Chapter 29

I can feel the red seeping out of me and I don't know what to do because this wasn't supposed to happens. Rivers of scarlett are surrounding me and engulfing every inch of my broken body that has never been beautiful or good enough and now it never will because everything is ending and oh gods.

I am going to die and I am going to be alone and when I'm gone- when I'm gone no one will notice.

I lay on my back, unable to move, unable to feel. It is an agony to try to move.

Everything in me is screaming out in pain and torment and this will never end and I will deserve every second of pain because I am an awful, terrible, greedy person who loves to want when I really shouldn't want.

I have no reason to want, but I do because I am- I am no one.

I cough and blood comes up and I know I won't be in this endless cycle of torture for much longer. I deserve to suffer.

I am so sorry.

Aaliyah, Leander and Draven look at the city in barely concealed awe. It looks like Gislee really pulled out all the stops when she was getting this place ready for guests. Lets just hope she's not serving alfajor this time.

I think the last guests she hosted spent most of their time here over a bucket.

The cities entrance displays three massive pillars constructed wholly of black and white marble.

The city itself, however, is much simpler with brick, wooden and stone homes. Each house is unique and each district represents a different era in Varsillian architecture.

It makes for a stunning messed up mix of new and old. There's no other place like it in the world.

I face the three, ready to lay down some semblance of order. I need them to be perfect, to make this perfect. This cannot go sour, it's far too important. They mostly need to survive a meeting and tour with Aera. I clasp my hands in front of me, my hair swaying with the motion, "When you meet the people of this city." I pause, choosing my words carefully, "I need you to forget every pretense of what you think you already know. This city is an impossibility in every and any way you can possibly fathom. The people are much the same."

Leander, still looking at the three marble structures that are thick around and maybe a hundred feet height, stands on his toes, looking around, trying to catch a view of anything he's missed, "It's not hard to picture. I mean, this place is like, what? A few thousand years old. I wouldn't be surprised if you have some pretty crazy secrets hidden away here."

My throat bobs. I breathe in and out. In and out. In out. Where to start. Ravenna Nivirah or Elliot Halowin and everyone just like her. "The people you see here-" I hesitate, "the people you see- you can't- you can't act like Varsillians. You have to try to be personable and friendly and charming."

Draven turns to me, his face blank and devoid of all emotion, his hands tucked and clasped behind him, "I would think that you most of all need work in those areas."

I don't have the time nor the energy to respond as Valerie appears in one of the nooks around the right most pillar. With a flick of the wrist everything stops.

The hand that Leander was previously waving around frantically, motioning to various carvings and sculptures near and on the three main pillars. Aaliyah's mouth is hanging open, her words coming to a sudden halt and Draven- Draven just looks stiff and very Draven-esk.

The candle lights have stopped flickering in the houses and the world, for all intents and purposes, has come to a halt.

I walk over to Valerie and she comes up to me, looking startled and shaken. Her face is pale and strained. Her eyes look weary, tired and her hands shake, much as she tries to hire it. "Haley Atkinsons is gone. This morning she was- she visited Anderson. Andromeda was questioned, is off the books again. She had involvement, but isn't the leader here. I suspect that Anderson is much the same."

I run a hand through my hair, mussing it up slightly, my face pinching up, "I need Anderson to be taken. Make his death clean. Leave no question. No suspicion can surround his death. I need the Nivirah name to be clean."

She nods, calmer and yet more distressed. It's an eerie combination. "I'm sorry. I Know I should have caught this before anything happened to Haley. I can only imagine what kind of rippleffect this will have."

I grab her hands, holding between my own as she folds in on herself. I can literally see her Brain working circles around itself, giving her the illusion of feeling claustrophobic, "Hey, hey. It's fine. It's fine."

She rips her delicate hands free from me and starts to rake them through her hair, pacing back and forth, "This is my fault and how can you forgive me? How can you forgive me? I failed you. You gave me one job. I didn't- you should-"

I smile and try to calm her down, "It's really fine. I'll deal with the fall out."

"I'm sorry."

"At least now I know why Draven's been so grouchy. His wife never came home last night. Nothing serious. Go back to base, take some time. Do some paperwork, yeah?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll do that." She says as she pulls a hand through her hair, messing up the previously perfect arrangement.

"I have to go. More work to do, but I love you alright. Put you before work, though."

She nods, calmer, but still looking fairly frazzled, "Te viserum, right?

"Te viserum." I nod and she disappears into a plume of chaotic smoke. I can't help but smile at the remnants of her energy signature that slowly fade out.

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