As she trudged through a maze of alleyways, Lumi’s stomach grumbled. The chaos of the morning had consumed her, leaving no time to acknowledge the hunger twisting her insides.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she had a bite to eat. It was a self-inflicted deprivation. Hunger was an old companion, easier to endure than the thought of parting with her hard-earned gem.

  She paid for that decision in strength and agility. Every so often she would catch her reflection in a shop window, bewildered by the hollow eyes that stared back at her. Her face was sunken, the bones beneath her skin pressing sharp against the surface. Her hips jutted out, collarbones etched deep.

  It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

  Once she had enough gem to buy back her memories and her freedom, she would indulge. She would gorge herself until the ache of hunger faded for good. For now, the emptiness in her stomach was a reminder of her purpose.

  The sun mocked her as she wandered through town. Its cruel glare reflected off the grime and decay of the slums. Heat swirled with the scent of rot and piss—a sickening blend that made her head spin.

  Lumi’s legs moved forward without thought or instruction, dragging her to the market. The faint metallic clink in her pocket was an agonizing reminder of the gem she had stolen—and the price she would pay for it by nightfall.

  She exchanged a silver piece for a skewer of sizzling meat at one of the stalls. As soon as it was in her grasp she took a bite, its juices dripping like blood from an open wound. The first mouthful was gone before she tasted it, and the rest disappeared just as quickly.

  One skewer wasn’t enough. It did nothing to quell the feral edge of hunger. She bought another, when a conversation at a nearby stall caught her attention.

  “It was him. I swear it. Pirate-slayer Rook.”

  Lumi’s head snapped to the group of three huddled close together—two men and a woman. Their attire spoke volumes. Rags similar to the ones she wore, shoes with soles that were almost entirely worn down. They were street rats like herself.

  “You’re certain?”

  “I saw him with my own two eyes,” said the woman.

  Her back faced Lumi. Dark, curly hair was all she could make out from this angle. The other two were fair and haggard, their appearance suggesting years of malnutrition.

  “What’s an Emperor doing here? In Port Bram?”

  “It doesn’t bloody matter why he’s here. What matters is, he’s here—this is our opportunity.”

  “Sid’s right.”

  “What are you suggesting? That we kill him?”

  “Quiet.” The woman hissed, slapping one of the men on the back of the head. They glanced around, making certain nobody heard. Lumi’s head snapped forward, but she continued listening.

  “If we kill him, we’ll be set for life. We could finally leave this infested cesspool.”

  “There’s a reason he’s worth five million gem. The man’s a beast. How do you suggest we kill him?”

  Five million gem. Lumi’s head swirled with the knowledge. So, Rook had a bounty on his head? One worth five million gem. It was such a mind-blowing amount, she couldn’t quite believe it.

  “There’s three of us, and one of him. All we need is an opportunity with him alone.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Even alone, we don’t stand a chance. We’re talking about the only man who ever challenged the Pirate King and came out alive.”

  “He’s not as strong as he used to be,” said the woman.

  “So it’s true what they say?”

  “I believe so.”

  Lumi couldn’t gather what they were talking about. Why was he not as strong as he used to be? And did it have something to do with what General Sivan had taunted him about the night before? About something missing?

  From her peripheral, she saw the group begin to inch away from her. She made to follow them, but stopped in her tracks when a shadow fell upon her.

  Her grip on the skewer tightened, her senses sharpening as she lifted her gaze to meet the tall silhouette.

  Lady Sol’s henchman, Rico. His sneer cut through the air, sending a shiver down Lumi’s spine. She looked to the side, watching the gang disappear into one of the side streets.

  “Can I help you?” Lumi’s voice was tight, a faint tremor in her throat. Rico showing up here did not bode well for her. His favorite pastime was tormenting anyone who couldn’t fight back. And today, it seemed, was her turn.

  “Lady Sol has instructed me to fetch you.”

  Lumi’s mouth went dry, “I sat with her not two hours ago.”

  “And she is demanding your presence again.”

  “I’m busy right now.” She eyed the street the vanished into in frustration. She could still catch up to them. Overhear more of their plan. She wasn’t certain what she could do with this information, but it felt important.

  “Are you objecting to a direct order?”

  Lumi clenched her teeth. Rico was a brainless brute. He was as stupid as he was muscular. Arguing with him was like trying to carry a conversation with a brick wall—utterly fruitless.

  He raised his brows, “Are you?”

  “No, I—”

  Without warning, his fist collided with her face. The force of it sent her crashing to the ground. Before her head could stop spinning, the skewer she’d been clutching was snatched from her hand.

  She watched helplessly as Rico threw it to the dirt beside her head. His boot came down hard and crushed the meat into the filthy earth.

  Lumi’s chest tightened. She worked hard for that skewer. She risked her life for it. And she was hungry. So godsdamned hungry. People walked by, turning a blind eye to her predicament. A girl beaten by a man five times her size did not even elicit a flinch from the masses.

  Her throat ached and her eyes burned, but she would not give Rico the satisfaction of seeing her weep. She pushed herself up, ignoring the throbbing on the side of her face. He punched the side with the scar, and she felt as though her face had caught on fire. But she did not let her pain show. She dusted the muck from her clothes and steadied herself.

  “Was that really necessary?”

  Rico’s grin was as cruel as it was triumphant, “You’ve got a face that begs to be punched. Amongst other things.”

  She didn’t know what he meant by other things and she didn’t want to know. The way he looked at her often made her skin crawl.

  Lumi loathed this life. She despised being at the mercy of others, hated feeling so weak. The only thing that soothed her rage was the promise she made herself every day. She would make them pay. Rico would regret the way he treated her. Lady Sol, too. And every other soul who dared cross her. They would all pay.

  She clung to that promise. It made the humiliation coursing through her veins more bearable. It was her fire, her fuel, and one day it would burn them all to the ground.

  “Now, will you obey? Or will you continue to challenge the lady’s orders? I don’t care either way.” He flexed his muscles, “I can do this all day.”

  Lumi spared a final glance at the skewer. Abandoned, coated in dirt. Then she went with Rico. He roughly escorted her back to the pleasurehouse. He led her to her room, and tossed her inside. Before she could protest, the door slammed shut. The lock clicked into place, the finality of it echoing in her head.

  She stood there a moment, staring at the door, wondering what had stirred such a reaction. She had been in trouble before. She had been beaten, and abused, and punished in terrible ways. But this felt different.

  Finally, she turned.

  The room that greeted her was a nightmare. Her bed was upturned and mangled. The few meager clothes she owned were torn and scattered in remnants across the floor. But it was the floorboard that caught and held her gaze. It had been ripped from its place, the gap wide and hollow.

  Her ears rang as she staggered closer. The world around her grew distant, as though she was watching herself from outside her body. Her heartbeat thudded in her chest. Too loud. Too fast.

  She knelt down on her knees, and when her trembling hand touched the empty space beneath the floorboard, something inside of her cracked.

  She collapsed to her knees.

  The gem was gone. Every last piece. She had prowled the unforgiving streets of Port Bram for three years. Risked her life for every precious coin. And just like that, it had all vanished.

  The weight of her sacrifices felt hollow. All the blood, sweat, tears. All for nothing.

  Nothing.

  Nothing.