Chapter 4
Welcome to Valorya
HARLOT
Thanks to my dumb brother, we are on the move once more, all because he cannot keep his nasty hands to himself.
My tired legs drag me along as I try to keep up with my mother and Fynn.
I glare at his smug face from the corner of my eye.
I can’t believe he killed a vampire with his bare hands; the crazy bastard broke her fucking neck.
I have never witnessed Fynn lose control like that; it makes me wonder if the forest got to his head as well, not just mine.
The frightening part is that he has taken pleasure in the kill.
He explains to Mother that the female vampire had gone for him despite his warning to stay away that afternoon.
Complacently, I hear him say the Aurum got the vampire good as her screams woke him up when she greedily launched herself at him.
When the opportunity rose, he snapped her neck like a twig. He motions that he had just done that.
His bloodied clothes serve as evidence to back up his story.
The revelation gives me goosebumps. When I question Mother about that statement—how badly the magic injured the vampire—she mentions that the magic cloaking us is referred to as Aurum.
Fynn gives me a knowing look as if he wants to say he, too, knows secrets I do not know.
I detest him for it; the idea of him having his own secrets gives me the feeling I am behind in this contest between us, one of life and death.
It is a game neither of us knows the rules of, making it even more dangerous, and knowledge feels like the key to me.
As we continue our march, I cannot peel my eyes off my brother. His hands are still covered in dried-up blood, serving as evidence that he is capable of murder just like that. Without warning, his dark eyes snap to mine, catching me in the act of staring at him, and I quickly look away.
Whereas Sadelaer was anything but welcoming with its empty streets and eerily clean-kept yards, not a vampire or other dark creature in plain sight, Valorya is bustling with activity I did not expect.
Vampires hiss at us and snap their teeth as we walk by, but none of them dare to come near us.
I straighten my back as we walk through the tall, arched gateway inside the busy city.
Some eye us curiously from a safe distance.
Mother acts as if it’s a typical day like any other, and strides through the cobblestoned, narrow streets as creatures of the night and Blood Witches snarl and jump aside from her, while Fynn and I trail her closely.
How she knows the way once we arrive at a town constantly baffles me, especially given the size of this city.
I’m amazed as I stare around me. We enter a large square, where I see little market stalls manned by merchants offering various kinds of human-like food, organs in glass pots, trinkets such as amulets and herbs, and fresh blood, some of which is provided directly from the source. Humans, I realize.
Like wine, the merchants advertise them as young, virgin, or slightly aged.
Each of the humans standing there has a glazed view as if under some spell, an odd smile on their face.
I see vampires pierce their skin with their teeth, drink straight from their veins, and then heal it with their vampire blood.
All of this happens without the human being used as a food source flinching.
I see vampires socializing as humans would and walking around with beasts such as hellhounds.
While shadowy, feline-like creatures wrap themselves around their witches, as if they were their familiars.
I see humans collared and dragged around as pets, some clothed, others completely naked.
None of them fights; they just walk behind their masters obediently.
I stop and stare at the bustling street scenes; the square we’ve just entered is crowded with activity.
I see sharp teeth coated in fresh blood.
I hear laughter and conversations taking place.
Crows and ravens occupy steeples in the walls of buildings or caw loudly in the trees.
It almost feels… normal and decent. Civilized.
Creatures sit on well-kept wooden benches under naturally looking, blooming green-leaved trees.
None of this appears to be the allure Mother spoke of.
None of this seems to be designed to trap humans.
Every human will run when they see this many vampires and Blood Witches flocking together.
Yet, this is a society that lives in peace.
There is no fighting or taunting; everyone here appears to be enjoying themselves.
Perhaps this can be a place to call home; maybe Mother is right.
A deep voice slithers into my ear, startling me initially, but the sound is soothing.
“Welcome to Valorya, human.”
Curiously, I turn to the sound, but all I see are two dark eyes and a faint outline of a face disappearing in the shadows. Before the creature is completely gone, his voice caresses my ears once more.
“It was meant to be. Come find me in The Silent Fortress. I’ll lessen your thirst, curious one. Lucem Mei, find me.”
I blink and stare at the dark shadows portrayed on the brick wall; as I walk up to it, there’s nothing there. In the safety of the shadows, I touch the rough texture of the stones, trailing my fingers over them, and an unfamiliar, almost desperate longing takes hold of me.
“The Silent Fortress,” I whisper.
Some creatures standing near me look at me quizzically and hiss softly, baring their teeth, warning me to get away from them. I pay them no mind as I bask in the gentle sense of the shadows.
I yelp as two strong hands take hold of my waist too eagerly, hurting me as their grip bruises me painfully. A strained cry escapes my lips, alerting those around me, freaking them. I see darkened red eyes, irritated and disgusted, looking at me as I hear my brother's voice, now pissed off.
“Shut it, Harlot, fuck, why the hell would you wander off like that? Do you have a death wish? You think you’re strong enough to kill a vampire, too?”
He chuckles at that. Asshole.
“Let me go! You’re hurting me,” I bark at him. Too slow, he releases me, and I massage my waist where his fingers used to press into my skin, knowing tonight I will see purple spots where his fingers imprinted me. I yank myself away from his grip.
“If I wanted to, I could kill one too,” I mutter.
Fynn tells me to follow him, and I do so as I stare once more into the shadows, but nothing betrays the eyes I saw there before.
I am sure of it. I saw those dark eyes and heard that deep, smoky voice.
The Silent Fortress, that’s what the demon said, to find him there.
There was comfort in his voice; it awakened a longing inside me—a hidden feeling I wanted to satisfy.
I repeat the wording like a mantra until it’s engraved in my mind—The Silent Fortress.
I follow my brother meekly through a maze of small, cozy streets away from the grand square.
Mother wasn’t joking when she said Valorya is a city—a large one.
I have never seen anything like this in my life.
The streets are decorated with various gray cobblestones laid down in ornamental patterns.
The buildings feature dramatic Gothic architecture, with arched windows that, ironically, display light, magical, and nature-like images in stained glass.
The same magic that almost made all of them extinct, as if it’s a reminder never to underestimate the Light that could outbalance the Dark once more.
Even if most—if not all— light is destroyed, the vast number of humans I see amazes me: shells of humans, and also humans who seem to enjoy interacting with their ruinous masters, almost as if they have chosen this life.
I stick to my brother as we round a corner and enter an inn.
I lift an eyebrow as I eye my new surroundings.
The woodwork is dark mahogany with baroque designs.
The floor, the bar, the tables, and the chairs are all made of that same polished wood.
Each piece of furniture is carved with symbols and ornaments I have never seen.
The curtains in front of the stained-glass windows show dark roses with brown thorns and green leaves, woven into the thick, dark, velvety red fabric.
Along the sides is an even darker red lace.
It almost reminds me of a brothel, but something about this place exudes a sense of refinement.
Next to the bar is a “tap” where several humans, male and female, of different ages, stand naked.
Vampires and witches alike order whichever tap has their preference.
It’s both perverted and intriguing at the same time.
None of the humans seem to be in pain or cry out if one of the night creatures pays extra to drink directly from the tap; some choose the wrist, and others prefer a neck or breast. It’s fascinating.
They differ significantly from the creatures we encountered in the towns and villages below The Wailing Forest. It almost seems…
civilized, as far as you can call the children of the night civilized.
Shadowy creatures leap from the bar back to their owners once they’re satisfied with their fill.
The light inside is dim, casting shadows everywhere, creating places for those who cannot walk in the day or for those who simply choose to sit in the dark.
My brother pushes me harshly up the stairs through a door where Mother is waiting. Her arms crossed before her chest.
“I told you before, Harlot, your curious nature is going to get you killed someday!” she shouts at me.
I apologize swiftly, and she calms down.
Mother tugs at her sleeves, then straightens her shoulders as if looking for confidence to tell us what she wants to say.
I look around the room; it’s small, with three beds, a small desk with a chair, a cabinet for our clothes, and a tiny bathroom.
I wonder how Mother pays for it, but I don’t dare ask.
She never tells us how she gets her coins; all we know is that she takes care of us.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll head out to find a place for us in this city—a place where we can settle for some time,” she looks at my brother, then at me.
“I know this is not what you both expected, but I need more time… I just need more time, and this is the best I can do for now, so you two can settle down, at least for a little while. No more traveling, I can promise that.”
She glances at us with teary eyes. I know she makes that promise with a heavy heart, hoping she can uphold at least one of her promises.
“I’ll be gone for several days,” she says. “Please stay out of trouble, especially you, Harlot. Don’t let that curious nature get the best of you. I’ll be back within three or four days.”
She pinches my cheeks lovingly, and I grimace.
As I mull over her words, question after question arises.
Where is she going that requires her to be away from us for so many days?
Where will she stay if she’s just looking for a place for us to live?
Did she pay for the room that many days in advance?
What about our food? More importantly, will she leave the books with us?
I hope she trusts us enough to let the books linger.
If she does, all I need to do is wait until Fynn gets bored and decides to do something, and I'll be on my best behavior, protecting our stuff as I immerse myself in everything the books have to say. I smile to myself; maybe this is the opportunity I’ve waited for.
“What about the magic, Mother?” Fynn asks, “Will it keep us safe without you here? Doesn’t it depend on us being near each other?”
I can hear a hint of fear in his voice. Mother just nods, but Fynn is not letting go so quickly, and I wonder the same thing.
“You just yelled at Harlot for staying behind, away from us, and now you’re going to the old Gods know where, and you just nod?
How do you know if it’ll keep us safe? We’ve never been separated before!
How do you even know how it works? Because we sure as hell don’t have an idea because you never tell us a damn thing! ”
I can see the frustration on Fynn’s face at Mother’s lack of confirmation.
This is now the second time that he has lashed out at our mother.
The uncertainty is starting to take hold of both of us, turning into irritation.
We do not understand how the magic protects us, yet we run, but we have no clue who we are running from.
To soothe him, Mother confirms we will be safe.
“When you two were younger, I’d leave you behind by yourselves all the time while you were asleep.
It was the only time I could run my errands without interruptions.
The magical protection does not depend on whether we are close by or not.
You do not need me by your side; I can promise you that, my dear Fynn.
You’ll both be fine when I’m away. Just…
Fynn… don’t go out and kill any vampires, please.
And Harlot… don’t get yourself into any trouble.
Stay here at the inn, don’t go out and venture.
Fynn… keep an eye out for your sister, please. ”
I frown at her statement that she would leave her young children behind in critter-infested towns. She does not expand further on her little tale, and I can’t help but ponder if it’s just a fable to make both of us shut our mouths. As always, we have no choice but to trust our mother.
“Let's get some sleep; it’s been a long day with lots of impressions.”
She gives me a small smile, then undresses and gets into bed. She pulls the thick blanket up to her chin and turns around. Within seconds, all I hear is her soft snoring. Conversation ended.
I eye Fynn swiftly, who seems lost in his own train of thought.
I pick a bed and lie down. The mattress and cotton blankets are incredibly soft and comfortable.
My aching body releases the stress and pain as I start to relax.
I stare at the ceiling as I repeat my new mantra in my mind: The Silent Fortress.
DIARY ENTRIES:
Time is going too fast. I can’t do this. Why do you do this? Do you enjoy my misery and pain? Is that what you get from me writing this all down? I hate you. The twins are almost 3 months old already, and before I know it, they will start talking and walking and… I can’t do this.
6 months. I can’t doubt this feeling. I love Keir, and I need my family. Please, I beg you.