Odi slipped through the familiar narrow alleyways, her heart still pounding from the night's events. She had walked away from the palace unscathed, physically, at least but her mind was a storm. The King had let her go. The King. He had stared into her eyes, seen her for who she was, and instead of condemning her to death, he had freed her. No chains. No execution. Just a warning that he would send for something in return. But why?
She didn't have time to figure that out. She was back now, back where she belonged. Or at least, where she was forced to belong. The hideout loomed ahead, a rundown warehouse in the slums, filled with stolen goods and stolen lives. The moment she stepped inside, every pair of eyes turned to her. The other slaves and thieves whispered, their voices a mixture of shock and curiosity.
"Odi? You—you're back?"
"I thought the King would have your head on a spike!"
"Did you escape? How did you make it out?"
Odi kept her expression blank, swallowing the truth that burned at the back of her throat. She couldn't tell them. If they knew the King had simply let her go, they'd start asking why. And if Oliver found out, he'd twist it into something ugly, something dangerous.
She barely had a second to breathe before the inevitable happened. Heavy footsteps echoed across the wooden floor, and the whispers died instantly. Oliver emerged from the shadows, his face like a thunderstorm about to break. He was a large man, towering over her, his single arm still enough to instill fear in anyone who crossed him. His remaining hand was clenched into a fist, his jaw tight with barely restrained rage.
"Well, well, well," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Look who's back. And look she's got her arms. What a miracle."
Odi held her ground, but she could already feel her muscles tensing, bracing for what was to come.
"How come you came with your arms intact but not with my artifact?" he demanded, his voice rising with every word.
Before she could respond, before she could even take a breath, his hand lashed out. The slap cracked through the air like a whip, sending her staggering to the side. Pain bloomed across her cheek, sharp and searing, but she refused to fall. She clenched her teeth, lifting her head slowly, meeting his furious gaze with defiance.
"I—" she started, but Oliver didn't let her finish.
"You had one job, Odi! One! And you failed! Do you have any idea what you've cost me? That amulet was worth more than your pathetic life!" he roared, grabbing her by the collar and shaking her. "But of course, you got distracted, didn't you? Off sneaking away to that stupid graveyard again, mourning a mother who's long gone and useless to you!"
Odi's breath hitched. That cut deeper than the slap ever could. She wanted to lash out, to strike back, to tell him he was wrong, but she couldn't. Because he wasn't. She had been distracted by the thought of going to the graveyard, too much in a haste. If she had just focused on the mission, maybe things would have been different.
"You're not going to that graveyard. I rebuke you from going there!" Oliver growled, shoving her back. "Since you love failure so much, let's make sure you remember what it feels like. You have punishments to serve."
Odi's hands curled into fists. Her cheek throbbed, but her pride burned even hotter. "This is the first time I've ever failed you, Oliver," she snapped, her voice sharp with resentment. "One time. One mistake. And this is how you react?"
Oliver's eyes darkened, and he let out a cruel laugh. "That's exactly why I'm punishing you, Odi. I don't know how you escaped the law, but you need face it one way or the other because if I don't, you'll start thinking failure is acceptable. You'll start thinking you have a choice."
The room was deathly silent. No one spoke, no one dared to interfere. Odi could feel the eyes of the others, Ben included watching the scene unfold. She could almost hear their thoughts. Some pitied her. Others were just grateful they weren't the ones taking the brunt of Oliver's wrath tonight.
But Ben... Ben wasn't just watching. He was seething.
She saw the way his hands clenched, the way his jaw tightened. He took a step forward, hesitating for just a second before speaking. "That's enough, Oliver. She failed, yeah, but she came back. She didn't run. Doesn't that mean something?"
Oliver turned on him in an instant. "You want to speak for her, Ben? You want to take her punishments for her?"
Ben hesitated, just long enough for Oliver to scoff. "That's what I thought. Stay in your place, boy."
Odi exhaled, her mind racing. She wasn't going to let Oliver dictate her fate. Not anymore. Not after everything. She wasn't a child anymore, and she wasn't just a tool for him to use.
"I'll make it up to you," she said coldly. "I'll get you something even better."
Oliver eyed her, his expression unreadable for a long moment before he let out a low chuckle. "Oh, you will. But you will still face punishments."
Odi swallowed her anger. There was no use fighting him now, not when she had no power
As Oliver turned away, barking orders to the others, Ben stepped closer to her. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Odi forced a smirk, even though her cheek still burned. "Since when do I need you to check on me, Ben?"
His jaw tightened, but he didn't press. "I just don't like seeing him do that to you."
Odi shrugged. "It's nothing new."
But it was. Something had changed tonight. Not just between her and Oliver, but between her and the King. And she knew, deep in her bones, that this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.
She pushed the thought away. There was no time for that. Not now.
She had to survive first.