Weight of the World

Chapter Six

—Ramsdale, Belanen, World of Andavaran—

There had to be a correlation. Logically speaking, it made little sense, but there was no denying that a pattern had emerged. The further south she traveled, the better the alcohol became, a welcomed surprise in her otherwise dull adventure through the Belanen countryside. Everything else on her journey had thus far been one level of disappointing or another. This was about the only thing that had made her travels worth it. And she hadn't even reached as far south as Belanen went.

Lulu took a long drink from her mug, delighting in the burn that trailed down her throat, fire spreading through her stomach. Soon, that fire would turn to numbness, the moment she always looked forward to. Night was setting in, and she had found an inn with good food, good alcohol, good music, and pretty dancers to watch. Yet, none of that compared to the blissful numbness that would overtake her after a few heavy drinks, when her thoughts would fade away, and the constant pain in her heart would ease to a dull ache, enough for her to sleep. It was the sole thing she looked forward to those days, her only happiness in the bleak days ahead.

In the corner beside the crackling fire, Lulu settled in against the wall, one leg propped up against her table as she drank from her third mug. She kept her eyes on the white-haired dancer, watching as the woman's hips swayed enticingly to the rhythmic music. Her eyes were growing heavy, and it wasn't long before the dancer's face morphed into a far more familiar one, one that twisted the knife in her heart deeper. Lulu allowed the vision of Idelle dancing before her to remain for only a few more breaths before she blinked sharply and looked away. She swallowed her pain with another drink.

"E-excuse me?" a small voice drew her attention. Annoyed, Lulu sighed as she rolled her head in the direction of the voice, peering down at a young girl, no more than seven or eight. She clutched a wrinkled piece of parchment in her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks as she peered up at Lulu. "Are...are you the Shadowhunter?"

Lulu rolled her eyes, withdrawing her leg from the table to instead lean her elbows heavily against the surface. "That's such a fuckin' stupid name, but yeah, I guess. What do you want?"

"I...the ealdorman said you take contracts no one else will."

"Yeah, sure. What d'ya got? More bandits fuckin' pigs? Orphans stealing from nobles? Something equally stupid and not worth my time? All I fuckin' get anymore."

"My...my mummy and daddy...They were..."

"Yeah, they died. I can see it on your face. Cut to the chase kid. Everyone's got a fuckin' sob story. I don't much care about yours unless it involves hearts, songs, ghosts, demons, or ancient curses. Otherwise..."

"Hearts," the little girl interrupted, desperate to keep Lulu's attention. That certainly earned her, her full, undivided attention. "They...their hearts were...t-taken."

Lulu set down her cup, holding out her hand for the parchment in the little girl's hands. On it was a shortened account of what had happened. This notice had been pinned outside until recently. Lulu had gotten in late and hadn't the time to check the local notice board. How the little girl had found out about her arrival, she didn't know, but it hardly mattered. This was exactly the sort of thing, Lulu was interested in, really the only thing that interested her those days.

"Please," the little girl continued. "I...I don't have any money, but the ealdorman said..."

"I don't really care to be honest," Lulu waved the little girl off. "Your mum and dad. How long ago did they die?"