Chapter 3
AMARYLLIS
It didn’t take long to find information on Night Alley. Located just a few miles from the palace, it was described in a recent library report as a quaint little village with many taverns, shops, and plenty of nightlife.
By nightlife, they meant criminals, drunks, and whores.
The poor librarian almost had a fit when she caught us reading about it. I can’t imagine how she’d react if she saw me now, three days later, walking through that very village with nothing but a woollen cloak to protect me – and completely alone.
It’s not like I had much choice, though. In the past few days, Father had insisted on arranging multiple dates between Hugo and my sisters.
Fern was forced to take his arm on a walk through the grounds – which would not have been so bad had he not apparently stared at her bust the entire time.
Heather, one of our sweetest sisters, returned from her date looking particularly green after Hugo had her join him for a hunt.
And Camellia arrived back from her dinner date sobbing uncontrollably. Apparently, the prince had spent the entire meal pointing out faults with her figure and declared that she’d struggle to ever find a husband, as she was already much past her prime.
She’s twenty-four!
By the time we arrived at the library, I’d already decided I was definitely going to find the Scorpion.
Unfortunately, none of my sisters were feeling brave enough to join me.
Although Dahlia did very generously offer me her second-favourite horse to ride through the woods – which I accepted – and now Destiny is secured to a tree a few taverns away.
Still, even though the ride here was mostly in complete darkness and there are wolves in the forest, I’d rather be out there riding Destiny than walking down these cobbled streets alone.
The further I go, the more I notice the stumbling men outside the taverns, staring with that awful, hungry look in their eyes.
It makes my stomach churn.
“Where’s a p-pretty darlin’ like you wanderin o’to at this time of night?”
Pausing, I turn to face the voice. Standing rather lopsidedly outside a bustling tavern, an older man watches me. The orange glow from the windows lights up his greasy face and the overflowing tankard in his hand.
“Just looking for something, sir,” I reply with a polite dip of my head.
“Whatcha looking for?” he slurs. “A good time? I can show you a good time. Why don’t you come here? Come closer to Randy.”
“No, thank you,” I say, walking away. While I’ll almost certainly need to ask someone for help to find this Scorpion fellow, I definitely don’t want it from him.
“Hey!” he shouts, making me flinch. “I’m not done talking to you!”
Just keep walking. Just keep walking.
“Hey!” he shouts again. “Hey!” This time, his voice deepens, and I hear his tankard clattering onto the ground. “Get back here, you bitch!” he growls.
My chest burns, and my steps quicken to a sprint. But now I can hear his bootsteps rapidly approaching behind me.
Blossom was right. This was a terrible idea. And now I’m going to end up face-down in a river while Hugo gets to have his way with one of my sisters.
Fern, or Heather, or Camellia.
Or Liliana.
I press a hand to my mouth to stifle a cry.
“You better stop running, you slut!”
Taverns, shops, and crooked houses fly past me. The heels of my boots slam against the cobbles.
Dipping to the side to avoid a gaggle of drunkards, the wind catches my cloak and roughly rips it away. I gasp, reaching for it, but the growling man is so close now he can almost touch my hair as it streams out in ribbons behind me.
“Stop running!” he roars.
I’m so dead. I’m so dead. I’m so dea—
A hard wall crashes into my face, and I yelp. Completely out of breath, I almost collapse onto the ground before two strong hands grip the back of my waist and steady me.
“Got you,” a different, much silkier voice says. It vibrates through the firm wall I crashed into.
No. Not a wall. A chest. A very warm, very pleasant-smelling man’s chest that I’m now being held very securely against.
Lifting my chin, I catch the light stubble and sharp jawline of a tall, beautiful stranger. Two green eyes blink curiously at me, while his near-black hair almost blends in with the inky sky above.
Judging by the broadness of his shoulders and the confident way his hands hold the small of my back, he’s older than I am. Maybe thirty. And he’s smiling too, but only slightly, and in a dangerous sort of way.
Like a cat who’s just spotted a mouse.
“Randall…” the stranger speaks again. This time, he’s not talking to me.
His forest-green eyes are fixed on the panting man just inches away from my back.
“Aren’t you a little old to be running through the streets chasing after pretty girls?
” he says. His tone is dark and so full of warning, it makes my breath hitch.
“S-sorry, sir,” I hear my pursuer stutter. “Won’t happen again.”
The stranger nods. “See that it doesn’t, Randall.” He tips his chin. There’s quiet, until eventually I hear slow receding footsteps as Randy returns to his tavern.
“I do apologise for that.” The stranger turns back to me “But you know, you really ought to have an escort. This is not a safe place, especially for a young lady on her own.”
Cheeks burning, I step out of his hold. He’s right. This is absolutely not a safe place – and yet here I am, practically embracing a stranger.
Quickly, I clear my throat. This dimly lit street might not be safe, but right now, neither is Father’s palace with Prince Hugo wandering around. I need to find the Scorpion and stop wasting any more time. The moon is already far too high in the sky.
“Thank you for stopping him and, um, saving me.” I dip my head, avoiding his stare. “I’ll be on my way now.”
The man cocks his head. “Did you not hear what I just said?” he laughs.
“You need an escort. Let me take you where you need to be.” Before I can refuse, he moves closer and wraps my arm around his.
The smell of leather and crushed pine fills my nose.
“I’m assuming you’re one of Lady Carp’s new girls.
The whorehouse isn’t far from here. I’ll take you there. ”
“Thank you.” I smile, not really listening as my thoughts are swept away in a cloud of leather and pine. His arm is so firm too – not squidgy like most princes. I almost want to run my fingers—
Wait. Whorehouse?
“What?” I scoff, yanking my arm away. “I am not a whore!” I shake my head. “I can’t believe you would think that! I am a pri—” My teeth clamp down on my tongue.
Do not reveal to a complete stranger that you are a princess, Ami!
“It doesn’t matter.” I scowl. “I’m not a whore. I just came here looking for someone.”
The stranger laughs then runs a hand through his thick waves. “Forgive me,” he chuckles. “It’s just rare to see a woman outside of a whorehouse in Night Alley, and the ones you do find are usually looking for the nearest one that will take them.”
I shudder. Glancing around, I can see he’s right. There’s less people in the street now, but I can still see through the windows of the taverns, and each one is filled with rowdy, swaying men. Not a single woman in sight. And here I am – practically alone without even a cloak for protection.
This is all so foolish. I need to just go home.
“Who are you looking for?” the man asks, startling me from my thoughts.
“I…” The words catch in my throat. I really should be leaving, but then again, I suppose there’s no harm in seeing if the person I came here for is close by. “I’m looking for someone called the Scorpion.”
“The Scorpion?” The stranger’s brow shoots up. He studies me for a moment before folding his arms. “What business could you possibly have with someone like that?”
“That’s between me and the Scorpion,” I huff. “But it doesn’t matter now. I should be going anyway, I—”
“He’s selective with his targets, you know,” he cuts me off, his green eyes narrowing, “and very expensive.”
Swallowing, my stomach dips as his burning gaze lowers to my simple travelling gown. The dress is made of thin, lightweight fabric, but the longer he stares, the more it starts to feel like wool – all hot and uncomfortable against my skin.
“I can pay,” I tell him, desperate to hear anything other than the heartbeat in my ears. “And I can’t say much about the target, but he’d deserve whatever it is that the Scorpion can do to him.” And more. My fists clench. “Do you know where I might find him?”
The man smiles, but this time in a way that’s even more dangerous than before.
He extends his arm for me to take. “Allow me.”
The stranger leads me down the street and into a dark alleyway.
Lining the narrow road are tall houses made of crumbling grey brick and decorated with the occasional broken window.
It smells musky too, and even though the dimly lit street is obviously abandoned, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched.
Even the shadows move mysteriously as we walk.
Instinctively, I tighten my grip on my companion’s arm.
“It’s alright,” he mutters, patting my hand. “We’re here now.”
He stops us outside an abandoned-looking house with missing windows and a black front door, no different from the other fifty or so down this street.
For a moment, I want to slap myself. I’ve just allowed a stranger to lead me to the middle of nowhere to do Stars knows what – blindly trusting him like a fool.
I’m weighing up running when a huge man steps out of the shadows.
I yelp, smacking my hand against my mouth.
The man is bigger than huge. He’s enormous!
Moonlight reflects off his bald scalp while the rest of his giant body is covered in black armour and bandages.
Strapped to his side is a sword almost bigger than me, which his hand rests on as he charges straight for us.
“Bertie!” my companion grins at the monster of a man. “I have a new client here. Would you please be a gem and unlock the door so I can escort the young lady inside?”
My heart leaps. Is Bertie the Scorpion? Now he’s closer, I can make out the scars that line his face. With his huge frame and missing eye, he’d certainly be scary enough to frighten Prince Hugo off. My sisters will be overjoyed!
Before I can work up the courage to ask, Bertie grunts, then shuffles over to the door. A lock clicks, and the door creaks open as light spills onto the street.
“In you go,” I hear my companion say. His hand nudges the small of my back.
Cautiously, I step into the light.
Inside the terraced house is like a different world to the grubby exterior. My head tips back to take it all in.
The floors are covered with thick burgundy carpets, while the walls are painted and lined with gilded paintings.
To my left, a dark wooden bannister follows carpeted stairs to a second floor, and straight ahead is a panelled hallway leading off to different closed doors, each one carved from rich brown wood.
Suspended from the ceiling are several glowing crystal chandeliers that give everything inside a warm, rosy hue.
Of course, it’s no palace, but it’s warm, inviting, and completely different from the grimy street outside.
Behind me, I hear my companion follow me in and the door swing shut.
“Impressed?” he asks.
I nod, in awe of how an interior as beautiful as this could exist in such an abandoned-looking terraced house.
The stranger chuckles, then heads off down the hallway. “The Scorpion will see you now,” he announces. “I’ll take you to his office. Follow me, please.”
My heart thunders in my chest. What if the real Scorpion is even more terrifying than the huge man outside? At least he must get a lot of business to be able to afford to decorate his house as nicely as this, even if the street outside is in dire need of some landscaping.
My green-eyed companion reaches the door at the end of the hallway and slowly pushes it open. Hands shaking, I let him lead the way before following him through the wooden doorway.
Inside, the office is small and windowless, yet the overflowing bookshelves fill the walls with warm stacks of colour. In the centre of the room is a thick, darkwood desk covered with papers and inkpots, lit up by the glowing crystal chandelier above.
Either side of the desk are two leather chairs – one far more impressive and well-worn than the other. Although I’m surprised to see them both empty. Or at least I was, until the man who led me here confidently moves around the desk and takes a seat in the larger, more impressive one.
His desk. His chair. Of course. He is the Scorpion.
“So,” the dark-haired stranger grins, “please take a seat and tell me, how can I help you?”