Page 90 of A Broken Promise

I heard the approaching steps from afar. I didn’t move, emptily staring at the opening in the ceiling. I could feel Death walking near me, so close, feasting on the souls of those long gone. Even now, she wouldn’t leave, still here lingering, still waiting to see if Fate would push me further, as if knowing that I had thought about it, as if knowing that behind those burn marks on my wrists were other scars hidden. The only lingering proof of my broken soul.

I thought about using those poisoned pins on me. I knew it would be painful, but I was patient. I could endure pain. Surely, I had endured enough so far. I could set myself free and forget about all of this. Yet my fingers didn’t move to pull the pins. They didn’t move to pull the dagger out either.

No, instead I slipped Kaius’s ring on my finger, subconsciously realizing a simple truth. I wouldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it even though I wanted to; though I craved that freedom.

I had made a promise.

A promise to live a better life.

A promise to see Viyak again.

A promise that even as I go down, I would take down the evil Destroyer with me.

A promise to find the Rebels. I would keep the promise; not for them, not for me, but for Kaius, for his son.

I would keep all my promises, I decided then.

Fate or not, I would keep my promises until my last breath, no matter how long it would take.

45

The loud clunk of metal pulled me from my deep thoughts. My heart hardened and my neck stiffened. I quickly shoved the papers deep into my bra under the cover of darkness.

“He is already dead so don’t bother,” I bitterly said to whatever soldier was here.

“Well don’t be so gloomy, Freckles.” Priya’s sarcastic voice echoed through the dungeons.

“Priya?! Gods, Priya?! What are you doing here?” My chest rose in surprise. I slid Kaius’s body to the side, getting up to my feet.

“Saving your sorry ass, Freckles,clearly,” Priya said as she unlocked the gate. I rushed to her, throwing my arms around her.

“Priya,” I just mumbled as she pushed me away.

“You are filthy,” she said, taking a better look at me now that we were close.

“There was an explosion and then I went to look for you and I saw him and I…”

“Yeah, I don’t care. We need to go,” she said, glancing over the half open door just a few levels above us and already starting her way up. I glanced over the cold body of Kaius, saying my goodbyes,silently promising him again that his sacrifice was not in vain. I twisted his ring on my finger and clenched my fist.

“Freckles, get your fucking ass goingright now,” Priya grumbled as she moved swiftly up the stairs. I followed.

Priya waited for me as I caught up with her after two flights of stairs.

“Ugh, your daggers are gone. Poison?” She looked over my body again now that the open door to the dungeon lit up the stairs.

“Pins are good, powder just for one.” I mentally recounted the still well-hidden pins.

“Good,” Priya said as she took another look at the open door leading to the castle. At the dead bodies lining the entrance. “Because we have a whole castle labyrinth to get out from underneath of. And the number of wandering guards and Destroyers is not to my liking.” She grimaced as we heard loud steps right above our heads. “Well, let’s go.”

We walked fast, though very cautiously. The castle was now well lit, decorated with beautiful tapestry and statues signaling wealth, yet my heart only focused on two things.

Make it out alive and find Gideon.

I followed each of Priya’s steps as we crept up at a quick pace along the walls, occasionally stopping still behind the large, rich curtains when guards rushed past us. Yet when we passed yet another corridor, I realized that we were just going around the castle blind. Each one of these doors could be another prison, another trap.

“We need to find a wide staircase with large Sunflower art, there is a secret passage behind that,” I whispered to Priya as she paused, calculating which door to use.

“Stairs in a giant castle and a painting leading to a secret passage? Well, that’s helpful,not.” She rolled her eyes, pausing, carefully listening for any indication of approaching guards. “I’ll get us out of this, Freckles, no need to go full Rebel on me with secret passages and conspired works. I think they’ve done enough harm for the day.” She gestured me to follow her, and I obediently did. “Just past this door andwe will be good to go,” she said, opening the door, leading down yet another long hallway.

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