round table with four matching chairs, the naked surface matching the walls, which looked like they had never been touched.
Kian had been on edge during their trip, his head on a well-greased pivot, eyes watchful. He didn't utter a word but instead focused on scanning the rooftops around them, nose flaring as he tried to detect the scent of anyone following them. When they got inside, he shut the door quickly and moved towards the singular bedroom in a swift motion. He gestured for her to enter, so she followed him, hesitating slightly at their sudden proximity. The bedroom was reasonable, with a simple bed, two armchairs, and a small table between them. There were no windows. Kian sat down in one of the chairs and waved a hand towards the other, indicating that Roe should sit. She sank into the generous cushion, and Kian lit the candles in the room with a flick of his wrist.
Roe and Kian sat facing each other for a moment, neither breaking the silence that had curled up between them like a sleepy feline. Kian appeared to be relaxed, leg crossed over his knee, hands resting on the arms of the chair, but she could see the vein pulsing in his neck and the strained set of his jaw.
Roe rubbed her hands against the tops of her thighs nervously, her legs jittery, and her mind jumbled. It had been one thing to be next in line to be marked, but it was another to be actively hunted. She had hoped that the weaving paths and twists and turns they had taken as a precaution had been enough to shake whoever was on their trail.
"So what do we do now?" Her heart was still pounding; from the exertion of getting here or her fear, she couldn't tell.
Kian loosed a breath, replying, "I know where there's another copy of the book."
Something in his tone told her she wasn't going to like this. He continued, "My father has quite the collection."
The realization sunk into her like a stone tossed into a lake, sudden and disruptive.
"I'm not doing that."
He paused, fixing her with a hard stare. "You don't know what I was going to say."
"I don't care. I've never been over the wall, let alone inside the Palace." Irritation at his persistence bloomed behind her eyes. She bristled for a moment, trying to calm her fluttering heart, taking a few deep inhales while shutting her eyes.
"You won't have to go alone." He leaned forward in the chair, urgency in his voice as if trying to persuade her to see reason.
"There's a masquerade ball for Samhain at the end of next month. We'll gain access to the castle then, sneak up to the palace library, and get the book."
Her eyes snapped open at that, and she retorted, "How do you know the other half is even in the city? Or that it even exists?"
"I had it once. My mother gifted me both halves of the amulet when I was very young. She told me to keep half for myself and give the other half to someone I loved. I didn't know what it was for, then. I don't know if she did either."
"What happened to the other half?"
"I gave it to someone." He could no longer feign relaxation. His eyes were swirling with darkness, an unreadable look upon his face.
"What happened to her?" Roe asked softly. His eyes were glued to the
floor as his mouth turned downwards into a scowl.
"She was murdered. When I found her," he cleared his throat, "It was missing."
A pang of second-hand grief struck Roe's heart.
"It's not just about finding the other half," She inferred, and he shook his head.
Roe had never been in love, but it wasn't hard to imagine what it might be like to lose a partner. The icy wall around her heart melted just a little bit. Kian didn't meet her eyes for a while after that, and she wondered how long ago he had lost her. From the pain behind his eyes to the way his body was almost vibrating with tension, she imagined that it wasn't too long. Or maybe he just loved her that much. She felt sorry for him and sorry for herself. His grief was so reminiscent of her own, and deep down, she had the urge to comfort him in some way, knowing how lonely of a feeling it was, how isolating.
"Don't look at me like that." He said suddenly, shaking her from her thoughts. His eyes were no longer pained, and the steely look returned.
"Like what?"
"Like you pity me. I don't need it."
She clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes as any empathy she felt evaporated. Roe changed the subject quickly, not wanting to linger on the past, and the emotions dredged up.
"How exactly do you plan to get us into the castle?"
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Many Fae are invited to the balls at the castle. We could walk through the front doors so long as we appear to belong."
"Interesting." She considered his plan, wondering if it were too good to be true. Nothing was ever easy.
"Where is the ballroom versus the library?"
Kian sat back in his chair, and his eyes flicked upwards as he tried to remember. His eyes landed back on Roe.
"It's two floors down."
"So what's the catch?"
"Guests are not permitted beyond the ballroom, and there will be guards posted around the entrances and exists. The library is the king's personal collection, so there'll be guards there too."
"We'll need a distraction," Roe concluded, and he nodded.
"I should be able to come up with something. Once the distraction is underway, it'll be up to you to retrieve the book."
Nervousness fluttered in her stomach as she thought through his idea, wondering again if she should trust him. It all seemed to favor him.
The words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop them, "I still want the other half of the amulet."
All Kian did was grunt, in what she assumed to be affirmation, before sliding a piece of paper towards him on the table. She supposed she would take that for now. Roe hadn't noticed the paper and cup of quills on the table, nor the small inkpot, and silently chided herself for her lack of observantness. He began sketching the layout of the two floors she needed to navigate. It seemed simple enough.
He finished, and then he stood.
"It's getting late. Stay here for the time being. If you need to go out, keep your identity concealed. I'll be back in the morning."
Roe stood with him, asking, "Where are you going?"
"As far from here as I can before the Daemon wake for the evening."
She felt a distinct sense of unease as he left. Outside, the night was creeping across the sky, light fading into oblivion behind the mountain. She closed the shutters to the dual windows on either side of the door, falling into a familiar routine as she got ready for bed.
Roe wasn't sure if she was supposed to sleep in the bed or on the couch. She opted for the couch out of some attempt at politeness. A bundle of nerves had made their home in the pit of her belly like a tangle of snakes. They had settled on a plan, but that didn't assuage the waves of anxiety that were coursing through her. Would it be considered treason to steal from the High King?
Finally, she drifted off into a restless sleep as the night engulfed the city in darkness.
–
"Uncle Axos, Sirscha, I'm home!"
Emptiness called back to her like an answer, her voice echoing throughout the estate's foyer. It was dark outside, and the servants hadn't lit the lanterns yet for the evening. None of them were dashing through the halls either, and an eerie quiet had settled over her like a blanket.
Somewhere far away, something dropped to the floor with a clatter.
"Sirscha? Uncle Axos?"
She stepped tentatively into the room, kicking off her shoes and moving towards the grand staircase that split into two balconies leading to the rooms on the second floor.
She moved through the house silently, her footsteps padded by the carpeting that ran throughout. She crept up the stairs, something deep within her telling her to be quiet. Something wasn't right.
She turned to the left and took the first door leading into Sirscha's room.
First, she noticed that the carpet was wet and squishy. Then, when she looked up, the horror slapped her across the face. Blood was everywhere, in every crevice, soaking every surface. The coverlets were mottled with it, and in the center of the bed lay a disfigured bump of arms and twisted legs and so, so much blood.
She screamed, but nothing came out. She stood there for what seemed like an eternity and screamed, screamed, screamed. Blood began pouring down the walls in waves, splashing against the floor ricocheting across her legs. The warm liquid was pooling at her ankles and nipping at her skin, and all she could do was scream.
–
When Roe awoke, a thick blanket had been thrown over her at some point during the night. She sat up, feeling disoriented, and it took her a moment to recognize where she was. Her heart was thumping with the remnants of a forgotten dream, and it took her several seconds to process that she was awake.
As she gathered her thoughts, her stomach growled loudly. The door to the bedroom was closed, and she assumed Kian was in there, asleep. It had to be mid-morning, according to the light that was brightly filtering past the slats in the shutters, casting shards of light onto the floor. It had gotten chilly overnight. She softly ran a hand over the blanket, thinking that it wasn't the first nice thing he had done for her.
She rifled through her bag and dressed quickly, wrapping herself in a large earth-colored cloak. Stepping outside, she put a hand in front of her eyes to block the brutal sunlight from an intense sun high in the sky. Roe wasn't in a neighborhood she recognized. Her nerves felt rubbed raw, and she couldn't navigate an unfamiliar place with how on edge she felt. Frustration prickled beneath her skin, so she returned to the apartment and rummaged through Kian's cabinets instead.
As she searched, she realized he even had an icebox, a true luxury she hadn't had in years. Roe opened it carefully, peering inside to assess its contents. There was a bit of bacon, eggs, and some cheese. It seemed he had similar tastes. Opening the cabinets, she found a loaf of old bread that was a bit hard but not yet moldy. She settled for the cheese and bread, not wanting to make any noise by cooking.
Kian was up shortly after, entering the room to find Roe sitting by the window, looking out onto the street.
"Bored?" He probed, stretching as he asked it.
"I should have brought a book with me." She admitted.
"I didn't know you could read," he said casually, and she wasn't sure if he intended to insult her. Many humans were illiterate, but she had been lucky to have received some education after living with her uncle. Regardless, it still stung. She folded her arms across her chest, her cheeks turning pink.
"Surprise, you don't know everything," She retorted weakly, giving him an indignant look. He ignored her attempt at a jab and opened the icebox in search of something for breakfast.
"Are you hungry?"
"I ate."
"I see that. Are you sure that was enough?"
Her stomach grumbled in response as if it had ears. Kian raised an eyebrow as he scooped the eggs and bacon out from the belly of the icebox.
Soon, the aroma of cooked meat and eggs drifted through the air like a lazy trail of smoke. Roe returned to her place at the window, propping her chin up with her palms, looking wistfully outside at the autumn morning. A breeze carried the scent of pine and dirt into the small apartment, dust billowing across the street in an elegant dance. The roads were empty in this neighborhood, and there was not a single passerby in the hour she had sat there.
He finished with the food, and they took their residence at the table. It looked delicious, and Roe felt her stomach grumble again persistently. She couldn't stop scarfing it down, realizing she hadn't had dinner the night before. The bread and cheese did nothing to sate her appetite. In between bites, she threw his words from earlier back at him.
"I didn't know you could cook."
He chuckled and responded, "Surprise, you don't know everything either."
Roe rolled her eyes but didn't have a clever comeback for him. He ripped a piece of bacon off between his teeth and continued after chewing thoughtfully for a moment.
"I had to learn once I left the palace. It was hard at first because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but over time, I got better and even started to enjoy it."
Kian dropped his eyes back to his plate and resumed eating. Roe tucked this tidbit of information about him away, saving it to mull over later. She observed him briefly while he ate, noticing that he had tied his hair in a half-up, half-down style. He was sporting another black tunic and pants but no cloak. She felt strange on the inside as she finished her food. It was intimate to share a meal, and she hadn't spent this much time with anyone since her cousin and uncle had died. She wasn't sure what to do with these feelings stirring inside her belly, so she pushed them into that same spot where her grief lived. He stood from the table, took away her plate, and quickly washed the dishes in the sink.
"What are your plans for the day?" She asked casually, hoping he wouldn't leave her here to be bored.
He finished with the dishes and turned to face her. "I thought we could train a little bit before sundown. I know a place right outside of the city."
Roe scoffed and said, "Sure you do. I bet you know the perfect place for me in the mines, too."
Kian smirked, responding with, "We won't get caught. Trust me."
Could she trust him? He had saved her life from the Daemon and alerted her that someone was following them. He didn't have to warn her or give her a safe place to stay. Fae were also notorious for abiding by their word, and he had made a deal with her. She was apprehensive, but her gut wasn't firing off any warning alarms.
"Okay, let's say I do trust you. How do you plan to get us out of the city?"
He leaned against the counter.
"We can sneak over the wall in between perimeter shifts. Or, I can glamour us to look like soldiers, and we can walk out the front gate. Up to you, really."
She went with the obvious choice.
"I'd rather walk through the front gate."
Kian grinned and said, "So be it."
–
They arrived at the gate around noon. It had taken them a good hour and a half to make it from the upper district down to the gate at the base of the valley. The air was cool and dry, lapping the excess heat from their bodies like a thirsty dog. Roe suppressed a shiver; from the cold or her nerves, she didn't know.
Kian had glamoured them in a nearby alleyway before they approached the gate, donning them in identical soldiers' uniforms and matching pointed ears. The most significant change was to Kian's facial features– he had made himself older, with a rounder face and paler skin. The only recognizable part of him was his eyes, which shone with mischief.
"Ready?"
She nodded nervously. Her heart fluttered in her chest like a hummingbird as they approached the two guards on either side of the gate.
"Halt." The guard took a step forward and placed a hand in the air. "State your business."
Kian stepped in front of Roe and saluted the guard, saying, "We have an official message from the High King to be sent to the city of Moira to the east."
"And you're traveling on foot, solider?"
"We needn't go the whole way; a party has already left in that direction. We intend to intercept and pass the message along to them."
"Very well." The guard stepped back into position and let them pass through the gate.
Roe couldn't believe that she was out of the city. She had never left and never thought that she would, but Kian had made it so easy. Soon, the gate was far behind them.
Birds sang graceful songs and tittering chirps as they walked along the rough dirt road that wound through the trees. She had never seen so many of them before as they hopped from branch to branch, swooped down to the ground for a nut or acorn that had fallen, or perched above with a watchful eye.
The temperature dropped significantly under the protection of the canopy. Roe felt a chill run down her spine, and she clutched her cloak tighter around her shoulders. Mountains surrounded the valley of Miraxis, and as they got further from the gate, the ground started sloping upwards. Roe could feel her knees straining as she made her way uphill, following Kian, who showed no sign of weariness.
Other than the sounds of the birds, it was silent. A branch behind them cracked, and Kian stopped suddenly, spinning 180 degrees, demanding, "Show yourselves."
Roe froze, rooted to the spot like the trees surrounding them. She also turned slowly, just in time to see two Fae step out from just beyond the path. The woman, dressed in soldier's garb, stepped towards them. The man behind her placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, readying himself for the confrontation.
"What is the meaning of this," Kian seethed.
"There was no trade party headed for Moira today." The woman replied simply, and Roe cringed. Her nerves were on fire as she felt her heart begin to race once again.
As the woman took another step forward, Roe realized that it was the woman from the tavern who was speculating on Kian's whereabouts. She sported the same curly brown hair, heart-shaped face, and full cheeks, but they weren't rosy with drink. She realized they must have glamoured their ears because they weren't pointed the first time she had seen them. Roe wondered how many other Fae spent time in the human districts shrouded in magic.
Roe tried to feign confidence, channeling her uncle's strong, unquestionable demeanor, and said, "Our business for the high king is confidential. We can't disclose our reason for leaving Miraxis."
The woman chuckled as the man behind her took another step towards them. "Nonsense. You're both coming with us until we can verify your identities."
The soldiers were creeping forward as if they feared that sudden motion might send their prey running. This was it. They had been discovered. She'd be in the mines before the day was through.
"Wait." Kian stepped before them both, and Roe felt a familiar tingling around her ears. He was removing the glamour.
She panicked, wondering if he was going to expose his identity to save himself and throw her to the wolves. Her eyes darted around the forest, looking for an escape route, but the soldiers stood on the path back to Miraxis. She couldn't risk delving deeper into the forest as she had heard rumors about how easy it was to get lost. Not to mention that the Daemon could be anywhere.
The woman's eyes widened as Kian's magic dissipated. The man did not react but shifted so that his hand was no longer resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Kian." The woman murmured.
Kian gave her a soft smile that Roe hadn't seen before. A shaking hand rose to her mouth, and tears spilled over her eyes as she stared at him, as if she couldn't believe that he was really here. She stepped towards him and embraced him warmly. Kian stood, holding her for a moment as she cried. She took a step back from him, bracing her arms on his forearms, looking upwards and into his eyes.
At this moment, Kian seemed to remember that Roe was there, and his eyes flicked over to her.
"Roe, this is Aine and Declan, two very old friends of mine."
Roe was silent, heart still racing, as she looked at each Fae standing before her. She realized that Declan had been the man in the tavern, which seemed like more than a lifetime ago. Now, she was able to get a good look at his face.
He was shorter than Kian but much more broad in stature. He almost looked like a bull, with a hefty, square chest and muscles to match. He had a rounded face, and red hair cropped tight against his head, no more than a few centimeters long. His skin was tanned, like Kian's, and he sported a scar that ran from his left eyebrow to his lip. Roe almost winced as her eyes traced over it, wondering how much it had hurt. Like the other Fae, he was beautiful, with smooth skin that looked soft to the touch, and alert blue eyes that seemed to peer right through her, complete with dark, thick lashes.
Finally, in a voice that sounded much smaller than usual, Roe asked, "How do you all know each other?"
Declan spoke this time, saying, "We were Kian's personal guard while he was growing up. You could say we had a hand in raising him."
Kian looked sheepish at that and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yes, they've seen me in every stage of my life so far. I wouldn't be the man I am today without their influence."
Aine had composed herself quickly. In the proximity, Roe realized her eyes were a warm caramel color, ringed with gold. She was indeed a unique beauty, and Roe felt the envy drilling down into her core.
"And how do you know each other?" Aine inquired, wiping a stray tear from her cheek and flicking it from her fingers.
"It's a long story," Roe replied, not wanting to disclose how they had met. Revealing too much about herself to strangers seemed counterintuitive, even if they were long-time friends of Kian's.
Aine turned her attention back to Kian, still gripping his forearms while asking, "What happened to you? Where did you go? We all searched for you for weeks, but you disappeared."
Kian sighed and replied, "It's more than I want to get into right now."
Declan spoke again, "I heard about... your lady. I'm sorry."
A muscle flexed in his jaw, but his eyes were cold as he said, "I appreciate that, brother. But don't be; she wasn't what I thought she was."
Declan frowned at that but didn't press any further. Aine let go of Kian's arms and stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What happened to you? Why did you leave us?" Roe could see the pain in her eyes, the desperation for closure.
He toed the dirt, avoiding Aine and Declan's eyes.
"I was marked."
Aine's hand flew to her mouth, and Declan spat at the ground, grumbling curses under his breath.
"Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you."
Kian shook his head. "No one can help me. It is what it is."
"Then what are you doing with her? I know you've always had a preference for humans; gods know why–"
"Enough, Aine." Declan interrupted as Kian's fists curled at his sides.
"She and I have struck a bargain," Kian responded. Aine momentarily looked back and forth between Kian and Roe as if she were deciding whether or not to drop it. As her eyes returned to Kian, she reached for his hand.
Grasping it, she said, "We're here now. That's all that matters. Let us help you."
Kian pulled his hand away from her. He seemed to be considering her offer to help, but there was something like conflict behind his eyes. Roe guessed it had something to do with his solitude all of these years; he hadn't had help in a long time.
"If you can get us in and out of the city daily, that would be more than enough." He said quietly.
Declan placed a hand on Kian's shoulder and said, "We can do that, but you know how dangerous it is as well as we do. What are you getting up to out here?"
"A part of our bargain," Kian's mouth turned upwards slightly, "is that we train together."
Declan grinned at Roe and said, "You're in for a treat. We taught Kian everything he knows. Don't go too easy on him."
Roe gave him a wary smile back, one that didn't quite meet her eyes.
Kian smiled broadly at Aine and Declan, before saying, "I'm glad to be reunited with you both, but we have to go if we're going to get anything done for the day."
Aine looked downright terrified at the prospect that they might not see him again. Kian went on to offer, "Maybe we can meet up again tomorrow or the next day?"
Declan nodded, and Aine grinned ear to ear at his proposal.
"We can meet at Roscoe's in the middle district tomorrow afternoon." Aine suggested.
Roe was pleased with this suggestion; It would be good to see Suzina again. She found it funny that her preferred watering hole seemed to be a favorite of her newfound Fae allies.
Kian gave her an affirmative nod, and Aine went in for one more hug before they departed.
"You have no idea how good it is to see you," She breathed as she let him go, wiping another stray tear from her cheek.
Kian gave her a grin, returning the sentiment before they said their goodbyes.
After Aine and Declan disappeared from view, Roe took a deep breath of relief and wiped the sweat that had beaded across her forehead despite the cool weather. Kian's face returned to its typical stoic expression as he resumed walking down the path.
"They seemed nice." Roe offered as they continued on.
Kian didn't respond, looking like he was lost in a sea of memories, his eyes distant. The forest was quiet aside from the birds above, their footsteps, and the occasional gust of wind. Soon, Kian veered off of the path, ducking under thickets of leaves, branches and vines. Roe followed him wearily, feeling nervous about leaving the safety of the road.
Before she knew it, they came to a large clearing a mile or two off of the trail. She had tripped and stumbled over branches while Kian appeared to have a second sense of where obstacles lay. She had tiny scratches on her face from the branches and thorns that stung vividly, and she cursed under her breath as she wiped away a droplet of blood from her cheek.
Kian stood in the center of the clearing and unsheathed a sword he had hidden beneath his cloak and the one strapped across his hips. Tossing one to Roe, he took a defensive stance, both hands on the hilt of the blade, hips square with his shoulders, eyes stuck to Roe like glue.
"Swordplay will help you learn to evade better. I noticed you only carry daggers and knives."
He smirked at her as if she were a small child who was wholly inexperienced. She felt a bolt of anger strike through her, and imitated his stance. The blade was heavy and her arms were already complaining about supporting its weight.
His smirk grew wider. "You have zero experience in this."
Roe saw red and raised the blade, pointing its tip at him. "I may not have much experience, but that doesn't mean you should underestimate me."
He gave a dismissive chuckle and replied, "Any fool can wave around a sword. You've proven that."
Then he sprinted forward and struck.