“Don’t, Fynnigan, don’t.”
With those final words, she turns around and strides out of the house, leaving me staring at her with ire. It’s been a long time since my mother used my full name.
I sigh and throw the few things I had taken with me last night into my bag. I glance into the room I stayed in to see if there’s anything worthwhile to take along. It’s not like the female vampire will need it anymore. I chuckle at that. I glance at theburned, dried-out corpse on the floor. Nothing gives away what she used to be, a powerful being humans would cower for, a being I barehandedly destroyed and killed. Refusing to give the vampire any more thought, I take my things and quickly fall in step behind my mother, not looking back at the scorched body I am leaving behind.
Harlot is already waiting, pretending to be the good girl she is, averting her eyes, not daring to look at me. Mother glares at me disapprovingly.
“You could have at least put on some fresh clothes,” Mother murmurs.
I know my attire reflects the events from last night; I haven’t changed into clean clothes, and the blood stains and soot are evident. I haven’t removed my dirty outfit on purpose. It is to send a message to every creature we will encounter as we pass through this sickening town, that it isIwho murdered one of their kind: me, a human. And I am ready to repeat that dance if they want to try it. From my mother's condescending look, I can tell she does not share my sentiment. She prefers to leave towns as quietly as possible, without leaving a trail, as if those we are running from would find us otherwise. As if my public display of killing the supernatural brings us into jeopardy. Ignoring my mother, I focus my attention on my sister. To spook Harlot, I tell her in excruciating detail how I killed the vampire, how her skin crumbled and melted under my touch, and how easily I snapped her neck. I mimic the sound it made, baring my teeth at her as I do. Harlot stares at me in horror, her gray eyes wide. Satisfaction takes hold of me. I smirk at her and increase my pace, leaving her behind with her thoughts. Hopefully, she’ll stop with her creepy glances.
DIARY ENTRY:
Keir is an incredible father, a natural. He helps me with the twins whenever he can. He agreed to the names. I can tell they are both little fighters and curious. I would fight Hell for them. I will fight you for them. Let me keep Keir, too; I need him.
Welcome to Valorya
HARLOT
Chapter 4
Thanks to my dumb brother, we are on the move once more, all because he cannot keep his nasty hands to himself. My tired legs drag me along as I try to keep up with my mother and Fynn. I glare at his smug face from the corner of my eye. I can’t believe he killed a vampire with his bare hands; the crazy bastard broke her fucking neck. I have never witnessed Fynn lose control like that; it makes me wonder if the forest got to his head as well, not just mine. The frightening part is that he has taken pleasure in the kill. He explains to Mother that the female vampire had gone for him despite his warning to stay away that afternoon. Complacently, I hear him say the Aurum got the vampire good as her screams woke him up when she greedily launched herself at him. When the opportunity rose, he snapped her neck like a twig. He motions that he had just done that.
His bloodied clothes serve as evidence to back up his story. The revelation gives me goosebumps. When I question Mother about that statement—how badly the magic injured the vampire—she mentions that the magic cloaking us is referred to asAurum. Fynn gives me a knowing look as if he wants to say he,too, knows secrets I do not know. I detest him for it; the idea of him having his own secrets gives me the feeling I am behind in this contest between us, one of life and death. It is a game neither of us knows the rules of, making it even more dangerous, and knowledge feels like the key to me.
As we continue our march, I cannot peel my eyes off my brother. His hands are still covered in dried-up blood, serving as evidence that he is capable of murder just like that. Without warning, his dark eyes snap to mine, catching me in the act of staring at him, and I quickly look away.
Whereas Sadelaer was anything but welcoming with its empty streets and eerily clean-kept yards, not a vampire or other dark creature in plain sight, Valorya is bustling with activity I did not expect.
Vampires hiss at us and snap their teeth as we walk by, but none of them dare to come near us. I straighten my back as we walk through the tall, arched gateway inside the busy city. Some eye us curiously from a safe distance. Mother acts as if it’s a typical day like any other, and strides through the cobblestoned, narrow streets as creatures of the night and Blood Witches snarl and jump aside from her, while Fynn and I trail her closely. How she knows the way once we arrive at a town constantly baffles me, especially given the size of this city.
I’m amazed as I stare around me. We enter a large square, where I see little market stalls manned by merchants offering various kinds of human-like food, organs in glass pots, trinkets such as amulets and herbs, and fresh blood, some of which is provided directly from the source. Humans, I realize.
Like wine, the merchants advertise them as young, virgin, or slightly aged. Each of the humans standing there has a glazed view as if under some spell, an odd smile on their face. I see vampires pierce their skin with their teeth, drink straight fromtheir veins, and then heal it with their vampire blood. All of this happens without the human being used as a food source flinching. I see vampires socializing as humans would and walking around with beasts such as hellhounds. While shadowy, feline-like creatures wrap themselves around their witches, as if they were their familiars. I see humans collared and dragged around as pets, some clothed, others completely naked. None of them fights; they just walk behind their masters obediently.
I stop and stare at the bustling street scenes; the square we’ve just entered is crowded with activity. I see sharp teeth coated in fresh blood. I hear laughter and conversations taking place. Crows and ravens occupy steeples in the walls of buildings or caw loudly in the trees. It almost feels… normal and decent.Civilized. Creatures sit on well-kept wooden benches under naturally looking, blooming green-leaved trees. None of this appears to be the allure Mother spoke of. None of this seems to be designed to trap humans. Every human will run when they see this many vampires and Blood Witches flocking together. Yet, this is a society that lives in peace. There is no fighting or taunting; everyone here appears to be enjoying themselves. Perhaps this can be a place to call home; maybe Mother is right.
A deep voice slithers into my ear, startling me initially, but the sound is soothing.
“Welcome to Valorya, human.”
Curiously, I turn to the sound, but all I see are two dark eyes and a faint outline of a face disappearing in the shadows. Before the creature is completely gone, his voice caresses my ears once more.
“It was meant to be. Come find me in The Silent Fortress. I’ll lessen your thirst, curious one. Lucem Mei, find me.”
I blink and stare at the dark shadows portrayed on the brick wall; as I walk up to it, there’s nothing there. In the safety of the shadows, I touch the rough texture of the stones, trailing myfingers over them, and an unfamiliar, almost desperate longing takes hold of me.
“The Silent Fortress,” I whisper.
Some creatures standing near me look at me quizzically and hiss softly, baring their teeth, warning me to get away from them. I pay them no mind as I bask in the gentle sense of the shadows.
I yelp as two strong hands take hold of my waist too eagerly, hurting me as their grip bruises me painfully. A strained cry escapes my lips, alerting those around me, freaking them. I see darkened red eyes, irritated and disgusted, looking at me as I hear my brother's voice, now pissed off.
“Shut it, Harlot, fuck, why the hell would you wander off like that? Do you have a death wish? You think you’re strong enough to kill a vampire, too?”
He chuckles at that. Asshole.
“Let me go! You’re hurting me,” I bark at him. Too slow, he releases me, and I massage my waist where his fingers used to press into my skin, knowing tonight I will see purple spots where his fingers imprinted me. I yank myself away from his grip.
