Poisoned Lips

6: Despair

"Because, when we hope, it doesn't last. You think, 'oh! Tomorrow I'll water the roses.' When in fact, what tomorrow holds is a dead garden. And, when you see it, despair kisses you."

Freyja had forgotten. She let herself hope when she shouldn't have. Her mother was right. Hoping only hurt her. It caressed her skin then slashed at it with knives. Hoping was a privilege she couldn't have yet it was the only feeling she wanted.

The man pushed the hood from her head and pressed the dagger to her neck as she tried backing into the wall.

There was no way to escape.

She didn't know who he was as they were both in the shadows of the buildings. However, the way he talked gave her a feeling they had met once.

He leaned in, his hair tickling her forehead. "Come with me like a princess or I'll let the guards handle you like your friends over there."

Him. Her lips curled in distaste. He was the guard whose 'bladder problem' let her escape. His white uniform made him visible in the shadows.

She stopped breathing as she heard Azalea's painful scream. In her balled fist, her blue pearl offered her some sort of courage. When she looked at the man in front of her, all she could see was a monster.

"You bastard." She spat.

He chuckled. "Whatever. This time, you can't run away."

He roughly reached out around her and pressed her back to his chest, the dagger at her throat. Her hands were raised, indecisive. She knew how to get out of this hold but if she did, could she run faster than the cannibals? The better option was getting executed, not eaten alive.

He pushed her out of the shadows, and turned to the right, slowly walking to Lydia's house. Freyja kept her breathing even, trying not to show fear.

As they approached the scene, she saw Devland. He still had his body covering. His blue eyes were fixed on the man behind her with the hatred she had never seen. He was pinned to the ground like a starfish while Azalea was curled up in a ball, sobbing.

"High Guard, Madam Croix held her promise. We owe her a medium bag of silver and seven gold coins." A guard spoke.

Lydia walked out of her house in a robe, barely glancing at the teenagers she betrayed. She walked up to Freyja and slapped her. The sound and the pain were muffled by her face mask.

"Your parents were cowards. They deserve everything they got."

Freyja let out a small laugh, the dagger cutting her skin. "Cowards? You sell Magi teenagers for a living. It's very obvious who the coward is here, Lydia. That is why you are not betrothed. No man wants a pathetic old bi-"

"You dare insult me?" She screamed.

Lydia raised her hand again but the man who held her spoke.

"Lilia...you are very pathetic. Frayi here has a point."

"High Guard sir -"

His chest rumbled. "Take your coins and get out of my sight."

Lydia glared at her and walked off in embarrassment. How did Freyja not question her earlier? Of course, her bar would not pay enough for the new furniture. The color of her house was painted white, matching the color of the High Guard. It could mean that she had a very important status in capturing Magis.

Freyja sighed in disbelief. She remembered how Lydia kept stalling, wanting to explain the past, her odd behavior. The signs were there. She just didn't look. She let her guard down too fast. She swore never to do it again.