Venom
Page 32
I wait for days, watching the rising of the sun give way to the moon’s reign five times. Doubt plagues me. What if Bronn ignores my request for help? Certainly, what I’ve asked for is more than most people would be prepared to give. But Bronn’s not most people, and I have to believe he’s not changed from the man I knew, despite all I’ve done to destroy him.
On the sixth day I finally see the Maiden appear on the horizon, a mere speck at first, but quickly she grows – as do my nerves.
He’s here.
Since I escaped Gaius, weariness has been my only companion, but now I must shake it away. The time has come for my plan to be put into action – if Bronn is willing to go along with it.
I walk down the shore, feeling the diamond fragments bite into my feet and crunching them between my remaining toes. The rhythm of the waves rolling out, then racing forward and crashing on to the sand, calms my anxiety as I watch a boat filled with a dozen men row over.
They bank on the sand, and drag the boat up, and still I stand there, watching, waiting. Bronn has brought some of the crew with him, and my heart swells with painful delight to see Rayvn is among them. Snake blacks suit her more than they ever did me.
When they get closer, Bronn signals for the others to wait and then he approaches me alone. His hair is tied back so there is nothing to disguise his eyes from me, but today I cannot read them. It’s been too long. All I know is my heart is screaming out to him, longing for him to hear that it still belongs to him, as it always did.
He’s aged, I think. There’s a hardness to his face I don’t remember, and I wonder if I put that there, or if something worse has happened to him while we’ve been apart.
Then I see how he’s looking at me, and remember I’m wearing my suffering for him to see too. His eyes miss nothing. He sees my slight stoop, my missing digits, my limp as I take a step towards him.
I wonder if I imagine the pity I see in his eyes. If it is there, it’s only for a second, quickly hidden again by a man masterful at deception.
‘Thank you,’ I say, taking another clumsy step towards him. ‘For coming.’
Bronn doesn’t move. There’s a cold air blowing from where his crew stand watching and I want to cry. I’m not one of them any more.
‘You had no right to summon me like you did,’ Bronn says, and his words are ice.
‘But you got my message? You read what I said?’ I have to know if he’s going to help me. If he’s prepared to do exactly what I’ve asked.
‘I did,’ he says. ‘After everything you’ve done to me you thought I’d come to your aid? Thought I’d rescue you?’
Panic flares inside me. What if he won’t do it? ‘Why are you here? If not to help me?’ My own voice is small, but he hears.
It takes Bronn a moment to answer. He isn’t finding this easy. ‘Because the Maiden needs a true captain.’ He raises his voice loud enough for it to travel down the beach. He wants the Snakes to hear. ‘The East needs a real Viper.’
Behind him I see a slight shuffle of discomfort. The crew clearly didn’t know this was why they were here. I glance over at Rayvn, whose eyes flicker uncertainly. Ren is close to her, and he too is frowning at Bronn. The others aren’t my friends and in them I see nothing but excitement. They sense what’s coming.
‘You’ve come to claim the title?’
Bronn swallows hard before he nods. ‘I have.’
I raise my hands in surrender. ‘Please, Bronn. I’m unarmed. I can’t even hold a blade.’
‘Then it should make this easier,’ he says and without warning he charges towards me, his dagger drawn.
I dodge as best I can, but my unbalanced feet trip in the sand, so I topple to the ground. Bronn is thrusting the blade down and I roll out of the way before scrambling to my feet. Now I can do nothing but block and parry his blows, but he’s in peak physical condition and I’m a pale shadow of the warrior I once was. I fight to defend myself as hard as I can, giving everything I’ve got, though my body is screaming in protest, as is my heart. I can hardly bear this. I must bear this.
The crew do nothing but stand and watch in amazement. This isn’t a sight seen every day. Even Rayvn and Ren make no effort to help me and their loyalty to Bronn is another blow to my heart.
I’m struggling to stay upright, and Bronn capitalises on my weakness, flicking his foot behind mine so that I trip. With one arm he catches me and with his other he presses his blade to my neck. For a fleeting moment it’s as if everyone else disappears. Just the two of us, our faces so close that I can see all the anger, all the doubt in his eyes. We are both breathless, both tired of this fight. I hate what I’ve done to him, what I’m doing to him.
‘I love you,’ I whisper like a spell on to his lips. It’s still true, will always be true.
There’s a flicker of emotion in his features and I can’t bear to see his pain any longer. It’s time to end this.
‘It’s OK,’ I say, giving him permission to take what he came for. ‘Do it.’
My order seems to give him resolve and, with swift efficiency, Bronn glides his blade across my neck.
Heat blazes through my whole body and though I was expecting it, I wasn’t prepared. Wetness spills down to my chest, soaking my clothes, and for a second Bronn’s arms are round me until I slide down away from them for ever.
The ground breaks my fall, and I gasp for air but choke on blood. I’m scared at how fast it’s happening, how quickly I can feel life slipping away. Bronn is victorious, the title of Viper finally his; he and his men are leaving now, returning to their boat amid cheers and shouts, and despite everything I don’t want them to go.
I’m dying alone. The sand is turning red, drinking down the sorrow, fear and hope as they drain from my body, my soul ebbing away to the care of the earth.
I’m afraid.
I’m so very sad.
I’m …
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Once again, I am indebted to many other people who’ve got me this far:
My fabulous agent, Davinia Andrew-Lynch, who amazes me on a daily basis with her fierce tenacity and unwavering support.
My exceptional editor, Lena McCauley, who has guided me through each edit with her wise and kind insight.
All the amazing team at Hachette – you have gone above and beyond for me. Extra special thanks to Emily Thomas, Samuel Perrett, Naomi Berwin, Natasha Whearity and Becci Mansell.
To my nineteen newbie friends – how lovely to have shared our exciting debut year together. Special shout-outs to Lucy Powrie and Kat Dunn for keeping me sane.
My fantastic family, who are beyond incredible. My dad has now read Viper, and can legitimately call himself one of my biggest fans. Endless thanks to my mum for reading every single draft I’ve churned out, and for her spot-on advice.
My one-in-a-million hubby, Joe, who also reads draft after draft and points me in the right direction. And my gorgeous girls, Kara and Odette. Thanks for the laughs and hugs through a busy, mad year. Love you all.
And lastly, massive thanks to all the bloggers, booksellers, reviewers, librarians, teachers and readers who have supported me this year and made it so wonderful. I’m truly thankful to every single one of you. Yes, you. You’re the best.
Bex Hogan was raised on a healthy diet of fantasy and fairy tales, and spent much of her life lost in daydreams. Initially she wanted to train as an actress, but she quickly realised her heart belonged to storytelling rather than performing, and soon after started creating stories of her own. A Cornish girl at heart, Bex now lives in Cambridgeshire with her family.
Follow her on Twitter @bexhogan or visit her website at bexhogan.co.uk.
Copyright
ORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS
First published in Great Britain in 2020
by Hodder and Stoughton
Text copyright © Rebecca Hogan, 2020
Map copyright © Tomislav Tomic, 2020
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
All charact
ers and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
In order to create a sense of setting, some names of real places have been included in the book. However, the events depicted in this book are imaginary and the real places used fictitiously.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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ISBN 978 1 51010 584 3
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