Chapter 44
She traveled across the lands alone, searching for signs of the Maskmaker.
She spent her mornings thinking of all the creative ways she might dispatch him and her evenings wondering whether or not to devour him fast or slow.
But first, she needed to find a way to break her oath without suffering the consequences.
Many years passed, but not once did her burning hatred waver. If anything, it kept her warm. Yue was sure to find him. Until then, she’d continue her search.
She knew she had to be clever. Watching humans—studying them—was the wisest thing to do.
The fox understood she couldn’t risk being caught before she achieved her quest for revenge.
She only ever took one meal at a time; she never went after children, nor the sick and elderly, for they only upset her belly.
The best meals were the ones who wouldn’t be missed.
The ones whom even their fellow humans would be glad to see disappear.
One such meal was the madame at the local brothel.
Yue had never met a crueler soul, save perhaps the Maskmaker himself.
When one of the servant girls under the madame’s care dared to speak out of turn, she had her tongue ripped out as punishment.
Yue cared not for the way the madame laughed, or how she left the servant girl to bleed in the streets.
“This will teach you, Sooah,” the madame huffed. “Never disrespect me again.”
Yue returned later that evening, donning her beautiful mask as she passed in front of the madame herself.
“You there,” the old woman crooned. “My, you’re a beauty. I could use a girl like you. I bet all of Longhao will be begging at my doorstep to spend a night with you.”
What a phenomenal example of how truly horrific humankind could be. Nevertheless, she had taken the bait.
“Let’s take a walk,” Yue said. “We can negotiate.”
The madame’s eyes twinkled, no doubt imagining the mountain of coins she’d earn with this new girl on her payroll. She didn’t think twice as she followed Yue around the corner into a dark, winding alley.
There was no time to scream. Yue devoured the woman in two bites and carried on her way.
She wouldn’t eat for another moon, but a pattern was beginning to emerge.
Yue stalked the streets for her prey, listening carefully for signs of unrest. On one such occasion, she was attracted to the sound of a young woman crying by the canal.
Beside her stood a rather unfortunate-looking man with a crooked nose and ears too large for his head.
“I don’t want to marry that man, Wen,” the woman sobbed. “I don’t care how wealthy he is. My parents know he’s an angry drunk, but they won’t rescind the match.”
“I’ll help you run away,” the man said. “Where is he now? I’m sure we still have time.”
“At the teahouse. Drinking before the wedding tomorrow.” The woman wailed into her hands. “I’ve been praying to the gods. I just want him gone.”
Yue left without a sound, steering herself in the direction of the teahouse in question. She was no god, but in many ways, she was far more merciful.