She never forgot the man who chose me over her, despite having her pick of the men our age in Sonmathion. It was a stupid grudge Verin couldn’t shake, even years later. Her capacity for pettiness would have been almost impressive if it was directed toward anyone but me. I raised an eyebrow at her,so over her and her friends trying to ostracize and hurt me. Let her make of my words what she will. I turned to go, but she stepped in front of me, clearly unable to let this rest.
“You’ll get what’s coming to you.” Verin hissed venomously, her face turning red as her glare intensified. “I swear by the Old Gods. Some cruel master with a fondness for the whip will see that pretty little face. And he will break you. My only regret is I won’t be able to see it.”
That one stung—not because Verin actually managed to hurt me, but because her words spoke of the very fate I’d dreaded for years. I had no idea where I’d end up serving, and the fact that it was for life made it so much worse. If my master was excessively cruel, I had no way out—or, there was only one way out, and I wasn’t about to choose death over survival. I just didn’t have it in me. I straightened my spine once more, ready to tell her off.Fuck her stupid, petty grudge.
“Oh, come off it, Verin.” Soren snorted as he appeared beside me. “We all know your aspirations to be chosen by some Fae who will take you to a luxurious castle. But if the Old Gods will it, you’ll end up in some two-bit village just like ours.Forever.” Soren drew the last word out in a spooky tone as he winked at me. I chuckled as Verin shook in rage, before huffing and twirling around. Verin’s stomping was the stuff of legend as she stormed toward the stage.
Soren chuckled and turned to me with a bright smile on his face. As much as I wished he’d let me deal with Verin, I couldn’t stay mad at him when this was the last we’d see each other.
“You know she’s just angry you never gave her a go?” I teased him. We both knew his decision to ignore her while befriending me was an unforgivable offense in Verin’s mind. All the women in the village had wanted Soren, with his coppery red, shoulder-length hair, and sparkling emerald eyes, paired with broadshoulders and impressive height, he was considered quite the catch.
He rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t touch her or any of her hangers-on if they were the last humans on Adamah. Cruelty doesn’t do it for me.”
I gave him a sly smile, knowing exactly whatdiddo it for him. His gaze intensified, shifting down to rake over me. My blue dress matched my eyes, a flowing fabric that clung slightly over all my curves. Soren’s eyes took in each one with a hopeless want in his eyes. He was the only one in our village who tried to befriend me, and I knew I hadn’t made it easy on him—but I’m fairly certain he only continued trying because he had wanted me in other ways.
I eventually gave in to him a few years ago, and we’d slept together under the stars, on one of the many nights I snuck out to the fields to stargaze. But things between us had never felt right, or permanent. We both knew it couldn’t last, and a few years would be all we had. Who to let into my body was the only choice I had left in a world where all our choices were taken from us. So, I took advantage of the opportunity to make my own choice.
It was done now, Placement Day was its death knell, as we always knew it would be.
Like I said, there was no place for love in our world.
Soren gave me one last look, those emerald eyes full of emotion before he smiled sadly. I returned it as the shouts of the Fae stole our focus, and without a word, I moved forward. Soren’s hand shot out to stop me—the unspoken farewell between us that I denied him before we left Sonmathion must be lingering on his tongue. I forced myself to keep walking, unable to take hearing it. Knowing something must end, and accepting that end, remained two vastly different things. It was better to closethe door to that chapter without lingering on it. A quick cut of a knife was better than a drawn-out one.
As I neared the Fae directing us, I heard the whispers and titters from those seated. I cut a glance over to the nobles, and they were laughing as they pointed out different humans already up on the stage. I fisted my hands and bit my lip to force myself not to do anything stupid. It would be suicide to act. I wished I could do anything to stop what was happening, but these Fae had all the power, and I was no one.
Through my anger, I managed to put one foot onto the limestone steps, then another. I looked up above me to the bright blue sky, then down to the stone arena around me. Nature invaded it, plants bursting through the pillars. I wished the life this greenery represented would continue growing and cover this cursed place entirely. Lay waste to this stupid site and let no one else be forced to come here and throw their dignity away to the wolves.
I made my way to the waiting Fae, who was running his hand through his shaggy brown hair while his other held a list that he used to direct each human.
“Name?” He snapped out quickly, his pale yellow eyes landing on me. He must be lower in the Fae hierarchy, to be doing such a job as this.
I jolted in surprise at his direct focus, having been furious enough to not realize I was next. I quickly answered as his jaw tightened, clearly unhappy about waiting for me to speak.
“Asteria Faelynn Zagreus.” I spoke clearly, not wanting to incite his ire further.
“Asteria—you’ll be in group A.” He shooed me over to the group on the left, and I joined the others in standing amongst a circle of Fae. Each group was fenced in by at least ten guards who scrutinized us all with eagle eyes, whips in hand as they waited for us to make one wrong move.
The guard closest to me glared down at me with narrowed green eyes, not appreciating my inspection. He was wearing dark brown armor, with the phoenix of Sunset emblazoned in the center. I gulped as he took a step closer to me, lowering my gaze as his fingers tightened on the whip. I stood as still as possible, my heart racing out of my chest.
I’d never been whipped before, and I wasn’t keen to receive that particular punishment now. I was mercifully kept away from it in Sonmathion, but I knew that would change shortly. I was about to be claimed by some new kingdom and be given to who knows what kind of master. Bringing attention to myself early was quite possibly the worst thing I could do.
I stood there, choking on fear and rage; a cocktail of volatile emotions storming through me, while I prayed to the Old Gods I wouldn’t be touched—with whatever power the Old Gods might have to protect against the stronger Fae gods. No one could seem to agree on how much that was, and I could only hope it was enough.
At least I wouldn’t die of the nervous anticipation of waiting to be called. Being sorted alphabetically reassured me that I’d find out where my future would be sooner rather than later—whatever kind of future a slave could have anyway.
My emotions swiftly crashed, as a hopeless sense of melancholy overcame me and threatened to overwhelm me entirely. The lack of control over my life or my future is like a noose around my neck.
We’d first be presented to the Fae, who would pick through us, choosing their favorites to take home. Any humans not chosen would be assigned at random, based on each kingdom’s needs and how many humans were left.
I wanted to rage and scream—or maybe cry. I wanted to shout my protests about what was happening here and why thiswas wrong. But instead, I forced myself to be still, quiet, and obedient.
All to ensure I live another day.
I glanced out to the crowd, knowing my parents were there, watching on from the human section. I hated that they had to stand all the way back there. Meanwhile, directly in front of us, the Fae sat in comfortable velvet chairs. The royals, lords, and ladies of every kingdom sat in comfort, judging us, measuring, and weighing us like livestock. Every kingdom except Night, of course.
When learning of the kingdoms, our teacher told us the Night Kingdom hadn’t shown in as many years as we’d been alive. I heard a rumor once that the King of Night used those he deemed traitors, along with captured lesser creatures, like the Elves of Gemaria, instead of dirtying his lands with humans. The thought of a Fae powerful enough to rule over others of his own kind in such a way—gave me chills. Even the Elves, while less powerful than the Fae, were significantly more so than a mortal. I was thankful I would never have to serve such a beast.
That was the rule: you had to show up to Placement Day to get new slaves assigned to you. That decision had been made in the treaty that was forged by the six kings of old on this very spot. All the other kingdoms showed up to replace their rapidly aging human slaves. We aged and died so quickly compared to the Fae after all. We were nothing but a blip in their immortal lives.
