Page 56 of Star Bringer
I roll as I hit the ground so he’s beneath me, then slam a fist into his face.
Oxygen-rich red blood spurts from his nose, but it doesn’t faze him. Instead, he reaches up and wraps his hands around my neck like he thinks he’s going to choke me to death or something. In a different situation, I’d be impressed with his resilience, but the other two guys are roaming the alley, and there’s no way I’m letting them get their hands on Kali.
So instead of letting this fucker have his moment, I let go of the hold I have on his chest. Ignoring his triumphant smile—maybe he’s a fucking loser after all—I ram my thumbs straight into his eyeballs as hard as I can.
He screams loud enough to probably be heard back at theStarlight, and I focus on that instead of the disgusting squelch of his eyeballs popping beneath my thumbs. He releases my throat as he reaches for his eye sockets.
He’s already down, but I need him out, so I slam my fist into his face again. He passes out before I’ve even pulled my hand back.
Finally, I take a deep breath, relishing the feel of air hitting my greedy lungs.
Then I push myself to my feet.
Right before someone hits me in the head from behind.
Fucking coward.
I’m back on all fours, head ringing, but I manage to roll over just as he leaps for me. I kick up, catching him square in the balls. He stumbles back with a curse, but then he’s coming at me again, a knife gleaming in his hand.
I need to finish this.
I draw my own knife from its sheath, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. The moment he spots it, he tries to slow his momentum, but he’s moving too fast. Reaching forward, I grab his jacket with one hand, dodging his knife as I pull him close and thrust my blade between his ribs and into his heart.
He’s dead before I yank it free.
I turn around, hoping the third man has taken the hint and is on his way out of the alley. Instead, he’s walking straight toward where I hid Kali, the sudden purpose in his step convincing me he’s spotted her.
Something like fear slams through me, and, acting on instinct, I hurl the knife straight at him.
It hits him in the center of his back. He falls to his knees, his hand grappling in his pocket. I don’t wait to see if he’s got a gun. Instead, I yank the knife out of his flesh, grab his hair to pull his head back, and slice his throat in one clean swipe.
The hot, coppery smell of blood fills the air. I wipe the knife clean on his jacket before doing the same for my hands—they’re covered in exploded eyeballs.
Then I hunker down beside him and run my hands over his torso in case he’s carrying anything of value—though I doubt it. These three don’t seem like the type.
I don’t find anything except a piece of paper tucked in his pocket.
It’s a flyer. I see the wordreward, and at first I think it’s the same one Dylan showed me about the princess. But it’s not. It’s much worse.
It’s a picture of me. A good one—obviously recent, since I’m wearing the guard uniform from theCaelestis.
No wonder these three picked me up. Below the picture, it reads,Wanted dead or alive.Apparently, I’m armed and dangerous. The reward is a wicked amount of money—so much that I’m tempted to turn myself in.
Well, shit. This is fucked.
It’s definitely past time to get the fuck out of here.
But when I straighten up and head toward Kali, I realize that the princess is gone.
Chapter 20
Rain
I take a deep breath of fresh air. It’s warm and smells of fuel and water and smoke drifting in from the city, which I can see in the distance. The sky is clear, and I stare up at the dark blue of it arching overhead.
It seems unbelievable to be here when a few short days ago I was certain I’d never see anything but the monastery on Serati ever again.
And now I’m sitting on a wall on Askkandia, facing the biggest, clearest lake I’ve ever seen. There are lights glinting on the smooth expanse of water, fishermen setting out huge nets to catch the abundant fishgalen.
