Lumi’s perch on the crumbling rooftop allowed a clear view of Lady Sol’s balcony, but it did not come without faults.
Every subtle shift made the structure groan in protest. It felt as though the building itself was conspiring against her. She feared if she wasn’t careful, the floor would give out and she would fall right through.
A cockroach skittered past, its glossy shell gleaming beneath the sunlight. Holding her breath, Lumi kept perfectly still, praying to the gods that it was not the type that could fly.
It wasn’t long before the sound of boots came. Every step was both lazy and intentional, the echo cutting through the muffled clamor of the city below.
Then he emerged, immaculate as ever.
The emperor.
Rook.
Lumi studied him as he strolled to the edge of the balcony and peered out at the slums below. Dark curls swept up in a neat bun at the top of his head. Broad shoulders squared beneath a tailored suit of deepest black. Chin held high, he carried himself with a quiet arrogance.
Lumi grit her teeth.
An unwelcome memory surfaced, squeezing the air from her lungs—his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, the heat of his hand branding her hip. She awoke in the middle of the night with her cheek pressed into his solid chest.
His embrace had been warm. Safe. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat had lulled her back into the abyss of slumber.
Lumi shoved the memory aside, her breath escaping in a ragged exhale. What was the matter with her?
Lady Sol appeared moments later, draped in a blood-red silk robe that clung to her childlike frame. She lowered herself into her usual seat, her focus squarely on her guest.
“Pirate-slayer,” she drawled, “I wasn’t expecting you again so soon.”
“Yes, you were,” Rook said in a flat tone.
He turned his attention from the dilapidated shanties and shabby alleyways. Lumi ducked lower, pressing herself into the brittle tiles. She still caught the flex of his jaw as his gaze landed on Sol, the flicker of distaste that crossed his features.
“Don’t you tire of playing these games?”
Sol expelled a melodic giggle, “What’s the matter, Rook? You don’t like me like this? I can be older for you, if that’s what you’d prefer.”
“It makes no difference to me.”
“Very well,” her childish voice floated up to the rooftop, “What can I do for you today?”
Rook didn’t respond immediately. A beat passed. Then another. Lumi raised her head just enough to see him standing motionless, a deep furrow between his brows.
When he finally spoke, it was one, singular word, “Lumi.”
The sound of her name sent a tremor through her. The way it fell from his lips—like a question, or a prayer—made something deep inside of her clench. In a desperate attempt to ground herself, she bit down on her bottom lip, hard enough to taste blood.
“Yes?” Sol’s amusement was palpable.
“Tell me what you know of her past.”
“Her past?” Sol repeated, her words dripping with feigned surprise, “Why would such a thing concern you? She’s just another one of my whores. No different than the rest.”
“She is very valuable to me,” Rook said.
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Lumi grit her teeth harder.
“What is it about her, hmm? It can’t be her bedroom skills. Those are mediocre at best, if you ask me. Surely, it’s not her looks. And her personality…” Sol let out a theatrical sigh, “Well, let’s just say she’s not the best company to keep.”
Sol tilted her head, “But something draws you to her, doesn’t it? Something you can’t quite put your finger on.”
“What do you know?” Rook grumbled, as if any patience he arrived with had been worn thin.
“More than you, apparently.”
“Tell me,” he commanded.
“My apologies, Emperor,” Sol sounded giddy, “Knowledge comes at a price.”
“I’d like to keep her.”
“She’s not yours to keep.”
“I’ll buy her from you,” Rook said without hesitation. “Indefinitely.”
Indefinitely? He wanted to buy her indefinitely? As in, not just for one night? Lumi’s blood ran cold. He couldn’t do that, could he?
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.” Sol replied smoothly, “Lumi is not for sale. You can have her for as many nights as you like, but she belongs here—with me.”
“I don’t plan on staying in Port Bram much longer,” he said, “I’m taking her with me.”
A pause, then, “Why?”
“I see no reason why I would have to explain myself to the likes of you.”
“You don’t know, do you?” Sol challenged, “What it is about her that crawls under your skin. You have no idea.”
Above, Lumi shifted. She knew she needed to leave before this conversation reached its inevitable conclusion. But something rooted her to the spot—a morbid curiosity, or perhaps a need to hear what he would say next.
The emperor’s voice dropped, “Name your price.”
“Half a million gem.” Sol said.
“Done.”
Lumi’s mind whirled. Half a million gem? For her?
No, she must have misheard. It made no sense. That kind of wealth couldn’t be spent on someone like her.
“Really?” Sol’s surprise rivaled Lumi’s. “Just like that?”
More silence.
Lumi edged closer, her curiosity outweighing her sense of self-preservation. She craned her neck and peered over the crumbling rooftop
Below, Rook reached into his pocket and withdrew a heavy sack. The jingle of gem reverberated across the space as he dropped it onto the table.
“So eager.” Sol trailed her fingertips over the rough burlap. “What are you hiding, I wonder?”
She stood, moving closer to him. Then she took his hand in hers. Lumi knew she was reading his memories, knew she was seeing everything there was to see—his past, present, future.
Rook’s reaction was swift. He wrenched his hand away, his grip snapping around her wrist.
“How interesting,” Sol whispered.
Rook’s jaw tightened, “If you value your life, you’ll stay out of my head. And keep anything you’ve seen to yourself.”
“Is that a threat?” Sol’s bravado cracked, just for a moment. She masked it with a sly giggle.
Rook didn’t blink, “Don’t test me, Sol. I have no reservations about killing you. Even dressed up as a little girl.”
The air was so thick, Lumi could feel it pressing on her chest. Sol held his gaze, her confidence visibly shaken. Slowly, he released her wrist, and she pulled her hand back, rubbing at the reddened skin.
“Very well,” her voice was tight. “Lumi is yours.”
No.
No.
No, no, no!
He couldn’t do this. Couldn’t take her. Not now. Not when she was so close to the answers she needed.
Her thoughts spiraled, her plans unraveling with every breath she took. She needed to stay here—close to Sol. It was her only chance at uncovering the truth of her past. And now Rook was ruining everything.
His attention shifted, drawn to a commotion. Lumi followed his gaze to the streets below.
Soldiers.
An entire brigade.
Closing in on Lover’s District.
Sealing it off.
“Something’s happening,” Rook said.
Sol moved to stand beside him, “It appears so. Lucky for me, that is no longer my problem.”
Bile burned the back of Lumi’s throat as the truth settled over her. The soldiers were here for her. They must have found the carnage in the alley—the bodies she’d left broken and bloodied, the crimson stains painting the cobbles.
And the one who escaped. He’d seen her face. He knew what she looked like.
A tremor rippled through her, panic clawing its way to the surface. She couldn’t stay. Not here. Not with Lady Sol. Certainly not with him.
All her bridges were burned to ash, nothing but smoldering ruins behind her. The only thing left to do was run.
She stepped back from the rooftop’s edge, her heart hammering like drums in her ears. She crept to the backside of the pleasurehouse, her movements silent. No soldiers stood on this side.
Lumi began scaling down the building, the rough stone scraping her palms.
She needed to disappear. For a while, at least. To sink into the darkest corners of the world until the emperor grew weary of his search, until the navy gave up on their pursuit of her.
She would not be sold like cattle, nor would she rot in chains.
By the time her boots hit the moldy earth, her resolve was steadfast. She raised the hood of her cloak over her head, the dagger strapped to her thigh a reassuring presence.
Behind her, the pleasurehouse loomed. Lumi did not look back. Not once. She disappeared into the labyrinth of the city she’d haunted for years, her silhouette dissolving into the shadows.
a/n: I would love to know what you think about this chapter and the story so far. who are you rooting for? who are you cursing under your breath as you read? do you have any thoughts/predictions/feedback? sometimes it feels like im writing into the void, so I would love to hear from you (:
chapter 56 goes up on patreon later today and its a spicy one. find me there for early access to chapters. happy reading!
