He flushes a bit and I have to keep the smirk from my face at watching him squirm before realizing that flustering the bastards won’t help me now.
“I had many good teachers growing up,” I reply vaguely. “As a matter of fact, the friend of mine in your jail learned with me. I was hoping to see him this evening.”
The first man shakes his head with wide eyes.
“Not possible, not tonight!”
“It’s not that we don’t appreciate you showing us this stuff,” the second continues, “but The Watch is coming soon, and you don’t wanna be around when they do.”
I nod thoughtfully, but really, I want to gut them both.
“I’ll be quick,” I assure them, “and be gone before they arrive. Besides, I thought I saw them talking to that rich fellow that showed up. They’ll be a while yet.”
The two guards stare at each other a moment and my skin twitches with the niceties. How Ana does this shit is beyond me. It’s damn tiring keeping up a facade like this.
“Well, if you’re really quick then…”
∞∞∞
“About fucking time you showed up,” Ethan grumbles as I walk into the room. He looks more haggard than I’ve seen him in a long time.
“They feeding you?” I ask as I’m already pulling out a small wrapping and handing it through the bars.
“They aren’t so bad,” he says, even as he tears into the soft bread and cheese. “But the food is shit. Oh, fuck me, this tastes good. So, what’s the plan anyway? I heard some shit happening outside, what’s going on?”
Glancing behind me one more time to make sure the guards are still outside, I drop my voice and move in closer.
“How do you feel like escaping and going on a Watch hunt?”
Five minutes later and I’ve told Ethan my plan, so far as I have it. Striding out the door, the guards give me a brief nod and I begin the next part of the plan.
“Say, how would you gentleman feel about a drink after your shift?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ana
Ibarely make it around the corner of Emilio’s before losing the meager bits in my stomach. Whoever called it morning sickness was an uninformed asshole because this shit hits you at any time of day. The last hour or so the nausea has been growing and when Tahar finally left, I couldn’t keep it in.
“Ana?” Sammi’s voice comes from around the corner. “Ana! What is going on?”
Soft hands come to help me up which I accept gratefully.
“Fuck, sorry. Guess that stressed me out more than I thought it would.”
She eyes me critically, standing back with crossed arms.
“You’re lying.”
“W-what do you mean?”
She gives me a level look. “I’m a whore, Ana, not an idiot. Your skin is glowing yet you're getting sick often and randomly. And it’s hard to tell since you’re covered up so often, but your tits look heavier too.”
I look at her and sigh, my hands dropping to my stomach. Her eyes hold pity I hate to see but also, understanding.
“What the fuck am I gonna do?” I whisper, all pretense of bravado or pretending forgotten. She sighs and looks at me for a moment.
“Come on, I’ve got a place we can go. No one will miss us for a while.”