Page 159 of A Simple Truth

“What do you want?” he cut dry, and I admired his bravery. For a scarred little creature, he was courageous.

“No regard for an old friend of yours?” I asked.

“We stopped being friends a long time ago,” he responded, his voice stern, his blood shot eye staring at me with such unprovoked disgrace.

“Oh, that’s right. Though, remind me, did we stop being friendsbeforeorafteryou had betrayed me to that bitch, Railin?” I smirked at him, pulling my long gloves off, stuffing them into the wide pocket of my canvas pants. My eyes scanned the room, cautiously taking it in. Laviticus was known for his hidden talent of making things go undetected.

“I supported you for years, Insanaria. I shared your convictions, but I think you’ve long lost the path.” The traitor spoke at last.

“On the contrary, my convictions haven’t changed at all. The only thing that has changed is my ability to execute them. But now that we are talking about the past…Where is the Basalt Glass dagger you stole from me, little man?” I interrogated, as the giant black thorns now scaled the walls, slowly breaking the glass displays and ripping through the rolls of fabric.

“They will stop you.” His voice was laced with such vile condemnation.

“Oh, they are definitely trying to, aren’t they?” My cold chuckle echoed off the crumbling walls, my eyes observing as large, thick spikes took over the small, stuffy space. “The young are always so full of hope and dreams... We were like that once,weren’t we?” I let out a long breath. “It is almost inspiring to see their dedication, their passion.” The poisonous thorns now slithered closer to his feet, but he didn’t move. “I have to say, Laviticus, hiding in plain sight, just to the right of the orphanage, was ingenious. You’ve always known how much I hated that place. I just never thought you’d stoop so low. But I guess fool me once shame on you, fool me twice—”

“It’s not too late to change, Insanaria.” He now almost begged as his face twisted in agony, thorns cutting deep through his scarred flesh, down to his curled bones.

“I’d hate to be the cliché villain and give a long speech before killing you.” I tilted my head, watching as thorny vines gradually choked him, each prick more poisonous than last. “Though, perhaps we are prone to speak in these moments because it is the only time we are being heard. The only time our voice isn’t being stifled, and our words aren’t being dismissed.” I let out a cocky laugh. “I guess I’m giving a speech after all. But Laviticus, I want you to know that Iamgoing to change. I am going to change the world, the universe, this entire existence. You just won’t be around to see it.” His bloodshot eyes blinked at last as he died an agonizing death, black thorns ripping through his limp body, tearing him piece by piece.

“Hmm.” I took another look around the shop, my thorns making way for me as I went upstairs to his room, searching for the one-of-a-kind dagger. A frustrated scowl surfaced on my face as I found the empty chest padded with purple velvet, outlining its shape and yet, there was not even a hint of my blade. Completely fucking empty.

Bitter disappointment surged within me, my shadows swarming around with cold fury, but I calmed them. My eyes landed on the two, large, Basalt Glass arrows across the room. Sneering, I grabbed them both.

“Await a bit longer, my child,” I whispered before walking through the black shadows into the abyss.

96

GIDEON

The jagged legs of our dragonfly landed softly on the flat, green field, the silver double wings ceasing their buzzing. I unbuckled my belts, jumping off and helping Finnleah get down.

“Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up after all.” Xentar’s voice sounded from afar as I saw my friend approaching us. “If it isn’t our favorite runway princess? Alive and well,” he snickered. Finnleah smiled wide at him, theatrically curtsying, still dressed inmyshirt. Xentar examined our outfits, noticing the light scrape marks on Finnleah’s knees, courtesy of our ‘activities’. “Is everything okay?”

But Finnleah didn’t blush in the slightest, as she looked him straight in the eyes, content and satisfied, replying, “Oh, everything is really damn good actually.” She walked past him walking down to the shore, my eyes ravenously devouring her legs as she casually strolled through the meadow.

Xentar turned to me, stifling his laugh.

“Is everything ‘reallydamn good’with you too, General?” He rose his brows in amusement. And though my eyes narrowed at him in warning, my face beamed with such delight and happiness, it could blind everyone around us. Xentar patted meon my shoulder. “Will you be less of a pain in my ass now that you got laid?” he added, mocking me. I flipped him off with both of my hands as we ambled through the pasture, following Finnleah down to the boats.

Soon, we made it to Xentar’s house, where Finnleah was already eagerly packing her few belongings. Fatima was also there, her eyes scrutinizing me.

“Did you write her visions down?” she questioned.

But before I could answer, Finnleah overhearing the conversation, shouted down, “Don’t worry, Fatima, I didn’t do much sleeping, so no visions.”

Fatima’s cheeks lit up with color, but she added with a hushed whisper, “I understand you see her as a Destroyer, but you cannot ignore her visions. They are getting stronger, more potent, now that she is using her gift. She needs to learn to control them, or you know what happens.” She motioned with her eyes to the book Finnleah ordered me to hold.

“I know. I’ll help her. I’ll make sure she is okay,” I replied, though I couldn’t deny a growing knot in my stomach as the memories of my birthmother in her final years came to the surface, her mind shattered in pieces, with only fragments of her own self mixed between never-ending visions.

Fatima tied her shawl. “She is going to be a great Empress, Gideon.” Her face softened with kind approval, handing off her long stack of notes from all of Finn’s visions during the past few weeks.

Finnleah climbed down the ladder with her belongings all packed, and I found myself disappointed at the amount of garments she was now wearing. It was only simple pants and a shirt, but that was too much clothing on her for my liking.

“I’ll make sure to send you detailed report of the juiciest dreams.” She winked at Fatima, giving her a big hug.

“Don’t forget to come visit us,” Fatima mumbled saying her goodbyes before quickly departing.

“Ready?” I asked, taking her bags, and she nodded, grabbing the ancient book back.

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