Zedd entered the restaurant with Elara and Reina trailing behind him. The bustle of the market still echoed in the distance, but as the heavy wooden door closed behind him, the world outside seemed to fade away. The warmth of the room wrapped around him, but his mind remained on the two girls.
He walked to the corner, his usual calm demeanor unwavering. Elara and Reina hesitated at the entrance for a moment before making their way toward the nearest table. Zedd couldn't help but notice their exhaustion—Elara with her fiery, red hair and fierce eyes, still holding herself with pride. Reina, the quieter one, looked like she could collapse at any moment. They had been through a lot today, but Zedd wasn't going to make it easier for them. He had his own goals.
The menu was placed in front of them, and Elara didn't waste time. She scanned it quickly and began ordering without a second thought. Zedd, however, didn't care about the food. His eyes flicked to the back of the restaurant, watching the workers as they scurried about. The thought of getting rid of the girls danced in his mind like a phantom. They would be a problem, no doubt, but Zedd didn't want to make a scene. Not yet, anyway.
The food arrived, and Elara and Reina immediately dug in. It was a sad sight, watching the two girls stuff their faces with food they could barely afford, but Zedd found it amusing. As they ate, Zedd muttered under his breath, "Eat, eat. Very soon, you two will be washing plates, and I'll be free of you."
The girls, completely engrossed in their meal, didn't hear him. The hours of walking had drained them, and food was the only thing on their minds. Zedd saw his opportunity.
He slid out of his seat, moving quietly toward the door. But as his fingers touched the handle, something inside him stopped. For the briefest moment, he hesitated. There was a gnawing feeling in his stomach—guilt, maybe? He didn't like it, but it was there.
A loud crash broke his reverie. Then came the screams.
Zedd turned, his heart skipping a beat. He pushed through the crowded room to the source of the noise. The restaurant owner, a bald-headed man in his fifties, stood at the front of the restaurant, hands on his hips, sneering at Elara and Reina. His bodyguards flanked him, grinning like vultures circling their prey.
"What do you think this is, charity?" the owner spat. "I don't feed people for free. You'll pay your bill, or else."
Zedd's gaze shifted between the girls. Elara, as haughty as ever, stood with her back straight, her fists clenched. Reina, on the other hand, was trembling, her face pale, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"You think you can just eat here without paying?" The owner stepped closer to Elara, his hands outstretched, as if to touch her.
Before he could, Elara slapped his hands away. "Don't you dare touch me, you dirty bastard."
Zedd's blood ran cold. The owner's face twisted into a cruel grin. "You two are gonna pay in a way you'll never forget." He took a step toward Elara, but she stepped back, her face flushed with anger.
Reina's soft sobs reached Zedd's ears, and his eyes widened as the owner's words hit him like a punch to the gut. "Pay with your bodies," he sneered, his eyes dark and filled with malice.
Zedd froze. He didn't expect this. His stomach churned, and for a split second, he felt something he hadn't in a long time—rage. He didn't know why he felt so angry. It wasn't like him. But he couldn't just stand there.
He pushed his way into the crowd, ignoring the murmurs of the onlookers. His eyes locked onto Reina, whose sobs had turned into quiet, desperate cries. She was terrified. Elara stood strong, but even she couldn't hide the fear in her eyes.
"Hey," Zedd's voice was cold, cutting through the tension. He stepped forward, his gaze hard and unwavering. "How much is the bill?"
The restaurant owner turned his attention to him, eyes narrowing. "Who the hell are you? Who are these girls?" he growled.
Zedd didn't answer. "How much is the bill?" His voice didn't waver, and something about his presence made the owner hesitate.
"40 silver coins," the man growled.
Without hesitation, Zedd reached into his pouch and pulled out the coins. He placed them on the counter, not even bothering to count them. The owner snatched them up, his lips curling into a greedy smile.
Zedd turned without another word and grabbed Elara and Reina by the hands. He yanked them outside of the restaurant, his grip firm. He didn't say a word as they stumbled behind him, both girls too stunned to react.
Once outside, Zedd led them to the shade of a nearby tree, his mind racing. He could feel Reina's body shaking from the aftereffects of the terror she'd just endured. Elara was silent, but the glare she shot at him could've burned a hole in his chest.
Reina's tears flowed freely now, and Elara, though still defiant, had a look of disbelief in her eyes. "You…" Reina sobbed, her voice barely above a whisper. "We trusted you… you left us."
Zedd's chest tightened, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. The words caught in his throat, a million excuses racing through his mind, but he couldn't find any that would make it better.
"I… I just…" Zedd stammered, his voice low. "I thought... I thought they'd make you two wash some plates. I didn't think he'd be such an asshole. I never thought he'd try something like that…"
Elara punched him, and Zedd didn't stop her. He let her hit him, the blows nothing more than a slight irritation to him. He could've easily caught her hand and forced her to stop, but he didn't. Instead, he let the pain of their betrayal wash over him, silently accepting it.
"You... you betrayed us!" Elara yelled, her face flushed with anger. "We trusted you!"
Reina, still crying, wailed, "We trusted you, Zedd… and you left us. You just left us!"
"I'm sorry," Zedd said, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached out and pulled them both into a hug, though neither of them reciprocated. He stroked Reina's hair gently, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to get hurt."
The two girls were silent for a long moment. Eventually, their sobs quieted, though the anger still lingered in their eyes.
"You won't forgive me, huh?" Zedd said, voice laced with regret.
"We won't," Elara muttered, though the anger had lessened. She glared at him one last time. "You left us when we needed you."
Zedd looked down at the ground, kicking a small stone away. "I didn't think the owner would be that twisted. I thought he'd just make you wash a few plates. I didn't think he'd…" He trailed off, his stomach turning at the thought of what almost happened. "I'm sorry. I really am."
After a long silence, the crowd that had gathered inside the restaurant slowly began to disperse, the tension easing with every passing second.
Zedd couldn't help but wonder, though, if things would ever go back to normal between them. He wasn't sure.
But
one thing was clear—he would never leave them in that kind of danger again.