Page 50 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

She takes the first step, hauling herself up by the rails. She starts moving upwards toward the now-open hatch. As soon as she is a few steps up, I climb up behind her. I turn briefly to look at Finn.

“I knew you were a coward, but this is low, even for you.”

I don’t stop to listen to his reply. He said we have ten minutes, and at least four of them will be wasted climbing this damn thing. The cold chill of the rails presses into my fingers as I clutch tightly. This climb is near vertical, so one slip and I’ll fall. I have to keep moving.

I chance a glance up and find a hand pulling Tori through the gap, and I feel relief fill my chest. Thank the gods she made it. Seconds later, I'm hauled through the narrow gap. I scramble to my feet and find myself inside an old building. More thanhalf the roof is missing, and moss covers the inside walls that are decorated in red and brown stains. I shiver when the cold breeze touches my neck. The slamming of the hatch draws my attention, and I turn to find a woman covered in thick swaths of cloth, only her eyes revealed. She seems to be working hard to conceal her identity.

“I was told there was only one transport.”

Her green eyes scan the two of us.

“There is, I’m just here to ensure she makes it in one piece.”

“The boss isn’t going to like it.”

“I don’t give a shit what your boss likes.”

She laughs at this and then shrugs her shoulders.

“Come on. Keep low and follow what I do.”

We follow silently as she weaves through fallen debris and mess. We move forward until we are just outside the house. The woman holds out a hand, signaling that we stop moving. We stand statue-still as her eyes sweep over the dark stretch of tall, unkempt grass. This is the very edge of the court, and it’s clear no one tends to it. In the near distance, the jagged edges of the mountains rise against the sky. From the bloodhouse, they are nothing more than faint marks, but from here, they tower over us, dividing us from the safety of the settlement. We’re so close. I’m so used to the architecture of the bloodhouse, I forget how beautiful nature truly is.

The woman beckons us forward, dipping her hand low to the ground to tell us to crawl. We move slowly through the tall grass, the rustling of our movement the only sound in the entire space. We seem to be moving for what feels like forever before she finally comes to a stop. She puts up a hand to tell us to wait before she slips free of the cover of the grass.

Tori and I exchange a look, and I can tell she’s scared. Part of me wonders whether I should have tried harder to stop her from going through with this. She may love the idea of living in thesettlement, but her entire life is about to change, and everything she knows will be gone. I nod in reassurance, making a promise I’m not sure I can keep.

Before I can think more about it, the woman emerges and ushers us forward. We crawl out from the safety of the grass and find ourselves in an empty space, the ground dusty and dark.

“Wait here, they should arrive any minute. And stay quiet.”

Before I can answer, she disappears into the night, leaving us to face the unknown. A twinge fills my chest as I wonder whether I can make my way back alone. Will Finn be waiting, or has he already gone?

“What do you think it will be like?” Tori’s small voice breaks me free of my onslaught of thoughts. “The settlement?”

I pause for a moment, pondering her question. I’ve never allowed myself to truly wonder what it might be like. Willow needs vampire venom to keep her healthy, and the settlement has none. This is not a place for people like me, and dreaming of a freedom I will never have is foolish. I will remain at court, serving my time like Cora. She made the sacrifice, and so will I.

“I think it will be like before the war. It will be peaceful and free.” I offer her the words she needs to hear. I can see the doubt creeping into her eyes, and a selfish part of me wants to stomp it out and convince her everything will be ok. I need her to do this if I have any chance of getting Willow back, but the look in her eyes…

“We can go back, if you want. It’s not too late to change your mind.”

Surprise twists her features.

“No…I…I haven’t changed my mind. I want to go. I’m just…I’ll miss you and Willow. You’re the only family I’ve ever had.”

A glimmer of starlight illuminates her glistening eyes, and I feel my own start to blur.

“Perhaps I’ll join you one day,” I say. She knows it’s a lie, but we pretend it’s not because it makes saying goodbye a little less painful. Her hand slips into mine, and I hold onto it like it’s my lifeline. I’m never going to see her again. I know she’ll be safe and happy, but I won’t see her again.

“How will you say it happened?” she asks.

“Cora will say you tried to escape when I came to kill you, but you fell to your death from the top of the bloodhouse. There are bodies ready for the pit; she’ll use one of them.”

“Sounds like something I’d do.” Her words are a whisper in the night.

“Thank you for doing this, for being a good friend.”

The sudden crunch of wheels against gravel fills the air, and her hold on my hand tightens. A small wagon that likely holds no more than twenty people appears, covered in an old, dusty cloth. It pulls up beside us, and the man working the horse at the front jumps off.