Page 38 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
I shook my head in reply. Whatever he drank, I certainly would not share with him.
Turning away from him, I tried to focus on the pathway that was now barely visible as the night fully settled down.
“So tell me, what exactly is our plan?” Francis asked me, intruding on my quiet night I became accustomed to.
The truth was I had no real plan, but I was not about to let Francis know that—he would turn me back around and lock me in his castle forever.
“Where is the entrance to the passage?” he persisted, not accepting silence as a suitable response. “Does it lead directly to where your mother keeps the documents?”
My eyebrows flew up in question. Did he really expect me to give him the most secret information about the Royal palace? What did he intend to do with all the information he was about to learn? I had to be careful if I wanted to keep my family safe.
“I suppose I could just be your guard dog then.” Francis rolled his eyes at me, growing tired of my distance.
I was not opposed to the idea. Perhaps it would be good for Francis’ arrogance to follow someone around for once.
“So tell me...” He crooked his eyes at me. “What is it like to live in our humble community after consorting withroyalty?” Francis did not allow me the luxury of a peaceful night.
What was the purpose of this disruption? I let him come with me for protection, not to make my night miserable.
I took a deep breath. Francis knew all too well that the castle he resided in was far more luxurious than one any Royal family could afford. As if I cared how expensive the art I owned was. Arrogant, rude man.
“I am starting to think I might be the problem here,” he continued despite my clear lack of interest. “You don’t seem to struggle chatting with anyone but me. Why is that, Princess?” Francis looked at me before taking a sip of his drink. “You even managed to befriend Roxanne of all people, surely that took a lot of effort,” he smirked.
Befriendwas an exaggeration, but he was right: he was the problem here. How did he expect me to talk to him, when we both knew he was the one responsible for the destruction of my life?
“You cannot ignore me forever,” Francis didn’t give up. “We have a long night ahead of us.”
This man truly loved the sound of his own voice, didn't he? Fine, he wanted me to talk. I would talk.
“Who is Issac?” I asked, expecting the question would finally grant me the quiet night I’d been hoping for.
He took another sip of his drink, starting straight ahead. A triumphant smile spread across my face, though it was short-lived for Francis’ low voice reached my ears once again. “Issac is my younger brother—” he trailed off. “Well, he was my brother. Issac died at the end of the Crimson War, fighting alongside human soldiers.”
My brows shot up, I wondered if I heard him right. His brother had fought in the war against his own kind? I stared at him waiting for more, yet he didn't spare another word. Had Francis fought in that war?
“Is that why you are doing all of this?” I asked him instead.
“I have an eternity to spare,” Francis shrugged. “It gets boring eventually.”
Obviously. He risked his life because he was bored. “How did you end up here?” I dared asking him.
“Roxanne already told you,” the annoyance in his voice was unmistakable. “We were arrogant—”
“Were?” I laughed at Francis, making him roll his eyes.
“—desperate humans.” He continued. “Eventually, we had to pay the price for our risks.” He finished his drink, bestowing me with the most annoyed face I had ever seen him wear.
“I thought you wanted to chat,” I shrugged, offended by his reaction.
Francis let out a sigh of exhaustion—as though I was the one to start the conversation in the first place—before reluctantly continuing. “Roxanne, Issac and I were thieves. One day I convinced them to steal from a vampire; the plan obviously did not unfold as expected. The end.”
“How do you know Roxanne?”
Francis’s eyes narrowed on me. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
“As I already said, I was enjoying the silence, you were the one to start this.”
A grin made its way onto Francis’ face. “How about this: I will tell you the whole story if you tell me about those hidden passages we are to enter?”
