Page 78 of Glass Hearts
“That’s our cue, Miss Ella, you better get some rest. We will be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning!”
And with that, the mercenary menaces leave my table.
Well, so much for freedom.
Archer
We leave the castle without any fuss, opting for horses instead of a carriage. We ride hard into the day, and then the evening, needing to stop for the sake of our horses. The inn, halfway to Quotina, creates some fanfare, with so many citizens looking to greet us and shake our hands. Even though we just want to crash into our rooms.
“I think we need to think about getting masks or bandanas. People understandably want to see us and talk to us. But it’s slowing us down,” Koi gruffs.
“I asked the innkeeper if she could acquire bandanas and hats for us,” Sylas says, handing us each a key. “I got us a room to share with two beds. I figured we wouldn’t be getting much sleep. I’m not sure I want us to be split up either at this point. The innkeeper also offered to bring up our food when I mentioned not wanting to go down to the pub.”
We all nod, settling into our space. It is roomy with a seating area, two large king-size beds, and a kitchenette. Never had we been around each other in such heavy silence.
The nightmare of that evening seems to plague us all. When we are awake, when we are asleep. Sylas and Koi lay on each bed. Grayer is wide awake, sitting on the large windowsill, his hand holding Ella’s newly enchanted orb, looking outside.
I opt for the settee, shutting my eyes for mere moments. Until my dream of Arabella smiling at me turned into watchingher getting repeatedly lashed. Once again, I was unable to do anything.
Shaking off my sad nap, I take out my sketchbook, which holds many drawings of Arabella. Of her smile, when she isThe Shadow,and when I first met her at the ball. The drawings from memory are the hardest.
I have never had a muse, only drawing women for practice. Yet drawing Arabella is like second nature, as if I was always meant to fill my sketchbooks with her stunning face.
Flipping through the worn pages of my sketchbook, I pause on one drawing. Her and Grayer, side by side on that first date he whisked her away on. They never noticed the quiet shadow trailing them, the fool too afraid to speak his truth. Hidden in alleyways and under branches, I let my feelings bleed out in charcoal.
Without a word, I tear the page free and hand it to Grayer.
His fingers brush the edges like it’s something sacred. For the first time since we woke from the spell, a flicker of life touches his face—a smile, faint but real.
“Can I keep it?” he whispers, eyes locked on the image like he might fall into it.
“Of course.” I rest a hand on his shoulder, give it a squeeze, then step away, returning to the settee.
Jealousy stirs, quiet but persistent. Grayer dared to chase after her, to live in the moment, while I stayed trapped in hesitation. He had her laughter, her trust. I had only distance and fear. But the bitterness doesn’t linger. It slips through my fingers as quickly as it comes.
None of that matters now.
We’re going to find her. We’re going to make this right.
I pull out my charcoal, and as lines begin to form, I find steadiness in the familiar curves of her face. In drawing her, I find an ounce of peace.
* * *
Morning comes too slowly. All of us get only a few fleeting moments of rest, woken up by the same nightmare. We set out before the dawn even breaks, for another long day towards Quotina.
The entire ride, we either remain silent or talk about Arabella. Our plans once we find her, what our future could look like. If she would even be willing to forgive us for what had happened.
The new masks and hoods really seem to have facilitated our journey, as no one has stopped us. We make it to Quotina in record time, though the sun has already long set. The city is quiet as it rests. I had only ever been to Quotina once, a charming city full of artists and free spirits.
I led us toThe Grand Quo,the largest inn in the city.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if Ella was already here?” Koi says hopefully as he looks up at the large inn.
If only it were that easy. We lead our horses to the stable, paying extra to ensure they are well taken care of after their long journey.
“Where are you going, Gray?” Sylas asks as we head towards the inn entrance, Gray not following.
“To find Ella.”
