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𝕰𝖚𝖕𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖈
The sigil didn't exist. There was no trace of it anywhere. When I tried to look it up, nothing came up. No images, no info, not even an ad.
My device dinged, and an article with a missing poster attached appeared on the glass screen.
My full name was printed in the middle along with a description of my features.
MISSING:
VERONA ADRIA CELESTE.
ABILITIES: LIGHTNING AND ----------
REWARD: 500,000 kroans
Thank the goddess I didn't go to that wedding, because if I tried to runaway after every single mage in Ecrea would be after me. Now because they don't have a photo of me it's way more difficult to find me. The bounty hunters that are hired though always manage to get close. Especially when the posters start popping up.
It's gotten so close, that one time I thought if I waited it out I would be fine. Turns out a group of them decided to work together and tried to close down an entire province with me inside. Luckily I escaped, and found a way out. Since then I told myself I would never go back to Draçon.
Not even if I went homeless, or broke. Because at least out here I was free, I wasn't locked up in a room all day for not smiling enough or not bowing low enough. I wonder what my parents would think sometimes. Like if they were still alive maybe I would be a completely different person. Maybe I wouldn't have learned to hate the world I live in, and instead enjoy it. But I guess it's a waste of time to imagine something that isn't real. Plus, it's not like I knew them, I can barely remember their faces.
I pack my things into my lavender duffel bag, including the throw blanket on the sofa for extra measure. It never snows in Medeis, but who knows what the weather's like in Alenris or Lamea. Though, I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn't a little bit torn leaving Medeis.
That's why I've got to leave before he gets back from whatever it is he does for a living. Ive never been the goodbye type anyways. My stuffed bag zips up nicely without me having to force anything.
The front door knob starts to wiggle, and the door swings open. Jasper steps inside closing the door behind him and then rushes to the kitchen counter.
"Adria! I was thinking we could do something fancy tonight. Maybe drink a good bottle of some sweet liquor I've been saving for a while. What do you think? Nice liquor and a...." He steps out into the living room, and spots my bag. "What's going on?" He asks, his smile dropping instantly.
I take a breath before shattering the joyous energy he had walking in. "I'm leaving Medeis. For good."
"Okay, um. Can I ask why? Do you have to leave now? We're you going to say goodbye or just jet before I got back?" His face blank, but there was look of hurt in his eyes.
"Jasper, I have to go. It's a family thing, I can't tell you more or I'd be lying to you. And I don't want to lie to you." Sighing, defeatedly and picking up my things. I refused to look him in the eyes. Knowing that with one glance all my determination will dash away, being swept as if I were sand and he were wind.
I quickly exit, scrambling past the door and stairs. Everything gets blurry, when I realize that my eyes are drenched. The rain hiding the tears, like I try to hide my own pain. My bones themselves feel very heavy, signaling their unwillingness to leave the one place I've found real happiness.
I can hear my name reverberating down the street, as I keep pushing forward. I have no idea where I'm going but I know that I have to put as much distance between myself and him.
You're a lie.
Loneliness is a gift, because all anyone will do is leave you feeling empty.
Her malicious voice slithers into my thoughts. Stopping me in my tracks. I don't want to listen to her, because I know she's wrong.
"I hate you."
"I hate you."
"I hate you."
"I-"
"Adria."
Hands on both shoulders hold me upright against the brick behind me.
I notice his eyes look fuller in the rain, with water pouring down his face. I hug myself even tighter to try disperse my previous thoughts. Only focusing on his eyes.
"You're eyes..."
"My eyes?"
"They're my favorite color." I close my own, imprinting the color in my mind.
"Adria, I know you have to go but can we just talk about this? Maybe find somewhere to sit down where it's a bit more dry?" He half smiles.
I nod pushing off the wall, carrying my belongings with me.
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"There is only one way I'm going to do this." I squint, feeling much more like myself now that I have a drink in hand.
"Is all this under my tab or yours?" He gestures to many shot glasses on the table in between us.
"Tch. No more questions until the game starts. So first thing first, the rules are clear. You ask me a question and I, being the beautiful soul I am, will either answer or take a shot. Same goes to you. If I answer the question, you drink and then I ask. If you answer, I drink and you ask. We play until all drinks have been indulged." The wild grin on my face was pointless to hide, due to the blood buzzing in my ears. I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head that was turning into a nasty headache.
And the best way to deal with annoying feelings in my life is to drink.
"I highly doubt this is the most functional way to get answers. I'm pretty sure this has more to do with your unhealthy friendship to tequila." Jasper scowls. "But if this is the only way to get anything out of you I might as well play along." He shrugs, downing the first drink and beginning the game.
"Why are you leaving?" He asks, as I trace the edge of my glass.
"Because I have to go somewhere important. Glug glug." I motion, chuckling.
"What's your job?" I ask.
"I'm a contractor of sorts, I run errands." He replies hesitantly.
I recognize the look in his eyes but decide not to push him on it tonight. It's easy to pick up on lies when majority of people you know have lied to you enough.
The familiar sour tangy liquid burns my throat all the way down. My favorite feeling in the world.
However I am becoming increasingly curious on how it would feel to have my mouth on Jasper's. Whether it would be soft and gentle or passionate and wild. I like to imagine the latter.
"Where are you going?" He asks.
"I have no idea, but I'm thinking of somewhere with lots of water." I smile.
He feigns a polite smile and downs his drink. Some liquid running down the length of his neck.
I don't know whether it's the tequila or me but suddenly the urge to reach over the table and lick that trail up his neck starts a shiver across my back. My fingers tap against the oak wood table, as I desperately wrangle my thoughts.
"I want to know why." I blurt out, without asking a whole question.
"Why what?" He questions, leaning his head against his wrist looking up at me.
Damn those green eyes to eternal anguish. Why did I think drinking with him was a good idea, when he looks like that.
Last time I got drunk with him I started to feel things there would only complicate my life even more. Now I'm back to square one.
"Shit. I can't do this." Dunking the swishing drink in my mouth, I run my hands through my hair. Abruptly standing up and walking out of the pub where it's still raining outside.
The water cool on my skin, giving me enough space to breath. Unfortunately doing nothing to calm down my rapidly beating heart.
Steps loudly fall behind me, already knowing who followed after me.
"You're a bastard, you know that?" I shout at him turning. His already drenched hair and face knotting in confusion.
"What did I do?" He yells, throwing his hands up.
"You just, you just. Ugh! You're just so-"
His mouth wasn't soft and gentle. It was everything I wanted and needed. It was exactly how I felt. Frustrated and wild and crazy. But good crazy. The type of crazy that makes you want to dive into water from a high cliff. That feeling that leaves you puzzled when you realize you have no idea where to put ypur hands. Yet also makes you laugh uncontrollably at the highest point on a swing set.
I want to feel like this forever. To feel the rain on our faces and not care. To feel hand on my cheek, and my breath on his. To feel so warm, even though it was freezing a few seconds ago.
But nothing lasts forever, and despite the euphoria I'm feeling, the earlier nagging
that something bad is about to happen is now screaming at me.