Page 75 of A Broken Promise

“Put them to good use, child. Darkness might wander, but light will always guide.”

My eyes ran through the lines a few times. A little shiver went through me, raising the hairs on my arm as I grabbed the large arrow. The glass was cold, and I could feel the humming of my blood against it, as if aware of it, feeling its power. The arrow was heavy, and Priya was right about it being almost impossible to properly shoot from a long distance. I would need a long, sturdy bow and to get as close as possible.

I put the arrow down gently, afraid to even breathe on it as if it would shatter. The dagger was much smaller than the arrow; the razor-sharp, black blade was long, thinning out until the end which was as thin as a needle.

Heart Piercer.The name rang loud in my mind. The silver handle was exquisitely made with flora-like carvings, and on top of it sat a large emerald, the size of a gold coin. Unlike the thick arrow, the dagger was light and easy to maneuver. I pierced the air with it; another move and another, as if I was wounding a real enemy, precise and short, quick bursts. Maybe I wasn’t the best shot, but when it came to knife fights, I wasgood.

Priya might have never wanted to admit it, but I was better at it than her.

I paused, listening for any steps. Heart Piercer shone brightly in my hand, demanding the warm blood of the Destroyer on its sharp edges. I could feel it, as if begging me to sink it through even my own flesh. Blood thirsty. I unwrapped the thin cloth covering my cut finger and gently wrapped it around the blade. The dried blood stain on the worn-out cloth rang an unspoken promise. “Soon, Heart Piercer, soon,” I said as I slid it under my pillows.

Priya’s loud voice rang through the hall.

“Freckles, I fucking give up. Come fix this corset.”

“Coming,” I sweetly shouted back.

I shoved the box with the arrow deep inside my closet, covering it with newly bought fur cloaks and other recent winter purchases. Not too far from it was also a well-hidden Death Day gift for Priya that I spent weeks searching for.

Even with a low dose of adrenaline running through my blood, I couldn’t resist but smile with a slight excitement. Priya yanked the handle. I rushed to the door slamming the closet door shut.

“Locked?” Priya’s confused voice rang through the wall. “What the fuck, Freckles?” Her perfectly trimmed eyebrows wrinkled in suspicion as I hastily opened it for her.

“Well, I couldn’t let you see your gift now, could I?” I smirked, thinking of the small leather sack hidden well in my closet.

Priya's suspicion was replaced with pleasantry and intrigue. “A gift for me? You got me intrigued, I’m not going to lie. When will I get it?”

“Tonight, after the ball.”

“Fine.” She dismissed the topic, though kept her smile. A good day indeed. “Well don’t expect one from me because I didn’t get you one.”

I was a-okay with it. I rarely got any gifts and frankly was quite used to it. Maybe a part of me even wanted not to receive any, to pretend that this day was no different than any other holiday. That it wasn’t my birthday.

Another year for me. Another waste.

No, I didn’t want any more reminders of that.

“This dress is much more than any gift I could possibly get! Look at these threads and rich fabric. Isn’t it breathtaking?”

Priya took a few steps to my bed, eyeing the deep, galaxy purple fabrics spread on the bedding.

Shit. Laviticus’s note. Shit.

I quieted the tiny fury of a panic, keeping my body still and casual. A normal breath, a simple blink. Priya picked the note up and casually threw it on the floor without reading it. She never cared about semantics and maybe that truly was her downfall.

“It is pretty, indeed. Not quite as practical as mine though. But I guess for Florian’s useless sidepiece, it will do for the night.” Though aclear jab, I chuckled. Priya might have used it as a reminder of her annoyance at Florian’s friendship with me, but I enjoyed that reminder.

We were friends. His lovely caricatures never stopped coming and I even dared to send a few back too. I didn’t have piles of multicolored crayons so my drawings were rather simple, basic, with just pencil stick figures, but I knew Florian would get a good chuckle out of them.

In fact, for once I was looking forward to our night of just having fun, where I would let myself be me just for a bit. Priya, Royals, or not.

“Are you going to just stand there or come help?” Priya rolled her eyes as she motioned to her half undone back.

“Sorry, I was just admiring that your dress actually has pants.” It was indeed a jumpsuit of sorts.

“Laviticus knows my feelings about never ending skirts.” Priya smirked.

I pulled on each string of the metal wires that her corset was constructed of. Each wire wrapped with the velvety fabric, knitted together as if they were nothing but woven threads. It was armor; I realized. A corset at first glance, but deep inside it was the stealthiest carved armor.

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