In Ice and Blood

By Wanja Westerback

Aquila's life belongs to her King.

As his assassin she does her duty without question.
When a threat to King Myles rises, she's sent out to quench it. As efficiently and ruthlessly as always.

Betrayed, Aquila is left to suffer under a cruel curse. One that steals everything from her, leaving only agonizing guilt.

Her failure to kill severed the world.

Determined to set things right, Aquila sets off on a journey through a tangle of missing memories and a world that no longer works as she remembers. At least she's not alone, her savior stays by her side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: May 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9789528033158

Wanja Westerback

Wanja was born on mainland Finland and moved to the autonomus archipelago Åland at three years old. She's always loved telling stories, speaking them before she could write on her own. Aside from this, Wanja loves reading and anything "nerdy". Taking walks in the forest, pretending to be on a big adventure is a favorite pastime of hers. Freediving is a huge part of her life and works both like a break from the steady stream of new ideas, and a way to channel them into something controllable. In 2019 the idea to write a book took root and in 2022 she's finished her debut novel, In Ice and Blood. The first part in a planned duology called The Severed Kingdom.

Book preview

Part One

Kalthirin

Chapter one

Aquila hadn’t had any sensation in her body since that day and no clue for how long she’d been frozen. She could barely remember the words of things and feelings, but what it had once felt like was gone completely. Only emptiness, loss and agony remained and the few memories she desperately clung to. The taste of Seren’s lips on her own was one of them. One she wished she could forget.

There was this nagging awareness in her as well, she’d messed up, and lost everything for it. She couldn’t even remember if all of this was worth it. She doubted it had been.

Aquila let her mind wander as much as she could. Mostly her daydreams went to that special person mentioned in her curse. That memory was the only thing Aquila remembered from start to finish. The rest were mostly just fragments. Someone’s smile here and there, waves crashing over a golden beach and Seren of course. She was always on her mind. Though they were fading as well. The curse, Seren’s words and the way she’d looked stayed untouched. If only, Aquila stopped mid thought. A weight had laid itself on her hand, and she got the immediate urge to pull it back, but that part of her soul refused to move. Something churned violently inside her. Was someone holding her hand? She relaxed slightly. After so long without human contact all she wanted was to hold on to whoever. Or whatever. Aquila desperately tried to move her fingers around the hand, but nothing happened.

The hand slipped out of hers, and a cool wind brushed against it. A flutter spread through her, and with a jolt she could place what she was feeling. Fear and excitement. The curse was about to be broken, and she was waking up in a changed world she didn’t know anything about.

The feeling spread slowly up her arm, and through her body, though it was still dulled by the stone casing around her. The sun warmed her skin and memories of training in the heat of mid-summer returned to her. Pearls of sweat dripping down her body. She cherished the memory of burning muscles as she pressed herself to the limit.

As a gentle rain splashed against her body a dull ache spread in her chest. She remembered a walk with her lover, their fingers tangling together as the rain poured down, drenching them. Aquila had been cold then, but it hadn’t mattered because she had been with her. The memories of her had always been clearer than the rest. As always, when Aquila turned to look at her, she was thrown out of her memory. Her eyes had been kind then, she knew they had been, but now they were replaced by an empty, soulless stare. The way Seren had looked at her that last time had erased all others.

During a very cold day somebody grabbed her hand again, and Aquila would have sighed with relief if she could. She had no idea how long it had been since that first time, but she’d missed it. Every waking moment she’d missed the feel of a stranger’s hand against her own.

She wasn’t alone, at least not for the moment. The person pressed themselves against her and their hot breath touched her ear and cheek as they whispered something to her. She imagined the faint wind rustling in her hair. Aquila couldn’t hear anything until they said her name.

Aquila, their voice was husky and hushed in a whisper. A woman’s voice. It was so simple, yet it was the most beautiful sound. Low, and a little raspy in a way that scratched an itch Aquila hadn’t known about. Though it was a little strange, the feel of sound in her ears and it was slightly muffled in her true form which was still under a layer of stone.

Slowly the other girl’s hand slid from Aquila's again. She hesitated for a moment before it slipped away completely. Leaving Aquila’s body exposed to the cold air and rain. It was lucky she still didn’t freeze in the way she remembered, or she would be frozen to death before she was free. That day couldn’t come soon enough, even if she had no idea where she would go after. Or what awaited her at all. It was likely the world was in complete and utter ruin.

Aquila’s soul moved restlessly inside her prison. Frustration made its way through her form, but it was closely followed by the lightness of happiness, the two feelings intermingling with each other. She wanted to know the rest of what the girl had told her, but for now she was happy with how her name had sounded on the strangers lips. Like she cared about her even if they had never met.

Days went on and Aquila listened to the birds singing and children laughing, every sound sending flickers of memories through her. Street musicians played songs she’d never heard, there was something unsettling in them. Aquila couldn’t place it, but it felt wrong. Like the notes where just off key enough to be noticed.

She listened to stories of old times being told from grandparents to their grandchildren. During the days it seemed peaceful, but the screams and howls in the night told a different story. It would haunt her forever, just staying still, listening, and not being able to help. A sense of hopelessness had stirred in her, it was taking too long. She wanted out of this prison. Every time she tried to move that feeling made itself known again. That stupid hopelessness reminding her that moving shouldn’t be this hard, like it was her fault she still wasn’t able to move. Hell, her sight hadn’t even returned yet. Anger surged and quickly took its place.

One day she heard the shuffling feet of people assembling, children laughing and crying, people gossiping about their neighbors and who had done the most dreadful thing. Then an older man cleared his throat loudly and started telling a story to the group that had gathered in front of him. And in front of her. A cautionary tale and a reminder to honor their King.

There once was a girl who worked for King Myles. She was an assassin, a killer for hire. His voice trembled with age and anger. She was only 21 yet the best in generations. The girl was sent to kill our beloved King but failed. King Kael was only a rebel leader then, fighting for a better future for our kingdom. He wanted the throne he deserved and went to war with King Myles. For 10 years they fought before King Myles tried the coward’s way to dispose of his enemy. But with the disappearance of the Dark Wolf, King Myles was willing to come up with a more peaceful solution. Aquila would have flinched at her alias if it had been possible for her to move, the name exploded in her mind, and a rush of memories followed. She tried to ignore them for now. She needed to hear the rest of his tale. They split the Kingdom in two with a border that is almost impossible to pass. As you know the honored King Kael still rules the North, but King Myles and his Queen died shortly after, leaving his daughter on the throne. She now leads with another woman at her side, he spat. Aquila had to imagine herself reaching out and snapping his neck in an attempt to control the raging in her body, though remembering why his words angered her so was impossible. It didn’t matter how hard she tried.

King Kael rose this statue as a reminder of what happens if you oppose him and the failure of the Dark Wolf. The wretched creatures and magic wielders get what they deserve because of her. He barely breathed as he spoke, and Aquila could almost feel his anger radiating of him as he finished his story. Gasps sounded from the audience and then applause.

Aquila felt sick, because of the reactions of these people. Sick because she had failed. Shame shot like lightning through her, and her stomach roiled, or she guessed it was her stomach. It was difficult sometimes to know what part of her was where.

She needed to fix her mistake. Her soul thrashed against the stone casing, but it didn’t budge. It was all her fault, she had failed.

Failure is not a word for you, you do not fail, a harsh and cold female voice echoed in her mind. Aquila shrunk in on herself, the anger ebbing away as fast as it had come. That loathsome hopelessness took over again. She had done the one thing she couldn’t do.

One morning she woke up to a weird light at the horizon, her mind still reeling from the story a few days before. It was a sign of her sight returning, but she didn’t think anything of it, because she was so focused on how to fix things. She didn’t know how to repair her mistake. She didn’t know how long she’d been frozen in this damned statue, and she didn’t know the world she would be returning to.

As the day went on her sight grew clearer, and she started to see her surroundings. Only the dark outlines of shapes and some colors through the blur at first but as days went by her sight became clearer and at last she could see everything happening in front of her. Her eyes were still frozen in place. Unmovable no matter how hard she tried to see what was happening beside her.

She was standing in the middle of a park, benches stood haphazardly all through out the area and the trees, despite it still being summer, were dying. The branches twisted and turned in every direction imaginable. The wood had darkened to a brown that was oddly close to black, like they had been burned sometime ago. The grass was yellowing, and the walkways were made of cobblestone so ominously black it looked like you would fall through the ground if you took one wrong step. The sky always burned orange. Even the darkest storms were tinted in flaming orange’s and red’s. This looked nothing like the world she remembered though she had to be honest with herself, she didn’t remember much at all.

On a starry night when she couldn’t sleep Aquila tried to move her fingers again, like she had done every day since that first touch. When they actually did her soul pulled back into her stone prison in surprise. She slowly stretched herself back out fully filling the stone casing and her fingers bent again. Slowly, her joints stiff and aching. She scanned the park carefully, checking for any late-night walkers. It was empty as usual. Except, she had to strain her eyes to see through the thick darkness, for a cloaked figure walking towards her. The way she moved was far too graceful to be human, there was a lightness to her step and it was almost as if she was hovering over the ground. She seemed to be completely aware of her surroundings, her head was in constant motion. She felt familiar to Aquila, as if she already knew her somehow.

The woman came to a stop right in front of her.

Hello Aquila, she said. There was amusement in her voice and even without seeing her face, Aquila was sure she was smiling. Her face was hidden behind a black hood with slithering ornate patterns in an even darker black.

Aquila would have known that voice anywhere. This was the person who had broken the curse. There was a weird thump and movement in her chest, and it took her a minute to realize that her heart was beating again. She tried to pull back, but her soul was stuck in the full figure of her body. She didn’t mind. It was time. It almost felt like her breath hitched in her throat.

The girl standing before her took her hood off, and Aquila's heart beat faster and harder in her chest. Like a banging drum. She was so lovely, Aquila was transfixed on her face for a long moment. Her hair was so light blonde it might as well have been white, and through it peaked pointed ears. Her lips were softly pink and slightly parted, as if she wasn’t entirely sure what to do.

I can hear your heart beating, she said and grabbed Aquila's hand and the other touched her chest. Her voice was like the beautiful music of string instruments over that incessantly beating drum. Aquila inhaled then, shocking them both and the girl started to pull away from her.

Aquila almost gagged at the sudden sour reek that filled her nose, but she collected herself quickly. She didn’t want her to let go, so she carefully tried to bend her fingers around the stranger’s hand, sending a silent prayer to any God or Goddess that might be listening that it would work.

The woman stopped moving when Aquila’s finger’s twitched slightly. Her lips parted with a soft sigh of disbelief.

When she finally managed to bend her fingers around her hand, her heart skipped a beat. Slowly Aquila started to raise her other hand towards her. Her arm was stiff, and pain shot through her with every tiny movement. It took time, but eventually she managed to turn the woman’s face towards her, and push her ice-blonde hair out of her face. She looked up at Aquila, her blue eyes lit by the fire from the streetlights. They were so impossibly blue, even in the small amount of light they had. How had she trapped the sky in her irises?

She pressed her face against Aquila's hand. Aquila cocked her head as she took her in, her small mouth and lips on the thinner side. Her chiseled cheek bones and slightly rounded eyes. She looked to be around Aquila’s age, though Aquila really wasn’t sure how old she was anymore. Or if all years lost counted. She blinked up at Aquila, and Aquila’s breath caught in her throat.

I wasn’t sure I helped you, she said. Her voice trembled slightly.

The woman walked around the area keeping watch, she hadn’t said it was what she was doing, but Aquila recognized it by the way she moved. Her head was on a swivel as she stared into the darkness. At the slightest sound she whirled in its direction, her hands already moving towards the blades she carried on her back. Aquila felt so ridiculously hopeless as she was unable to help at the moment. She stretched her limbs, trying to get her blood flowing again.

When Aquila’s whole body finally worked with her, instead of against her, she stepped out of the statue. Her skin returned to its naturally tanned color, if slightly paler. Her long fingers were thin and bony, other than that they looked pretty similar to how they had looked right before her curse. No wrinkles, just a little skinnier. How much time had gone by?

She stared blankly at her scarred hands and wrists, before realizing what she was missing, her hidden blades. They had been a gift from King Myles and shame burned in her at the loss of them. The memory crammed into her mind, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit there but someone decided to force it in place anyway. Panicked she checked her belt and when she found the sword she was looking for she exhaled though she did not know why the sword mattered.

She blinked, her eyelids falling shut of their own volition. She’d been staring since she got out of the statue and her eyes stung from being kept open so long. Her mouth somewhat left ajar in confusion.

Aquila took a deep breath, the cool air chilled her body from the inside. The rush of air in her lungs almost made her dizzy, and the sour smell didn’t help. She steadied her step as she started towards the woman, who stood with her back against Aquila, and laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned around raising her arm towards the blades at her back but stopped dead when Aquila came into her line of sight. One of her hands had already wrapped around one of the elven blades. Gods she was quick, Aquila took a step back and raised her hands to show her she wasn’t a threat. Still keeping one hand in range of her sword. They stared at each other for an excruciatingly long moment. Aquila feared it would never end. Then she spoke, and Aquila let her breath go.

Aquila? she asked looking back at the pedestal where the statue still stood, slightly warped where she had exited. The girl was slightly taller now when Aquila didn’t have the pedestal under her feet.

She reached her hand out to touch Aquila, but quickly drew it back as a howl sounded through the night. She tensed and peered into the darkness. Fear and a calculating fierceness etched on her fine features. Her breath quickened just enough to let Aquila know that something was very wrong.

Come on we need to go. Pull your hood up and keep your eyes down. I’m Skyler by the way, she said in a hurry, almost stumbling over the words.

She fixed her hood in place and Aquila caught her hiding the slightly pointed ears by messing up her short hair. Aquila nodded, and did as she said. Skyler grabbed her hand to drag her in the right direction. Heat spread between them, like fire licking Aquila’s veins in a weirdly comfortable way. There wasn’t time to think about that.

They walked down the streets of the city, avoiding the streetlights. The darkness was so thick Aquila would have sworn on her life that it reached out for her and caressed her skin as she walked through it. The stifling late summer night heat wasn’t helping the effect either. Humid air drifted around them lazily. It had been an unusually warm day for the North, even at the end of summer, because that was one of the few things Aquila knew. She was in the northern part Aitheren, though she doubted it went under that name anymore.

Seren would likely have kept her close to her and if she still worked for Kael, Aquila doubted she had left Kilwind at all.

Skyler was walking fast, and after standing still for all those years Aquila's body had a hard time keeping up. Skyler had let go of her hand and Aquila was falling behind. Still, she followed because there was no better option. She had nowhere to go except to where Skyler was leading her.

Skyler, we need to slow down, she said between breaths, her tongue heavy in her mouth and her voice rough from disuse. The first words she’d said in she didn’t even know how long.

Skyler turned around, an alarmed look in her eyes.

You need to be quiet, she hissed, but she slowed her step. Aquila, taken aback by her intensity, stumbled on some loose rocks. Skyler was quick to put her arm around her to keep her from falling. She steadied her and they kept walking in silence.

Suddenly Skyler dragged Aquila around a corner and pushed her up against the white wall.

What are y… She didn’t have time to finish the question before Skyler’s hand was over her mouth, her face was very close to her own. Aquila felt her breath stir the loose hairs on Aquila’s head, tickling her forehead. Skyler’s whole body pressed tightly against her. Aquila swallowed, as she tried to ignore how she close she was. Nerves shot through her body like lightning. How could she make her feel this way?

Aquila’s hand found deep groves in the otherwise smooth wall, claw marks, her stomach dropped. Then she heard the growling. How had she missed it before? The low guttural sound filled the air, and the ground shook under her feet. Disgust slithered its way down her back. What could even make a noise like that? It certainly wasn’t human, but it wasn’t animal either. There was something off in the sound of it.

Skyler had one of her swords out in an instant, and ready to fight if she needed to. The movement sent a waft of sweet, flowery citrus soap of off her, a welcome break from the stench that, at least so far, surrounded the entire city. Even in a place that smelled so thickly of something rotten, it didn’t cling to the woman in front of her. It was almost as if the city wasn’t able to touch her with its slimy tentacles. Somehow, she was free of it’s reek.

Skyler was skilled, it was clear in the confidence in which she held herself, and her blade, but there was something worrying in the look etched on her face. Aquila tried to get her hand on the sword that hung by her side. She almost growled out of frustration, Skyler’s hand was still over her mouth, her body still pressed her against the wall, making it close to impossible to get it. Did she not trust her to keep quiet on her own?

The sword was the only weapon she had left, aside from a couple of throwing knives. She wriggled under the pressure Skyler put on her body and she finally managed to get the sword out of its sheath. The sword was familiar in her hand despite the weakness in her arm. Memories returned in flashes as soon as her hand wrapped comfortably around the hilt. Training with it, and the searing agony of being struck by her own blade as it was used against her. She blinked against the memories, waking herself up. The sword was heavier in her hand now than it had been in her mind. She shuddered, but Skyler didn’t notice, or pretended not to at least. She just eased the pressure on her slightly and took her hand off her mouth. Aquila missed the closeness the second it ended. She cursed silently. What was going on with her? Just seconds ago it had frustrated her to no end.

We might have to fight our way out of this, but we should try to avoid that. We need to get up on the roof, Skyler said.

The growling was more distant again, only echoing hauntingly between the buildings. Skyler let go of Aquila completely and pointed to a small balcony. The railing was made of a splintering, dark wood and looked almost as if it would fall apart. Perhaps with the next breeze. Skyler’s next words made Aquila’s stomach churn.

If we can get on the balcony we can go from there to the roof. I’ll help you up first, and then you can help me from there, okay? She was talking in a low whisper. Her words were hurried and there was a slight accent in the way she spoke, but it was still understandable. Her words were more drawn out, and slower, as if there was intention put in behind every word. Her r’s hard and rolling, were Aquila’s own were softer. She really needed to ask how much time had passed, but her mouth refused to move. Besides now was probably not the best time and she wasn’t sure she would be able to handle the answer without breaking down. So Aquila nodded instead and walked towards the balcony. Skyler followed her, got down on one knee and put her hands forward, her fingers intertwined.

Aquila stepped on her hands and Skyler pushed her up. She grabbed the balcony floor and tried to pull herself up. Shame spread through Aquila's body and her cheeks burned. She had been doing this sort of thing since she was a child, but her body didn’t have the strength it had once had. After a lot of struggle, she managed to get over the railing. It creaked violently, but it held. Without even splintering her fingers.

She collapsed against the wall, her breath ragged. She was silently praying she hadn’t woken up the residents. In this city, it probably wouldn’t end well. Skyler jumped up and grabbed the balcony and pulled herself up with little struggle. Aquila put her face in her hands, hiding the embarrassment and anger she knew would be visible on her face. Even to a stranger. She was too exhausted to hide it, to press it down to nothing like she was used to.

Skyler pulled her to her feet without a word. Aquila didn’t meet her gaze, but her eyes was on her. She felt them, tracing fire on her skin everywhere they traveled.

We need to get to the roof, can you get up there? There was worry in her voice. Aquila blinked in surprise, though the worry didn’t have to be for her at all. Skyler was probably just protecting herself.

The growling was getting closer again and as cold flooded her, some of her strength returned. She stepped up on the balcony railing and jumped up to grab the edge of the roof. She pulled herself up with a little help from Skyler, who pushed at her feet. Skyler joined her soon after.

Why did we need to get up on the roof? Aquila asked between ragged breaths, her lungs burning. The city sprawled out before her, slightly shrouded by the black spots that swam before her vision. It stretched downhill, then it was swallowed by night. The red roofs only visible where patches of light cleaved the darkness. Probably by the same light posts Aquila had seen in the park, the tall, black rods with a diamond shaped glass casing around the flames.

The ashlings aren’t climbers unless they absolutely have to. My theory is that they, for some reason, are too heavy. I’ve never heard of one flying either. So if we stay quiet and move slowly towards the Deep-tide Lair, they might leave us alone. She was still whispering, her eyes nervously scanning everything around them. Her lips were pressed in a thin line.

Ashlings? Aquila asked. Skyler took a shuddering breath and Aquila almost reached out for her but stopped herself. She didn’t know this girl at all.

No one really knows what they are, but they are believed to be some kind of demon bred to find anyone who isn’t human or has magic.

Okay, Aquila’s body shuddered. Her magic sending some flicker in answer to her worry. Have you ever seen one?

Just a reflection, it looked absolutely horrifying, she said. It is said that no one has killed one, ever.

The girls were quiet for a while after that. Aquila's body ached and she just wanted to sleep. She was leaning heavily against a chimney, trying to process all the new information swirling in her mind.

The growling was growing more distant as time went on, but Skyler was still nervously walking around the roof checking the streets below.

Come on, we need to keep going, she said walking towards Aquila.

Aquila tried to get up, but her legs folded under her. She tried a couple of more times, growing more frustrated when she wasn’t able to rise to her feet.

Let me help you, Skyler offered. Her smile was nothing but kind, but it still annoyed her.

No! I can do it on my own, Aquila said with a low growl. Fangs snapping out. The metallic tang of blood exploded over her tongue.

Skyler put her hands up and took a step back, placing her feet perfectly on the red slated roof.

Sorry, but what’s up with the fangs? Those were not there a second ago, a small, amused smile played on her lips again. Aquila could see slightly pointed canines and a crooked front tooth under the shadow of her hood. Something fluttered deep down in Aquila’s belly. Skyler didn’t sound afraid, just curious.

Aquila's anger faded away almost as fast as it had arrived. She lifted her hand to her face and touched one of the teeth. With a sigh of relief, she let her hand fall back down.

I thought she took this away from me, she said with a laugh full of disbelief.

Took what away from you and who? The curiosity in her voice mixed with anger.

My ex-girlfriend, Aquila said. Skye's eyebrows shot up slightly, but her face was neutral when Aquila continued. She’s the one who cursed me, she never liked my shapeshifting ability even if it was limited to one animal. A big black wolf. She paused, trying to composed herself. She licked her teeth before she continued, I guess I thought that she would remove that power from me, but she probably didn’t expect the curse to be broken anyway.

Aquila put her head in her hands again and when she looked back up her eyes were wet with tears.

Are you sad or happy? Skyler asked concern covered face. Her blue eyes shining even in the dimness, as if they were lit from within

I’m not sure, she said with a sad smile. I didn’t remember what I just told you until I said it out loud. Her voice shook slightly.

The growling was closer again and Skyler tensed. Claws scraped against the ground, the sound sending chills shooting through her body. It was a high pitched shriek or wail, mixing with stones being pulverized. Aquila swallowed. The marks claws like that would make against stone, Aquila shuddered as she remembered the way the gashes in the wall had been jagged and sharp against her palms.

They can sense magic somehow, so they definitely felt whatever you just did. We need to go, now. Can I help you up? Skyler asked. She tried and failed to hide the urgency in her voice. Aquila had no choice but to swallow her pride, or they would both die.

Sure, I guess I could use the help, Aquila said a little bitterly and reached her hand out.

Skyler clasped it, pulled her to her feet and put Aquila's arm around her shoulder. They walked along the roofs together, jumping the short distances between them. They didn’t talk much for a while. It was a relatively comfortable silence, but Aquila sensed Skyler had questions. She seemed to be waiting for the right moment though, or maybe just giving her some space. It was nice, having a stranger care for her like that. Not pressuring her for answers she didn’t have.

It was a tough walk for Aquila, but she didn’t want to show any weakness in front of what was basically a stranger, so she gritted her teeth, and worked her body to the last. Her lungs burned and her muscles ached, and when they finally arrived at the Deep-tide Lair the sun was beginning to rise on the horizon. The sky was bleeding red and orange into the night, the rays perforating the darkness in what could only be described as spears of light.

Luckily there was a ladder at the end of the last roof, so they didn’t have to jump, or climb down a bare wall. Aquila thanked the Gods silently for that.

What is this place? Aquila asked slightly panicked she had followed a stranger somewhere without knowing where they were going. The energy to ask hadn’t existed until just now, standing in front of the house. With the same white walls and red rooftops as the rest. The door in the same gleaming dark wood the balcony had been.

It’s a safe space, a rebellion. You’ll be safe here.

Aquila had no choice but to trust her, she wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight when her legs threatened to buckle under her while she stood still. Even if she managed to escape, she would have nowhere to go. This, whatever it was, was probably her best chance of survival. And Skyler had been the one to brake her curse, and had saved her from eternal misery.

Aquila’s first impression of the lair was that it was empty, but then a man walked around the corner, dressed in an olive-green tunic and matching pants. He was a big guy with a bushy black beard and curly hair that fell just past his shoulder, he held a chipped mug in his hand. A spear rested against the wall, just in reach.

Good morning Skyler, the man said when they stepped inside. You brought a new friend? His voice was low and burly, but he smiled at them both. He was a good choice for a guard, he had looked terrifying right before the smile broke over his face. Now it lit up his face, his small eyes crinkling into thin lines. He was doing completely normal things for an early morning. Feeding the illusion of this being the normal house it had looked like on the outside. The wallpaper was ripped in places and the color had been leeched from it. It had likely been yellow earlier, now it looked mostly white. A dirty white.

Good morning Zaejin, this is Aquila, she said with a dazzling smile that almost knocked the breath out of her.

Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Aquila said reaching her hand forward. Zaejin shook it.

It’s nice to meet you too. His handshake was firm, his hand uncomfortably dry. She smiled a little, fighting her slowly drooping eyelids. She was losing more and more control over her body with every second that passed.

I need to get Aquila to a room so she can get some sleep, have a nice day Zaejin, Skyler said. Apparently, Skyler had noticed, Aquila fought the urge to curse. Besides, she wasn’t sure her mouth would obey her, so she stayed quiet. He nodded to the two girls and they walked further in to the building.

If Aquila hadn’t been so damn tired, she would have been surprised by the normalcy of this place. Skyler headed for a door that was hidden beneath the stairs. It swung open for her touch and revealed a long staircase leading down to a tunnel-system. Aquila’s body buzzed in response, but she barely noticed. She just blinked in surprise.

It only opens for a select few of the residents from the outside, anyone can leave, but you can’t get back inside if it closes, Skyler said with a small smile. Anyone who isn’t allowed to open it will find a closet. Aquila stared around herself in awe as they made their way down the stairs. This was more what Aquila had had in mind when Skyler had said rebellion. Hidden beneath what was normal.

At first the walls were bare, except for the occasional torch that lighted their path in a warm flickering glow, but as they walked on, doors appeared on both sides in the grey stone wall. It had a comfy feeling to it and Aquila felt safe even if she didn’t know where she was or what types of people lived behind those doors.

Skyler dropped her off at a room, in the far end of one of the corridors

Here’s your room, Skyler said when they got there. Sleep for as long as you need, I’ll come and check on you regularly.

Okay, thank you, Aquila said weakly, and walked inside. Her whole body ached, and she went straight to bed. Her muscles trembled with every step she took, and she didn’t take in