Page 97 of A Broken Promise

You choose forgiveness over justice, and it really shows.

Priya’s voice rung in my mind as I quickly wiped a tear sliding down my cheek.

The scars she ripped opened bled deep.

With poisons and all matter of weaponry packed on me, I stood in the entrance hall still, glancing over it as I said my silent goodbye to the sleeping Ratika, to the beautiful art I stared at so much each day, to the stacks of books and fairytales I read each day, to the clean bandages folded neatly, awaiting the next sparring match to be used.

I knew I wouldn’t miss the luxury or the comfort, though I genuinely enjoyed it, but I would miss the safe haven this place had become for me. A place that gave me a moment to rest, to breathe, to process and to grow. A place that reminded me that I am capable of more.

At last, I glanced far to the corner that led to the laundry room. My own kind of solace.

“Goodbye,” I whispered sadly and slipped into the dark.

48

Ipaced past the town square leading to the Queen’s Palace, glancing just occasionally behind my back, watching for any approaching guards or Destroyers. The streets had quieted down, though a certain level of uneasiness still chilled in the air.

I tugged on the handle. The familiar alley door was locked.

“Shit,” I mumbled in frustration. Lights far above me shone bright from the tall windows. I was in no mood to climb but as I looked around, I was left with no choice.

I tugged on the nearby vines, pulling myself up. I just had to make it high enough to reach the fire escape ladder above me.

My face flashed with pain while my cold hands gripped the metal, almost pulling off my skin with each grab. I climbed until I was close enough to the small balcony.

I tried not to think, just act. I ignored the fact that I would splatter against the cold cobblestone alley with one wrong move, or the fact that the balcony door too could be locked, or the fact that I was breaking into the most well-known drug Lord’s place. I disregarded it all.

I had to jump before I convinced myself that this was idiotic.

“Sorry,” I whispered to my bag as I threw it across the gap to the balcony first. Then, taking a long breath, I threw myself at the marbled railing. I jumped far enough to grab one of the curved pillars on the balcony’s edge.Good enough,I thought, as I pulled myself up, my shoulders burning. My bag luckily was still intact as I pulled it over my shoulder and went for the tall glass doors. I pulled quietly on the handle, and the door slid to the side. A little shiver the only sign of relief that went through me.

I walked into the well-lit corridor leading to two doors, the smell of the strong familiar cologne eased the heavy tension. I knocked on one of the doors.

“Come in,” Florian sounded from the other side of the door. I quietly slipped in.

“Finn, is that you?” He raised his eyebrows in surprise, as I lowered the furry hood of my cloak.

“Hi Florian,” I softly said and approached his bed. He was laying down on his bed, propped up by large pillows, his leg and arm now in a cast, his face and the rest of his body bandaged up.

“Finn, hey, what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice laced with concern as he took another look at the door behind me, at my cloak and the peeking daggers.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I said, accepting his gesture to sit next to him on the bed. Though his face still showed concern, he smiled.

“Sure-sure…Ordid you just want to come see me half naked?” He winked at me, and I smiled. I didn’t neglect to notice that he was in fact half-naked, sitting just in his briefs. I noticed his other tattoos, covering his upper arms and legs, none of them as exquisite as the large floral tattoo across his chest contrasting against his ivory skin.

“I am sorry, Florian.” I grimaced looking at a large bandage on his face. That would leave a large scar.

“Oh gorgeous, I am already working on a great story to go along with it too. Honestly, I should’ve gotten it a long time ago. Such a wasted opportunity. Women are going to get drenched, once they see my newly upgraded face.” He chuckled, though I could see a little bitof grief behind it. “What a night, huh?” He glanced over me, pausing on my stuffed bag. “Is Priya okay?”

“Um, yes.” I wasn’t sure what to say. Okay seemed like such a small word for what she was. “We found each other and made a run for it. She is…she will be okay, I think,” I said, unsure of where to even begin to explain what happened when I left him in the ruins of the ballroom.

“So, what’s wrong?” he asked gently, grabbing my hand. “Why does this feel like you are here to say a goodbye?” he asked, taking a deep look into my eyes.

“I am leaving, Florian.” I looked away from him, a part of me regretting even coming here.

“So, we had one bad date and you’re running away from me already? Oh, come on,

give me another chance, Finn. I promise to find something a little lessexplosivenext time.” He smirked at his own joke.

---