Page 19 of A Broken Promise (the Freckled Fate #1)

19

T he large steam ship carried us well into the night. Priya was nicely settled on the bottom bunk of the small, though luxurious, chamber. She made an excuse about needing to pee every five minutes. I didn’t object, climbing onto the top one.

We stayed in silence for hours now. Words seemed trivial; thoughts lost in the abyss. The low humming of the engines blocked out the never-ending rustling of wrappers as Priya pillaged the stash of strongly packaged snacks.

Finally, resting on my elbows, I propped up my body.

“What is it about me that just screams I am an easy victim, Priya?” I finally had the courage to say out loud what had been ravaging my mind ever since the alley.

I needed to know. Why me?

What.Was.Wrong.With. Me ?

Priya sat up in her bed, shaking off the crumbs on the floor.

“Because you have a vagina?” she said indifferently. “But also, it might be because you look pathetic and weak, who knows? Men are really not that picky; even dead you are not hundred percent safe.” She scratched her nose, still loudly chewing. “But if you want my opinion, your eyes are desperate for belonging and yet you’ ve given up on it. Like a sad little kitten on the street that might puff up and hiss but in reality, completely harmless.” She went through her wrappers, trying to find any last hidden candy there. She squealed and chucked another treat in her mouth, smacking her lips obnoxiously. “Truthfully, you are the type of person that chooses forgiveness over justice and that really shows,” Priya added, taking a long sip of water.

Perhaps I was wrong to ask an important question to a stranger that I only met a little over two weeks ago. A stranger, that too, made some questionable choices.

But that rising annoyance and anger within me was a cover for hurt. Because everything she said was right and everything hurt.

Though, I couldn’t shake off the feeling as if she blamed me for it. As if I was at fault for the choices of the sailor. Resentment tinted my mind.

As if reading my thoughts, she continued.

“No, it wasn’t your fault. It’s never your fault, Freckles. Men are shit. It’s as simple as that.” Her voice softened. It was good she didn’t see my angry face. Priya threw a giant pile of wrappers on the floor. “Life is cruel and unfair. We don’t get to pick and choose what it throws at us. Humans are also nasty creatures. Monsters lurking underneath our skin, prettied up by nice conversations and good food, just waiting to come out.”

“But you saved me.” A simple truth.

“A nice convenience, not going to lie. I have enjoyed my fresh laundry in the past weeks. Good thing too. It would have been such a hassle trying to find another half drowned, runaway slave.”

My heart eased and I smiled. A hassle indeed.

“Sometimes I wish things were different, the life, the world,” I said, laying back down on my pillow, staring at the white ceiling. “Do you?” I asked, my voice becoming somber.

“Nah. I can’t spend my life wishing for a different life only to realize I wasted this one.”

“Do you ever dream?”

“Of what?”

“Of happiness? ”

“Happiness and innocence go hand and hand. And I lost both a very long time ago.” Her voice for once was more serious and tender. “But excitement, thrill and pure pleasure. That, I can have any day. No need to dream, Freckles.”

“So, what are you? Some assassin of sorts?” I doubted she was going to tell me, but tonight seemed to be painfully honest.

“An assassin…? That sounds so official.” Priya chuckled. The room was now filled with gentle warmth. “I guess you could call me that.”

“Who do you work for?”

“I don’t work for anyone.”

“Do you kill for money?” I had a feeling it was more than that.

“I never work for hire, if that’s what you are asking but I do get…payments.” She ruffled sheets, cozying up in her bed.

“How did you become an assassin?

“Do you ever stop with the questions, Freckles?”

That was her limit then, but I pushed anyway.

“How many have you killed?” I mentally added up the days she was gone in her suit in the last few weeks. Often, I realized. She was gone quite often.

“Ugh. Go to bed. I am tired now.” She grumpily dismissed me.

I smiled. That sugar rush of hers must have finally came crashing down.

“I could train you; you know.” Priya rolled over again, loudly yawning.

“Train me?”

“Yes, to be a badass assassin like me .” She mimicked her accent to match mine.

I wasn’t sure what becoming an assassin entailed, but I was done feeling weak and useless.

“I’d like that…I’d like that very much.”