Epilogue
Embla
Xiah, the lawless tower city wasn’t exactly welcoming. The gangs that run the streets allowed me into the city even though I have no one to vouch for me. They leave me alone for the most part. I love my new vessel; Embla’s innocent face makes certain things easy. I run slender fingers through my stark white hair, meeting my own golden eyes in a compact mirror as I spread red lipstick on. Embla’s body makes it especially easy to get things. While Daemon was useful, Embla’s power is what I have been after this entire time.
“Hello, pretty lady.” A satyr that smells like alcohol and dung sidles up to me at the bar.
“I don’t think so.” I stand from my bar stool and move as far from the smell as I can get. I stop to take in the usual crowd of ruffians, fugitives, and mercenaries. I can feel Embla clawing at the barrier I placed between my consciousness and hers. Fight as she might, she’s never getting out.
“Aren’t you a hot little toddy?” an ogre asks, swaying his hips as he walks up to me. His smell is arguably worse than the satyr, and I find myself wishing I stayed at the bar.
“Leave me be.” I step to walk past him.
The ogre’s hand snaps out, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stop. “C’mon I was just playing, why don’t you stick around for a drink?” The ogre pulls me close.
“We don’t get many faeries here,” he whispers into my ear, and I fight the urge to retch.
“I said no.” My eyes flare, pupils taking over my eyes, and my dark essence leaks out over my wings turning them black. The ogre steps away from me like I burned him.
“Bitch,” he snaps, and with a flick of my wrist I melt the glass cup in his hand.
“Call me a bitch again and see what happens,” I threaten and the ogre backs away with his hands raised.
I smile smugly, knowing this is where I’m meant to be.