In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 69: Back to Reality~

A/N: So, I'm sorry about letting out my frustration in the last author note. I wrote it while I was a bit sleep-deprived and frustrated. 

I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, though! Don't worry; it won't be the last of its kind either ;) I know everyone is going to be bummed that there won't be as much Zalysta for the next few chapters, but it'll get there! Zayn's coming back!

Also, since you already know what kind of writing I do, I hope you'll give this the benefit of the doubt and go ahead and vote? Please? This is another pretty big chapter sooooo <3

It was time to leave.

She stood and adjusted to the pain that presented immediately. How irritating! It was to be expected after what she'd done, but the idea that men didn't experience this made her a bit angry. She let out a soft groan when she considered that she would be riding a horse for the next several days. There was a bit of blood, on the sheets and on her thighs. Zayn would have to take care of the sheets, but she could fix something until she got back home and could wash herself properly again.

Getting dressed was a feat too, separating her clothes from Zayn's. It had been strewn everywhere. But this was worth it, worth being that close to him. Soon there would be more than miles to divide them. These memories would have to last her a lifetime.

He was lying flat on his stomach when she turned to look at him again. She walked over to the bed, quietly, hoping not to disturb him. In no realm of the world would she be emotionally capable of handling an intense parting with him.

She reached over to touch him one last time, brushing a thumb over his cheek, running a finger down his spine to the curve of his lower back, and skimming her palm down the tattoos on his arm. No time would be enough, and they'd had less time than most. Finally, she pressed a kiss to his cheek and left the cabin, easing the door closed behind her.

Louis was standing near the railing a ways away, looking out across the water.

"I knew Zayn wouldn't be much of a guard tonight," he commented without looking at her. "Seems I was right." His tone wasn't judgmental; if anything, he sounded sad.

She didn't respond. She simply walked over to him and joined his pensive gazing.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked the question carefully.

"Has Starling been brought from below?"

"Yes."

"Then I am ready."

Louis left briefly to get more men up to assist them in the move.

The men were quick about it. They used the rope and canvas harness to lower Starling into the biggest schiff they possessed on the Partheos as well as the rest of her luggage. Most of it hadn't been used anyway.

Finally, she and Louis climbed down the ladder to the one-masted sailing boat. It held their weight and Starling's, but just barely. Their progress to shore would be slow-going.

He removed the rope moorings and pushed off. She sat out of the way, feeling useless again, as Louis adjusted the ropes and rudder and they gained speed. The wind passing through her hair felt amazing.

Some weakness in her made her turn around and look. The light of the lanterns on the Partheos grew smaller as they pulled away. That caused more pain than she was willing to admit. She couldn't look away either.

The lights blurred as tears filled her eyes and spilled over. Emotion had always been her weakness. She could look at her emotion clinically, and say that it was useless to put so much stock in it, but that didn't stop her from feeling it.