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“I’ll rip your tongue out if you accuse me like that again,” I reply firmly, giving him a sharp glare. Vrask rolls his eyes. “I’m only taking in the beautiful views New Solas has to offer.”
With a gesture, I point out the disgusting tuskrams that a xaphan hauls around by the horns. The creatures are stout, four-legged, and pot-bellied. Their reddish-pink skin is marred by the shitty soil they like to roll around in. And they smell like death if you get too close.
Not too far from that, there are a few humans chained at the wrists, following a xaphan that leads them to the auction house. Their heads are bowed and the bones jut out from underneath their skin. It’s a depressing sight for those who actually care about the well-being of humans.
Around us, traders and customers go about their business as if nothing is wrong. Truly, they have better things to do than to worry about human slaves about to be sold.
“Yes, yes, here you go again with your speech about the discrepancy between the trading hub and the rest of the city. Save the tirade for the xaphans inside, yeah?”
Vrask nudges me by the arm. I have half a mind to materialize another shadow dagger to hold against his throat for hurrying me along like I’m his servant. But it’s better not to attract wandering eyes in a place like this.
With a bored expression, I turn to face him. “Will you pay for the drinks this time around?”
“Sure. Whatever. Just come on.”
Vrask ducks inside the establishment just as a matron demon bumps into me as she walks past me. She eyes me up and down, grinning wide.
“What’s a pretty volvath like you doing in a place like this?” she asks. One of her tentacles reaches out to caress my chin. “Surely, you’d like to spend a night at the pleasure house down the road? We’ve got a few cute humans tonight. I know how popular they are nowadays.”
“I’m not interested.”
That’s enough to make her sneer at me as she continues on her way, perhaps to the pleasure house she just mentioned. It’s incredible how easily demons can be distracted by material pleasures, like the soft body of a human.
None of them have ambition like I do. None of them dream of achieving wealth that will last for generations. Instead, they want to warm their beds with a bunch of humans. Disgust doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings about that.
With a small sigh, I retreat into the establishment before Vrask makes a scene. The green-skinned cecaelia never disappoints at turning a quick profit in a place like this, but I have to act as a distraction.
So I approach the bar and ask for a mug of amerinth. Then I turn towards the zephyr next to me, who grumbles loudly at my appearance.
“I believe I’ve seen you before. Care to repeat your name?” I begin.
“Fuck off, demon. I know your type.”
In my peripheral vision, Vrask sends me a nod. We’re in for a successful night, indeed.
3
HANNA
The water douses my blazing skin, cold and rejuvenating. I pour the liquid from the faucet into my palm and toss that water back into my face. The cold bites at my skin, but my sore muscles need the chill.
There are only a few days left until the grand ceremony where a few select trainees, like me, are finally given their wings. It’s a momentous event. Humans and xaphans attend to congratulate the finalists. And each is given enough nodals to bring their families out of poverty.
My dad won’t have to work long, grueling hours to provide for us anymore. He’ll be able to garden as a hobby, as a passion project instead of a job to survive on.
I let out a deep exhale as the water rests against my skin. Another training day draws to a close. Thankfully, it was pretty uneventful. That’s the way it should be. I can’t afford to be distracted during such an important time.
But the deep laugh that comes from behind me seems to have different plans.
“You were incredible back there in the sparring session,” Zathex says, approaching me with a smug smile. I stiffen up considerably with his presence. “How do you do it? I have never seen another human quite like you.”
Averting my gaze, I hitch my bag farther up my shoulder and start for the nearest training camp exit. My legs ache from sparring, but Zathex’s presence makes me forget about that altogether. With my heart in my ears, I know that I have to get out of here.
“It comes naturally to me,” I say simply. I can hear him behind me, following my steps. “I hear they’re serving a fabulous dinner at the mentor facilities. Humans don’t get that sort of treatment. Why don’t you head there?”
“Because I wanted to catch you before you left, of course. Did you really think I would let you go that easily?”
I swallow down the knot that forms at the back of my throat. Something about that comment seems sinister, but maybe I’m overthinking things. Regardless, Zathex just intensified my desire to leave tenfold. I’m close to the exit. I just have to—
