Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I wanted to escape.

Not from the academy.

But from Lian’s words.

Early the next morning, I climbed out through the old window of the West Tower laundry room.

Outside the window was the Convent’s abandoned rose garden.

There were no flowers in winter.

Only thorns.

My arms were scratched and bleeding, and the hem of my skirt was torn.

But I didn’t stop.

I was familiar with Saint Mercy Academy.

Which corridors were deserted, which doors were in disrepair, which bell tower’s shadow could hide me from patrols.

I remembered them all.

Three years ago, it was in these very cracks that I met Lian.

Now, I was using them to escape him.

As I neared the outer wall, someone stepped out from a side corridor.

White robes.

Silver chains.

Lian.

He stood there, looking as if he had been waiting for a long time.

I stopped, panting heavily.

He held my shawl in his hands.

“It’s cold,” he said.

I let out a laugh.

“Did you even calculate which path I would take?”

“You would only take this one.”

“Because you know me so well?”

“Because this is the path I led you down.”

I turned and ran.

He didn’t chase after me immediately.

But I couldn’t outrun him.

Lian caught me around the waist from behind, pressing me against the wall of the bell tower.

I struggled.

Afraid of hurting me, he kept his arms restrained.

That only made me angrier.

“Let go.”

“There are people from the Inquisition outside the outer wall.”

“Perfect.”

“They won’t let you leave alive.”

I glared back at him.

“And you will?”

Lian looked at me.

His breathing was slightly heavier than usual.

The hem of his white robe was stained with mud.

A Candidate Saint shouldn’t look this disheveled.

I suddenly had a very wicked urge.

I wanted to mess him up even more.

“Why do you insist on me staying?” I asked.

“Because you know about the red light.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

“I forgot.”

“You didn’t.”

His voice lowered.

“Evelyn, you aren’t afraid of me.”

I sneered. “Then what am I afraid of?”

He looked at me.

“You’re afraid that I actually believe you.”

My entire body stiffened.

Lian loosened his grip slightly.

Not completely letting go.

As if giving me an out.

And as if he couldn’t bear to truly let go.

“Three years ago, no one believed you,” he said. “They said your story was full of contradictions, that you committed perjury to cling to me, that you bit back at the academy because your affections were spurned.”

I closed my eyes.

I had heard all those words before.

On the streets.

In inns.

Every time an employer recognized me.

“I believe you,” Lian said.

“What do you believe?”

“I believe you didn’t tell a complete lie.”

“Don’t make me sound like I still have a shred of innocence.”

“You do.”

I shoved him away forcefully.

“I don’t!”

The sound of a patrol came from below the bell tower.

Lian reached out to cover my mouth, pulling me into the shadows.

His palm pressed against my lips.

For a moment, I smelled the Sanctuary incense on his cuffs.

And a hint of blood.

He was injured too.

I looked down and saw a scratch on the back of his hand.

Probably scratched by a rose thorn when he was chasing me just now.

The patrol passed by outside the wall.

The sound of iron boots faded away.

Lian still hadn’t let go.

I bit him.

Hard.

He let out a muffled grunt and finally released me.

His palm was bleeding from my bite.

I stared at that drop of blood.

“You’d better not touch me again.”

Lian looked at his hand, then at me.

“Alright.”

He said alright.

But the next moment, he draped the shawl over my shoulders.

His fingertips didn’t touch me.

It was so restrained it felt like a punishment.

“The Inquisition will search the West Tower tonight,” he said. “If you want to live to exact your revenge on me, follow my arrangements.”

I asked, “And if I don’t want to live?”

His expression finally changed.

“Then I’ll drag you back anyway.”