Chapter 5 What his eyes did'nt say

Chapter 5—RENEE

At midnight, I woke up with a pounding heart; I realized the knife was more dull than I had thought.

I slipped out of the crowded room silently, careful not to wake the others. Some were snoring, others tossing their leg all around in their sleep. I tiptoed down the dark corridor, sticking to the dark, searching for a stone edge or anything I could use to sharpen the blade. But every corner I considered was either too exposed or too close to the guards' path.

Then I heard voices from above. I quickly ducked under a wooden frame and looked up toward the upper balcony of the estate.

There was Luca; he was drunk and leaning against Trent, his beta, as they walked together toward his quarters; they were still joking.

Once they reached the room, Trent helped him inside and came back out. He said something quietly to the guards at the door; whatever it was, it made them stand straighter and more alert. I wondered if someone was inside with Luca after all?

But then I saw Lucy. She approached quickly. Trent said something to her calmly. She turned around, clearly not happy, but she left.

I breathed out; maybe he was alone, or maybe with a prostitute for the night, at worst. Either way, I had a shot.

I returned to my corner behind the well and grabbed a piece of scrap metal I’d seen earlier. Pressing the dull knife edge against it, I scraped them together as quietly as I could, over and over.

I managed to sharpen both the knife and the metal edge just enough to make a killing blow possible.

I went back to the maid quarters before I could be noticed and lay down among the others, hiding the weapons under the thin mat.

The room was too crowded and warm with shared body heat. Some girls were kicking me in their sleep; others muttered softly. I stared at the wooden ceiling above us, counting heartbeats, waiting for the night to darken.

When it was a lot more silent, and the guards outside had begun to doze in rhythm, I rose.

I walked like a shadow down the corridor. I dodged the patrols somehow, by luck or instinct, and made it to Luca’s quarters.

Only one thing stood in my way now: the two guards at his door.

They weren’t the usual estate guards. These were his personal guards.

They stepped forward.

“What do you want?” one of them asked.

I held up the bedsheet. “I’m here to change the bedsheets.”

They looked at each other amused. “Really? At this time of night? Are you insane?”

I forced a nervous laugh. “Guess I’m just dedicated to the work.”

“You must really love being a servant,” the second muttered. “But you’re going to...”

He didn’t finish.

With one smooth motion, I drove the sharpened knife into his neck.

The other moved fast, but not faster than me.

I jammed the sharpened metal into his neck too.

Both of them collapsed quietly with choking sounds. I caught their bodies gently, guiding them to the floor with shaking hands to avoid any noise.

My hands were bloody; I stepped over them and tiptoed into the room.

There he was, lying alone on the bed half naked, one arm flung over his chest. A single candle was lighted on the table. I could hear his slow, steady breathing. For a moment I just watched him; the face I had sworn to hate looked strangely calm and peaceful, and I hated that part of me noticed.

I moved closer; the knife was trembling in my hand. I raised it, and then I heard a loud whistle, a guard burst in through the door. Luca’s eyes snapped open just as I turned back.

His foot slammed into me with brutal force; I flew backward and hit the floor hard.

Before I could move, the incoming guard landed on me, yanking my arms and binding them with silver shackles.

I cried out as the metal burned my skin. It felt like fire crawling through my veins.

I thrashed instinctively, panic rising in my throat. I screamed and kicked, but the chains held fast.

But another guard slapped me hard across the face. Then with a heavy boot, he kicked me in the stomach.

Air exploded from my lungs. I gasped as I clutchedmy stomach, wincing in pain.  My vision blurred, but I refused to cry in front of them.

Not even a minute had passed since Luca kicked me down and the guards restrained me when the door swung open again.

Trent and Lucy entered.

Luca was still buttoning his shirt, with blood still on my face and the floor. My breath was shaky; my wrists burned where the silver shackles bit into my skin.

Lucy looked pleased, like this was exactly what she had been waiting for.

“I told you, Luca,” she said sharply. “She’s a snake; let’s end her now. No more chances.”

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel his breath; his hand brushed my chin, forcing me to look up.

I looked up at him; for a second, I saw something in him, something like compassion.

No. It couldn’t be. A man like Luca didn’t feel compassion. Not for someone like me. Not for the daughter of the man he killed.

Still, he didn’t look away. After a moment, he spoke quietly but firmly.

“You could’ve killed me; why did you hesitate?”

“I didn’t,” I whispered. “You just woke up too soon.” Even though, as I said it, deep down inside of me, it felt like a lie.

Then, almost gently, he wiped a drop of blood from my cheek with his thumb before stepping back.

“Put her back in the cell alone.” He ordered.

Lucy’s face twisted in disbelief. “Luca, what are you doing?”

He didn’t answer her directly, just raised his hand slightly.

“The judgment will be given during the day.”

That shut her up, though her expression still burned with anger.

Trent said nothing. He gave a slight nod to the guards, who grabbed me roughly and began dragging me away.

I didn’t fight; I just stared at Luca until I was dragged out of the room. I had a mixed feeling of regret, but I didn’t want to admit I hesitated. I’ve made peace with myself; whatever my judgment is the coming morning, I will meet it gladly.