I'm not dying. Not today!
“Clara!”
I dash, my legs taking me wherever I can. Just as long as it's away from here. Anywhere but here!
I dodge and shove people on the streets, past tents and massive cars. I gasp with every step. I need to live. I need to keep my heart beating.
I will live another day.
Chapter 5
Amias
“Clara!” I call, but she's long disappeared into the crowd. It's almost like she was never here.
I run up the street, rushing past the streamers and flowers twisted on the poles, and the people chattering about, but she's too fast. There's no way I can catch up.
“Clara!” I call like she could hear me, but there's no response.
Everyone on the street, both festival enjoyers and vendors in their tents and food trucks, stare my way. Their eyes widen and squint. My head bows under the attention. They start to whisper and I'm already dreading what they're about to say.
Not this. Not right now.
“Did he scare off another girl?” one person says.
“I knew there was something up with him when he didn't have a soulmate.”
“He’s a dreamscreecher fetishist. Remember? Can't have a soulmate if you're a sick freak.”
“Maybe he was using his powers to take advantage of her. Just like he will with the entire kingdom.”
“No wonder he's soulmateless.”
I don't even know where the rumors came from. I've done nothing for anyone to even think I'd sleep with one of those monsters. Not everyone believes it, but enough do. The onlyreason this rumor exists is because my grandmother is the Gift of Love, the grand being gifted from Cosmo to reward humans with soulmates. These rumors are supposed to explain why she wouldpossiblydeny her own grandson a soulmate. If it weren't for my lineage, no one would care.
My heart doesn't know whether to boil or to plummet into the cold sea of pain, so I just stand there. Stupid. Still. Jaw slacked. Trying and failing for a distraction or a comeback.
“Amias?” My chauffeur calls from behind. I don't bother to look at him. “You're not going to keep up with her.”
I stay silent, shaking my head as people gossip. I should focus on Clara. She needs more care than I do.
But my chauffeur is right. I can't catch up to her like this. Not on foot, and not even by car, considering traffic.
“If I could make a suggestion, the lady seems rather frightened at the moment. If she wants help, she'll come back.”
But she's wounded, and all alone. I know the idea of being with a descendant of a Gift probably frightened her, but it feels stupid for not going after her.
Then again, he's right. It might make it worse if I try to find her. She'd panic more and run further.
Maybe it's wise to come back to her another time, even though it pains me that she could get infected the longer I leave her alone.
People start turning their heads to the other side of the street. Instead of scornful comments, there's giggles and excited murmurs.
Just as I follow their stares, I hear it.
“It’s Erasmus and his soulmate!”
I immediately spot them. I recognize the honey blonde curtain bangs with the bold red suit he chose for the festival. Beside him is a woman with black coily hair and shiny ebony skin, a perfect contrast to Erasmus. She wears a simple but boldpink sundress to compliment his outfit. As they cross the road, they giggle at something and grip each other's hands.
