Page 4 of Trapped By Vengeance
“Waiting for you.” She stares at me, the picture of innocence. Her golden-brown hair— only coincidentally the same color as mine— hangs down her shoulders, strategically arranged to disguise her pointed ears as I taught her.
We both have aspects of our nature we need to keep hidden from the mortals that outnumber our kinds.
“But I told you to stay in the room until I returned.”
“I recognized your footfalls. They were so loud.” She twists her face, reminding me what an insult that is from an elf, or a kinfolk as she prefers to be called.
“Yes, well, I was still . . . interacting with our bounty.”
Eloise crosses her arms and gives me a look I didn’t think I’d have to worry about until her troublesome years. But life has unfortunately aged her beyond her eight years. “You mean when you werekissingher?”
I groan and try very hard not to think of the memory and risk flushing. “Shewas kissingme.”
“I thought it took two people to kiss.” She cocks her head to one side.
“I’ll . . . explain when you’re older.”
She throws her hands into the air. “You always say that!”
“Trust me— there is plenty you don’t want to know.” I sink onto the edge of the bed.
“Like how evil mortals are?” Eloise sits at the edge of her own cot without making a sound, a skill she learned from the parents who brought her into this world. The ones who knew what they were doing raising a young girl and didn’t have to yank her around on jobs.
Soon, though, I’ll be able to provide a proper home for her. After this final job. The only one that’s ever been personal. Despite my Guild master’s warning.
“The one and only rule of the mercenary trade is to never be your own client. The job must always be impersonal. The moment emotions get involved, you’re through.”
Eloise kicks her breeches-clad legs back and forth. It’s a reminder that cannot even afford to buy her a nice dress— yet. “Because I already know about that evil.”
My shoulders sag at the reminder of what I wasn’t in time to prevent. The tragedy that left me as Eloise’s guardian after I failed to protect the rest of her family. The rest ofmyfamily.
The Night of the Broken Walls, when lawlessness against the good citizens of Constantinium was legalized. Specifically, it was allowed to prevail against those with pointed ears to differentiate from mortals— elves like Eloise and our family.
I clear my throat, trying to think of anything to say to steer our minds from the subject. “Well, Valda doesn’t understand evil.”
Eloise raises one thin eyebrow. “Valda?”
“LadyValda.” Not that she kissed like a titled noblewoman ought to, but that is neither here nor there. Besides that skill, her naivety was overwhelming. “As well-acquainted as her father is with wickedness, one would think he would warn her.”
“Do you think her father loves her?” Eloise’s eyes widen as she hugs her thin legs to herself.
“Why would you even ask that? Do you think you aren’t loved?” I frown at how frail she looks in this light. “Are you still hungry? Was the supper I sent up not enough?” I stand to run down and grab another bowl of gruel.
Eloise rolls her eyes. “I’mfine,Abi. I’m just nervous about Baron Schwerin not paying the ransom for Lady Valda and this all being for naught.”
“Oh, he will against the good citizens of Constantinium if only to save his pride. We both know he doesn’t actually have the heart to protect what he’s called on to protect.” Kicking off my boots, I fall back onto my cot. “You know, you don’t have to call me ‘Abi.’ ‘Uncle’ or ‘cousin’ will do.”
“But you’re not my cousin anymore. You’re my guardian and my family’s kinsman avenger.” Eloise yawns dramatically despite her grave words. “And my guardian and my provider. So that means you’re myabi. Not myaba, though. He’s gone . . .” Her voice breaks, and she glances away.
I tilt my head to face her, feeling that constant sensation of overwhelm that has been a merciful distraction from the grief. I have been failing miserably on all accounts, but once this bounty is completed, I shall have achieved vengeance as well as finally be capable of providing for Eloise in all the ways a young girl deserves.
“Oh!” Eloise perks up for a moment and points to a glass vial on the table between our cots. There are a few drops of a green substance within. “I finished brewing that sleep tonic you requested.”
“Thank you, pup. You make an excellent accomplice.”
She grins before a flash of grief passes across her face again, never truly far away. I wish my own grief were less so I could comfort her more.
“Can you tell me a scary story to put me to sleep with?”