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“I have connections, King Myre.” I noted that he added the title into my father’s name this time, maybe to backtrack if possibly offending him. The king simply nodded and took a portion of the golden meat for himself on his plate. “And I am wracked with enthusiasm for the masquerade ball you will be hosting for me.”

I winced, wanting to gag at his words. I didn’t want the idea of him on the throne of my kingdom to become a reality.

Tobias leaned over and winked at my father.

“Sir Tobias, how did you know to kill the dragon by the back of his ear?” one of the knights down the table asked, breaking the short gap of silence. I had seen him around a lot more recently. I knew his name was Clark, but I didn’t know much about him. His curly blonde hair gleamed in the light, and his facial hair had a darker tone than the pale color of his skin.

Tobias turned to look at Clark and finished swallowing one of his bites of the crisped meat. “Ahhh. I read parchment on everything I could learn about dragons to prepare for this moment. It helped to have access to the king’s library.” He looked at my father, who winked at him this time. I couldn’t stand it anymore. The burnished chair creaked behind me, scraping along the wood floor as I rose from my seat.

“You are a monster, Tobias Maxwell. You are killing off a species that is already almost extinct!” My voice was unwavering and steady as I stood up forLaneux, for the dragon that he slaughtered and all other dragons that continued to be slaughtered day after day, their extinction crawling closer with each swipe of a sword.

Tobias made a “hmph” sound and stared me down, meeting my gaze. He didn’t have to say anything as my father stood up for Tobias, speaking for him. “Aurelia, we are not the monsters. They are. They are a threat to our species. It is either us orthem!” His voice started to rise. It was almost as if he said,‘it is either us or you.’And, of course, I would never be chosen.

“You know what?” I demanded the attention from all the knights at the table; I demanded the attention of my father, the king of a messed up kingdom. “Father, you are the monster here, and you deserve to die and go toHaxnau2.” Gasps echoed through the dining hall, filling after with silence. The sconces flickering side to side, not a single muscle moving. “And Tobias,” I yelled, further demanding everyone’s attention, “you deserve that curse.”

After more silence, Tobias chuckled, his eyes rolling. “You don’t know what I deserve. And what silly courage you have to talk to the king like that when he does so much for you.” He paused, standing to meet my gaze rather than staring up at me. Whispering, he said, “You are so selfish that you have no idea what he would do for you. Maybe think about anyone else other than yourself for once, Aurelia.” My name on his lips felt like venom, poisoning the veins in my body. The anger in me just boiled even more, steam radiating from my body, sweat trickling down my brow.

He was so close I could hit him. Leaning over the table, I was about to act on the anger fueling my thoughts when a cluster of knights took my hands and forced me back.

“Let me go!” I yelled, struggling against their hold.

“Take her to her tower,” my father commanded.

“Where she belongs,” Tobias added. Whipping my head back, I shot him a death glare, one I hoped would pierce his nightmares to his very core.

1.Laneux (Law-neh-ooh)

2.Haxnau (Hah-nah-woo): Hell

Chapter three

DAMIAN

Iwasn’t sure what exactly led me to this moment. Was it a series of events? Was it watching my fiancée die right in front of me? Or watching the houses burn down and crumble?

Holding the knife down by my side, the moonlight glinted off the blade in a somber reflection. Drawing my black cloak tighter, I grabbed it around my body so as to not be seen. The alleyway was obscure and dark enough for me to hide in the corner without calling any attention.

The man ahead of me had his hood up. The figure of him and the other man he was with were hidden behind the pile of garbage that so sourly resided in the middle of the crevice between the buildings.

I wasn’t sure what he was doing. Some trade? Whatever it was, it didn't seem legal.

However, I wasn’t one to judge. Killing wasn’t necessarily legal, either.

The man that I was tracking dropped his hood, exchanged an item with the bald fella, and then started to make his way out to the main roads. I waited for the streets to clear of any possible witnesses before I trailed after.

Once I heard the distinct click of the door shutting, I followed after him in the streets. The Avenue was dimly lit by sconces attached to the nearby buildings. The walkways were paved with gravel, but contained piles of wind-driven sand from the nearby beaches. The waves pounded against the silence of the town.

The sky started to cry, and if I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought that it was the tears of the gatekeeper ofEzu1, telling me to not do what I was about to.

I knew that what I was doing was a cycle and knew that I promised to kill these people for food to appear at my door. It was completing the work that needed to be done for others.

Knowing that I was just a pawn in the game, I still complied, nonetheless.

I didn’t even know who the man was. I only knew that I received threatening to-do notes on my door that I would follow through with begrudgingly. But then I was taken care of. I didn’t have to leave my shack during the day, only at night to fulfill the man’s requests.

It was a small price I had to pay. I knew that it could be worse, harder.

After her loss, I couldn’t concentrate. I wasn’t myself anymore. I had changed. Whoever was in charge had turned me into a killer. And I had to kill my old self to make it this far.