|
|
A blanket of snow covered the ground and crunched lightly under my boots as I walked toward Alfil Park, my cloak billowing behind me and my hood thrown over my head to cover me from the light snow that drifted lazily from the gray clouds overhead.
I shivered, though the chilled temperature had nothing to do with it. It was Lovina’s threat that still ran in my ears.
The pressures of being one of the Queen’s Trove hunters had redoubled. The sun-loving White Queen was confined to darkness, and she expected me to find her a Trove.
But how could I?
I, myself, had dreaded becoming her blood slave. There was no way I could condemn anyone to that fate. Whatever force sang in my veins, it wasn’t strong enough to make me obey the Queen in this. Not even her threats of throwing me into a dark pit with the Bishops as my tormentors could do that.
It wasn’t until I neared Square G2 that all thoughts of the Queen were swept from my mind and a different kind of anxiety filled my chest.
Today was the Pawn’s free day, and I was supposed to meet Nyro at Alfil Park. The last time I’d seen him, we’d both been First Pawns. I’d been fully human, still a Trove. But now I was... what?
Three-quarter human and one-fourth vampire? One third? I didn’t know. All I knew was that I had changed. I was stronger. My senses were sharper. What would he think? Would he push me away? I had a feeling he would, and some self-defeating part of me wanted that rejection.
I was on my way to becoming a monster and, while Nyro felt like the only tangible connection to the girl I’d once been, I felt as if his scorn was the last thing I needed to fully embrace and understand the cost of my revenge.
My heart hammered as I entered the park. I glanced around the snow-blanketed lawn, searching for a shape dressed in black. The place appeared deserted, however. Even if it was midday, it was too cold for children to play or old men to lounge or play chess with their friends.
I kept walking toward the gazebo, thinking this would be the best place to meet as it stood at the very end of the park, away from the prying eyes of passersby. But, when I got there, I found the area just as deserted as the rest of the park.
Was he still coming? The last time I’d seen him, it had been the day I killed Neculai. Maybe I’d been foolish to think Nyro would still want to see me after I’d confessed my crime while the bloody and horrid proof lay at my feet.
I heard steps behind me, crunching down snow. Slowly, I glanced back and felt my insides unhinge at the sight of Nyro’s approaching figure. He wore his black uniform along with his black cloak. He was tall and imposing, his shoulders wide and straight. A lock of shiny, black hair rested on his forehead. His eyelids were lowered, hooding his eyes.
He didn’t make eye contact, for which I was glad. I wanted to hide the truth in my eyes for as long as possible, even if it was inevitable that he would see it. I’d come to let him know I was now a Rook, but delaying the news allowed me to dream for a few more seconds.
I could pretend for a little longer that he would take me in his arms and kiss me, rather than step back with a horrified expression on his face and a twist of disgust on his perfect lips.
Nyro stopped a few paces from me. I stared at his boots, black with bits of snow stuck to the sides. The park was so quiet I could hear his agitated breaths.
“Hello, Bianca,” he said in that deep voice that made my skin rise up in goosebumps.
“Hello, Nyro.” I took a deep breath and glanced up, ready to meet his gaze. But he was staring at my boots, the way I’d been staring at his.
Finally, he glanced up, too, his own red-tinted gaze meeting mine.
I gasped.
His mouth opened and made an “O” of surprise. He rushed toward me and seized my hands in his.
“Are you alright?” he asked with so much concern in his voice that it made my heart quiver.
“I am. And you?”
A hot breath hurried past his lips, creating a plume of steam in the air. “Not you, too.”
There was such emotion and distress in his voice that it made me wonder if his transition to Rook had been as horrible as mine, perhaps even worse.
He lifted a hand to my face and gently brushed my cheek with a thumb. He examined me with care, his eyes wavering with emotion as he did so.
“Oh, Bianca,” he whispered, “how could they do this to you?”
I frowned slightly, thinking that if I was a Rook, it was my own doing. I’d joined the White Court voluntarily, with a plan for revenge. I was where I’d planned to be. Whether or not I wished this to be my destiny, I had no other choice. Why did he think something had been done to me? Was that what had happened to him? Oh, gods!
Nyro removed his hand and took a step back, a frown furrowing his brow as he read my features.
“Did they force you?” I asked.
“You wanted this?” He asked at the same time.
We stood silent for a moment, processing what we’d learned. Then we both spoke at the same time again.
“How could they?” I said.
“Why would you?” he said, his voice tainted with incredulity.
So it was as I had feared. He didn’t like me as a Rook—even if he, himself, was one, too. I turned away from him and glanced at the gazebo. Its pointed roof was topped with sparkling snow.
“I joined the White Court with a purpose,” I said. “I plan to become more than just a Rook.”
There. I’d said it. If he didn’t like me as a Rook, he would like me even less as a Knight, a Bishop, a Queen. It was best to relieve him of any wrong impressions he might have.
“Oh,” was all he said.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” I said, turning around to face him again.
His gaze lifted from the snow and met mine. He looked infinitely sad as if the last shred of hope he’d held on to had died. But why? And on my account?
“All I wanted was to rescue my brother,” he said, his voice thick with feeling. “And now... I’m this.” He motioned toward his own face with disdain.
The gesture hit me like a slap in the face. He hated himself for what he’d become. Logically, he must hate me, too. It shouldn’t have affected me so, but I felt my legs grow weak and my heart crumble to dust. Even the additional strength I had gained as a Rook did nothing to steady me.
“It must have been terrible,” I said.
Growing defensive, I raised my chin the way I’d done many times in the past when people of higher social stances had tried to put me down.
“My... condolences on losing part of your humanity.” I walked forward as I prepared to leave. “I wanted to keep our appointment. I don’t like to leave anyone waiting. But I suppose our circumstances have changed, and we may not be in the best position to help each other.”
Nyro grabbed my hand as I passed next to him. “Don’t leave,” he said.
“It’s better if I go. Us, talking, it’s not a good idea.”
His thumb caressed the top of my hand, sending heat up my arm. I blinked in surprise. Lately, I’d known mostly coldness, but his touch seemed to awaken something I’d thought lost.
“Please. Stay,” he begged, searching deep into my eyes.
I nodded, unable to resist him. Hand in hand, we crossed the small bridge that led over the pond toward the gazebo.