Chapter 58 Anastasius
My eyes were heavy when a soft knock jolted me alert. Rohit jolted to his feet, grasping for an invisible sword. “Who is it?” he growled, stalking toward the door.
“Stas, it’s Hen,” a familiar voice assured us. The tension left my body upon hearing the witch, but Rohit remained guarded as he opened the door. I pushed back the blankets and stepped into a pair of trousers next to the bed. The soft light from her crystal illuminated her face. She was alone. The weapons she had worn earlier were still strapped to her body, but she didn’t reach for them despite giving Rohit a wary look. The two of them hadn’t been as close as her and I, but they had a healthy respect for what the other could do.
“It’s okay, Ro. She won’t harm us,” I assured my friend, but even I knew that wasn’t a guarantee.
Not after our last encounter.
You’re a blind coward. Those were her last words to me. Would she still believe them to be true? The young woman was no child, but a warrior. A kickass bitch that rivaled the strength of draconis much older than her. Rohit stepped out of her way but didn’t relax. Hen noted that but didn’t brace herself. Completely at ease. Confident. “I owe you my thanks,” I addressed the Eikonian. “Are you well, Hen?”
“I am.” She closed the distance between us. In the dim light, I could see a flicker of worry cross her features. “You need to leave.”
“I wasn’t planning on staying long,” I replied, confused.
“Good.”
“What is it?” I pressed, anxiety seeping into my tone. She swallowed, hesitancy evident in her eyes, and shook her head.
“Just leave, Stas. Things are changing here. You aren’t safe.” Now her fear was plain. She spun to leave, but Rohit stepped into her path, weaponless but willing to take her on all the same.
“Hen?” I grasped her forearm, forcing her to turn back toward me.
“I’ve already said too much. Go, Stas. Run as far as you can.” She turned again with a pointed glare at Rohit. My friend didn’t move.
“Hen!” I reached for her again, but she whirled away, moving with that foreign grace and swiftness that so many in the De Vita had envied.
“Let me go or I will scream and nothing will save you from the worst of the Circulus, not even your Ruptor,” she spat with venom. I winced and looked past her toward Rohit. Nodded. Reluctantly, he stepped out of her way, and she was gone in an instant. We listened to her retreating footsteps until there was only the sound of our confused breaths.
“Do you trust her?”
I sat down on the bed to reflect on his question, but my friend chose to pace the small space instead. “I don’t know,” I huffed, scrapping my teeth along my lip. Over and over. Tasted the tang of blood. A familiar comfort in a place filled with uncertainty.
“What if she’s trying to get under our skin, trying to uproot the peace you seek? What if she’s trying to warn you that peace isn’t a good idea? What if she’s just manipulating you for her purposes again?” All of his questions had already crossed my mind. Each of them were valid. I tossed out a low groan.
“I know,” I muttered.
“So, what are you going to do?” Rohit prompted me. I bit down harder on my lip. The pain it brought was exquisite.
“Have faith. I won’t let fear prevent me from trying for peace. We continue on as planned and pray to the gods of both clans that the peace holds,” I answered.