Kingstown Beat

I strode down the street of Kingstown with purpose in my steps, my eyes straining in the afternoon sun.  I'd been having long days at the Keep, with many sleepless nights scattered between.  The place was on lockdown, and it was nigh impossible to move anywhere without being tailed by guards, even for me.

The newest false queen was fixated on securing her reign, though her desires by the minute remained impossible to predict.  The only certainty was that she wanted to find the Alteaza and Alteazor.  Managing her outbursts and frustrations at anyone and everyone from the servants to the guard to the lords and ladies had proved a challenge that required constant monitoring.

Mal was a child with childish emotions.  Strong, but unstable.  I had to be vigilant.

Royal babysitter, indeed.

I found a bench with a good view of the plaza and took up a lounging position.  My ankle crossed my knee and I tilted my head back to stare at the soaring shops and apartments around me.

This was my city.  My people.  I would do everything in my power to protect them.

Luckily, it was a lot of power.

I lifted my head to stare down an empty street across the plaza.  Hidden behind the bench while my arms draped casually over its back, my hands clenched and unclenched.  I felt it roiling; the ancient feast that threatened to consume me entirely.  The bitter frost that coiled around my core whenever I let my guard down.  They wanted to eat.  They wanted to be free.  I closed my eyes and clenched my fists until they were numb---

"Asmodeus."

I blinked.  My surroundings returned to me in an instant, the hunger held at bay.  I looked at the figure in front of me.

A little fae with a shiny black braid and gray eyes stood at my knee.  She watched me boldly.

When she had my attention, she took a big breath.  "That man you told me to follow.  He went into a house.  One that used to have all those skulls in the window."

I took a moment to process this information.  Then I nodded and reached into the pocket of my coat to pull out a small bag of coins.  I dropped it into her waiting hands.

I watched her count them out.  She seemed satisfied and poured them back into the bag.  Then she held another hand out expectantly.

I quirked an eyebrow, a smile tugging at my lips.

When she didn't see me move, she raised her hands and smacked them down on both my knees, leaning forward menacingly over my crossed leg.

I chuckled and reached into my pocket again.  I revealed a square of chocolate and held it out to her.

Her eyes lit up with satisfaction and she snatched it out of my hand, unwrapping it greedily.  She bit into it, chewed, swallowed.  Stuck her tongue out at me and then skipped away.

I shook my head and smiled to myself.  I had a weak spot for headstrong females.

Soon the smile faded, and I stared back into the empty street again.  The information she'd given me confirmed it: this man was one of the Human Hunters under Robyn's reign.  He'd entered the home of a known former hunter who used to display his defective victims---the ones he couldn't sell after capture.

I stood, dusted myself off, and moved toward the empty street.  The afternoon sun faded as I entered between the buildings.  The shadows darkened, grew, writhed along the walls.  High pitched wails floated into my ears from the ancient abyss.

Another day.  Another target.  Another necessary evil.