AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I dunk under the water and do just that while rinsing the suds from my hair. And I wait until the burning in my starving lungs replaces the burning of threatening tears before I surface once again.
I grab the ink from the bank and coat my hair to hide its true color. Walking around with icy white hair wouldn’t be a good idea in my line of work. It makes it easy to become a target and recognizable. People would ask questions I don’t want to answer: ‘Why do you have white hair?’ ‘Are you sick?’ ‘Who do you think you are being that different?’
If they only knew.
But besides that, it also effectively keeps HIM from recognizing me.
He always loved my white hair. So much so that he cut it all off and kept it. What he does with a mass of hair, I don’t know, and I don’t care to find out. I just know that if he ever has the chance to get his hands on me, I will kill myself before I suffer at his hands again.
The stalls of the lower market are crowded today. Idiots, both women and men, scramble around like they have all the money in the world to spend. When, in truth, they are completely broke. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
They are the Reckless, not quite the scum of the Kingdom, but barely above it. Only the Keryths and Royals have enough money to live comfortably with extravagant luxuries. The Dutifuls are better off than the Reckless, but that is only because they are willing to feed the Keryth whenever they demand it. So, the Keryth give them ‘special’ privileges.
I am Forsaken. An orphan. A scourge to society. As low as you can get—just how I like it.
“Fresh bread!” the baker shouts as he walks around with a tray laden with steaming loaves.
“Only two rupiah for a skirt’s worth of fabric,” the seamstress’s squeal is piercing despite the loud hum of voices.
“I need six eggs,” a mother whines as she struggles with her crying infant.
Body odor, muck, filthy animals, and waste perfume the air, making all the offered food less appealing. The sight of the fruit riddled with black spots and swarmed with insects that cover the stalls doesn’t help. Why waste the good food on the measly Elani in the lower city ring?
A man bumps into me right before I grab the least speckled ortticot. Typically, I wouldn’t give it a second thought, especially with this kind of crowd, but his smell—I know that smell. It is a mixture of musk, dirt, and a spice that burns the back of my nose—something I’ll never forget.
I spin to find HIM. To finally know his face. But he is gone, blended in with the crowd. My breathing turns into quick gasps, and rage pours through me. I have worked too hard not to have this response.
Calm down, Nyx. You are no longer a pet.
I take a few calming breaths and look down at my hands to remind myself that the chains are gone. I shake my head and push through the bodies. Slipping a shawl from a stand, I climb the stairs toward the Dutiful market. Wrapping the shawl around my shoulders, I tuck my braid neatly into a bun, and feigning an air of importance, transforming me into a lady by their standards. The dull colors of my dress will keep eyes off of me and help me blend into the surroundings.
Carefully, I walk through the stalls and mentally pick out each item I need before getting near it. And when the merchants turn their backs, I deftly grab the item and place it in my bag without being noticed.
Before the suns are at their peaks, I obtained a new black tunic, cloak, undergarments, socks, laces for my boots, more rope, three different types of soap, a small wheel of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a jar of jam. I would grab more, but my bag is already heavy enough, and I’ll need to climb back up the tower.
It was a successful day despite my close encounter with HIM. Why was he in the lower city? Was he looking for his next victim? Was he searching for me? If I weren’t such an idiot, I would have finally been able to see his face.
You fucking idiot! Rule number one: Always keep your guard up!
Winter will be upon us soon. The Reckless and Forsaken will suffer during those cold four months. But there is nothing that can be done right now. The populous will dwindle. Meaning the Keryth must substitute with physical food. The Dutiful will get the leftovers and everyone else will have to fend for themselves.
But that is weeks away. My focus must remain on the figure on the roof, which has been stalking me for the past few weeks. They are magnificent at what they do. Once I figured out what was going on with the Keryth, it took me months to spot them the first time. They were careful not to leave any evidence behind, so I had to stalk and hide until I caught on to who their targets were.
I have no intention of stopping them, but there are those who do. And those individuals are getting closer to finding out who they are. I need a way to warn them, but I can’t keep them within sight even when I do spot them. They are more elusive than the wind.
Maybe the only way to get close enough is to become one of their victims. They already have their sights on me, so half the work is done. Tia, my opinionated right hand, won’t like the idea, but will have my back nonetheless.
I groan from the effort it takes to get up from the bench. I need to feed, but the thought of sinking my fangs into any of these Elani makes my stomach cramp uncomfortably. I’ll drink some of the donated blood when I return home. For now, food from the Inn should suffice.
The Thorn Inn is crowded and loud tonight. It both sets my teeth on edge and relaxes me. With there being more people, I’m less likely to be noticed. And I cannot afford to be noticed right now. It would undo everything I have worked so hard to put into place. Years would be wasted. My black cap hides my hair, and I make sure my glasses are hidden away, but you never know who you might run into in places like this.
“The usual, Sir?” the barkeep asks.
“Yes. I will need a set of night clothes to wear while these are being washed and ensure plenty of food is waiting for me. Also, tonight I need a room with a window that is not covered in vines. I would like to have fresh air.” And maybe I will be visited by a mysterious creature. I shouldn’t be hoping for it, but something in my soul screams that we would make an unstoppable team.
“Right away. Here is your key to the baths; please take your time.” He hands me a heavy metal key and a couple of thick brown towels.
I nod and make my way through the crowd toward the back door. Drinks splash against the floor at my feet and laughter fills the air. Harsh words are shouted in the opposite corner, and smells of different dishes being served mix with the odor of sweaty bodies. It forces me to breathe heavily as I shut the door between me and the chaos.
