Chapter 2

H e let her go and she darted back, eyes looking for an escape. A door at the far end led to the alleyway. She knew either Corina or Janie would stake that entrance to prevent any actual kidnapping. She just had to give them a few minutes to get there. She hiccuped and wished that she had not drunk so much. She needed all her wits to deal with this problem. Luckily, her friends were used to dangerous circumstances. Kidnappings, theft, stabbings, and murder were commonplace amongst the Lower Levels. Sometimes the police were sent in to clean up the violence by the command of Luiximor. On most occasions, mud slummers were left to their own devices.

"Alright, you've made your point," she said stiffly.

"And what is that?" Calm, unruffled. He rose before her like a monolith of shadow.

"I know who Titus is. Thing is, I don't care."

His arms crossed. "I have dreamt of our meeting for years. To say I am disappointed in the person you have become is an understatement."

"Well, hic , fuck you too," she said. "Now, do you intend to insult me again or is there anything we need to discuss?"

"You always deflect after you've done something wrong."

She glared. Perhaps the edges of her vision had grown hazy. Why did he talk like he knew her? "Who cares if I do?

Blue irises assessed her with disapproval. "Hm. Well, that may be true. I do know that the Vala I came to meet would never have been so stupid or egotistical as to belittle a powerful friend of the imperial family in public."

Was he talking about that idiot trader, Titus? Her face flamed hot but only due to the whiskey, she reasoned. "I'll say it before and I'll say it again. I don't care."

"Why did you lash out at him? You have been through so much worse. Why did his words get to you so badly that you lost the core focus that has guided you all these years?"

He was more curious than a buzzing fly , she thought. Of course, he knew about her. He had probably read her prison file. Something did not feel right…but it did not feel wrong either. A bad headache was coming on. Besides, what core focus? The last thing she needed in her life was a masked and heavily armed stranger who lifted her like a bundle of sticks and talked in riddles. "So what if I called him some names. I was trying to protect my friend. YOU threatened to kill him…but why, I can't fathom."

He made a noncommittal gesture. "Do you have a death wish these days or are you simply drunk?"

She realized that he stood close to her and she felt irritated by his nearness. As if he cared.

"I'm not drunk," she snapped. As for dying, yes, there were many days when she hoped death could visit her so she could forget what she had done. To find penance in losing her life for those from whom life had been taken.

"I'd wager you're out of your mind in at least one way. You've downed three whiskeys in less than an hour and you're fairly small. You shouldn't drink so much if you intend to get into fights with Court favorites."

"I didn't agree to meet with you only to be insulted. If you have nothing else to say, we're done here." She reached for the door.

His hands raised upwards as though pleading the ceiling for patience. "Your drinking is hampering your memory, I see. I came here to rescue you. Your escape is planned for tonight."

She froze. "Wait, hold the fuck on. My escape ? Look, you've got the wrong person."

"Simply impossible." A smooth, unruffled reply. His tone irritated her.

She crossed her arms. "Prove it then."

He sighed as though greatly burdened. "You're Vala Flowers of the Ringold region, you're nineteen years old, your parents are Simon and Petunia, and...a personal fact so you find me believable…you're unable to enter the Dynn without causing an explosion in this world…a singular curse too, if I may say so."

She mentally calculated his response. Reason told her that anyone could have found such information if they knew how to search prison records. He had said nothing personal. Besides, he obviously did not know that Simon and Petunia Flowers had been dead for nine years, or that her runes had been cut back so that she had no ability to enter the Dynn, even if the government had deemed her fiery volatility no longer a hazard. She knew she should want to and she longed to see that world, but she just…didn't do anything about it. Rune plant pruning did strange things to one's mind and decisions.

Her eyes narrowed. "Well, then explain how I know you?"

He adjusted his cloak. "That is a long trip down memory lane and we don't have time. We need to move fast to get you to the harbor. We sail-lift in an hour."

The harbor?! "Whoa, stop right there. Now, listen carefully. I don't know you and I'm not coming with you."

"Come, stop with the pretense—" He reached for her.

Armed with quick instincts, she took a step forward and punched her knee up, aiming between his thighs as hard as she could. He was quicker. A knee thrust her kick aside and he planted a supple boot between her sneakers even as his other leg leaned against her body, crushing her against the wall. She had learned that resistance did not always prove useful to determine intentions. She paused, physically outmatched in his arms, and plotted her next move.

"So, this is it, then. You attack me?"

"Contrarily, I'm holding you so you don't attack me," he growled. "You tend to be unpredictable." He studied her for a long moment, eyes burning like blue fire in the dark and a wry smile curling his thin, firm mouth. "I must say, I've missed this."

Her stomach twisted. Shit. Maybe she had met him before. Probably when she was too drunk to remember. Had this Vala he knew…had they slept together ? Had she told him whatever he wanted to hear in bed for a bit of food and drink? This would explain the made-up ocean voyage he thought she knew about. The gods only knew she did not remember all of her one-night stands or even large chunks of her teenage years spent in prison. Maybe this was all some weird and terrible misunderstanding? She really needed to stop drinking. At least, no more black-out drunk nights. In fact, the alcohol supply must be cut off forever for Vala Flowers , she decided.

A crash of thunder dimmed the lights overhead, and for a moment, the music faded.

"Who are you?" She exclaimed.

"You really have no idea who I am?" He laughed shortly, disbelieving. "Come now. How can you so easily forget the time we spent together?"

Her heart lurched. Great. They had definitely had sex. "Look, I don't remember you. I'm sorry if we had something but I really don't recall anything."

Being so close to him, she noticed what skin of his she could see was extremely pale, nearly translucent. People with such pallid skin either came from the Empire's sunless regions or spent centuries in the Dynn like the Imperial family, the nobility and business executives, wealthy entrepreneurs, and other dynasties that controlled the known world. Maybe they stretched their lifespans but the lack of sunlight made their appearance otherworldly…sometimes even frightening. Typical , she thought, for rich people to have the power of the Dynn at their fingertips and still be unable to figure out life beyond adding years and pleasures to their existence . If she had such power, she would…well, she wouldn't do what they did. It was like she heard in the Academy lectures she eavesdropped on, "Every action must have a reaction." If he was some powerful figure moonlighting in a mask and robe, what was he truly up to? Maybe he wanted her to do some rune equations for him? He had better pay her well , she thought. Something told her that this was a person she did not want to anger.

His eyes flashed. "You acted like you knew me in the bar." A slight shift of his fingers upon her back and waist indicated that he tensed for any sudden movement.

She found his touch unsettling because it felt familiar, as though he had held her before. He likely attempted to distract her from determining his identity. Two could play this game. "Oh, you mean when you called me darling? I thought you were helping get rid of Tits."

"Tits? Ah. Quite a nickname for the unfortunate man. Sounds like the Vala I know."

She would have laughed, but she was too frustrated. He refused to believe her and she was trapped.

The hallway light spluttered behind them, and the shadows danced upon his mask, sparking those blue eyes and deepening the shadows upon his jaw?—

Of course , she thought. To overcome her weakness, she must find the weakness in him. She relaxed and scrutinized his face. Whomever he was under the mask, he must be young and attractive, judging from that jaw and the muscled arms clasping her body. So handsome and arrogant and… alone . The loneliness drifted around him like a shadow, faint but unmistakably a part of his every move. She had found his weakness. Worst of all, it was her weakness too. Prison had taught her that all touch, no matter how benign, was always accompanied by pain.

She sighed. "Okay, we have a fun little trip above the waves planned together. So, what now?"

"Give me your hand," he said.

"Why?"

"You will soon know. Just, oblige me."

She frowned. "You must take me for a real idiot if you think I'll let you grab me."

"I already did. Look, I mean you no harm." He stepped away from her, his arms falling away. "You are free to go. Anytime you like. I will not stop you. Just, favor me with this request."

His eyes remained speculative but no longer calm. She saw the same intensity, the same heat burning within them and again her stomach flopped and not in a way she appreciated.

"Alright," she said. "If you cut it off, I'll kill you." She stretched out her right hand, tentatively, trying not to show her fear.

His gloved hand took hers, but he did not grab or even clasp her hand. He merely turned it over and stared at her as though reading something within her eyes.

"Well, what now?" She shifted, uncomfortable under his gaze. "What do you want?"

He dropped her hand and his sigh was full of sorrow.

"What do I want? I want to take you far away from here to a place of eternal safety. I want to embrace you a thousand times over. I want to see you laugh again in a way that made the rain fall and the sun burn hotter in the sky. But, this can no longer be. Your future has been tampered with and I see now that I am a stranger to you."