Solemn Vow by Emma Couette

Author:Emma Couette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult, dystopian, young adult dystopian, assassins, morally grey characters
Publisher: Emma Couette
Published: 2022-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I’m still alone when I reach Rachel’s old exit at the bottom of the staircase. As I suspected, it stands unguarded. Either Sephtis forgot that I knew about this tunnel, or he never knew in the first place. The reason matters not to me. All I care about is that it’s a way out.

I push open the trap door and descend the ladder before walking away from the light, thinking about how much I’ve changed since the first time I tread this path. This is the path that led to Silent Night’s destruction and Quinn’s rebirth.

When I reach the barn, I listen intently for any company but hear nothing except the rustle of wind through the grass outside. I lift myself out of the hole and tiptoe to the door, pushing it open slowly and surveying the area outside. Unless there’s an assassin crouching in the grass like a lioness waiting for a kill, I’m alone.

Perfect.

I pull my hood up and slip out. I stopped by my room on my way here to grab a long cloak, knowing anonymity is crucial. If any assassin reports back to Sephtis that they’ve seen Silent Night in town, I’ll be in deep shit. My cover will be as good as blown. So the hood has to stay up and my head down. I have to take a route that avoids getting anywhere close to any of my guarded exits and entries. I have to be smart.

. . .

I walk around town for an hour, doubling back time after time, taking seemingly pointless routes, and stopping at a clothier for ten minutes. It’s night again by the time I reach the meeting place, a grey stone house at 894 Winslow Avenue. It’s an old Victorian style home, probably one of the oldest structures in the city.

It would’ve been the perfect palace for the princess. Now though, I’m sure it holds too many memories for her to bear even looking at it. I can understand. In all my years of the Guild and the Resistance, I have never once built the courage to walk down my old street, past the house I shared with my mother. I’m not sure what would be more painful, if the tulips were still in full bloom or if they’d decayed long ago.

I pause on the sidewalk outside the house and take a minute to compose myself. I hope there’s an agent waiting for me like Jenson said there would be. I hope it’s one of my friends. I need to see a familiar face, or I’m going to start screaming.

Oh for God’s sake, Quinn, I chide myself, you’ve been gone for just over a day. Get a hold of yourself.

Right. Perspective.

I take a deep breath before walking across the lawn and climbing the front steps. Then I grab the door knocker in my right hand and give the door three hard raps. I imagine the sound echoing in the empty house. I imagine footsteps creaking across hardwood floors as someone comes to answer the door, wondering who’s come knocking at this time of night.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.