Chapter 7
1249 Words
Syria’s POV
She suddenly threw the car keys at me.
“Want to drive my car?” she asked, her eyes playful as she raised a brow at me.
I glanced at her, letting a small smile tug at the corner of my lips. “Come on, let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“That’s my girl,” she said proudly.
We climbed into her car, and I settled into the driver's seat. The instant I turned the ignition and heard the engine hum, an odd feeling of calm came over me. The gentle roar of the engine, the wind buffeting against the roof, the road ahead of us. It was something I’d been looking forward to.
As we left the tribe's gates, there was an oppressive silence between us. But Violet, as usual, broke the tension first.
"So what are you going to do now?" she asked, crossing her arms and staring at me. "I heard you left your cousin's wedding. You lost it out there, I suppose? That’s why I actually came to visit you."
My hands gripped the steering wheel slightly harder. "So fast did the rumors spread, huh?"
"Sure did. Everyone knows about it now," she replied without any attempt to sugarcoat it. "So, what are you going to do if your uncle finds out you were the one who caused that scene? You know how strict he is with you. He might even punish you or something."
I kept my eyes straight ahead, watching the street blur past us. The silence stretched out, thick and heavy.
“I’m leaving the tribe,” I said quietly, my voice firm. “I want to attend school in the human realm.”
"What?!" Violet blinked, clearly taken aback. "When?"
“I don’t know,” I answered, shaking my head just slightly. "I haven’t figured it all out yet. But it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time."
She stared at me in silence, her concern evident. I could feel her eyes on me even as I focused on the road. Violet had always been a little protective, and I knew this news wouldn’t sit well with her.
"Do you really want to escape your uncle's grasp?" she asked, her voice soft, filled with worry.
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "I know you're worried for me. But I can't keep living like this. I’ve spent so many years trying to save my grandmother. Trying to save myself. And every time, I failed."
The tension between us thickened. I could feel the suffocating weight of my words hanging in the air.
“My uncle is powerful,” I continued, my voice low. “He’s got too many alliances. He holds too much power. He’s not just holding me back; he’s got my grandmother under his thumb too. Every step I take is watched, every decision I make is criticized.”
Violet didn’t say anything, but I could feel her listening, her presence reassuring in a way.
“I have to prove to him,” I added, my grip tightening on the wheel. "Right now, I’m weak. I wanted to lash out, but I can’t. Not like this. I need a better plan. I need more than just rage. I need strength."
Her voice broke through the quiet, gentle but firm. “What kind of plan?”
The wind whipped through my hair as I let it cool the rising anger inside me. I shut my eyes briefly, trying to calm myself before speaking again. "I need someone strong."
There was a long pause. Violet remained silent, her face unreadable, before she finally spoke up.
“And how in the world are you planning to do that?” she asked, her tone now more confrontational. "How are you going to find the kind of power you need to challenge your uncle, enough power to kill him and break his hold on you, by just looking for someone? What about your grandmother? Are you planning to leave her behind?"
That gave me pause. Her words stung more than I’d care to admit.
I let out a small, bitter smile, my gaze still focused on the road. "I have to."
Violet didn’t say anything for a moment, but then she nodded, her expression softening. She reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don’t worry. I promise, I’ll be with you no matter what. I’m with you. Always."
"Thank you, Violet," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. A knot formed in my throat, but I fought it down. "I know you’ve always got my back."
She gave me a warm smile, her hand lingering on my shoulder a little longer before pulling away. I felt a rush of gratitude towards her.
I turned my attention back to the road, trying to push down the lump in my throat. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, but I decided to change the subject. “Where are we headed, anyway?” I asked, glancing over at her. "Do you want to grab some coffee or something? Maybe we can grab a bite to eat."
Violet leaned back in her seat with a sigh, a smile tugging at her lips. "That’s a wonderful idea, really. You need a break after all that’s been going on. I’m just glad I showed up when I did."
I smiled weakly. She was right.
As we drove on, another car whizzed by us going in the opposite direction. It caught both of our eyes immediately. The car was sleek, new, and looked expensive.
“Whoa,” Violet exhaled, eyes wide. “That car…”
"What about it?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“That’s a limited edition. Only a few dozen of those were made. The owner must be stupidly rich.”
She craned her neck, looking back at the car, her curiosity piqued.
I followed her gaze and glanced into the rear-view mirror. The car was a blur at first, but then the windows came down, and for a split second, I saw a glimpse of who was driving.
Though it was just a quick glance at his profile, my heart started pounding in my chest for some reason. My breath caught in my throat, and my hands gripped the wheel harder.
Who was that?
I kept looking in the mirror when, suddenly, Violet screamed.
"Syria! Watch out!"
Her voice snapped me out of my trance, and I barely saw the other car hurtling toward us. I slammed on the brakes and wrenched the wheel to the left, desperately trying to avoid the collision. The tires screeched as the car skidded, spinning across the road.
Omy! Good thing we narrowly avoided the other car!
I was shaking. Violet’s hand was gripping the armrest so hard, her knuckles were white. She was breathing heavily, clearly shaken.
“Girl, that scared me!” she said, her voice still trembling.
My heart was racing just as fast as hers. I took a deep breath, forcing my hands to steady on the wheel as I tried to regain my composure. But my mind was a mess, and no matter how hard I concentrated on the road ahead, the image of that car, that man, kept haunting me.
"Syria…" Violet’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
I nodded hesitantly, my voice shaky. "I’m just shocked. Let’s go," I murmured, trying to calm myself.
- Writer
