Page 18 of A Broken Promise (the Freckled Fate #1)

18

T he fresh morning air filled my lungs. The pier was crowded. Even early in the morning, the streets were filled with people. Some travelers were carrying their bags and boarding large ships docked at the port. Street vendors shouted out their daily deals or waved products in the air, trying to attract more customers. Already far on the horizon, new ships were approaching the lively city.

I anxiously ruffled a few gold coins in my pocket and excitedly walked to the docks. After seeing all manner of vendors and other things and exploring the town for what felt like a whole day, I finally settled on a small bench alongside the pier, away from the crowded docks.

A large black raven landed just a few feet away, hungrily staring at me with its obsidian eyes.

“Starving?” I asked. The raven just tilted her head curiously. I softly smiled. “I understand. I would be too with all these seagulls ganging up on me.”

I bit off a small piece of the apple I was snacking on and threw it in her direction.

The raven crowed in gratitude as she nibbled the small piece. Then crowed again as she jumped closer, asking for more .

“I like apples too.” I chuckled as I threw another piece. Then another. Now the bird skipped so close I could pet it without stretching out my hand.

“Brave one I see?” I smiled, fighting the urge to pet her. But something about this bird being desperate for food enough to trust a human tugged at the forgotten strings in my chest.

Life was hard for everyone.

Suddenly spooked, the raven flew away. I twisted around to face a sailor dressed in his Royal uniform, his shadow lurking over me. His face was clean shaven and tan. He was fit and must had been well into his thirties.

I was caught off guard as he smiled at me and spoke.

“Annoying little pests, aren’t they?”

No, they are anything but annoying. They are smart and beautiful and unless you were blind, that raven wasn’t little.

“ Um…” was all that came out of me instead.

He chuckled, his mouth stretching in a satisfied grin.

“I have to give it to them. They always find the most sparkly thing around.” He winked at me, and my stomach twisted with unease. Before I could object, he plastered himself right next to me on a small bench. The smell of his strong cologne ran like acid through my nose.

Too close. He was too damn close. I inched a little closer to the edge.

“Couldn’t help but notice you today on the pier in your sultry dress. First time in town?”

The red polka dot dress was definitely not sultry, and neither was I.

It was time for me to go.

“Yes.” I wrapped up the rest of my apple, shoving it in my bag.

“Traveling for pleasure or business?” he asked, still grinning while extending his arm over the bench as if to wrap around my shoulders.

My body ricocheted against his not-so-subtle brush against my back.

“Oh, just visiting my uncle. He is the town's constable,” I quickly lied. I knew it was a terrible lie, but I didn’t have time to come up with anything else .

“Oh really?” He was surprised and taken back a bit. Good.

“Yes. Well anyway, nice meeting you but I have to go, my aunt will worry sick if I don’t get her scones soon. Bye.”

I stood up, picking up two large boxes filled with my newly purchased leather boots and some clothes.

“No need to hurry. It’s still light outside.” He stood up right behind me, following me. Following. Me.

“Oh, but I do have to go. I insist. My uncle takes tardiness quite seriously.” I politely chuckled, though my face didn’t show amusement and my steps hurried. But in a few long strides he caught up with me. Though my heart was racing, I forced myself to take a few deep breaths not letting panic slip through.

“I’ll walk you home. I was going that direction anyway. It wouldn’t make me a good gentleman if I let a damsel like you get lost in the city,” he murmured, just inches away from me. But I didn’t turn to look at him.

Crowds were thinning out in the late afternoon, yet we were still surrounded by many people.

It’s going to be fine, I tried convincing myself as I rushed past a large road into oncoming traffic of carriages and buggies. Carrying flimsy boxes made my escape harder but I ran as fast as I could, mingling with the little crowd still out, switching paths. Only once I turned back to see his blue and white tassels flayed on the wind far behind. My heart eased a bit.

Thank Gods.

I had to get back to the townhome, find Priya and get on that ship to take us to Svitar tonight. Late afternoon was now turning to early evening with a soft river sunset. I finally made it to the right street. It was quieter, emptier. Twilight reminded me of the upcoming night, as if urging me to hurry.

“Just right around the corner. Easy,” I whispered out loud, trying to calm my throbbing heart. I was only a block away from the blue door leading to safety. Familiar brick and moss mixed townhomes lined in neat rows. I walked through a cobblestone alley. A shortcut, or so I thought. Until a shadow of a man appeared in front of me .

“You are quite an escape artist, I have to say,” he seethed, his chest rising in paced breaths after what must have been a run. I recognized him immediately. The Royal sailor. Thoughts flooded my brain. No, I can’t panic now.

Play it nice. Maybe he will let you go , I tried to convince myself. Meek and kindness. Meek and kindness.

“Oh, you startled me.” I fake laughed, trying to justify a few back steps I took.

“Going somewhere?” He crossed the distance between us in his few quick steps.

“Just going home,” I replied, eyeing the lightless alley.

“You are a little liar.” He came close. Too close.

Run.

You need to run now. My instincts shouted at me . I threw the boxes at him and ran.

The alley wasn’t long, I could make it at least until the next door. But after a couple of strides, his tight grasp on my arm yanked me back.

“You little bitch. Is this how you show gratitude to a Royal sailor?”

I thrashed against his touch and screamed, but it seems the streets went silent, and it was just us against the murky, gloomy, star-filled sky.

“I’ll teach you to not ever disrespect a Royal Sailor,” he angrily spat, pulling my thrashing body closer. He was so much stronger than me. I tried kicking and screaming, yet he shoved me against the wet brick wall, his body pressing hard against mine. I could hear it then; the belt buckle clicking as it was being undone, the slide of the zipper.

Gods please, I cried as tears pooled over my face. Please. I screamed to Fate, locked between the wall and his body in a tight grip. Panic completely overtaking me.

“Freckles, don’t you know the gods won’t do shit .” A mocking female voice came from the shadows. The sailor froze in surprise, yet still held me tight against the stone.

“Priya!” I cried out in relief, still fighting against his tense grasp .

Suddenly, he completely froze with his hand still on his crotch, and fell straight on the gray stones as if a statue.

Priya’s figure slowly emerged from the shadows in her leather suit with her two braids swaying with each step. She held an intricate blowgun, no longer than her finger.

“Is he dead?” I asked her, wiping away the fresh tears of my red cheeks, letting the anger anchor my obscure mind.

“Oh, not yet, Freckles. He may wish for it soon, but not yet. He is completely paralyzed though.” Excitement filled her face, thrill playing in her copper eyes. A cat playing with a trapped mouse.

Priya quickly glanced over my shaken-up body.

“Oh, lighten up, Freckles, you are fine,” she said, rolling her eyes nonchalantly while staring at my terror-filled eyes.

“I am okay,” I repeated. More of an assurance to myself than anything.

Priya pulled a sharp knife out of an unseen leather sheath. She squatted right next to the sailor's unmoving face. I then saw the small, long, silver needle poking out of his neck, straight into his pulsating artery.

She moved a knife across his cheek, slicing it, dipping it in his blood as if it was a paint brush. Tears poured out of his eyes, but he couldn’t even blink, much less scream.

“Ugh.” Priya dramatically growled. “This is kind of irritating,” she said, looking at his face with primal craving. “You see, my dear sailor friend…” She continued while now running the knife down his chest and stomach, scraping his skin until small beads of blood appeared.

“You’ve put me in such a predicament.” She huffed in disappointment. “How am I going to filet your skin little by little while you are still alive if I must get on a ship soon? Perhaps, I’ll just have to let you go.” She twirled her dagger a little deeper. “Tsk tsk tsk. Such a shame though. I think I would rather enjoy seeing you bleed out drop by drop.”

I watched her silently, feeling unsure.

“It is a pickle. Don’t you agree?” She tugged on his cheek playfully. Pure enjoyment was bursting on Priya’s face in the same way his blood was pouring out of his wounds.

A killer whale tossing the helpless seal.

I finally moved, picking up my thrown boxes, eager to go, away from him, from this alley, from this town. Eager to leave. I wasn’t sure how long the paralytic was going to work but I also wasn’t going to interrupt Priya with questions in what clearly was an exciting moment for her.

She stood up, but not before wiping off the blood of her knife against his white uniform.

“But you know what, my sailor friend? I appreciate your service. You’ve turned out to be quite the soldier, so I think I have just enough time to do this though.” She drew one of her daggers and threw it straight at his crotch. Like butter, the dagger sliced through his frozen hand into his cock.

Something inside of me twisted. This was justice. Cruel, evil and brute justice.

“Oh darn, sorry, I think my dagger might have slipped. So silly of me.” Priya theatrically shrugged and crouched above him. “I’ll be more careful with this though, I promise.” She pulled the dagger out, slicing off his limp exposed manhood. “We wouldn’t want you to get hungry,” Priya said, smiling as she tugged his mouth slightly open and shoved the chopped off tip of his cock in. Blood quickly pooled underneath him, trickling down the pavement as if a black ink.

I stood frozen, unsure what to say or even how to feel. My thoughts raced so fast that I couldn’t find a coherent one.

Later. I will deal with this later.

“Freckles, time to go.” Priya motioned for me to start walking and I did.

“We are just going to leave him there like that?” I asked, peeking over my shoulder at his helpless bloodied carcass.

Royals might have closed their eyes on slavery but murdering a Royal Soldier was still punishable by death. “What if he recognizes us? ”

Priya laughed, as if I said the most hilarious thing she had ever heard. I frowned, slightly unsure.

“What now?” I impatiently asked.

“You got attacked and that’s your first concern? Shouldn’t he be worried that you’d testify against him?”

I was not na?ve enough to believe that law was equal for everyone. It definitely didn’t apply to those in power but it sure as hell applied to me though, a runaway slave.

“I am serious, Priya. This is serious.”

Priya cackled. “Look at you, so worried. Then go kill him yourself.”

I stopped in my tracks. My eyes met hers, asking if she was indeed serious.

I had never taken a life before.

But at that moment, I knew I would do it. Even if it haunted me for the rest of my life.

If that was the price I had to pay for my freedom, I would do it. Priya’s mouth stretched in a wide grin. Noting my growing unrest, she finally countered.

“Relax, Freckles, he has about thirty more seconds of life left in him before his heart completely stops from the poison.” At my concerned look she added, “I like to give them a little hope before the light goes out.” She loudly patted me on my back and led the way to the dock.