Chapter 10

It has been days, since I have seen Kartik. A million thoughts raced through my head. What if he left me for someone else? I stopped my pacing to glance at my bed. Don't be ridiculous, he loves you.

The next thought to come to my mind caused me to panic. What if the Rakshana finally did catch up with him? What if he is not coming back? What if I never see him again?

I walked to my window, frantically. My eyes scanned the yard, for any sign of him, but I saw nothing, but darkness. An idea then struck me. It would be risky, but it might be the only way to find him. I just pray, it works.

This was the side of town I was not most familiar with. I had only been here with Kartik. Felicity is with me, but she is not the same.

An old man approached us. "Hey, sweeties. How are you today?"

It is right to respect your elders, but this man gave me the creeps. I'm sure he had the same effect on Felicity.

"Excuse us," she simply said, with a cold voice.

As we started to walk off, the old man came up behind us, placing a hand on both our waists. "C'mon, I'm sure we can all get along."

He smiled a toothless smile at both of us.

Felicity pulled his hand off her, and he placed his free hand on my other side.

"You won't be so unladylike, will you?" he asked me.

"Remove your hands, sir," I ordered sternly.

"Oh, is that anyway to behave?"

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Sorry, sir, she's with me."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of his grip. "Come along, Lucille."

Having no idea what was going through Felicity's mind, I walked along with her, anyways, glad she was there.

"Thanks, Fee."

She waved her hand. "No problem. You have to watch out for men like that. There are not all gentlemen."

"I know," I said quietly, a little embarressed that I didn't handle myself with more spine.

I quickly recovered from my self pity, when I saw the place. "This is it."

I lead Felicity out of the damp, dark street into the well lit bar. Kartik said, if I ever needed him, I would find him here. I walked to the back, searching the place for him. I admit I was scared to be in here, but it wasn't going to stop me.

I knocked on the wall, beside the curtain. No answer. Kartik probably couldn't hear over the noise, so, boldly, I threw the curtain aside and walked in. Then, I noticed Felicity wasn't behind me. I turned back to find her flirting shamelessly with a couple of young Cubans. She saw me and gave me a jesture to keep going. I smiled, shaking my head.

The smile faded, as I remembered why I came here. I stepped over the threshold, closing the curtain behind me.

"Kartik?" I asked uncertainly. "Kartik, are you here? Hello?"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped slightly, and my heart racing like crazy, I turned around.

"Kartik?"

He smiled slightly, but that smile quickly left. "Gemma, you shouldn't be here."

"Why not? What's going on?"

"Gemma," his voice was so low and frantic, "listen to me, we can't ever see each other again."

I stepped back, feeling like I was about to faint. "How come?"

He straighten up, his eyes averted. "The Rakshana found me and told me, if I ever saw you again, they will kill you."

I swallowed. I knew this was going to happen, one day, but I still didn't see it coming. "What about you?"

"I can't ever rejoin their brotherhood, after I betrayed them, but they agreed to spare me, because of my brother's loyal service."

I nodded. "Well," I almost cried, when I said it, "I guess this is it. I guess this is..."

That moment, we both looked up. "Goodbye."

I walked slowly past him, not wanting him to see me cry. I held myself together, as I walked back into the crowded room. Taking one last look at him, staring at the ground, I closed the curtain behind me.