“Faas… How is this possible? Aren’t they human?”
“Hmm, yes. Verdant Fields is different. As long as humans have something that the vampires, witches, or even werewolves want, they should be safe. They are seen as a form of entertainment, often more coiled with malice than the darklings they despise.”
The girl's wrist is cut vertically, and her little face is bright red from screaming. Blood starts to well up, then pour out, and the man with the market stall holds a jug under it, the clear glass fills with a red mass. I read the sign above his stall: ‘Fresh, warm blood, straight from the vein.’ Fuck.
“I never said this would be a fun field trip,” Faas says. “Now, come.”
We shuffle after him as I shield Jodelle’s vision with my hands to keep her from witnessing the little girl bleed to death while hungry vampires latch onto her wrists, ignoring the man's shouts to stop. When they snarl at him, he raises his hands in surrender. It dawns on me that even the freedom humans have here is just a fabricated lie, a mere illusion maintained by the supernatural. Faas’s words echo in my mind. We’re nothing more than entertainment for these assholes.
“Why are we here, Faas? Besides weaponry, what are you looking for?” I ask.
“Aurum, the pure kind—the magic that keeps you and your soulmate safe, but I want it without being cursed. I’ve never encountered a pure piece, but I like to visit this city now and then and stir up a little trouble during my search. It keeps them alert. Look around you, Fynn—everyone already knows we’re in town. The Pale Rider and his companions, who wield magic that can end lives with a flick of the hand. It’s unfortunate you haven’t learned to wield it properly… yet.”
“That’s why Thom and the guys can roam on their own,” I whisper.
“Exactly, my scent will warn any vampire or witch that there’s hell to pay if they even try. And since I’m kind of famous here, as you put it so nicely, they know that I will kill whoever is responsible, and then some. It teaches them to keep each other in line.”
I regret bringing Jodelle with me, as she’s exposed to one vile act after another, each more depraved than the last. Neither is this visit helping me; being surrounded by so many dark creatures seems to awaken whatever hostile and ruthless force is growing inside me. I feel its tentacles gripping me, carved from fury, and it takes everything within me not to burn the entire place, including its questionable citizens, down to the ground.Trying to stay level-headed, I inhale the scent of Jodelle’s soapy hair and focus on the large, pale man who strides with purpose. We turn a few times, left and right, until we enter a spacious place, with little stalls everywhere—a marketplace.
Faas ignores most of them, only stopping occasionally to look at crystals or other stones. He inspects some, growls in disdain, then tosses them back and continues his walk. None of the sellers says a word as his large hands roam through their wares, nor do they speak when he rudely throws them back.
I bump into him when he stops abruptly. His gaze is drawn to a man, completely unaware of the dhampir’s presence.
“YOU,” Faas snarls.
With a bored expression, the man looks up, but the moment he spots the dhampir, his face twists into terror. He glances from side to side, gets up, and tries to run, but he’s no match for Faas. The dhampir shatters the wooden table into two, splinters flying everywhere, and items crashing onto the floor. Within seconds, his fingers are gripping the collar of the terrified man. I watch it all with a raised eyebrow, and Jodelle carefully peeks out from behind me.
“You owe me a piece of pure Aurum,friend,” he growls at the man, whose bladder gives way, leaving a big wet stain on his pants.
I scrunch up my nose.
My mind wanders back to the conversation I had with Caria when I asked her about acquiring Aurum, and she told me how someone was tricked into capturing a siren’s song.
“You’re the one who captured a siren’s song!” I say to Faas as it hits me. “Meaning you’re the one who tricked a dhampir?!”
The man trembles, Faas’s large, calloused fingers gripping his throat, barely able to speak. Faas jerks his head toward me.
“Out of all the things you don’t know,that’sthe one story you do know about?”
My shoulders rise in quiet surrender, unsure how to respond. Yes? I only know because Caria told me about what happened, as I expressed interest in buying Aurum. I have no desire to let Jodelle explode while we’re in a crowded area, even though empty space surrounds us.
“I didn’t know he was a dhampir,” the man manages to croak.
Faas keeps his eyes locked on me as he tightens his grip, and the sickening sound of bones cracking fills my ears. I hold his gaze, unblinking, refusing to cower. With a final snap, the man’s neck is broken, and his head flops to the side. Faas tosses the man aside, discarding him like a worthless piece of trash he no longer wants to be near. Some darklings whisper, but as I look around, most don’t dare to glance at the scene that unfolded and the results thereof.
“We’re done here,” Faas says. “This was my business. The fucking rat managed to stay out of my sight for years, but I finally got him.”
“I want to go home, Fynn,” Jodelle whispers.
“We’re going home, darling,” Faas says, his voice laced with sugar, and her eyes light up.
On our way out, he buys Jodelle a beautiful piece of amethyst, and I hate the monstrosity for it. How easily he steals a smile that is meant to be for me. It makes me want to smash the crystal from her hands, but I don’t. I vowed to be a better man for Jodelle, and I’m doing my best to keep that promise.
When we meet Thom and the others at the agreed-upon spot, they start discussing things with Faas, and I can’t help but feel left out. I try to eavesdrop, but their hushed words travel too fast for me to untangle. I think back to what happened earlier atthe marketplace. The power Faas exuded in that indoor market… The way he carries himself, expecting everyone, vampire, witch, human, all of them to bow for him and treat him with respect. I want that for myself. I glance over at the small group of men, the dhampir at their helm, and a longing starts to grow inside me. It’s something that isn’t new, but I finally begin to accept the truth of that pit in my stomach.
I want to be part of them, to join their group, and to become a vampire hunter. I desire that authority, and maybe… Just maybe, Caria will finally show me some respect when I show her my dominion, instead of trying to feed me her bullshit lies. Because, despite all of it, my heart still yearns for her. I long to own her.
I watch with disdain as Jodelle is seated back on Vassago, caged in by Faas, while I seek my comfort with Thom. I can’t wait to return to Valorya and spend some time alone with Jodelle; my jealousy is hard to ignore.
