Page 22 of She Who Was Once the Sea

"Thank you for understanding," I said to the shop owners, but they were uninterested, already having turned to walk away.

The police stood still, arms hanging loosely at their sides, as if unsure what to do with their limbs now that they were no longer holding a prisoner. I didn’t bother thanking them, just nodded in their direction and began steering the green-eyed woman away, my hand pressed gently into her lower back.

Again, I felt the weight of her gaze on me as we moved through the crowd, but she didn’t say anything.

As we walked away, I could almost feel Lucas’s frustration. It radiated from him like mist, but I knew he wouldn’t ask anything in front of her.

"Lucas," I finally said once we were far enough away from the police to not be overheard. "Why don’t you let me escort our friend home?"

His mouth fell open as if to argue, but I shook my head. "I’ll meet you back at the monastery," I whispered. "Please, trust me."

Lucas’s eyes flashed between me and the woman, but, thankfully, he didn’t push. "Fine." He took a step back from us, raising his eyebrows in my direction. "I’ll see you at home." And finally, turning on his heels, he walked away from us, and I was left alone with her for the first time.

I felt her presence beside me like a weight. Never had I been more hyperaware of another person in my vicinity. The too-small space between us buzzed with so much electricity that I was sure she’d be able to feel it too.

But when I turned to look at her once more, I was met with a look that could only be described as pure hatred. When she spoke, her gleaming teeth sparkled in the sunlight, venom dripping from her voice.

"Ciao, Fratello."

Chapter 10 - Marella

Iwalked in lockstep with the Fratello, neither of us speaking for a long while as I tried desperately to calm the seething anger pooling in my blood. I’d underestimated the amount of rage I was capable of holding for this stranger, and it was an exercise of extreme restraint not to stop and rip his throat out in front of all these people.

The Witch’s challenge echoed in my mind as we wound our way through the crowds. Perhaps it was not him who would need convincing as much as I.

Between us, the silence stretched on until it felt as though it would snap. Eventually, one of us would need to speak.

But despite the necessity, I refused to be the one to do so.

Beside me, the Fratello made a sudden left turn, leading me into a quieter, shaded alley, away from the crowds. It reminded me so much of the night before that I had to fight the urge to look over my shoulder for the loud American men.

But they were certainly not something to worry about anymore.

The Fratello pulled ahead of me, walking briskly down the alley until we turned a corner and were completely hidden from the bustling street behind us. Then, he turned suddenly, facing me directly, his hand resting openly on the dagger at his hip.

I stumbled back until I felt the cool stone on my back, a sharp breath escaping my lips.

We stared at each other for a long moment, his fingers twitching along the hilt of his knife, my chest rising and falling with the rhythm of my nervous breathing.

I was struck not by the ferocity in his gaze, but by its innocence. He must have been in his early thirties, if I had to guess, but something beneath the surface of his face was fresh and open, almost childlike in his eagerness to prove something. His blond hair fell haphazardly into blue eyes, and I had to fight the urge to push the strands away.

"Why?" I asked finally, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Why save me from the police just to kill me here?"

His lips twitched. "You’re one of them." The accusation fell from his mouth like a confession, like he was the one who was cursed.

I let the corner of my mouth rise in a sly smile. "One of what?"

His answering glare almost hid the edge of fear crawling across his face. "A jail cell wouldn’t contain you." The words came out like a question. "And it’s my job to ensure you don’t harm humans."

I sniffed once, rolling my eyes. "Oh please. I’m not invincible. Steel bars are enough to protect your precious police."

"You killed an entire group of men on your own." Again, the accusation was spoken with an edge, as if he wanted me to contradict the claim instead of confirming it.

But I couldn’t control the smile that sliced across my face. "I did indeed," I said slowly. "And I’d think you’d be grateful for that, considering they almost did the same to you."

His Adam’s apple dipped into the top of his collar.

"If it weren’t for me, Fratello," I continued, peeling my back away from the stone wall and taking a step towards him. "You’d be dead." I half expected him to move backwards in retreat—most humans, after all, instinctively step away from predators. When he didn’t, when my advancing brought us closer together rather than forcing him to flee, I felt something warm and welcoming pool inside my lower belly.