Page 55 of Killer of the Bells
When I got home, I dumped my gear on the kitchen counter, ran my weary body under the shower for about thirty seconds, and wrapped a towel around myself long enough to get me tomy bed. Deciding I was dry enough, I ditched the towel and crawled under my delicious-smelling blankets, falling asleep as soon as my head found my pillow.
I dreamed of endless, silky, ebony hair and victory.
Chapter
Fourteen
VALE
“Idid what you asked,” Mavolyn choked, clawing at the hand slowly tightening around his throat and burning his flesh into a blackened ruin.
“Did I ask you to trap him under your body?” I asked, allowing the rage flooding through me to do as it willed.
The monster in me loved my rage. It always had fun when I let it loose. It had chosen fire as its current method of fun, and I saw no reason to hold it back. I didn’t care what happened to Mavolyn as long as I got my point across.
Asher and Fawn had their backs plastered against the alley wall I’d cornered them in.
“We’re not on his team,” Fawn whimpered, eyes wide and brimming with tears. “We’re just friends.”
“He’s right,” Asher said hoarsely. “Fawn and I teamed up, but Mavolyn is on his own.”
I scowled. Cowards, every last one of them. The only reason they weren’t a team was because the rules stated teams could only have two members. Otherwise, they would have happily worked together.
I’d hunted the trio down to the makeshift home they’d assembled from abandoned furniture and scavenged building material. They’d dug themselves deep into the alley and made a nest like the vermin they were.
The fae who lived outside Underhill were there for a reason; either they were too powerless to protect themselves against the intrigue of the light and dark courts, or they were overpowered and didn’t give a shit about politics at all.
There was a third category, and as far as I knew, only Wraith—and I, by relation—slotted into. The broken, unpredictable fae who couldn’t be contained or controlled. They could come and go from Underhill as they pleased, but they were ignored in the hopes of the denizens being left in peace.
Underhill didn’t discriminate. If someone was fae, they could enter. What happened to them afterward, however, was anyone’s guess. And, from my observation, what constituted as fae was an arbitrary decision left to the discretion of Underhill. I’d met it once. The sentient dimension held a deep sense of whimsy and left me under no illusion that it would be delighted to usher me into its depths.
I respectfully declined.
Science held no sway over Underhill, and that alone had me wary of it.
Mavolyn, Fawn, and Asher were some of the stronger fae living outside Underhill, and they had a reputation for bullying anyone they could get away with, but they were smart enough not to test me.
They were lordless, landless, and hopelessly outmatched when it came to the curse in me. Not that having the backing of a lord or the power of the land would stop me from teaching them their place, but it would have involved an annoying phone call from a lord or marking off another spot on my map of placesto avoid if I didn’t want to be irritated and badgered the entire time I passed through it.
When I didn’t respond, Fawn was inspired to try to reason with me again, even though he had to know it was pointless. I wasn’t known for my mercy. I was known for killing or mutilating anyone who pissed me off, and I didn’t want to ruin my image.
“We’re sorry!He’sSorry. Everyone is. We should have stopped him. Please stop…” Fawn begged as his skin began to peel and blister. Asher was in a similar condition, but he took my rage in silence, accepting it for what it was.
Venting. Someone bigger than him was venting their frustration on someone smaller and weaker. Because they wanted to. Because they could.
Don’t feel sorry for them. They’ve done their fair share of it themselves, so they’re hardly innocent little bunnies. I don’t bother hurting innocent things for fun. It does nothing for me. I don’t go out of my way to protect them because it’s not in my nature, but I don’t seek them out.
Yes, I’ve eaten innocent people before. Yes, they were delicious. Next question.
Mavolyn was faring far worse than his little lackeys. His entrails were unspooling from his stomach, and the soft crunch under my hand told me I’d crushed his windpipe.
I dropped him to the floor of the dirty alley and brushed my hands together.
“I said to allow him to make it to the bells. I told you to make it a good fight, but don’t let him win.” I said in a faux calm voice. It’s far more intimidating than shouting. I stalked toward the lackeys, choosing Fawn to drive my point home. I touched his chin gently and lifted his face so he’d meet my gaze. “What was the other thing I said? Can either of you remember it?”
“D-don’t… hurt him,” Fawn sobbed as his flesh sizzled and burned from my touch.
“Yes. That’s the one. Do you think you can remember it this time?”
