Many of them lived among the demons for years, some for decades. But when balance was restored to the ancient Primordial, the blighted druids were cured. For a time. They at least return to their human form, but the bloodlust remained.
Thus, the noctis were born.
Boris merely shrugs at him. “Some like the thrill of it. Being back in those dark woods. Makes them feel strong again.”
“Strong,” he sneers. “A caged animal is no threat. We are stronger now than we ever were there.”
The irony of what he’s saying doesn’t evade me. For someone who clearly has a disdain of being caged, he certainly seems to have no qualms doing the same thing to the humans he’s procuring for his precious king.
Boris looks as if he’s heard all this before and is quite exhausted by the repetitive conversation. “Sure, but at least caged animals aren’t starved animals. They’re fed daily, their strength kept intact. Look at her, for fuck’s sake. Picking her teeth with pigeon bones. The ghouls have all but devoured the country.”
“Not the whole country,” Gregor says, and as he does, he strides to the edge of the building and looks down. “Someone’s here. Laying traps.”
The groan that escapes Boris is exaggerated and long. “One sorry sack of life is hardly enough to sustain the entire noctis population.” He meanders over to his friend, feet dragging the whole way.
Finally, I see my opportunity.
“You know,” I begin, shoving myself off the ground and resisting the urge to wipe the blood from my chin. “There might be more than one sorry sack of life around these parts.”
I pique their interests, Boris looking positively savage with glee, while Gregor is clearly still deciding whether I can be trusted. But at least he’s curious.
“And what makes you say that?” Gregor asks.
I form a lie, and I do so quick. “Last night there was a massacre—actually, just a few blocks from here. Five or six ghouls slaughtered and left in a bloody mess. I doubt they killed themselves.”
The crook of one of Boris’ bushy brows hikes up. “They still had their blood in them?”
“Mhmm. Well, notinthem. But definitelyaroundthem.”
I let them draw their own conclusions. It makes them feel like they arrived at the information on their own, and everyone knows they can trust themselves more than they can trust a stranger.
Boris aims to give Gregor a triumphant pat to the chest, their problems all but solved, but the man is so tall that he barely grazes the bottom of his ribs. It doesn’t deter Boris’ excitement though. I’m not sure anything could at this point.
“Killed by humans then. Gregor, this is great!”
Not a reason I ever thought I’d hear a noctis celebrating…
“Mmm.” Gregor sneers. “Almost too good to be true.”
I give a careless flick of my hand and turn away. “Don’t believe me if you’d like. It’s of no consequence to me.”
Gregor’s glare burns into the back of my skull. Behind me, I hear them whispering, Boris begging the man to loosen up and trying to appeal to his senses. They need to find bodies. I’m the best lead they’ve got.
“We could run it by Malachi if you’d like?” I hear Boris shrug. “Send him word through the blood oath—"
It’s the second time that name has been mentioned. It sounds familiar, but before I can place it, Gregor erupts in a fit of frustration.
“The blood oaths are gone, remember?” He thrusts one burly arm into the air, brandishing a wrist that’s tinged burgundy.
Could that be…blood? And was it actually painted on his skin in some elaborate design? Judging from the crusted lines and shapes remaining, I shudder to think it is. But who’s blood was it? And how would they possibly use it to communicate to the others?
“Why tell us?”
There’s something sinister in his tone, something that suggests if I answer wrong, it’ll be the death of me.
I make sure to answer right.
“I assume you’ve been traveling with others for a while, yes? Maybe you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be on your own. It’s not too different from what you’ve described, Boris. I’m eating scraps. I’m not as strong as I should be, and I’m only one”—the wordhumannearly slips from my lips, but somehow, I manage to catch it at the back of my teeth before I can blow my cover— “I’m only one. And to come across humans who could take down a half dozen crazed ghouls—with none of their own dead and left behind, I might add—needless to say, it wasn’t anything I planned on sticking my nose in. I hid for the night and decided to leave town this morning.
