“Bernie, you don’t tell that fucker anything about me. You hear me?” I growl at him. Bernie cowers a little, shaken up and not thinking straight. He gives a dismissive wave of his hand to me and grunts and mumbles as he walks away.
“Get him to the tower, I’ll see you there. Don't kill him,” Bernie says as he climbs on and kicks his own horse, galloping away. The man tied up is fully awake and protesting now, giving me his pleas but they fall on deaf ears. I look around and see the guards struggling to fight off the crowd, so I need to move.
I hesitate. Richard must have heard me talk to Bernie. How could I have been so careless? I shake my head, reassuring myself everything will be fine once I get there. I have a man to drag and hurt now, and I refuse to let Richard get in my head and fuck this up for me.
“I’m sorry, girl, this may hurt for a while, but I promise I will look after you and help you when we get home.” I stroke Ada’s neck and she nods in agreement.
“Ready, Ada? Let’s give this guy what he deserves. Ha!” I nudge my heels into her side, and she stands on her strong hind legs, front legs in the air, a powerful neigh escaping her as she bolts forwards towards the Tower.
With my head down, holding onto her mane, we speed through the streets of London. We detour and go the long way, letting Ada run as wild as she wants and letting all the people on the streets watch as I torture this man. He’s yelling, screaming, crying as his body bounces off rocks and smashes into the mud. Bits of wood and other debris slice him open, the human and animal filth scattered everywhere forcing its way into his cuts.
Red.
The crow flies above me, staying with me. I look into the crowds that line the streets and I seehim.
Gray.
He is there, to my right, then to my left. He stands in the middle of the street and we pass him by. I turn around and his shape has gone. More, and more crows fill the sky, making the clouds grow darker and the noise of them cawing has everyone growing anxious and looking up, instead of atme. I glance around me, letting Ada take control of our ride. She swerves in and out of line, making sure this fucker is getting hurt as badly as she can.
Good girl.
I continue to look around forHim. As Ada gallops forward, my time slows down, so slow I can see everyone's faces, their shouts and pleas distorted to my ears. I see Him in the crowd, he smiles at me with that delicious smile and his eyes are completely black. I see him so clearly now.
He’s right there.
My Evelyn.
I reach out a hand to try and touch him as he walks closer to me. Soclose.
My love.
His hand reaches out to mine. Our fingertips almost touch.
Almost.
Look up.
The world snaps back to normal, Ada still running and swerving around people in the streets. The Tower of London is so close now and the dark sky has filled with hundreds of crows, circling above the tower itself. The caws are deafening and people nearby have their hands over their ears, the guards included, but the noise doesn't bother me.
We ride up to the open entrance of the tower and into the grounds with the man’s body dragging along quietly.
Shit. I hope he's still alive.
The guards close the doors, keeping the angry crowds at bay for now, and untie the man from Ada’s tail. I get off her, hugging her neck and thanking her. She places her head down next to mine, curling her graceful neck around me, returning the embrace and vowing to keep my promise of looking after her. I cannot speak here now; they cannot know I'm a female. Only Bernie knows and we’re trying our damnedest to keep it that way.
I stare at a guard watching me and I cock my head towards Ada, hoping he gets the hint. He eventually realises what I mean and leads Ada to the tower stables to give her food and water. She deserves much more than that and she will get treats later, but right now, I need to find Bernie.
The guards see to the mangled mess of a man that I dragged in, and I go up to Bernie’s office. He’s pacing around his table but stops when I enter.
“Is he still alive?” he asks. I nod in response and he sighs in relief. “I know what you're like, Mary, I understand the thirst and your skill, but this kill issoimportant to the King. He is already on his way here to watch the rest.”
“Bernie,” I say as he still paces, chewing on his fingernails. “Have you spoken to Richard?” Bernie stops pacing and looks at me, sorrow in his eyes.
He did.
“What did you say to him? I told younotto tell him anything about me.” Bernie paces again and it makes me dizzy. “Sit down!” I demand. He sits automatically and looks like a little boy who's been scolded. He keeps silent.
“Bernie…”
