Serika's POV
My hands will not stop shaking as I walk deeper into the noble district. Every step feels like stepping into fire. I keep my hood low and my face hidden. My heart pounds so hard I think people can hear it. Kai's weak breathing echoes in my mind. That is the only reason I keep going.
I see a wealthy merchant ahead of me. His clothes shine, and his rings sparkle. He walks with two servants behind him. One carries bags full of things that could save Kai. Things that cost more than my life.
Now is my chance. I follow quietly. My feet barely make a sound. I stay close but not too close. The road is busy. Nobles walk past without even looking at someone like me. To them, I am nothing. Invisible.
Good. Let them think that.
My heart races as I get close to the servant with the coin purse. The purse bulges with gold. That is enough to buy medicine ten times. Enough to change everything.
I breathe in. Out. My fingers move slowly to the knife hidden in my sleeve. I do not want to hurt anyone. I just want to save my brother.
The merchant stops to talk to another noble. This is it.
I slip behind the servant. My knife slices the string clean. The heavy purse drops quietly into my hand. I slip it into my cloak.
No one sees.
I turn to walk away.
But the moment my foot touches the ground, a hand shoots out and grabs my wrist.
A strong grip. Hot. Angry.
"Thief."
The word hits me like a punch.
I spin around. The servant is staring right at me. His eyes are full of fury. His fingers dig into my skin.
He pulls me forward. "You little gutter rat. Give it back."
My heart leaps into my throat. I yank my arm back, but he squeezes harder.
The merchant turns. His eyes widen with shock and disgust. "Did she steal from us? Here? In broad daylight?"
People stop walking. All eyes turn toward me. Whispering starts. Someone laughs.
My breath grows thin. My chest tightens.
"No. Please. I need the gold. My brother is sick." The words rush out. Useless. They all look at me like I am dirt.
The servant pulls me closer. "You think we care about your slum problems?"
His fingers go numb for a second. That glow under my skin flickers. My wrist burns. The same golden spark that scared me before.
Not now. Not here. I force it down.
Suddenly he shouts louder.
"Guards! A thief. Catch her!"
My stomach drops as three city guards run toward us. Their armor shines. Magic symbols glow on their shields.
I try to run, but the servant still has my wrist. His grip shakes with fury.
"Let go of me," I say.
He smirks. "Not a chance."
Magic crackles around the guards. Blue sparks jump from their shields to the ground.
I panic. I yank my arm again. The golden glow under my skin pulses. Heat surges up my arm. I gasp. The servant jerks his hand back in surprise. My arm comes free.
I run.
I sprint through the crowd, dodging people, rushing past shocked nobles. My breath burns. My legs ache. But I do not stop.
Not until a wall of blue light explodes in front of me.
I skid to a stop. A shimmering magic shield blocks the road. I slam into it and fall back hard. Pain shoots up my elbow.
The guards close in from behind.
I scramble to my feet and run the other way, but another shield appears. I spin again. Another. The shields trap me like a cage of glowing blue walls.
No escape.
I back up until my shoulders hit the magic barrier. The air feels heavy. My chest shakes.
The guards walk toward me slowly, their steps loud and cruel. People gather around to watch like it is a show.
One guard lifts his shield. The surface glows brighter as he steps close enough for me to smell the metal.
"Thought you could steal in this district?" he asks.
I shake my head fast. "I had no choice. My brother is dying. Please. Let me go. I swear I will return the purse."
"Oh? You swear?" He laughs. "Thieves always swear."
Another guard steps forward. His eyes drag across my face in a way that makes my skin crawl. His smile is cold and wrong.
"She is pretty," he says.
My blood freezes.
The first guard nods. "Yeah. The captain will like this one."
The crowd reacts with whispers.
I look around for help. No one steps forward. They all stare. Some excited. Some bored. No one cares.
My hands shake so hard I can barely hold them still. I try to step back but the magic shield burns cold against my back.
The second guard reaches out and grabs my chin. I flinch. He forces my face up.
"A thief with a face like this. The captain will be pleased. He likes the pretty ones."
I jerk away. My heart slams in terror. "Stop. Do not touch me."
"Oh? You think you get to say no? You belong to the law now," he says.
Anger rises in my stomach. Fear mixes with it. The golden spark under my skin wakes again. Faster. Hotter. My arm trembles.
One guard frowns. "Her arm. It is glowing."
The glow bursts for a second. Gold light runs up my veins like fire.
The guards stare. The crowd gasps.
I grab my wrist and press hard, trying to hide it. The light fades.
But not fast enough.
"Magic?" one guard whispers. "Unmarked are not supposed to have magic."
"I am not magic," I say quickly. "I do not know what that was. Please. I just need medicine."
They ignore my words.
The first guard steps closer. His eyes are sharp. His hand rests on his sword.
"Change of plans. We are taking her to the captain right now."
Cold terror rushes through me. "Let me go. Please. I will do anything. Anything but that."
The guard lifts his shield again. Magic crackles across the blue surface. He smirks.
"You should have thought about that before stealing from nobles."
My breath shakes. My knees go weak. I cannot faint. I cannot break. I think of Kai. I see him coughing blood. I see him lying on that blanket.
"I have to help him," I whisper.
The guard grabs my arm. His fingers clamp around my wrist, right over the golden spark.
He leans close and whispers in a voice that makes my stomach twist.
"The captain loves pretty girls. He will be very happy to see you."
My whole body goes cold.
I pull back, but he yanks me forward. The magic cage tightens. The crowd cheers.
Something snaps inside me.
The golden glow floods my arm. Not a flicker. Not a spark. A full flash like fire trapped under my skin.
The guards freeze.
"What was that?" one asks.
I do not wait to explain. I shove the guard hard. Harder than I ever should be able to. His body slams into the magic shield. The shield flickers.
People scream.
The other guards raise their weapons.
The magic in my arm pulses again. Stronger. Wilder. Out of control.
I stumble backward. My breath breaks. My vision blurs with gold.
I cannot stop it.
The guard who grabbed me points his sword at my chest.
"Take her to the captain," he orders. "He wants her alive."
Alive.
For now.
Then he smiles with twisted joy and says the words that rip through me like a blade.
"And after he is done, he can decide what parts of her stay alive."
My heart stops. My power flares.
And the shields snap shut around me like a prison I cannot escape.