Burning Bridges (4 page)

My hand went immediately to my forehead, and I groaned in pain as an enormous headache began to hammer in my head.
“
Watch where you
’
re—
”
I stopped as soon as I looked into his eyes. They were every shade of purple, so unlike anything I
’
d ever seen
. They stared back at me and I found myself completely and utterly enraptured
. They were so…violet.

“
Sorry, I—
”
he looked down at me and frowned.
“
Oh, it
’
s you.
”

I shook my head with a frown.
“
What do you mean?
”

He picked up his tray from the ground and didn
’
t bother to look at me again as he fixated himself with dusting his shirt.
“
You as in
you
,
”
he practically mumbled.
I
struggled
to hear him.
“
You prissy, selfish people are all the same.
”

“
Excuse me?
”
I was taken aback.
“
I don
’
t think I like your tone
! What is your name?
”
I glanced over at his breast pocket and memorized his tag.
Ayden
.
“
Do you know who you are talking to?
”

He scowled, looking through me rather than at me.
“
I know who I don
’
t want to be talking to. You always get what you want, don
’
t you
,
Princess?
”

I blinked
and
tr
ied
to discern this boy
’
s anger
,
which was
so
confusingly directed at me.
“
Me? What did I do?
”

He pushed his hands through his thick, brown curls and shook his head.
“
It
’
s what you didn
’
t do.
”
He sidestepped me and disappeared into the dining hall. As I turned around to watch him leave, I noticed the red welts on his arms
, making it evident
that he had just been scolded. But it wasn
’
t even the welts that caught me off
guard,
it was the tribal tattoos that lay beneath them. I knew what they
meant;
I had seen them enough times when New Haven had been under attack. They haunted me in my
dreams;
they were still there when I awoke. I shuddered, acknowledging the truth.

He was a Hunter.

I turned to retrieve the wine again and met Meredith, the Servant Keeper, in the kitchen.
“
Princess,
”
Meredith said.

“
Hello, Meredith. I was just going to
get
Mother
’
s wine
, so—
”

She pulled her hand from around her back and handed me the
bottle of
wine. Just like that.
“
That boy, I want you
nowhere
near him, do you understand? He is no
good.
I
’
ve no idea why your father insists on having him work here. Unpaid debt
s
, I suppose.
”

It occurred to me then that Meredith was the one who had scolded him. The reason behind it, I had no idea. But one look at Meredith with her yellow-orange teeth, a mole the si
ze of a nickel, and eye
brows that reminded me of furry rodents, was all I needed to heed her warning. I nodded and returned to the dining hall.

“
Here she is, our pride and glory,
”
Mother announced as I walked coyly into the hall. The familiar faces of Everlae and Shadow, Father, and even my older brother Caesar and his wife sat around the table. The King
of Delentia
was there, seated at
one
end with a look on his face that screamed superiority, but it was
Noah
that gave me pause.

“
Have a seat, young lady,
”
Father commanded. His voice was loud and powerful, easily grabbing the attention from everyone around the table.

“
Yes, Father.
”
Without hesitation,
Noah
stood to pull out a chair for me, which was no doubt right next to his.

My mother had dressed her finest, her blonde tresses tucked away professionally and her corset pulled so tight her breasts threatened to spill onto the table. Shadow had changed into something more fitting, but she still looked defiant as always. Everlae dressed decent as well, her face made up as pretty as a marionette and her hair loose and about her shoulders. Her husband
Silas
sat beside her, looking bored and oddly out of place. Caesar, on the other hand, was dressed like Caesar. His wife
Angelina
was pretty and young, but I never really knew her. I wondered what she saw in my brother, a sad replica of Father. 

“
Very nice to see you again, Princess Echo,
”
Noah
said, taking my hand to kiss my knuckles. I managed a smile as he looked up at me with hungry eyes.

“
Likewise,
Noah
.
”

“
It has been a
while, hasn
’
t it, Caesar?
”
King Gerald said, looking towards my father.
Maids
brought in the trays of food as everyone listened to their conversation in silence.
They droned on and on about New Haven
for what felt like hours until their talk shifted back to Noah and me.

“
It surely has
been a long time, Gerald,
”
Father stated, cutting into his pork.
“
Echo
’
s just recently finished schooling and will be getting back into the swing of things.
They
’
ll have to be better acquainted if they are to be wedded by spring.
”

My head jerked up instantly, almost tipping over a cup of tea a girl was laying down for me.
I was used to people talking about me as if I weren
’
t in the room, but I wasn
’
t used to the belaboring of news unheard
of
.
I usually knew everything that went on in the palace.
“
Spring? Father, I thought we
’
d wait till I was nineteen? I thought that was the agreement?
”
I looked over at the old King, but he seemed merely amused. Shadow and Everlae cringed at the idea of me getting married so early
and so young
, but they didn
’
t dare say a thing. Caesar chuckled and filled his mouth with chicken leg.

“
That was the original plan, yes, but things have changed and your father and I have agreed on a better time. Is this a problem
for
you?
”
the King asked.

Knowing good and well that my opinion didn
’
t matter, I shook my head and turned back to my tea.

“
Everything is already set. Her dress has been made as well, isn
’
t that right?
”
Mother asked one of the servants. The girl nodded her head eagerly.
“
Her fitting is next week and I
’
m sure she will look so beautiful.
”
Mother looked at me and smiled brightly. Reading her like an open book, I smiled back, but it barely reached my eyes.

In between gulps of the hot tea, I inhaled all the air my lungs would allow.
Spring? Were these people absolutely nuts? Wasn
’
t this place prison enough?

At the corner of my eye I could see
Noah
smiling at me. This was what he wanted. And gods, I hated him so much!

“
We
’
ve organized a home for you to live in as well. It
’
s not too far from here so you won
’
t be awa
y from the family by much,
”
King
Gerald
said. I nodded as if I couldn
’
t be any happier. Yes, because being locked in a house to birth babies all day
long while my husband ran
off with other women was exactly what I wanted.

“
Which reminds me,
”
Noah
said, standing up to kneel down on one knee. Though, I didn
’
t really pay much attention when he took my hands in his, for the servant called Ayden had just walked into the
room. He watched us in silence and I noticed the
resentment hidden somewhere in that dull look of his. Anger flooded through me
and heat rose to my cheeks
as I remembered what he had said
only moments ago
. 

“
Princess?
”
Noah
’
s voice called out to me. I dragged my eyes back to him. I glanced down at our joined hands and
cringed
.
“
Will you accompany me to the Grand Season
’
s Ball?
”

I froze for maybe a second before I could think coherently again. My eyes went to Ayden; his own
eyes
fixed steadily on me as if I would evaporate
if he removed them
. Instead of seeing jealousy or anger, I saw fear and sorrow. This boy, whom I didn
’
t even know, had irked me in the worst possible way. The things he
’
d said…no one had been so courageous to say half the things he did. This bothered me in a way I couldn
’
t identify and intrigued me all the same. Who was he?

Glancing around the room and looking into the faces of the people I couldn
’
t bear to disappoint, I sighed and internally laughe
d at the joke that was my life.
“
I
’
d be delighted.
”

F O U R

Ayden

SHADOW HILLS, OLD HAVEN

M
y feet pounded in the sludge as I stormed through the gates, dirt flying up around me and
covering
my pants. My fists clenched and unclenched in an anger so insatiable it threatened to consume me. Although I knew I had to work off my Father
’
s debt, I couldn
’
t stand the thought of being in t
hat wretched place. Seeing the P
rincess smile and laugh about pointless things while the whole of Old Haven starved to death made me want to take a torch to the place.

“
Name,
”
stated the guard.

“
Ayden Grey,
”
I replied, staring down at
the space between my feet.
“
I work for the King and I was just returning home for the evening.
”

I co
uld feel the guard
’
s eyes on me,
se
arching for signs of dishonesty
. T
hankfully
,
he
finally
signaled to the others to open the doors. The huge wooden gates slid open and I passed through the border before he could read the tension in my eyes.
Thank the gods
they
’
d grown
accustomed to
seeing me every morning that they didn
’
t bother with checking me anymore. If it weren
’
t for that, I
’
d surely be dead.

I strolled casually through the grounds, making for the furthest end of the forest, and stopped behind a willowed tree. My eyes scanned the perimeter, checking for anyone who might have followed and hidden in the underbrush. Seeing no one, I dug into my pocket and retrieved the small leather sack. I smiled to myself and untied the strings. The golden coins spilled into my palm like food for a beggar. The old wench had scolded me for stealing the bread, but while she had her back turned, I
’
d snuck into the Princess
’
room and grabbed three coins from her dresser. Three coins weren
’
t much for them, so I figured they wouldn
’
t miss it much. But to me—the less fortunate—this meant the world.

I folded the coins back into the sack and returned them to the safety of my pocket. Slowly emerging back onto the paths, I headed for home.

Shadow Hills was surprisingly quiet for six in the evening. Usually little boys and girls would be here and about, playing in the mud and getting themselves in trouble. Nightingales would be
off
in the skies, sending their
mating calls through the air and
causing Mr. Jenkins the lack of sleep he so desperately needed. Townspeople would be scurrying down the avenues to finish unfinished jobs and pay unpaid
debt
s. Shadow Hills was a busy city
despite our lack of resources due to the King
’
s selfishness. Now, though, the empty lots of the sandy streets made
Old Haven seem uncanny and barren
.

“
Ayden, hey! Wait up!
”
called a voice from behind me, an
d I fought the urge to walk
faster.

The young boy from across the street—whose family came all the ways from
Prylyn
just to work for the King—strode in beside me, face sweaty from working in the butcher shop all day.
We
’
d quickly become friends, but there were moments the very sight of him drove me nuts.
“
Adamo,
”
I said without looking at him,
“
shouldn
’
t you be home?
I
’
m sure your mother is worried sick.
”

From the corner of my eye I saw him shrug.
“
She
’
ll get over it. Where you off to?
”

“
Nowhere.
”

“
Well, you have to be going somewhere,
”
he
said with a laugh.
“
Oh, and by the way, I saw Feven the other day. You said you were looking for her?
”

I im
mediately stopped in my tracks and
the coins
clinked
in my pocket.
“
You saw her where? With who?
”

Adamo scratched his head and rolled his lazy eye.
“
I think his name is Simon or something like that…
O
r maybe it was Silas.
”
His thick eyebrows knitted together.
“
Yeah, I think his name is Silas.
”

“
Silas
who?
”
Fear had me by the throat
and
I
had to remind myself for the thousandth time that she wasn
’
t my
daughter; I shouldn
’
t have cared so much.

“
Don
’
t know his last name. Sorry.
”

I heaved a
sigh and continued to walk
, Feven now on my mind along with everything else.
‘
Stressed
’
didn
’
t even begin to describe how I was feeling. It was like the girl didn
’
t want to be
found
.

A few blocks away from the house, Adamo and I both froze at the sight of the door hanging off its hinges. He looked at me as if for explanation, but I was just as clueless as he was. Though, I did have my suspicions to some extent
and they weren
’
t good
.
I ran my fingers through my hair and contemplated just walking away from it this time. If I ignored it, I wouldn
’
t have to acknowledge the truth. But sadly, things always had a way of finding its way back to me. I would regret walking out on them, I was sure.

The day ha
d just turned from a muddy grey
to
a ruthless black
.

Leaving Ad
amo behind, I ran for the house and my eyes immediately searched
for
Misty in the
dilapidated
room. I could hear her crying, but couldn
’
t pinpoint
from where it was coming. I grew nervous—frantic—
as I searched for my scared little sister.

I followed her rasping breath to the other side of the room and there, huddled into herself, was Misty.
“
Hey, Mis, what
’
s the matter?
”
As the words sl
ipped from my mouth, a loud ruckus
came from the room next door.

“
It
’
s D
addy, again,
”
she mumbled.
“
Milo...
”

My heart fell to the pit of my stomach within seconds. I
’
d left them alone only because he said he could handle it. Now knowing that he very well couldn
’
t, I left Misty
’
s side and darted into the kitchen.

My father stood with his back to me, but I could clearly see what he was so trained on. I looked around the room for Milo, but he wasn
’
t anywhere in sight.

“
You
’
re home early,
”
my father said. The bottle of alcohol in his hands shook furiously. The liquid thrashed against the side of the glass, unpredictable and toxic
as its owner
.

“
Yeah. They wan
ted the family time alone; the P
rincess is spending time with her betroth
ed
.
”
I moved into the room and took
notice of the flipped chairs and broken plates. The cabinets that held the liquor
remained
ajar.

“
I wanted that life for you,
”
he said, his weeping making him hard to understand.
“
Your mother and I wanted to make a bett
er life fo
r you, b
ut we failed you
,
Ayden.
”

And then it suddenly occurred to me.
“
Where is Mother?
”

He grew quiet, and as the silence conquered the minutes, I
felt every grip of control I
’
d had mere seconds ago begin to slip.

“
She
’
s gone to the market,
”
he finally said.

“
Alone?
”
I sighed and cleared my head. The man was mad.
“
And Milo?
”
I
walked fully into the room
and began picking up the splintered chair
s. Dirty dishes f
illed the sink and
the ripped linoleum
scrapped the soles
beneath my
shoes
. One
bulb
hung from the ceiling, but it was barely enough to bring light to this
place
.

“
He...
I don
’
t know. He left.
”

I froze.
“
What do you mean he left?
”

“
He
’
s gone.
”

“
Gone where!
”
I sneered
.
“
What did he say?
”

My father turned to face me then and his eyes were bloodshot. His posture
was
slung against the c
ounter and his hair looked as if
it hadn
’
t been washed for weeks. His eyes didn
’
t meet mine.
“
He said he was going to fix this, but I don
’
t understand how anyone can fix this.
”
He
slumped to the ground and began to weep harder, the alcohol slipping from his hands and onto the
kitchen floor
.
“
I can
’
t do this, Ayden. Your mother is getting sicker and we can
’
t afford to send the twins to school. How will you make a living when we are gone?
”

I glanced at my father with a stolid look. I felt sorry for him, but now wasn
’
t
t
he time.
Milo was gone
and it wasn
’
t the first time he
’
d run away
.

I sprinted
out the door and
the wind ca
ught
my hair an
d
bl
ew
it into my eyes. I
’
d left Misty alone, and I
did feel
horrible, but my father was t
o
o drunk to notice her hiding underneath the bed. She was just scared. We all were.
We were surviving on sheer luck, hoping that the next family to go wouldn
’
t be us.

At some point when I
’
d turned down a dirt path, the one that held the very few shopping outlets the city had, I noticed a hushed voice somewhere in the distance. I sent a silent prayer as I followed my instincts and
pursued
it.

In a stark alley, I found Milo digging through the old dumpsters that lingered around the street
s. He was so busy in his search
that
he didn
’
t even take ti
me to not
ice that I
had been standing there. I
’
d found him, but seeing him like this made me
want to turn away
.
He still wore his clothes from last week because he refused to give it to Mother. He
’
d said she was too weak
to wash them
, the inevitable apparently clear to him as well.