From my peripherals, Alicia mouthed,Play the part.Wide, green eyes beseeching in a cloak of abuse.
Didn’t really have a choice, did I? Not with the Raith chewing at neck and wrists. Not with my back split open, and my ribs crackling protest at every breath. No, I’d have to do—
I didn’t see the strike coming, but the backhand landed hard enough to put any notion of fight out of me—until he yanked my head back so hard my brain hit the inside of my skull. Dizzy and pressed close to his chest, I was without the leverage to act.
“Steady,” Caleb said, aiming the end of his ornate cane at my throat.
I struggled, cringing away from the stick. But it was no use—Jasper fastened the hook at the end of his cane to my collar and dragged me from the cage. Thrown off balance by a savage tug, I stumbled, near to garroting myself at the end of a stick.
“Stop it!” Alicia screamed. “She’s not doing anything!”
“Shut her up,” Jasper snapped. “Easy, Hob. That’s a good girl,” he cooed, leading me toward the auction house. “Put on a show for the good men and women, hmm?”
And then I found I didnotneed kioradrenaline to sustain me—not when the very sight of the man inspired enough rage to make my heart beat at the back of my throat. Not when Alicia had begged me to play the part, for of course, Jasper himself had named meDemon. Why, it would be unjust if I didn’t live up to this newest moniker.
Running on fumes, I lunged, bellowing at the top of my lungs, broken ribs and lacerations be damned. Fingers hooked, claws flashing, I went for his eyes.
He stepped out of range, keeping me at the end of the stick as I turned my fury upon the collar, drawing blood in my effort to be rid of the Raith.
“That’s it,” Jasper hummed, utterly unconcerned as he tugged me toward the darkened stairwell. “This way.”
I snarled, tripping on a concrete lip at the top of the stairs—the slaver braced the cane at his hip, stopping my fall and forcing me to stand on tip-toe if I wanted to continue breathing.
“Just down these stairs now, Hob. Come along. That’s it… Good.Get the door, man! The door!Good girl.” Cheeks flushed, he herded me, following me onto a small stage lit with by the dingy yellow glow of oil lamps.
The living heat in the overcrowded room slapped me with the sour scent of men drinking, but did not bank my demonic fire. I fought all the harder, raged—though my back was hot and sticky and my ribs screamed for relief.
Fight just a littleharder…then the Raith could have it all…
Jasper shoved me forward, laughing when I stumbled, landing hard on my knees without the use of my hands to slow my fall.
“A fitting position for you, Hob,” Jasper sneered, then seized a fistful of hair as an auction house employee fixed my collar to a large brass hook embedded in the wooden planks beneath me. “You see that man there?” he asked, guiding my chin, pressing his cheek to mine. “He runs the freak show. Keep it up, Demon. Your temper is good for business.”
No. My ‘temper’ had blanketed the crowd insilence. A sea of faceless dark eyes stared back at me—seeing exactly whatIwished them to see. A filthy demon dressed in chains and forced to kneel. Unbroken, in spite of the bruises and the blood.
Chin raised, I flashed a toothy grin, letting the hysteria bubble forth as the Raith took and took and took.
Oh, I had their attention—better yet, I had their disgust.
Jasper’s golden serpent swung into my peripherals, and I shook with unhinged laughter that was swallowed by the press of bodies staring at the wood’s menace. “A curse for you, Jasper,” I rasped, voice a hoarse scratching as my throat tried to work around the Raith. “A promise for the slaver. I’m going to pull your intestines from your belly, inch by stinking inch. Only when your screams begin to annoy me, and your stench simmers in the midsummer heat will I give you death. I’ll wrap your guts about your throat and hang you from the tallest tree so your corpse can’t poison the earth.” I leaned in, all teeth and madness even as my vision spun with fatigue, my voice for his ears only. “Salt mines or freak show, I’ll have my chance at freedom, slaver. And I’ll come for you. The serpent can’t protect you. Not for long. Not fromme.” I licked his cheek then, cackling when he thrust me forward, his face pale. “But I mustn’t be rude. Must give thanks where it’s due. So, thank you,Jasper.Thank you.”
I didn’t need my ki to know how much he didn’t want to ask it. But he couldn’t help himself. “F-For what?”
But that, I would not answer. Better to let him stew with indecision. Better to let his tiny, superstitious mind fill the gaps, because the Raith was sohungry…and I was so…cold…
Trembling, Jasper stepped back, joining his partner at the edge of the stage.
The crowd roared, their fervor washing over me. Their uncomfortable murmurings all the accolades I needed for a flawless performance.
Play the part, indeed.
Alicia’s face twisted, pretty green eyes glittering with tears. “Why would you provoke him, lass?”
“To play with his mind,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure she could hear over the roar of the Raith.
A man with a deep, booming voice clapped his hands. “Attention, please! You may now inspect the wares if you are in possession of a buying card. Form an orderly line! Don’t want to put undue stress on the merchandise.”
Men and women of Caledonian descent flocked to the stage. Each flashed a golden card marked with the twisty symbol of the serpent. They petted my fellow captives, inspecting teeth, hair, limbs, and skin for flaws. And like good little puppets, they cut a wide berth around me, tossing me disgusted sneers and upturned noses as they passed.
