It’s a far more painful death than their Ordinary daughter will suffer.
“Please! I’m begging you, please spare her!” Layla is shouting at me between sobs as she shuffles over the cobblestones behind the horses. “She’s just a child—”
An Imperial reaches behind from where he sits atop his horse and strikes her across the face, cutting off her plea. “Shut up, Slummer.”
I rip my eyes from the scene, pulling the girl away and down the street. Her feeble attempts to wiggle out of my grasp would be comical if it weren’t for the humorless situation we find ourselves in.
She’s eerily quiet for a child being dragged to her death. Most Ordinaries are screaming by now, pleading and bargaining for their lives. But her struggle is silent, her stare piercing. I keep my eyes locked on the empty alleys we head through, wondering how familiar one must be with hiding everything they are in order to hide their emotions even while facing death.
I steer us down a shadowed alley, not yet touched by the faint sunlight beginning to paint the kingdom golden. The Ordinary—Abigail—squirms, attempting to twist out of my grip for the dozenth time. I look down at her, amusement coating my voice as I say, “You are a persistent, little thing, aren’t you?”
She huffs, causing her flaming hair to flicker around her face before she sends a solid kick to my shin. I would have been impressed with her form if it weren’t for my growing frustration. I drop to a crouch in front of her so her angry green eyes can meet mine. Only when she lifts her leg to swing it at me once more do I say softly, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
She blinks, and right when I think she’s heeded my warning, she stomps on my foot before trying to pull her arm out of my grip with no luck. And then she’s squealing, flailing in an attempt to get away from me.
“Alright, well, we can’t have that.” I slip a knife from my boot as I murmur, “You are not going to make this easy for me.”
At the sight of the dagger, she swallows, suddenly still. “Just put it in my heart,” she blurts with her eyes pinned on the knife, voice delicate in the way that only a child’s can be. “I heard Momma say it’s quicker that way.”
“Did she now?” I ask quietly. “There are other quick ways as well you know.”
And I know every single one of them.
I watch her flinch as I bring the blade closer to her, watch her eyes widen as she finally allows herself to feel the terror she’s been desperately trying to hide. Then she takes a deep breath that sounds like something akin to acceptance before squeezing her eyes shut against the face of a monster in front of her.
The dagger slices, cutting easily.
The girl—
Abigail.
—sucks in a shaky breath.
After a long moment, a teary green eye peeks open. She blinks as the bindings slip from her raw wrists and land at her feet. Her gaze skips from her unharmed heart to my face before landing on the dagger in my hand. “Aren’t you gonna put that in my heart?”
My lips twitch. “Listen closely, Abigail. I cut your bindings, so now you have to do me a favor in return. I need you to stay quiet and stop struggling.” I search her face before adding, “Understood?”
I don’t wait for an answer before I once again begin leading us down streets and alleys. She must have understood me well enough because she now walks stiffly in silence, making no move to break out of my hold.
When the Scorches come into view, so do the two Imperials standing at the edge of it. They pay no attention to the family they are supposed to be watching head into the desert, now blurry figures dotting the sand. I peek my head out behind an alley wall, watching as the Imperials talk idly. Before long, they’re shrugging and spinning on their heels to head back down the street.
Typical.
I was counting on the guards’ predictable laziness and failure to finish tasks. And I hadn’t wanted the banished family paraded through the streets like they typically are, because then I would have a crowd to witness my treason.
Once they’ve passed us, we slip onto the street and head for the sand. The family is far ahead, and since I’m feeling rather lazy myself, I reach out to grab hold of one of the Imperial’s Flash ability. He’ll be out of my range soon, so I hurry to pick up the girl and dash into the desert.
We’ve nearly made it to the family when distance has Flash’s ability slipping away from me. Nathan startles at the sound of us behind him and spins, eyes wide when they land on Abigail in my arms.
Layla is running towards us and has the girl wrapped in her arms in a matter of moments with the whole family encircling the two of them. They sob as I step aside, feet shifting in the scolding sand that has begun spilling into my shoes.
And then they turn towards me, eyes burning hotter than the sun beating down on us. Nathan only offers me one word, low and laced with hatred. “Why?”
I slip out my dagger and cut the bindings around his wrists in one swift movement, meeting his gaze as I say, “I don’t kill children.”
Hypocrite.
As if that is not exactly what I’m doing. In fact, I’m only prolonging the inevitable. But at least they will all get to be together in the end—a mockery of mercy that I only bestow upon children.
I move down the line of stunned prisoners, cutting their bound hands free. I look them each in the eyes, most still glossy with tears, before turning to the little girl. The Ordinary.
Abigail.
I walk towards her slowly and lower myself to one knee, sinking deep into the hot sand so we’re eye to eye. Though she doesn’t say a thing, her eyes speak volumes. She’s only a child, and yet I see a devastating amount of determination behind her gaze.
Perhaps you may not need powers to be powerful.
I reach into my pocket, pulling out a small pocketknife from within. Its white handle is engraved with golden swirls, but its small blade is sharp. I hold it out to her.
“Every girl deserves something as equally pretty and deadly as they are,” I say, urging her to take the knife. She eyes me wearily before stretching out a small hand to pluck it from my palm. “Use it wisely.”
I run a hand through my hair as I stand to my feet with a sigh. “In accordance with our laws and by decree of King Edric, I hereby banish you from the Kingdom of Ilya for your acts of treason.”
With that, I watch as Nathan puts an arm around his wife who in turn reaches out an arm for her children to huddle into.
They turn as one.
And I watch as they walk to their doom.
Chapter Six
Kai
Despite my swollen knee screaming in protest, I force myself to walk evenly. By the time I made it back onto Loot Alley, late afternoon had cast the street in a warm glow. I always enjoyed it down here. There’s nothing regal about the slums of Ilya, and yet, it’s refreshing in a way the stuffy palace never could be.
My eyes sweep back and forth as I weave through the throng of people bartering, cursing, and shopping. I allow myself a moment to take in the sights and smells of Loot—neither of which very pleasant. Everything down here is dull, leeched of color. The banners, the food, the people. By midday, the street always smells of sweaty bodies and questionable food.
But despite it all, Loot is buzzing with life.