ia

d toward the token pavilion with

velope. With a grand, theatrical motion, she tore it open and hel

went up from Sila

oward us, pressing t

s she passed me. She paused right at the

, then at the silver rosary

sharp, calculated malice, she t

t the lip of t

arms in the air and launched herself backw

shing in the water. "She p

hind me mutter, "But I saw her jump-" before his companion elbowed him

screech. The courtya

at the splashing

familiar scent of his cigar, a hand seized my shoulder, the

oss my cheek with a forc

the true devastation was the sound of the Vendetta Rosary striking the stone. The silve

of your mind?

e back to my feet. His fingers dug into my fles

son in the syndicate could hear him. "Are you really that desperate? Yo

nge at Silas to protect me, but the sudden movement caused him

ignore

me you right here

the collar

nward with all hi

nt from my collarbone all the way down to my shoulder, exposing m

asp rippled th

ring laughter of the Soldiers standing

voice trembling as I tried to pull

and stepped back, looking at my

piece of cloth," he mocked. "Go get your to

s with a glare. "You forget, Silas," he wheezed, "that I taught half these Soldier

is knees, his breathing

ing down his weathered face. "Leave the drawing. I will

looked at the hundreds of ruthless

ing my torn dress together, and walked

to the velve

the last rema

hed, wilted White Carna

nally broke down into loud, desperate sobs. The sound was swallowed by a new, absolute silen