Page 87 of Facade

“Seriously?!” Brax jumped up and down in excitement, demanding details of everything.

Useos, I learned from Brax after Dimitri told him to “Fuck off”, were very rare—born from the excess darkness that leaked from Witches’ curses. I once saw a fish with two heads and finger-like legs, gnashing needle-point teeth as it chased a deer by the river. I had nightmares for weeks. It took a long time before I could bring myself to go back into the water. I thought I'd imagined it, but maybe it, too, was born of this excess darkness. The memory sent a shiver down my spine.

My mind drifted to Aniah, thinking of her smooth, clean skin and the lack of ink. Sure, her clothes could've been hiding more, but something told me it wasn’t in her nature to perform many curses, despite her red eyes. It was difficult to picture a creature of darkness ever being tied to her. Evil didn’t seem to taint her like it did Cressida.

Lyra glowed as she sidled up to Brax. I snorted, earning a reprimanding look from Aiden and blank stares from everyone else.

“Where’s Slade?” Aiden demanded, ignoring Brax’s questions and excitement completely.

“Rode ahead to check that all’s clear, sir. Figured we’d camp here—”

“No, we’ll ride through the night,” Aiden declared. Everyone shifted around as if they wanted to speak up, yet stayed quiet. “Dimitri needs mending, and we’re out of provisions. It’s a two-day ride to Castle Lawryn. We’ll make it in one,” he said with finality.

Panic rose. Ryker and Aniah said they would get me. Where are they? What if he’s too hurt? What if—

“I can’t make that, Aiden. I need to stop in Grylen. I need mended. There’s an old pack member there I can stay with and a lesser Witch that can fix this shit—you can leave me.” Dimitri offered, tying new bandages around his leg. Green pus leaked from the still-bleeding wound with black lines spider-webbing around it. My eyes widened, one thing spearing through my mind—Ryker…

Aiden looked at Malachai, who gave a very subtle nod, then flicked his gaze my way, before he responded.

“Fine. Yes, we’ll proceed to Grylen and stay together as a group. Load up.”

Everyone scurried, rearranging what little supplies we had left and getting onto their horses. I groaned as Aiden hoisted me back into the saddle.

Everything was wet and dreary.

Mud mixed with snow, creating slush that reached my ankles. A small clump of dead, scraggly trees off in the far distance was nothing like the lush forests we’d traveled through. Stumps of old trees, now rotting, lined the path, and even dead carcasses were scattered about, festering on open ground. It was as if a cloud of death surrounded the entire area. The slight wind carried the foul, putrid stench straight into our faces as we approached. I fought a gag, pulling my coat up over my nose, not wanting to breathe in the tainted air.

The town wasn’t much better.

It was dilapidated. Bare of any vegetation. The buildings, no more than boards haphazardly thrown together, looked as though they were disintegrating back into the earth. Few Fae milled about with cold, expressionless faces. Their skin was pale and withered with permanent frown lines. Nothing like Brixton. I never knew any of the Fae lived like this.

“Damn. I don’t think we had it this bad back home,” Lyra muttered from the back of Brax’s horse.

“We’ll stay the night here and leave at first light,” Aiden announced as we stiffly dismounted.

This town had absolutely nowhere to stay. It was a hellish nightmare. I'd actually be more concerned if we ended up sleeping in one of the run-down buildings. We’d probably be safer sprawled out by the road with the carnivorous birds circling above.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Aiden commented, a casual smile tugging up on one side. The first sign of emotion. My face tightened.

“It looks pretty bad.”

“They’re decent folk. They just keep to themselves, locking themselves away in their homes.”

“Wonder why,” I muttered sarcastically.

“Brax, Alaric—take Dimitri to the healer’s house. Malachai and I will set up camp on the west side,” Aiden hollered out his orders, and everyone shouted their ‘Yes, Sir!’ and began moving.

“Lyra, why don’t you go to the pub and see if they have any food and drink to spare. Take this.” Aiden tossed Lyra a small pouch that jingled with coins. She smiled widely.

“I know exactly what’s in there and what the prices are in this town.” The warning that laced his tone made Lyra’s smile falter as she nodded and did something between a bow and a curtsy, then shuffled off down the path.

“Malachai, scout the surrounding area.” Malachai bowed his head, leaving the two of us.

“And me?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips. Our silence may have been broken, but I was still mad.

“What about you?” He ventured closer, a wary look on his face.

“Everyone else has a job. What about me?” Tension curled in the air as he slowly circled me.