“When I asked if I could speak with Thyra about this,” I waved my hand at the table where my work was scattered, “yesterday, Junyv said that she couldn’t see me. Something about there being urgent matters that had to be attended to. And today is the same.” It concerned me greatly that I didn’t have any clue as to what was going on and Junyv, usually a source of information and friendship, wouldn’t tell me more, slipping away quickly with a mumbled word of apology. I’d been stuck in the house since Arrazyl had escorted me here.
“Thyra and I had planned to meet today, so we’ll see if she remembers. If she does, I’ll try to find out what’s going on,” Jaron said.
“And you don’t think it just has to do with the festival?” I didn’t think so, but what else could it be?
“No.” Tatiana shook her head, “there’s excitement in the city but here at the vorazka the feel is tense.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, nerves getting to me after being cooped up. After the exchange with Arrazyl, I’d reminded myself that I shouldn’t have been surprised and if I was, then it was my fault for setting myself up to expect something different. But it didn’t take away the anxiety. “Let’s hope that Jaron can get out and find out what’s going on.” I finally said.
It turned out that later in the day Tatiana and Jaron were both needed, and Junyv and a guard escorted them out.
I got to my feet and leaned my head out one of the twin windows in the living room, enjoying the fresh breeze and watching the activity around the part of the city that sprawled along the opposite cliff.
The lock thunked heavily. They were back quickly. I turned, anxious to hear what they had to say. To my surprise, it wasn’t Jaron or Tatiana.
“Captain Jzulyk?” We hadn’t interacted before and whenever I’d seen him in passing, he’d always seemed angry.
“Human.” He stepped in and cast his gaze around. His mouth was set in his usual disdainful, pursed-lipped expression.
“Jacqueline.” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. My heart kicked into gear, my fight-or-flight response triggered at his presence. Everything in me catalogued him as a threat.
He gave me a dismissive glance. “Where are the other two?”
“Why are you here? Did Arrazyl send you?”
His eyes flashed. “Do not call the Vorazyr by name.”
I stopped arguing. We were alone, and he clearly didn’t like me. If I wasn’t careful, this interaction could end poorly. “What can I do for you, captain?” I calmly folded my hands in front of me.
He crossed his beefy arms over his chest and studied me. Alarm filled me when he smiled. It was not a friendly smile.
“I wanted to do you the curtesy of giving you time to come to terms with your death.” he said it as though he were chatting about the weather.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, did the Vorazyr not tell you?” He smiled again. “He has ordered your execution during the festival.”
“That can’t be true. He told us we were safe. He’s a good person, he’ll keep his word.” Despite my words, I began to doubt.
“He’s vorpyr, not aperson,” he sneered. “You will be executed for all our vorpyrren to see, and our “good” Vorazyr will be the one to tear you apart in our traditional method.”
“He won’t do that.” I was quaking inside, but my voice came out firm.
He leaned in, smiling wide to show his extended fangs. “If luck is with you, you will be the first, so you don’t have to see that disgusting red blood of the other two sprayed everywhere. It is our way, little human. He will not change that foryou. Your species are our sworn enemies. You’ve killed so many of us, and you will be annihilated for it.”
The vehemence in his voice took my breath away. How could they hate my entire species so much?
“The Vorazyr is being more generous than the rest of us would be, allowing you to spend your last days with the other two. You will not see the outside again until the execution.” He moved to the door while I stood there, unwilling to express the horror I felt in front of him. At the door, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “If I were you, I’d beg him to kill me first.”
The door slid closed and my knees gave way with the finality of the bar sliding into place. I thought about Arrazyl’s treatment of me these last days. His sudden change now made sense. He’d decided to execute us at the upcoming festival.
I don’t know how long I sat on the floor, but when the door opened again and Tatiana and Jaron came in, the light was starting to wane and I had formed a plan.
“Jac?” Jaron asked.
“Jacqueline?” Tatiana said at the same time, concern evident in her voice.
I motioned toward the door and put a finger to my lips. I got to my feet and we waited until the sound of the guard’s footsteps receded.
