we write out the ends on our palms, then forget to read
The chill in the Hollowed Grounds was a different beast entirely. Torchline’s winters were sharp with salt and sea spray, but here, the cold settled into your bones, damp and unrelenting. Flora tugged her fur-lined coat tighter as she navigated the winding streets of the Last Whisper. Her boots clicked smartly on the cobblestones, an unapologetic announcement of her arrival. The raven she’d sent earlier ensured that Danta would be expecting her; now it was just a matter of making an entrance. A smile tugged at Flora’s lips as she reached for the door. It never failed to amuse her how understated the place seemed from the outside. Like a shy debutante playing coy—until you stepped inside and found yourself enveloped in decadence.
Warmth and colour spilled over her as the door swung open. Plush reds and vibrant golds stretched across every inch of the space, from the opulent drapes framing the walls to the low, flattering glow of the lamps. Flora’s shoulders relaxed almost instantly, the chill of the outside world replaced by the Dusklight’s sultry embrace. Music hummed softly in the background, blending with the murmur of voices and clink of glasses.
“Danta!” Flora called, her voice carrying just enough to turn a few heads as she made her way toward the bar. She moved with an easy confidence, tossing her golden curls over one shoulder as her jewelry caught the warm light. If anyone thought to question the queen of Torchline showing up unannounced, they’d find no room to voice it. She’d already claimed the room without breaking stride.
Warmth and colour spilled over her as the door swung open. Plush reds and vibrant golds stretched across every inch of the space, from the opulent drapes framing the walls to the low, flattering glow of the lamps. Flora’s shoulders relaxed almost instantly, the chill of the outside world replaced by the Dusklight’s sultry embrace. Music hummed softly in the background, blending with the murmur of voices and clink of glasses.
“Danta!” Flora called, her voice carrying just enough to turn a few heads as she made her way toward the bar. She moved with an easy confidence, tossing her golden curls over one shoulder as her jewelry caught the warm light. If anyone thought to question the queen of Torchline showing up unannounced, they’d find no room to voice it. She’d already claimed the room without breaking stride.
