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EXCERPT FROM THIEF [link]

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“Come with us,” Revik said, barely a whisper. His body trembled, threatening collapse, as he held out his remaining hand.

She took it and rubbed it tenderly as she considered the offer. Go with Revik and Turlan to the south. Finally escape Eloria like Jarro had always wanted. Run away with them the way she should have been able to run away with him. It wasn’t right. None of this was right.

Everything she loved had been taken from her. Again. And the only people left who actually cared for her had almost been killed because of her stupidity. She felt anger replacing her sadness. That was preferable. It was easier to hate than it was to grieve.

She didn’t know where she would go or what she would do, but she couldn’t stay with them. She didn’t deserve to. The darkness within her, the rage she had tried to keep suppressed would go unchecked now. She was tired of fighting it. And she was frightened to think of what more would happen to Revik and Turlan if she remained with them. They were safer without her. They were with people who would care for them. That would have to be enough.

She inhaled slowly, forcing back the tears so that her voice would remain clear and even when she said, “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t. Please understand.”

“Idiot,” Revik sighed, the only protest he could offer with what strength he had left. He let go of her hand after giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye? You’re leaving us?” Turlan asked. “You won’t even stay until he’s better?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

“Bloody bullshit.”

“Turlan,” Revik whispered, “don’t.”

“The hell I won’t. Girl’s being a soft-brained brat, and she ought to get put straight. So listen here, Sevy. I know what it’s like to lose a love. How do you think I ended up being the ‘old drunken washed up loser’ that I am? But don’t do this. This is just stupid.”

Sevy grabbed Turlan’s face between her hands. His eyes went wide; the milky one fluttered beyond his control. The fear poured out of him, and all she could do was laugh at it. She kissed him roughly, once on each of his cheeks, and then pushed him aside so she could stare at Revik. He tried to smile. She knew that he wouldn’t hate her for her decision even if he didn’t agree with it. Gods, why wouldn’t he just hate her? She bent down and kissed him, pressing her mouth against his until they were breathing the same air, hoping to give back some of the strength her previous reckless kisses had stolen from him.

She did not stop for one final look at Eloria as she moved farther and farther away from the city walls, driven on by the bitter wind that lashed at her back. She wrapped her arms around herself, certain that no matter what happened, she would never be able to feel warmth again.
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Thief and all characters and places copyright Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Model courtesy sd-stock [link]
Background courtesy Banana-workshop [link]
Background courtesy arca-stock [link]

Description
EXCERPT FROM THIEF [link]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Come with us,” Revik said, barely a whisper. His body trembled, threatening collapse, as he held out his remaining hand.

She took it and rubbed it tenderly as she considered the offer. Go with Revik and Turlan to the south. Finally escape Eloria like Jarro had always wanted. Run away with them the way she should have been able to run away with him. It wasn’t right. None of this was right.

Everything she loved had been taken from her. Again. And the only people left who actually cared for her had almost been killed because of her stupidity. She felt anger replacing her sadness. That was preferable. It was easier to hate than it was to grieve.

She didn’t know where she would go or what she would do, but she couldn’t stay with them. She didn’t deserve to. The darkness within her, the rage she had tried to keep suppressed would go unchecked now. She was tired of fighting it. And she was frightened to think of what more would happen to Revik and Turlan if she remained with them. They were safer without her. They were with people who would care for them. That would have to be enough.

She inhaled slowly, forcing back the tears so that her voice would remain clear and even when she said, “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t. Please understand.”

“Idiot,” Revik sighed, the only protest he could offer with what strength he had left. He let go of her hand after giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye? You’re leaving us?” Turlan asked. “You won’t even stay until he’s better?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

“Bloody bullshit.”

“Turlan,” Revik whispered, “don’t.”

“The hell I won’t. Girl’s being a soft-brained brat, and she ought to get put straight. So listen here, Sevy. I know what it’s like to lose a love. How do you think I ended up being the ‘old drunken washed up loser’ that I am? But don’t do this. This is just stupid.”

Sevy grabbed Turlan’s face between her hands. His eyes went wide; the milky one fluttered beyond his control. The fear poured out of him, and all she could do was laugh at it. She kissed him roughly, once on each of his cheeks, and then pushed him aside so she could stare at Revik. He tried to smile. She knew that he wouldn’t hate her for her decision even if he didn’t agree with it. Gods, why wouldn’t he just hate her? She bent down and kissed him, pressing her mouth against his until they were breathing the same air, hoping to give back some of the strength her previous reckless kisses had stolen from him.

She did not stop for one final look at Eloria as she moved farther and farther away from the city walls, driven on by the bitter wind that lashed at her back. She wrapped her arms around herself, certain that no matter what happened, she would never be able to feel warmth again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thief and all characters and places copyright Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Model courtesy sd-stock [link]
Background courtesy Banana-workshop [link]
Background courtesy arca-stock [link]