Chapter Six
Vhaena
YOU SHOULDN’T BE ALONE
Aside from casting a ballot, Voting day was like any other day.
Everyone had until noon to cast their vote, then the town resumed its normal day-to-day activities while the council counted the votes and tracked down anyone who hadn’t shown up—voting was mandatory.
Someone would be along to gather my mother’s vote as well.
But there was tension in the air. The unknown of who was about to be exiled from the community—who was given a death sentence.
There were only two ways citizens would know who was chosen: wait until after dusk to see the posting nailed to the tree just outside town or see who was missing the next day.
I never really cared to know, so I hadn’t ever gone out of my way to find out—but this year I might just check around to see if Lunaris was missing tomorrow.
One could only hope. I sure as hells wasn’t going to go find the posting.
That was how the demons were informed, and I had no interest in risking running into one.
It was slightly comforting to know that at least some of the demons wouldn’t be around during the Hunt.
Not that we knew who they were. We couldn’t even use the process of elimination because in two days, the entire town would shut down for a whole week.
That gave us a couple of days to stock up before we were all forced to remain indoors for the duration of the Hunt—Confinement week.
It was sort of like a holiday. People would stay with family, preparing in advance by gathering anything needed.
Many complained, but it was something that never really bothered me.
I quite enjoyed it. In fact, I looked forward to it.
It was nice to be able to shut out the rest of the world for a few days.
My day went about as usual. I stayed at the house, cleaned a bit, read, then went to see Ma before going to the Pearl River Kitchen for my shift. The same schedule I kept every single day. And as always, Neo went everywhere with me.
As I walked into town just before dusk, I changed my route when I saw a group of people on the street.
Asher was standing with them, and I averted my eyes when he glanced my way, hoping to go unnoticed.
They were drinking, likely celebrating the completion of another Voting day.
I decided to go the long way around, not wanting to deal with the stares and whispers. I didn’t need to make my day any worse.
But that was a fool’s dream.
I hadn’t noticed half of the group moved around the other side of the building, cutting me off in the alley.
I nearly bumped into Chace Blacher, a tall, broad guy a couple of years older than me with three more behind him.
Quickly turning around to go back the other way, I found three more blocked my path with Asher standing at the end of the alley, and I froze in place.
He leaned against the building with a shit-eating smirk on his face while the others approached, closing me in between the group.
My ears rang, and I instantly felt sick to my stomach, my body vibrating with raging nerves.
All the ice that had frozen me where I stood suddenly ignited into white-hot fury.
I didn’t have a drop of violence in my blood except when it came to him.
I would have slit his throat a long time ago and danced on his corpse.
Better yet, I would have cut off his dick and made sure to nick the femoral artery in his thigh at the same time so he could slowly bleed to death.
I knew how to drain blood from a body. I was raised by a butcher after all.
I’d had a lot of time to fantasize about his death. It was all I ever wanted.
Except I couldn’t kill him. I would have, without a doubt, been nominated as a sacrifice to the Hunt. Pair it with the rumors—rumors he had started—that had turned the town against me, and there was no way I wouldn’t find my name on the ballot next year.
I wasn’t the worst of society. There were plenty who had done shittier things than what I had been accused of. According to the town, I was just a whore. They saw me as disgusting, the scum and shame of Nillah. But just a whore.
If I killed Asher like I dreamed, then I’d be a whore and a murderer. Besides my family, no one would hesitate to vote me out. Even his brother, Daemon…
I couldn’t let that happen. I wasn’t completely worthless to society, and I refused to give them a reason to think so.
Even if it was all I could think about every single day for the past year. About all of them.
But as the group stood before me, all I could do was stare in horror. I had gone out of my way to avoid Daemon’s brother and the rest of the townspeople for so long, I wanted to kick myself for not being more careful.
My day was officially ruined.
“Vhaena…” Chace spoke my name like it was a serenade, but all I heard was the hiss of a snake. “What are you doing skulking about before dark? Don’t you know people say you’re a slut? They’ll think you’re looking for your next lay.”
He took a step toward me, but I remained still even as the others closed in. I feared if I bolted like my body told me to, he—as well as the rest of them—would only enjoy the chase more. So, I held my ground. I knew how to learn from past mistakes…
“Go away,” I demanded, forcing myself to straighten my spine and raise my chin to feign courage.
Chace tilted his head and pursed his lips. “Why would we do that? We’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Nothing wrong…” I seethed under my breath. I glanced back toward Asher, who smirked and walked away behind one of the buildings. Fucking prick. “I mean it—I’ll scream.”
He dramatically looked around, then shrugged, and his friends chuckled. “Doesn’t look like anyone is around to hear you. Besides, who would believe the town’s harlot over all of us? You’re only good for what’s between your legs, and you know it, don’t you?”
My nails dug into my palm as I fisted my hands. He took another step, and I noticed then that he wobbled a bit.
Is he drunk? Oh, fuck this.
I started to turn to go around the others and back the way I came.
Chace’s hand thrust out faster than I could react, seizing me by the throat.
I gasped and stumbled when he yanked me toward him.
My hands shot to his arm, trying to pry his fingers from around my neck.
He leaned forward, close enough I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath.
“You need to be put in your place. Either in the dirt or hanging from a tree. Or maybe, you should be paraded around the town and stoned like you deserve for being such a filthy, disgusting—”
As silent as the night, Neo landed on my shoulder, startling me as his talons dug into my skin. In a flash, his sharp beak was snapping at Chace’s eye so rapidly he didn’t know what hit him until there was blood dripping down his face.
I had never been more grateful he followed me everywhere.
Chace yelled, his fingers digging harder into my neck.
His other hand hit Neo, causing him to fall off my shoulder before he caught himself midair and flew up above us, circling before coming back down to peck at Chace’s head over and over.
A couple of the others backed away while two of them came to help the bastard.
Chace tried to swat Neo away, blood dripping down his face and arms, until Neo flew up to avoid being struck by so many hands coming for him.
Chace’s grip around my neck tightened to the point that all I could do was focus on sucking in as much air as I possibly could. His eyes were focused above as he searched for the raven and his next attack.
“I ought to throw that bird in a pot of boiling oil in that kitchen you work at and fry him like a fucking chicken, you nasty, dirty slut—”
“Come now, Chace.” A deep, menacing voice sent a chill down my spine.
Chace instantly let me go, the others backing away suddenly, and I stumbled while gasping for air, bumping into a hard body.
I whipped my head around to find Daemon.
His eyes were completely focused on the group, not even sparing me a glance.
I had never seen such a look in his eyes; one that promised carnage.
“It’s just a bird. Surely you can handle a few little nips without completely losing your manners in front of a lady.”
Neo’s deep croak had my eyes snapping up just in time to see him flying off.
No, don’t leave! The one time I want you to stay…
I didn’t want to be left alone with them, and I knew Asher wasn’t far away… I wanted to call for Neo to come back, but I also didn’t want to draw attention to myself while the men were focused on each other. Instead I backed up against the stone wall of the building, getting out from between them.
“Lady?!” Kallen, one of the other men, scoffed. “She’s nothing but a whore.”
I pressed myself harder against the stone, trying to subtly shuffle away behind Daemon.
I didn’t exactly trust him, but I trusted him more than the others, especially Asher, wherever the hells he was.
I knew what that vile fucker was capable of, and not knowing where he was lurking was just as terrifying…
I didn’t make it two steps before Daemon’s hand shot out, slamming against the wall right next to my head and stopping me in my tracks.
“If she’s nothing but a whore as you say she is, then why are you spending your precious time harassing her?
” I hadn’t even flinched when the others called me a whore, but for some reason, Daemon saying it felt like I was being stabbed in the gut.
He still hadn’t looked at me, as if I wasn’t even here, eyes remaining on Chace.
“I’m not. You can have the bitch.” Chace’s lip curled, and he snarled as he spun on his heel before stomping off with the rest of the group following.
I watched until they were out of sight before I finally released a breath, relieved they were gone and hoping Asher had gone with them.
I wasn’t waiting here for another moment and made to push off the wall to get away, but I forced myself back when Daemon’s other hand came to the side of my head, caging me in and leaning close with a furious look.
Is he mad at…me?
The amber in his eyes seemed to glow with savagery, and it took the breath from my lungs. It was formidable yet beautiful all at once. But the calm, vicious tone of his voice reminded me a Corse brother had me within his sights.
“You should know better than anyone to be aware of your surroundings.”
“I—” I swallowed. “I know. I don’t normally come down this way.”
Where the fuck is Neo now?!
I didn’t think Daemon would hurt me, but being in this vulnerable situation, I wasn’t so sure anymore. It didn’t help that I was still shaken up.
“Then I suggest you stick to your usual route from now on unless Vos is with you. You’re lucky I just so happened to be around. Who knows what they would have done if I hadn’t intervened.”
My blood boiled, and my eyes narrowed. “Oh, and I should trust you more than them? What makes you any better?”
I had no idea what gave me the gall to talk back to him like that. Or maybe I did… He was the only person who ever got me so riled up.
The muscle in his jaw clenched. “For starters, I’ve never called you a whore like the rest of the town.” He leaned closer to me. “I’ve never partaken in any of the rumors against you because, unlike them, I know they’re not true.”
My shoulders sagged a bit, and the anger I’d had toward him began to dissipate. “Your brother does. You don’t share the same beliefs as Asher?” I hadn’t even considered the possibility that there was someone outside my family who didn’t. Especially Daemon. Not when he and Asher were so close.
For the span of a blink, his brows furrowed like he didn’t know what I was talking about. But the expression was fleeting, gone in an instant.
“I may share a name with him, but it doesn’t mean I agree with him on everything. I thought you would have known that.” Daemon held my gaze for a few more moments, then pushed off the wall and extended a hand.
I took it, allowing him to pull me away from the wall before he let go.
“I’ll walk you to work. And I’ll tell Vos to be there waiting for you when you get off. You shouldn’t be alone.”
I nodded and hung my head as I followed his lead toward the Pearl River Kitchen. An awkward silence fizzled between us, heightening the tension. I felt like such a bitch. I was a bitch. He practically rescued me from a horrible situation, and I went and insulted him.
He was right. I knew he was. I had never heard him sharing the rumors about me, and he always made it a point to be polite to me in person when I didn’t manage to avoid him. Even if I didn’t trust him, I should have trusted Vosten. He wouldn’t let someone untrustworthy around me.
But even still, I couldn’t.
After a minute, I realized he was leading me exactly to where I worked. As far as I was aware, he didn’t know about it. Even being Vosten’s friend, I doubt he would have told him.
“How do you know where to go? How do you know where I work?”
Daemon stiffened for a moment before answering, “I heard Chace say he was going to boil the raven at the kitchen you worked at. There’s only one open this late, so I just assumed.”
“Oh. Right.” I had to restrain myself from smacking my palm on my forehead. It still left the question of how the others knew.
After another couple of minutes, we arrived at the kitchen, and Daemon followed me to the back, making sure I got inside okay. I opened the door as he began to walk away and paused. I still felt guilty, and I didn’t want him to think I was ungrateful for what he had done.
“Daemon,” I called.
He looked at me over his shoulder.
I met his eyes. “Thank you.”
He held my gaze for a moment, then nodded before disappearing behind the side of the building.