Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Vesper
It was still too early to go back to her building.
She had the sutures and antidote safely tucked away in a cloth bag in her pocket, and nothing to do but wander the city.
In theory, she could go back to Cedar, but then they’d have a lot of time—more time than Vesper had ever spent with the woman. And they’d probably get food, and talk.
She was really not in the mood for something like that.
She and Cedar didn’t talk, they didn’t know each other aside from their professions—and the fact that Cedar and Bellamy absolutely hated each other.
Vesper had never felt the need to change anything about her relationship with Cedar.
As far as Cedar and Bellamy went, she didn’t care what they thought about each other.
It wasn’t like Vesper was looking for someone to make a life with, anyway. If her job didn’t make that near impossible, then Bellamy certainly would have. For that reason, Vesper wandered the cobbled streets of the city instead of going back.
She’d pass time in the gardens. She’d always loved them.
The wide river that cut through the city centre flowed lazily beside her, and buildings fell away as she slowed her walk, turning to face the river and enjoy the view before exchanging water for forest, venturing into the gardens behind her.
To her left, way off in the distance, was the city’s largest trolley station.
People from all over would be inside rushing too and from, unwilling to slow down from their day to day.
To her right were the shops she’d just left, with their squat buildings and false facades.
She leaned against the railing that protected her from tumbling into the river below, closing her eyes and briefly lingering in the heat of the sun.
The salt water smell on the cool breeze flowed around her.
People called to one another from the fishing boats along the channel.
She opened her eyes again to watch the ships launching into the sky from across the way.
She used to dream of getting the fuck off this planet—there was a whole system out there, full of worlds with massive plant life and nectar creatures. She’d wanted to travel and explore, but that was just a dream, and dreams were pointless if they couldn’t be accomplished.
Those dreams had been within reach before Bellamy ruined everything.
Vesper grumbled, turning away from the ships that, apparently, now also served as a reminder for how much she hated Bellamy.
She headed under the archway, which was locked in place by vines tying it to the fence.
The effect was of an impenetrable green barrier leading into the garden.
Trees were few and far between at the entrance.
Instead, it opened up to the perfectly green grass always kept at a predetermined height in between rows upon rows of flowers.
The air was crisp and fresh, and she kept walking until the path darkened.
Here, trees towered over the pathways and provided enough shade to allow the purple and green ferns below to flourish.
She didn’t stop until she reached the centre restaurant.
Wanting to beat the dinner rush, she ordered a vegetable crepe and claimed an outside table.
Since she’d had to flee her room so quickly, and didn’t think to grab her book, there was nothing to do but watch the passersby and stew in frustration at her current situation.
Especially when one of the people passing by looked so much like Bellamy.
Vesper had to do a double take when she saw the flash of dark blue curls and cropped top, only to see the woman was missing the black lines of tattoos flowing over her arm like spilt oil.
It wasn’t until the woman vanished from sight that Vesper realized she was scowling. Fucking Bellamy, invading her thoughts when she was trying to forget her whole existence.
Why did Bellamy insist on making her life miserable?
Why couldn’t she have left her alone? Left everyone alone, so she didn’t also risk Vesper’s life with her shit decisions.
Killing Bellamy had definitely crossed her mind at one point, way back when everything went to shit she might have even fantasized about it.
It wasn’t worth it. Vesper sighed and picked at the last bits of her crepe.
The delicious scent of sautéed onions swirled in the air as more people started to filter in, adding their orders to the queue.
Her thoughts, unsurprisingly, drifted back to her room.
She’d done a brief survey of her things before leaving, but Bellamy was still going to do something petty to piss her off.
And Vesper had just given her unfettered access to her entire apartment.
She wondered how quickly Bel would figure out the plant was from Cedar. Would she come home to a smashed up plant or a smoldering pile of ashes? She chuckled to herself before realizing that she definitely should not find that thought anything other than frustrating.
She looked around, forcing her mind back to the present. The light had dimmed. The sun had started to set, and she could finally get on with her night.