No, bitch, we aren’t doing this shit again.
Attempting to shake him from my thoughts—a task I knew was improbable—I moved from my perch against the banister to join Alastair.
Each of my footsteps seemed to carry a warning, subtle utterances from something that existed within me. It clashed with the tug I felt from the illuminated town lying before us, bubbling from the very depths I once believed housed my intuition.
Which only meant one thing: Ellira was still listening, still guiding my decisions, still… breathing down my neck.
Falling in step behind the captain and Leilani, I focused on the town as we approached, the entire harbor glowing as if the fusion of the Sea of Ellira and The Dark Ocean breathed color into it.
Lanterns hung from curved oak beams and silk-draped balconies, their glass bellies shifting in hue. Amber melted into rose, rose faded to sea-green, which then transitioned to a deep sapphire. Their reflections trembled across the water in long, rippling ribbons, turning gentle waves into liquid stained glass.
From the docks, wooden pathways curved and coiled along the water’s surface, winding between multi-tiered pavilions. Domed roofs crowned each structure, ranging from midnight blue to deep violet to burnished copper. Terraces spilled outward in soft arcs, stacked on one another in descending layers, so the entire city seemed to cascade toward the sea.
Accenting balconies and archways, heavy velvet fabric, draped in jewel tones, swayed freely in the salt-kissed breeze. Some were gatheredand pinned with gilded clasps, their ornate designs undeniably the work of a skilled hand. That talent translated into each fold that gleamed with hidden threads, making it impossible to ignore their tactile richness.
Artistry.
While famed for its velvet pleasure houses, Veilmar was built by attentive eyes and curious minds. Those living on the island harbored specialized talents that could undoubtedly raise questions in the eyes of those polluting the throne of Serevalen, many of which evolved around an act forbidden—magic. Perhaps that was why it remained separated from the landmass the king ruled: the gods deemed the creativity etched into its streets and the power blooming from its shadows worthy of protection.
Yet, even in the same breath, there was something unknown that clung to its atmosphere. It was as if those inhabiting its colorful landscape carried far more knowledge than they dared let on, protecting whatever pulsed beneath their planked walkways and cobblestone streets.
Transitioning from the boarded trail into the innards of Veilmar, I admired the liveliness that continued to emanate from the towering structures beyond. Homes and shops nestled against one another, each crafted with the same attentiveness that clung to every detail of the island. Those lining the streets engaged in conversation, some positioned behind booths selling artwork or mystical services, others interacting with strangers who passed by as if they were familiar friends.
“Entranced?” Alastair whispered from beside me, a soft chuckle following.
“Would be an understatement.” I continued to observe every interaction, each pass off of coin, and the gazes that followed our movements.
“She’s observational, which is beneficial for us,” Leilani chimed in, her hand settled on the hilt of her weapon. “You could learn a few things from her, Ace.”
“Why need I be attentive when the two of you cover those bases forme?” His lips curled upward as a response to her glare. “Nonetheless, we have an island to scour, so I believe it’s best we get a move on. Yes?”
Prowling through the town square, I lingered on the outskirts, fixated on the ongoing conversations filtering through the afternoon bustle. With my back pressed against a stone pillar, I remained in a state of observation. The attire I wore—fitted trousers, an azure blouse with a black corset, and the black tricorn I’d stumbled across in the chest in my quarters—helped me blend in with the slew of tourists that had arrived shortly after us.
With Alastair having slipped away to cover the northern front of the market, and Leilani having made her way into the shops, I was alone. For the first time in what felt like weeks, the blanket of expectation and subordination had slipped from me, and I finally felt like I could breathe. It was simply my onlookers and me, probing eyes that contained a curiosity that spoke of a longing to create or a desire to own. And while I wasn’t opposed to the former, there was no way in Ellira’s name that I was allowing another person to lay claim to me as if I were a mere possession.
Hooking my dagger beneath my nail, I scraped out a trail of dried blood—likely from the fun I’d had slaughtering Caspian’s men. With a huffed exhale and a smirk, I contemplated leaving, running away from Alastair and his crew to establish a life of my own as far away from Serevalen as I could get.
Before I could settle on anything finite, that all-too-familiar sensation of a new, curious gaze drew my attention. But unlike the others, it slithered beneath my skin and settled in my bones, forcing me to glance up from under the brim of my hat. Without having to lock eyes with who it belonged to, that ancient essence stirring in my blood carried a warning: they did not belong to our world, or any for that matter.
Vibrant blue irises met mine, but where whites should’ve been, allthat existed was a soulless black. The veins lining her skin seemed to dull with the same inky shadows, and as soon as she smiled, a pulsating ache settled in my chest.
Palm flattening against the cylindrical tower, I failed to draw a breath. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, no beating of Malrik’s comparable to whatever power she held. Only intensifying as she approached, her heels clipped the cobblestone with a century-old weight that demanded respect. Unable to manage the onslaught her essence had on mine, the sheer wave of darkness she emanated slammed into me, and I stumbled back into the alcove, its backsplash of oak catching me before I could collapse.
“Interesting,” she hummed, cocking her head to the side, only for a slightly pointed ear to slip out from beneath her soot colored hair.
Opening my mouth to reply, her metallic claw settled beneath my chin. The jewelry dangling from the ring covering her nail chimed with warning, and the near-lilac hue of her skin only ignited unspoken words of caution. Tongue unfurling between her black painted lips, she was quick to flick it against her sharpened canine.
“W-Who are you?” I whispered, agony cinching down on my heart mercilessly.
“No one of pertinence.” Leaning forward, scars became visible. Running along the left side of her face, traversing the bridge of her nose and her jawline, they carried a tale that spoke the opposite of what she offered. “Tell me, Daughter of Ellira, are you familiar with the intricate details that cocoon the man you’ve recently spent time with?”
“Alastair—” Affliction ignited, silencing me.
“You know exactly who I am asking of,human.”
“I-I…”
“The man whom you cannot seem to rid your thoughts of, the man who plagues your dreams and haunts your every move?” she crooned, the words seeming to blend together like a riddle. “Mizani.”
