Minx

Minx

A group of men passed by, each one more haggard and rough-looking than the last. Minx pulled her cloak tighter, hoping her clothes beneath were concealed. She breathed through the cloth wrapping over her face- only her eyes were uncovered, but after walking the dusty streets of Veer she wished she had sunglasses.

The streets were narrow between high sandstone buildings. It allowed for more shade from the blazing sun overhead, but it created wind tunnels in some that nearly blinded them.

A gust bore down their street, kicking up sand as it barreled through the tunnel. Minx bent her head, squinting her eyes against the sand that battered her face. She felt a small twinge of magic next to her, and a cool puff of air washed over her face, shielding her from the sand.

Gabriela was huddled between her and Sage. But unlike them, she kept her head held high against the sand and wind. Minx figured her spectacles provided some coverage, but perhaps her gift helped as well.

They passed by an alleyway where a gang of young men were lounging. Minx kept her eyes forward, but noted how a few of them were passed out on the ground. A pipe was passed between the others, and she couldn’t help but think about what Wraza had said.

Veer had been considered the diamond of the west. She’d studied tomes back home with elaborate drawings of the beautiful city full of color and life. The streets used to be strung with bright, ornate cloth and strings of beads and gems that glittered in the sun, casting rainbow sparkles over the buildings. Windows were thrown open at night to let in the scent of desert lilies growing around the spring- a flower that only grew here and bloomed only when the sun went down.

She’d read about the abundance of food that filled the streets- a fusion of mouthwatering spices that could only be found in Veer.

But no such things existed now. They’d been walking the streets for nearly an hour and hadn’t smelled anything enticing, let alone seen a single food vendor or a splash of color. The buildings were worn and muted, just as rough-looking as the men who walked the streets.

They had been warned by Wraza that women were not allowed to walk the streets without an escort, as most women in the city were prostitutes or on their way to becoming one. So they had to conceal themselves beneath cloaks, and hope no one bothered them.

“Once you get to Te’ka, you can walk the halls as concubines. Keep your eyes down, and no one should bother you.” Wraza had informed them before they took the Tear and left. To say the guys in their group had been worried was an understatement. Even Elinar agreed when Alec nearly rioted.

Minx felt her cheeks warm as she remembered the look he gave her before she left. He had been worried they’d be caught before getting to Te’ka. He tried to convince her to let him go- at the very least, to escort them to the palace.

Kade only pinched the bridge of his nose, silently cursing to himself as Sage promised she wouldn’t draw attention to them.

“No stops. Just straight to the palace. I swear if you wander off to eat a damn cake Blackwood-” The Demon had growled. Sage pulled a small cake from some hidden pocket, proudly displaying it to him.

“I won’t get distracted, I promise.”

Minx glanced over and noticed Sage sneaking bits of the cake as they made their way down the street. So far, they’d managed to keep their promises, but she was glad the guys had stayed behind. This felt like something they had to do alone.

“So, Alec, huh?” Sage asked quietly as they turned a corner.

“Kade, huh?” Minx shot back, her voice muffled by the cloth.

Gabriela did a double-take between them. “You both didn’t know?” She asked, genuinely surprised.

“There hasn’t been a lot of time to discuss it as it’s a recent…development,” Minx explained. Sage snorted, earning a withering glare from her.

“What?” Sage asked, “You were so against Kade before, I honestly thought you despised all-” she glanced around to make sure no one was in earshot, then whispered, “Demons.”

“No, just the one that tried to kill you,” Minx said, rolling her eyes.

Gabriela gasped with a start, her spectacles dropping down her nose. “He did what?”

“Nothing.” Sage shot back. “And I thought you were over that.”

Minx shrugged, “I am. I trust him. But that doesn’t mean I won’t give him shit for it.” She grinned beneath the cloth, and although Sage couldn’t see it, she knew she felt it.

“There!” Gabriela squeaked, causing them to halt.

The street opened to a vast, open square where a giant golden palace stood. The square appeared desolate and bare, with no signs of the past grandeur except for a few dry and fractured fountains. As pedestrians rushed past, Hands vigilantly patrolled the surrounding area with a watchful eye. Their presence created a sense of caution among those passing through the area- a feeling that Minx shared as she surveyed the palace.

“This might be a little harder than we thought,” she observed.

“There’s the archway Wraza mentioned.” Gabriela carefully pointed to the white stone arch. It sat on the side of the palace and was used for servants and deliveries.

“We just need to get to the door behind it, and we will be safe,” Gabriela said.

Minx sighed, “There are far too many Hands by it though. We can’t just waltz over to it.”

“Then we need to create a mini distraction.” Sage mused.

“Well, it can’t be me,” Minx said. “I haven’t seen a single plant since we got here. If one popped up, they would know it’s me instantly.”

Gabriela nodded, “By now Supreme Capricorn has most certainly warned the Hands here about you.”

A gust of wind blew through the square. “And we can’t use my gift either. My guess is they are used to the crazy wind here.” Gabriela said.

Minx and Gabriela looked towards Sage, who groaned. “Fine.” She motioned for them to follow her, and together they quickly made their way to another street, closer to the archway.

“Keep a lookout for anyone coming up the street,” Sage said. Gabriela turned, keeping her eyes down the street while Sage focused on a fountain in the center of the square.

“What are you doing?” Minx asked.

“No idea,” Sage grunted before tapping into her gift. Minx felt the air vibrate with it as she gathered her power. Somewhere deep beneath the earth, something shifted. The fountain groaned loudly, and the entire square seemed to stop to look. It groaned again, a violent noise that made the sand around it shift.

The Hands patrolling near the archway made their way to the fountain, joining the others gathered around.

“Do we go now?” Gabriela asked, breathless.

“Not yet,” Sage grunted. She released a wave of power, followed by the fountain, practically screaming as it began to shake. Then sand began pouring from the orifices. Slowly at first- just enough to get everyone’s attention glued to the fountain. Then it began streaming out, like water.

“Now,” Sage said quickly. They rushed to the archway, keeping an eye on the crowd gathered around the fountain, spewing sand into the sky.

Sage hit the door first. She opened it, looking in to make sure it was safe.

“Quickly.” She said. Minx and Gabriela followed her inside, shutting the door behind them. Sage pulled off her cloak, revealing the concubine outfit she’d picked.

She’d picked the lilac skirt with a pearly white top. The outfit was airy- low cut to show off her chest while the skirt was so sheer Minx could see the outline of her legs. Sage tossed her hair, rearranging the golden circlet atop her brow- a typical symbol of the palace concubines the Hands kept here.

Minx had chosen a deep green skirt with a black top almost identical to Sage’s, but for the tiny pearls sewn into her top.

Gabriela wore a hot pink skirt and top. Minx had had her eye on it, but Gabriela had been so excited when she saw it that Minx let her have it.

“I’ve never worn something so bright before,” Gabriela said, twirling in the hall as they disposed of their cloaks.

Sage grimaced at the color. “They’ll see you a mile away.”

“The glasses,” Minx said, gesturing to her spectacles. Gabriela sighed, but took them off and slid them in her top. Wraza had mentioned no one would be allowed such things inside the palace.

“Alright, now the really hard part,” Sage said, adjusting the bangles around her wrists.

“Right, now we need to empty the palace of people,” Gabriela said, squinting down the hall.

“Well, if a few Hands happen to get caught up in the havoc, no real loss, right?” Sage grinned.