AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Five filled me in about One,” Thirteen says, as she picks up the knife resting on the countertop and runs the blade through the flickering flame of the candle she just lit. “I won’t lie and say I’m not worried about One’s state of mind, but I am reassured that Five is going to keep an eye on her for us.”
“One doesn’t intervene,” I say firmly, at least not at the point when I carve my name into The Masks chests with the blade Thirteen is lacing with poison as we speak.
“Good,” Thirteen replies, dipping the heated blade into the white liquid. I watch in fascination as the poison bubbles on the surface of the blade, then seems to evaporate into thin air after a few seconds. She repeats the process several times then places the blade on a stone mat to cool before turning to me and grabbing my hands. “I want you to know that I think you’re exceptional. What you’re doing for The Masks, it’sbrave. To go against the people you love takes courage. I understand the risk you’re taking only too well.”
“You sound like you’re talking from experience. Are you?”
She gives me a sad smile. “That’s not a question I can answer right now.”
“Thirteen, you’re keeping something from us,” I say, squeezing her fingers. “What is it?”
“Ican’ttell you. You understand that, right?”
“It’s to do with my mother’s letter and the Deana-dhe, isn’t it?”
“Please, Christy, don't push this. You’ll do what you must, and so will I.”
“Should I be worried?”
“If you’re asking me whether I’m going to betray you, I’m not.”
“That wasn’t what I meant. I’m concerned about you, Thirteen. You’re my friend.”
“Please don’t be. I knew what I was getting into when I came here a year ago, just like I understood the terms of the Deana-dhe’s debt. I’m a big girl, Christy.” Releasing my hands, she pulls me in for a hug and my skin prickles with knowing. “I’m going tomissyou.”
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I say, plastering on a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes because this feels like so much more than a goodbye for now. It feels like a goodbye forever.
“No matter what, we’ll always remain friends, just like our mothers before us.”
“Of course we will,” I agree.
“We’ve got this,” she says, sliding the now cooled blade into a tan leather holster, passing it to me.
I hold it in my hands, and despite the lightness of it, what it represents weighs heavily on my conscience. “What if it all goes wrong, Thirteen? What if my sister fires a bullet into their chests just to be certain they’re dead? What if I lose them anyway and this was all for nothing?”
“No, don’t think like that. It’s going to work. Ithasto,” she reiterates.
“Yes, it must,” I agree, lifting my chin and giving her a firm nod.
“Strap it around your thigh,” she instructs. “Keep it on you at all times.”
Drawing up my layered skirt, I secure it in place, the layers of silk and tulle hiding the dagger as I drop the material back over my legs. “Done.”’
“Ready?” she asks me.
“As I’ll ever be,” I respond, and for once in my life I put my trust in Fate and hope that this time she doesn’t fuck us all over.
