Swords at gunpoint
-
Chapter twenty seven: The finale
Custom Styles Hashiro’s district contains a port which can only mean one thing. Opium.I’m not surprised to see the desperate, sitting in front of the rat’s nest, holding their heads and muttering to themselves. I try my best not to look at them as we pass the threshold.“I believe this is the first time you’ve been…
-
Chapter twenty six: The rat’s nest
Custom Styles Elizabeth and I walk up into the ship. The woman atop the staircase takes a step aside so we can enter the landing.Her arms are crossed, her eyes hostile. She looks to be somewhere in her mid-twenties, yet her stance and aura make her look far older than that. Elizabeth chuckles painfully “Right, Hui…
-
Chapter twenty five: The misery
Custom Styles The moment we bust through the door, Elizabeth shrieks.With horror thumping in my stomach I find Yobu laying on his side on the floor, grunting and moaning. His hands are covered in blood as he tries to stuff cotton napkins down the wound. I call out his name and then drop to my knees beside…
-
Chapter twenty-four The Royal Griffin
Custom Styles The music inside the locked city is calm and meditative as we bust through the gate and rush towards the palace.Elizabeth doesn’t even bother ringing the bell for the butler to come down, pulling me straight to the lilac room.“I know it probably feels silly to waste time packing books but some of…
-
Chapter twenty-three : The decision
Custom Styles By the time I arrive at Shiwaso the door is still closed. Yobu should be here any minute so I slink to the back of the shop and slide down the wall, looking up at the sky as I wait, I wanna sleep, just get away from the bruises and aches that cover my body.The…
-
Chapter twenty-two: The gift
Custom Styles I wake up in pain. For a second I feel around me disoriented.This isn’t the badao. These sheets, stained in fresh red blood, aren’t my sheets.Oh right, my life ended.It’s still dark.My body tells me to go back to sleep and forget the pain both physically and mentally for just a couple more hours.But my…
-
Chapter twenty-one: The big brother
Custom Styles I wake up on top of cold bright white stone. The chill dulls the pain of the bruises on my body ever so slightly. But then I try to move and feel my own body fighting back fiercely as the pain spreads. I let out a wounded noise.“Aren’t you going to get up Hui?…
-
Chapter twenty: The best birthday
Custom Styles We did it!The restaurant is saved.It’s like a dream come true.For the months that follow it’s happiness and fun and money to spend on all the good things in life.I don’t need much for myself, I’m used to being poor.But taking Himowa out for tea is becoming a weekly ritual that I enjoy.…
-
Chapter nineteen: The stars
Custom Styles “There you go, thank you for keeping my shop safe,” Yobu tells the courier as he hands over the bag.The man counts out the silver sticks. Then, apparently satisfied he crosses something off on his list and bows “No problem, I’ll see you next month.” And with that Yobu turns to head back…
-
Chapter eighteen: The confession
Custom Styles With a loud whack he slaps the bundle of money onto the table, my shoulders jump at the sound.“Where did you get this?” The old man demands, his voice is cold, accusatory.This went very different from what I expected. We’re sitting in the back, the three of us.It’s evening but no one has come…