Chapter 75

Chapter 75
Eloise's POV

Midnight. I pulled my black cloak tighter and crept through the dark hallways, oil lamp flickering in my hand. Time to pay Nia a little visit.

My heart was racing. Not from nerves - from pure excitement. This was it. Time to get rid of Nia for good.

The dungeon guard was passed out against the wall, snoring. Idiot. I'd drugged his wine earlier. He wouldn't wake up if the building caught fire.

I pulled out the key I'd stolen from the guard station and unlocked the heavy door to Nia's cell.

Footsteps woke her up right away. Nia's head snapped up from the dirty straw where she'd been sleeping. Her face was a mess - swollen and purple from the beating Juan ordered. When she saw me, her eyes went wide.

"My lady?" she whispered, trying to sit up. "You came?"

"Nia, my old friend." I kept my voice soft and set the lamp down, kneeling next to her. "I finally managed to get down here."

I'd packed a little care package, some bread, clean water, healing herbs. Nothing fancy, just enough to sell the act. I put the cloth bundle in her lap.

"Brought you some stuff," I said, letting my voice shake. "Food, water, and something for those cuts."

Nia started crying when she saw the simple gifts. "My lady, you shouldn't risk coming here. If Master Juan finds out..."

"Shh." I reached over and touched the cuts on her face, running my fingers over the bruises. "Look what they did to you. Look at this mess."

I grabbed some clean water and dabbed at the dried blood on her cheek. Nia flinched but didn't pull away.

"This is my fault," I said, squeezing my eyes shut to force out some tears. "I should've protected you."

"No, my lady," Nia said weakly. "You tried to help."

I made my voice crack. "It wasn't enough. You've worked for this family for years, and this is what you get."

I sat back and looked at her with fake regret plastered all over my face.

"Remember when you first started working for me, Nia? You were what, fifteen? Just some scared kid who could barely speak up."

Nia nodded, her eyes getting that distant look.

"You were like a sister to me," Nia whispered, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

"We've been through everything together," I said, grabbing her hands. "All those secrets, all those memories. You've been more than just a servant, Nia. You've been family."

I leaned in close, dropping my voice to almost nothing. "But I'm not letting you die out there."

Nia stopped breathing for a second. "My lady?"

"I've got a plan," I said, glancing at the door. "Juan thinks he's sending you to die, but I'm not letting that happen."

Hope lit up in Nia's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Cost me a fortune, but I hired some guys," I whispered fast. "Good fighters, but they're gonna dress up like bandits. Tomorrow evening, when your escort gets to that bend near Black Forest, they'll attack."

Nia just stared at me.

"Everyone's gonna think it's real bandits," I explained quickly. "But these guys know what they're doing, they're there to save you and your family."

"But... the guards..."

"They might get knocked around a bit to make it look real," I said. "But nobody's gonna get seriously hurt. The whole point is getting you and your kids out safe."

I reached into my cloak and pulled out a heavy leather bag. The fake gold coins clinked together as I put it in Nia's shaking hands.

"One thousand gold coins," I said. "More than enough to disappear and start over somewhere new."

Nia stared down at the bag, then looked back up at me with tears everywhere. "My lady, this is... I don't get it. Why would you risk everything for us?"

Because you know way too much and you're about to become a dead weight I can't carry.

But I put on my most sincere look. "Because you're family, Nia. You've kept every secret I ever told you. Never once stabbed me in the back."

"After they get you out," I kept going, "my guys will take you south to the coast. There's a boat waiting to take you to some little island where nobody knows your name. You can live quiet, raise your kids in peace."

Nia was full-on sobbing now, hugging the coin bag to her chest. "I can't believe you'd do this for us. The danger to you..."

"If Juan ever found out what I'm planning," I said with a shaky laugh, "I'd be in just as much trouble as you."

Way more trouble, if he knew what I was really up to.

"But you're worth the risk," I finished, pulling her into a hug.

Nia collapsed into my arms, her whole body shaking. "My lady, I swear by the moon goddess herself, I'll never say a word about any secret you've trusted me with."

You definitely won't. Dead people are great at keeping quiet.

"That thing with Saskia fifteen years ago," she mumbled into my shoulder, "everything about your private business, every conversation we've ever had, I'll take it all to my grave."

"I know you will," I whispered, stroking her hair like I used to when she was younger. "That's why I trust you. That's why I'm doing this."

She pulled back to look at me, eyes all red but full of gratitude. "We'll disappear completely, my lady. New names, fresh start. Like we never existed."

"That's exactly what I want to hear," I said softly.

Nia grabbed my hands tight. "My kids will grow up free because of you. How do I ever pay you back?"

"You already have," I told her. "All those years of loyalty, serving our family, that's payment enough."

I stood up, wrapping my cloak around me again. "I need to get out of here before someone notices I'm gone."

"When's it happening?" Nia asked quickly.

"Tomorrow evening, right when the sun goes down. When you hear the attack start, be ready. My guys will know to look for you."

"What should we do when they come?"

"Stay down, stay quiet, do what they tell you. They'll get you out safe."

I grabbed the oil lamp and headed for the cell door. "Remember, Nia - you gotta act totally surprised when this goes down. The guards can't think it's anything but random bandits."

"I understand, my lady."

I stopped at the door and looked back at her one last time. She was still holding that bag of fake coins.

Enjoy them while you can. They're worthless anyway.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Nia," I said gently. "By tomorrow night, you and your family will be free."

I locked the cell and made my way back through the dark hallways, already smiling.

Stupid bitch. Did she really think I'd risk to save her?

The men I'd hired were real enough, but they weren't coming to save anybody.

The coins are fake. The rescue's a lie. And by tomorrow night, Nia stops being my problem forever.

I slipped back into my room and locked the door, already practicing my shocked face for when news of the "tragic bandit attack" reached us.

"Oh no!" I whispered to myself. "Poor Nia and her children! What a horrible tragedy!"

Soon, every threat to my position would be gone for good.