Rebekah pulled her inside the empty room and directed her to watch the door in case anyone entered. Each moment sent a new wave of dread washing over her. She wanted to help her mortal more than anything, which was why she handed her the amethyst.

It wasn’t anything special, something she kept on a shelf back home, she thought it was pretty. She had no idea what a simple gift could do to her mortal. She answered in short impatient sentences. Snapping at her if she asked too many questions.

The way Rebekah clutched it to her chest, made her feel uneasy. It reminded her of goblins hoarding their treasure. The death grip, the way her eyes darted to any sound, it all made Osana regret her decision. Her mortal muttered something to herself as she searched through the pile of shirts.

The quick smile when she pulled out a handkerchief made Osana's chest flutter. It was silk, with deep purple embroidery at the edges. A pretty flower with the same embroidery decorated the opposing squares. Rebekah wrapped the gem in the material before shoving it into her robe pocket. The bell shrieked, calling their attention to the label that read Chancellor.  

“That’s me. Stay out of sight, we’ll see Mrs. Knaggs after I’m done.”

She never liked the idea of staying put, so she shimmered her magic over her skin and faded from mortal view. She followed closely behind, but Rebekah wasn’t deceived. She whispered for her to be quiet as they approached the Chancellor’s chambers.

The man she saw at the tent by the temple sat at his desk, scribbling something on pages of parchment. No wonder Rebekah was angry when she met her, she had stolen from her employer. The other man was gone, leaving Godfrey alone with the ticking of the sand from the hourglass on his desk. She stood in the doorway, not making a sound. Waiting like a hunting hound for his command.

 “Tea.”

“Yes sir.”

Even from where she stood, she could sense Rebekah’s heart slamming against her chest. Anxiousness permeated over her, and she clenched her jaw to keep from giving the truth away. Her hands trembled as she poured the tea. When she was almost at his desk her foot snagged on the rug, but she caught herself before she fell.

“Stupid Helot, watch what you’re doing!”

She placed the cup and saucer on the desk before anything else could happen. Godfrey reached for it, glancing at her for the first time. Rebekah's body was stiff, standing straight and looked forward. Not at Godfrey but the wall behind him. Osana froze in place, remembering the argument between him and the man with glasses the other day. His threat earlier about ruining the woman's life if she didn't do as he wanted.

“What’s that in your pocket?”  

  “My Lord?” she squeaked; Osana’s throat tightened.

 “I never repeat myself.”

She noticed the handkerchief poking out of her pocket, something rich and fancy against her dull brown uniform. His eyes narrowed on Rebekah. His impatience as thick as the heat outside. Taking a deep breath to steady her shaking hand she reached for the cloth. Osana heard the gentle plunk of the gem falling loose in her pocket. She then pulled the cloth out.

“Madame Wayland's Helot asked me to press it for her.” The sand in the hourglass spilled at a snail’s pace. An eternity passed before he pursed his lips.

“Your sloppy appearance reflects poorly on me. If I catch you looking like a dishevelled idiot again, there will be consequences. Understand?”

“Yes Sir, is there anything else I can get for you?”

Rebekah’s obedient appearance didn’t change but she felt something bubbling to the surface. Her façade was cracking but Osana didn’t know what it would unleash. He shook his head, motioning for her to take the teapot, and dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Osana shuffled behind her, wary of the close call they had.

“Can we go visit Mrs. Knaggs now?” she whispered in her ear.

“Yes, I’m done with this place, and everyone in it.”

Inside Mrs. Knaggs dirty shop Rebekah presented the handkerchief like an offering to a sacred idol. The pawnbroker unwrapped it, licking her dry thin lips as she pulled each corner of the cloth. Placing a thin finger to her chin she turned to Rebekah.

 “Where did you get this?”

 “Does it matter?”  The woman thought for a moment, glancing between the gem and the helot uniform.

“Alright, I’ll give you what you need, it’s a lovely thing. I’ll get good money for it.” She opened a chest beside her and counted a few gold and silver coins, placing them on the counter before glancing at Rebekah one last time. “There you are lovie, may Zander’s light bless your path.”

Outside, she noticed the smile on Rebekah's face. The one of victory and hope. She had done it. She looked at her prize, the precious metal glistening in the sun. Nothing could stop her now; her new life was in reach. Then the door to the pawn shop slammed open.

“Guards! Thief! Stop that girl!”

The words cut through Osana. Her magic shroud fluttered then broke, revealing her form. She, along with the others, were too distracted to notice her sudden appearance. But she met Rebekah’s eyes, seeing the realisation of the betrayal wash over her body.  

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Mrs. Knaggs shouted again, calling the street vendors to her side. It summoned the sound of swords pulled from their sheaths. Shuffling across sand. Dropped items bouncing over the ground. It all played before Osana as she watched spellbound as men swarmed the girl. A scream caught in her throat, as they tackled her friend into the sand.

The coins rolled from her fingers, and the soft clink rattled in her ears. The old hag kept screeching. Shrill and angry; the voice of injustice. A large man pushed Rebekah to the ground yanking her hands behind her back. The group shouted, spit and kicked sand in her face. The message was clear, the market people didn’t approve of thieves. And Mrs. Knaggs, cackled with glee at the sight.

“Make them stop!” Osana shouted. “You lied!”

“Out of my hands now,” she motioned to the three men in crimson robes approaching the mob. “The Crims will teach her to keep where she belongs.”

The mob parted allowing the guards from the tunnel to enter the circle. They seemed to float over the ground like a wraith. The black masks cover their mouths, but she saw their eyes. Sharp like a hunter. Honed to the prey they seek. She imagined the hell beasts at the gate. Imagined the snarl under the cloak. Ready to snuff out any signs of life. And at that moment, they held Rebekah’s collar in their grasp.

“You’re the little thief huh?” He spat.

“That’s her, Master Mage” Mrs. Knaggs had joined the crowd. “She’s an evil one; you should have heard the things she called me in there- threatened my life she did. Such horrible language, things I never want any child of mine to say. I feared for my life. She had a knife, think she tossed it in an alley somewhere.”

“Is it true, you whelp?”

“No! She gave me that money. I gave her a—I sold something to her.”

“Well," Mrs. Knaggs sneered. "What was it, I may recall if you know the item.”

Osana’s heart sank, as the disappointment flushed over her friend’s face. Everyone around them was foaming at the mouth to see the girl punished. What would they do if they found out about her gift? Who knew a little gem could cause such havoc.

“It was a bracelet.”

“Nope nothing like that crossed my way today.”

“Want to try again girl?” the Mage ordered.

“I didn’t steal from her.”

 “Say it again?”

“I didn’t do it!”

“That’s what they all say.”

She tossed herself from side to side and broke free from their grasp. In two steps another had grabbed her by the collar. Rebekah was like an eel, and squirmed free. As she rolled under her captors' feet, a bystander cut her off finally ending her escape. The public encircled them, keeping her in. But they failed to keep Osana out.

Her magic pumped through her body, like a rushing current it cascaded over her muscles. Discovering every interconnected tendon until it seized them with an unyielding grasp.

Each stationary moment was a waste of time. The mortals were acting poorly. She couldn’t let Rebekah suffer for their disobedience. Her muscles constricted, a scream burst from her throat, and from the explosion of energy she leapt on the shoulders of a wide man twice her height.

Despite her short stature and lanky limbs her muscles were always solid. But as the magic flowed through her biceps and calves, they became dense. The rest of her muscles followed suit, and she wrapped her legs around the man’s neck.

She wrestled serpents three times her size, and this man wasn’t half as threatening. He yelled and bucked like a bull. Flinging her this way and that; but she held on. Until she balled her hand into a fist and punched the base of his neck. She rolled backwards as he crumpled to the ground.

A voice in her mind whispered for her to stop. But it was forgotten as another person lunged at her. Her shape changed into an unyielding mass of muscles and brawn. Dodging the next challenger, she leapt out of range of their flailing arms.

She lavished in the euphoria of flying through the air. Feeling the strength in her limbs as she frog-hopped around the crowd. One by one sending them toppling over. Over and under their limbs like she was swinging through a jungle. And it all came to a head when she flung herself towards the Crim that had Rebekah.

The air around her cooled. It was slight but, in a heartbeat, it transformed into a rope that yanked her from the air. As she stumbled to stand the sand swirled around her. Through blurry vision she saw the red sleeves reaching for her. An iron grip twisted her wrists before another slammed her onto her stomach. The sandstorm ended and she was face to face with the masked Enforcers.

“Restraint her before she kills someone!”

Kill? She surveyed the street. There were people writhing on the ground in pain. Some weren’t moving. Her stomach churned and the bile climbed into her throat. Mortals weren’t that weak, were they? Before she could consider the inevitable, they yanked her to her feet.

The will to fight evaporated from her body. She stared too long at the one who wasn’t moving. Killing was forbidden. A chill kissed her skin as the iron clasped around her wrists. They tossed her into a wagon with a metal cage that had arrived. Her friend was already inside, dirty, and shackled.

The snarls from the onlookers followed as they door locked with a clang. Even a little of her power was too much for them to survive. What have I done? As the wagon drove off, she caught a glimpse at Mrs. Knaggs. The smug expression on her face made her skin burn. She didn’t want to kill, but she’ll make an exception for that mortal.

Rebekah sat with her knees to her chin, staring out the small gaps between the bars.  A grim memory scrolled over her face. It was her fault her friend was there. Captured and sent only Papa knew where. She made everything worse. Much worse.

 “I’m sorry,” she whispered but her friend refused to look at her. “I didn’t know this was going to happen...”

Rebekah took a deep breath and glanced at the chains around her feet.

"Do you think this is how the others went missing."

"The missing Helots? The ones your roommate talked about?"

“It's an open secret that Mrs. Knaggs can get you a ticket for the Ferryman. What if Sam didn't run away. What if he tried to get out... and they took him. Just like they did us. Most Innocents from the Citadel have went missing over the last couple of months. I should've been more suspicious, asked more questions as to why she was so happy to help.”

"You can't blame yourself; you didn't know this was going to happen.”

But Rebekah didn’t answer. A silence slipped between them where they listened to the sounds of the streets as they passed. Osana curled against the bars watching the dusty landscape blow by.

She imagined herself anywhere else. Her chest felt hallow, and she had to blink the tears away. She never experienced loneliness before. But in Umara, in a strange world with stranger people, was the loneliest she ever felt.

She thought of Lani, how simpler it was when they were home. She wanted to go to the mortal realm, for as long as she could remember. And now that she was there, she wanted nothing more than to leave.