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Moments after sitting, the train lurched forward, beginning a slow crawl through the station. As we picked up speed, I kept my gaze trained on the exits.
It was busier than I would have liked. The car was nearly full, but the seat next to me was empty. That was good. It was more difficult, with my size, to fly under the radar, but I did my best to blend.
My phone vibrated and I glanced down at it.
It was Hector.Where are you?
He didn’t know for sure what I was doing, since I didn’t outright tell him, but he was a brilliant man. He’d work it out.
After Orestes left for what he said would be a day, and didn’t return, my involvement was inevitable.
Waiting for the scenery to change from urban to rural, I sat back in my seat. Hours would need to pass before I made a move. Objectively speaking, this was an interesting situation we found ourselves in—if I could remove the sheer terror of the pieces of the seal being discovered, that was.
I never would have expected Pollux’s head to be turned by a woman. He and I were more alike than I’d admit out loud. We’d fought on the same side of the war, and neither of us had had wives.
Women, yes. Wives? No.
And I’d never wanted one. Look at Hector. How many years would he mourn his family? It was better to have friends. Those hurt enough when you lost them. I couldn’t imagine the pain of a wife.
Or a child.
Fuck.I was getting off track.
Leonora was someone’s child.
I pushed the thought away. This was a war and what was her life when weighed against the entirety of the mortal realm? If killing Leonora saved the world, then I’d do it.
The train was headed northeast. I stared out the window for a moment, getting my shit together. I used to do this before a battle. Clear my head. Focus on my goal.
Swallowing any doubts, I stood and made my way to the exit. The rush of the wheels over the track, and the shriek of the wind as we whipped along the track filled my ears.
I entered the next car, passing the mostly empty rows, giving the few other passengers only a cursory glance as I made my way toward Leonora.
My plan was simple. I had bribed one of the railway workers, and he was going to ask Leonora to go to another car. I’d told him I was her boyfriend, surprising her on her trip to Whitby.
He’d bought it. My size might intimidate, but I could fake a smile. The wad of cash I’d pressed in his hand got rid of any reservations he had.
And if—after—he happened to put two-and-two together when her body was eventually found? Well, guilt did strange things. Made you keep secrets.
Also, I’d been sure to avoid cameras.
Keeping my breathing slow and even, I forced myself to stay loose and relaxed. Anticipation fueled anxiety, anxiety veered you toward impulsivity.
One push.She couldn’t fight me. One push would be all it would take and then it’d be over. I edged close to the door between the cars. Right on time, an older man made his way toward one of the window seats.
Standing between the cars, I watched my unknowing partner, clad in a uniform with GWC embroidered on the sleeve, lean over one of the seats. He pointed toward the exit and I moved quickly, standing to one side so she wouldn’t see me.
The space was tight, so it was easy to reach the door and flick the lock open with one hand.
I’d fought in a hundred wars and had a body count I didn’t care to remember.
One more. Just one more.
The door slid open, Leonora—like an idiot—wasn’t even looking at me. She was smiling at someone over her shoulder before closing the door tight.
In a flash, I had her. My hand went over her mouth, my arm around her waist as I spun us toward the door.
The blast of cold air hit me square in the face. Her body locked, every muscle tensing, and then she began to fight. But it was like cupping a frantic butterfly.
