Zian Austruc

One of the many benefits of being stuck in a lab with an insufferable group of scientists was that everyone trusted me. Whatever I said was what they did. If I told them to give me a report on the latest symptoms from the Dark Warriors, they would do it quicker than a lightning bolt. If I told them to fuck off, they would fuck off.

I wasn't a mean person. Well, I did totally ruin any chance I had with Adonia, but honestly, even if I didn't, who was to say she would like some monster?

Ah, well. Adonia was safe. I had eyes following her everywhere. Whenever she decided to arrive at Entorre, I would move my process along.

Thresan was tied up—to say the least. Pity. I would've loved to have seen him in chains.

And that other girl—whatever her name was—wasn't my problem. If she was as insignificant enough for me to not remember her name, then someone else could deal with her. Hopefully soon because my patience was running thinner by the minute.

It wasn't like this was entirely my fault. They knew what they did when they dragged me into this. This was his fault. Luckily, everyone would find out what he did.

I lifted my hand off the keys of the piano and leant back against the wall. Orders were being shouted in the room next door where the liquidated stones were kept.

I spent all night reviewing and listening to the voice in my head. The Cadice stones were priceless. Unbelievably invaluable. They could harness magic beyond what one was capable of. Usually if someone tried to use magic that wasn't their domain, it could drive them insane—or kill them. But the Cadice stones prevented that.

Dark Warriors were worse than the faeries. They didn't have limitations or boundaries. They did whatever they wanted and without control. They were the perfect warriors.

Unfortunately, the worst of my problems weren't over, because Nicholyn and Valarya were somehow alive. The Wall was still partially standing. How the hell could someone be burned alive and still survive?

If Nicholyn could do it once, I supposed he could do it twice. Selling his soul helped with that, though.

Mother placed a hand on the top of the piano and sighed. "Can you stop playing and help out?"

"You're hilarious," I mumbled, propping my forehead on a set of keys and nearly startling myself off the chair. "Just let me relax."

"We don't have much time, you know. King Lius is going to make the announcement about the Dark Warriors soon, and King Sartyr is getting impatient."

"He can stick a rod up his ass for all I care."

She shook her head and placed her clipboard down. "Can you be reasonable for just a second? You know it's important to get this done."

"I'm not stupid."

"Are you?" she muttered, pointing a finger at me. "Because I'm doubting you."

"I don't care if you doubt me. You get rid of me and you lose my skills. That was our deal, Mother."

"Then don't make me return you to your father, Zian." And then she lowered her voice and inched her face closer, almost touching my hairs. "And don't make me regret crossing the Aldorbans."

I blinked and turned away. For the first time in months, my body ached. Next week was an important week.

Next week I would see Adonia's parents.

Next week Adonia would despise me more than she already did.

"Fuck," I groaned, running my hands over my face. How the hell was I going to get her to forgive me? Did I need to roll on the ground like a dog? I already let her out! What more could she want?

"Adonia is a criminal. I'm sure you know she killed Prince Hasan, right?" Mother reminded me. "What you plan to do to them better be worth it, because if we end up in jail, I'll drag you in there with me."

Another great example of people following my orders blindly and assuming I was smart.

But that wasn't the only order I wish I thought through.

*~⚜️~*

"How did you make those so fast?" Rysdan asked, fidgeting with one of the lids.

I slapped his hand away. "You want this to blow up in your face?" I yelled, carefully sliding it beside the stack of other nitrate bombs. I managed to make around twenty five in the past hour.

Mallor, Rysdan, and the Prince of Kandose all stared at me wide-eyed. "So you're just a genius, huh?" Prince Thresan said.

I had the urge to start prancing around the store, but I was going to remain calm. Looking like a lunatic wasn't going to get me far. "Just experienced."

Mallor crossed his arms and jabbed his thumb toward Rysdan. "I've seen Rysdan make hundreds of bombs and it takes him more than five times the amount of time."

"He's talented." A hand landed on my back and slapped the air out of me. "That'll show Dialynne."

"I'll pack these while you two get ready," Mallor said, grabbing a crate off the floor.

Rysdan threw me my cloak and gestured for me to hurry. What the hell? Was I seriously going to join them on this?

Peris was going to kill me.

Forget Peris—Nicholyn would surely lock me up. But if Rysdan was telling me to do it...

I rushed to the door while Rysdan carried the box of bombs.

"Where are we going?" I called back.

"Just head toward the bell tower. You'll notice her hideout from there," Rysdan said, heaving the crate onto his shoulders.

Before I came to Entorre, I'd decided it would've been a good idea to memorize the layout of the city. That way, if I ever got lost, I'd find my way back. The bell tower was near the central plaza area. That was where I needed to be.

Without waiting for Rysdan, I sprinted ahead, trusting my gut to navigate the city. Strings linked building to building, each having a few lamps dangling off them. The colorless buildings added to the old tone of the city. It was known to be one of the ancient cities; my favorite subject was geography, and Entorre City was a historic site to many things. Mainly the Second War, where Kandose and Thaeleck fought and finally ended up with the Wall.

Shadows coated every road. I stepped between the shadows like it was a game, hobbling my way through the back alleyways. Wind tousled my hair back, and for once in my life I was free.

Who cared what I did? Being alone in this city for a few hours made my mind soar. Could I last a lifetime here alone? Absolutely.

My first goal: establish a reputation in Entorre. Living here and overlooking the lights, the boats, the rivers... it was a dream. Though there was a bleakness here, there was also enchantment.

Excitement. I craved excitement. Entorre City lives up to the alias of the Emerald Capital. It was the highlight of my life—the people passing by, the trees bellowing, the stars.

The bell tower chimed three times. People stopped and stared at it, some dads hoisting their children on their shoulders.

I could have a family here.

Quickly glancing away, I slipped behind the bell tower and stayed attentive. How obvious could a crazy woman's hideout be? She had to be sneaky or else Nicholyn would've caught her ages ago.

In and out through alleyways I searched. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Of course an insane woman was good at hiding.

I rounded another corner. This fucking woman. If she didn't come out soon, I would start blowing up each—

"Behind you."

The world turned black as I kissed a pile of rubbish on the ground.

*~⚜️~*

I flung my eyes open.

What the hell happened?

Wooden floors... Cheap assholes. They couldn't even invest in something more sturdy like cement?

A singular lamp on a table propped beside a bookshelf. Those assholes liked to read. I hated bookworms. And whoever hit my head I especially hated.

Wait.

My wrists burned. They were tied down with thick rope on a wooden chair. My feet were tied, too. So was my hip. Did those bitches read a book about kidnapping people? That was a bit illegal.

The handle jiggled. Fantastic. I was literally going to die because of—

"—and then he wasn't waking up."

Maybe I should pretend like I was dead. That man... That man would kill every cell in my body with his pinky alone.

Before he looked into the room, I threw my head back and shut my eyes.

"So this dumbass is dead? I didn't hit him that hard," a high-pitched voice replied.

Liar.

Heavy footsteps stopped on my left. "He's not dead because he has a pulse." Cool fingers touched my neck and pressed down. It took all my strength to not burst out laughing—or crying.

"I see," the woman said, removing her fingers from my neck.

"Should we just decapitate him? It'll be less painful since he's already knocked out."

Holy fuck I was going to die.

There was a long silence. Maybe I had the right to speak up. After all, they were deciding my fate. I had the right to tell them I didn't want to die.

"If he doesn't wake up in the next hour, dispose of him," the woman whispered, her fingers touching a clump of my hair. Chills went down my entire body. "It would be a shame."

"I would request you do it sooner, though. He's been here for twelve hours. If we keep him longer, someone would get suspicious."

"I say let them come," she said. Footsteps that sounded like heels went around my chair. "Prince Nicholyn is toying with things that I don't appreciate him toying with. Maybe his little plaything could draw him out here."

I didn't believe in hitting women, but—

"We'll wait an hour," she reiterated. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll wake up. Let staff know."

There was a momentary silence where I assumed he nodded. "Of course, Ms Wu. We'll get the cadaver bag ready."

Two pairs of feet got farther and farther away from my fake, dying body. Eventually the door clicked shut.

Fuck, I was going to die.

I have had better days.

Slowly opening my eyes, I checked to make sure they were actually out of the room. They were.

Now what the hell did I need to do?

I yanked my wrist so hard that I almost dislocated it. I was smarter than this—I needed a way out. Cut the rope, perhaps?

Where did they keep their secret stash of weapons in here? Criminals always kept a secret stash of weapons in case their hostage got out and they needed to stab them quickly.

At least, that was what I heard. Fuck, I was so fucked.

Only one hour to get out. One hour. No pressure. Oh, fuck. I was going to piss myself or cry my eyes out. Or laugh.

I was about to laugh. This situation couldn't be any worse.

Okay, I needed to stay calm. One hour was enough time. It had to be enough. A bookshelf, a lantern, a table, wood—

Stay. Calm. Stop breathing like an asthmatic.

Lantern. But the damned thing wasn't lit. Fuck.

Stay. Calm.

I choked on a panicked laugh and threw my head back, holding in my tears. Oh, Saints. This was it. I was legit going to die.

No. I was smart than this. No fire—so I couldn't burn the rope. What the hell was I going to do with a table I couldn't reach? I highly doubted there were books about getting out of rope.

Controlled breathing, Zian. I would get out of here. If anyone could, it would be me.

The room on second glance still had the same things.

Next to my foot there was a piece of splintered wood.

Splintered wood. Sharp wood. Holy shit I was a genius.

Now how the hell was I getting myself on the ground without making a sound?

Maybe if I was quick enough, I would get out of the rope, grab the lantern, and start swinging once they got in here. That was the only plan I had.

It was better than fucking die.

I rocked the chair and fell to the ground, wiggling my wrists between the splintered wood.

Hurry.

Hurry the hell up.

The rope snapped. I scrambled to my feet and untied them, then untied the rope around my hips. Holy fuck.

I was out

I was out!

Stay calm, Zian—

The door flung open.

Her and I made eye contact.

"What the fuck?"

My mouth fell open as we both stood there and stared at each other. It was the lady from the museum. Dialynne Navarrio.

"How the hell?" she whispered, her eyes finally breaking away. She was staring at the cut rope.

Just. My. Luck.