Chapter 34: 34: Familiar Eyes Under a Bloody Sky IV
---
"Lily," he said.
Her eyes glistened with sothing she refused to let fall.
"You look..." she began, then stopped, because there was too much in the sentence.
Sekht gave her a tight, tired half-smile.
"I can talk later," he said, voice low. "Right now, we need to leave this place before soone else slls the blood."
The escorts moved imdiately, scanning the ridges, checking for more threats. Their captain stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"Lady Lily," he said, "we should move. Now."
Lily nodded, but her gaze stayed locked on Sekht.
Sekht felt sothing twist in his chest again, not pain this ti.
Familiarity.
A past he had not allowed himself to think about in purgatory.
Bat Bat fluttered down and landed on Sekht’s shoulder, proud as a king.
"I kill big," Bat Bat announced loudly.
Sekht stared at it.
"You did not kill the big one," he muttered.
Bat Bat blinked.
"I pee big," it corrected proudly.
One of the guards glanced at the bat with confusion and mild fear, as if the creature might start talking about other bodily functions.
Lily’s lips twitched.
"A talking bat," she murmured, as if she could not decide if she wanted to laugh or ask questions.
Sekht exhaled.
"Camp first," he said. "Talk after."
They moved.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
They traveled for a while, keeping away from obvious trails. The escorts stayed disciplined, scanning, rotating positions, forming a moving shield around Lily while also subtly making room for Sekht near the inner edge — without saying it aloud, acknowledging that he was not an enemy.
Sekht kept his blood sword dissolved, conserving blood, keeping his scent minimized. His coat helped. His boots kept him quiet.
Bat Bat hovered occasionally, scouting ahead, returning with small, broken reports like a child trying to sound professional.
"No danger. Only... ugly rock."
Sekht had muttered, "Rocks are always ugly."
Bat Bat had nodded seriously. "Yes."
Eventually, they found a hollow between ridges where wind was blocked and the ground was flatter. The guards checked the area, set a periter, and built a small fire low enough to hide the fla.
Crackle... Crackle...
Sekht sat slightly apart at first, letting his breathing settle, letting his ribs stop screaming loud enough to be distracting. He forced himself to stay composed. He did not drink any blood in front of them. He would not. Not now.
Lily approached anyway, stepping past the guards like she owned the night.
She sat across from him on a stone, folding her legs with controlled grace. Firelight painted her face in warm gold, and the familiarity hit him harder now that combat had ended.
She really did look like the girl he knew.
Just... grown.
Refined.
Dangerous.
And beautiful.
And still, sohow, the sa in the eyes.
For a mont, neither spoke.
The night filled the silence with crackling fire and distant animal calls.
Then Lily exhaled. "I thought you were missing," she said quietly. "You didn’t contact
once..."
Sekht’s brows tightened.
"I tried," he said dryly. "Purgatory refused."
Lily’s mouth curved into a small, shaky smile.
"That is the worst joke," she said.
"It is my best joke," Sekht replied.
Lily stared at him, then her smile grew, and a small laugh escaped her despite everything.
"Ha..."
It sounded like the Lily he rembered.
Sekht felt sothing loosen in his chest. He leaned back slightly, letting the night air cool the heat of battle.
Lily’s gaze moved over him, taking in the nightmare coat, the new boots, the steadiness in his posture. Then she looked at his face again, as if checking that he was real.
"You changed," she said softly.
Sekht’s expression turned guarded.
"So did you."
Lily’s eyes glead.
"I had to," she said. "I went to study. I trained. I ca back, and everyone talked about you like you were already a ghost."
Sekht narrowed his eyes.
"Who talked?"
Lily hesitated, then shrugged.
"People," she said. "Rumors. The city lord’s house hears everything. They said you went to purgatory for training. Then years passed. No return. No ssage. Your father kept doing business, but his eyes..." she paused, searching for words. "His eyes looked tired."
Sekht’s jaw tightened.
"Did you et my father," he asked. "Where is he?"
Lily nodded.
"I did," she said. "Last ti I visited your house, your uncle was there."
Sekht’s eyes narrowed. He did not ask which uncle. In Null, "uncle" could an blood family or simply a close elder tied to trade and alliances. Right now she was talking about the butler in his house.
Lily continued, "He told
your father had to go out of the city on a business deal a few days ago. That was... about a month ago."
Sekht’s gaze hardened.
"A month," he repeated.
Lily nodded. "Yes. He did not say where. Just that it was important."
Sekht exhaled slowly, forcing his mind to stay calm. He could not control that now. He could only reach the city and learn.
Lily studied his face.
"You are going back," she said, not a question but a test.
Sekht’s voice ca out firmly.
"Yes."
Lily’s shoulders eased slightly, as if she had been holding tension for years and did not realize it.
"I am glad," she said quietly.
Sekht stared at her.
"Why are you here," he asked. "Purgatory is not a place for sightseeing."
Lily’s eyes flickered, then she leaned forward slightly, voice lower.
"I ca to find sothing," she said.
Sekht waited.
Lily’s lips curved faintly.
"And," she added, "to find you too."
Sekht froze for a heartbeat.
Lily held his gaze, unflinching.
"I heard you were training," she said. "When I ca back after seven years, you were already gone. I thought... maybe you will co back soon. But you did not. So I decided I would not wait in the city like a child. So I found an excuse to co here. To find sothing."
Sekht’s jaw tightened.
"It is dangerous," he said.
Lily snorted softly.
Reviews
All reviews (0)