I was his miracle. His secret weapon.
But if this woman doesn’t work for the Herald, I can’t think of anybody else who would be looking for me or who would even be familiar with my old name.
She clears her throat again and I recognize that I probably should have answered by now. A whole awkward thirty seconds have passed with the two of us just staring the other down.
“No. Never heard of them,” I croak.
Fairly certain I couldn’t be less convincing, but that doesn’t mean that she’ll know I’m the person she’s looking for.
“Ah, well, they were fairly well known for a hot minute a few years back. Pretty famous in certain circles.”
“Uh huh.” I channel all the disinterest I can muster while my mind works frantically, trying to work out how I can find out who this woman works for and what she wants, without revealing myself.
“Well, thank you for your help. If you think of anything that might aid in my search, that would be greatly appreciated.”
She slides a business card toward me, over the worn wooden counter. My brain’s still grappling for ideas about how to get information out of her, but all that winds up coming out of my mouth is a croaked ‘okay’.
She takes this as a dismissal and raps the counter once with her knuckle, before gathering up her briefcase and heading out of the shop.
Shit.
Once she’s gone, I try to return my focus to the list of jobs I have left for the afternoon. My hand shakes as I pick up my to-do list and I try to push down the rising panic. I’m hardly swamped with things that need fixing, which is lucky because I can’t get my concentration to stick on any one thing.
I’m too busy mentally spiraling.
I have this undeniable feeling to run. Get out while I still can.
I got out once and there’s no way I’m going to be dragged back into The Path. Not when it’s only just hitting me that I might have spent years away from under the Herald’s thumb, but I’ve been wasting that freedom.
Was it only an hour ago I was lamenting being bored in this nothing of a town? Past me was an idiot.
Present me needs to make an exit strategy, and fast.
Chapter 2
Sin
Afew hours later, I clock out without having seen another customer. I’m exhausted as I trudge home. I didn’t sleep too well last night and it’s making all my limbs feel hollow and heavy. Another night of waking up in a cold sweat from that dream again. The same one I’ve had maybe once a week for the past twelve years.
The Herald grips my arm tight and looms over me, I can smell the rot in his mouth beyond the veneers and see the hardness in his eyes as he glares down into my face.
“I need you to do this, Saint. It’s not a request.” His grip tightens and I can’t shake him off, no matter how hard I try.
I glance at the woman he wants me to influence. She’s been one of his Devoted for six months and she can’t afford the next payment. He wants me to put the fear of God into her as a little push for payment.
“I don’t think she can afford it,” I tell him, twisting uncomfortably in my holey sneakers. “Her daughter’s sick.”
“Her daughter’s an abomination,” he spits back. “If she doesn’t make the payment, she needs to know there are consequences for her actions.”
I blink at that. An abomination. The daughter’s half shifter and as the Herald’s eyes harden into chips of pure malice, it strikes me that’s how he sees me as well.
Half human. Half something else.
All wrong.
I turn to the woman, shaking slightly, and do exactly what he’s asked. Her eyes grow wide as raw, unfiltered terror fills her as she fumbles for her wallet.
“P-please. I’ve got another credit card here, put it on that. Just let me stay on The Path.” Her face is filled with desperation and my stomach twists with guilt.
