As the hours ticked by and the crowd in the Horse and Carriage began to thin, Samia's hope began to dwindle. She knew that if Varga wasn't going to show, she was left to steal the tiara and deal with Giuliette alone.
But she couldn't give up. Her anger towards Giuliette had only grown stronger with each passing day, and she knew that she needed to put an end to this once and for all.
She drained her wine glass, paying for the tab and leaving the pub behind her. The moon was high in the sky as she made her way through the dark, winding streets of Octoton. Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew that the time had come to face the danger that lurked in the shadows.
No Varga. No Shadow Blades. It was turning into the typical situation for Samia. She might as well have gone it alone from the start, she could have saved herself plenty of time.
She looked up at her home: House Reyes. Each of the eight towers that made up the octagonal shape of Octoton were identical; white towers with a spire at the top and balconies on the higher levels where the noble families lived.
"Samia," came the whisper of a voice behind her in the dark.
She turned, knowing the voice instantly.
