Page 3 of Villainous Greed

“Burst it?” I laughed. “It’s been pounding since I saw you.”

Her nose wrinkled as she flinched back. “What?”

“How old are you?” A branch cracked under my boot.

“I’ve warned you!” Panic elevated her sweet voice—too beautiful for the Underworld.

Wanting to be closer, I ignored her warning and took another step.

After two explosive encounters with my future woman, I should’ve heeded her warning seriously. Fire encased my chest as I felt my heart torn apart from the inside. Thankfully, it didn’t last long.

After all, I felt no pain when dead.

Chapter Two

Nova

Inhaling deeply, I followed the path and headed to Derrick’s cottage. I had to tell him what I’d done. There were only two cabins at his camp. He granted me and the children the smallest. As the leader, he got the only one with a washing room. Everyone else slept in tents, but I’d rather be in those. At least his soldiers got food.

But I’d killed a proxy hunter. Maybe he’d reward us with food, and we wouldn’t have to wait for Odin to master the spell. As I neared the door, my vision blurred, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since the day before.

As the eldest, I could handle that hunger. Odin, Finn, Sofia, and Cloud suffered, though. Sofia and Odin were eleven, two years younger than me. Cloud was eight, Finn nine. I was nearing womanhood. Their naivety and hopeful futures made me wonder if life had sucked optimism from me. I had none. I saw their daily happiness and laughter, thinking,I must protect that.

Derrick kidnapped Sofia four years ago, Odin and Cloud two years ago, Finn one. They didn’t know the danger - they didn’t know why someone took them from their families and forcedthem to cultivate their power. Each day held new hope for them. Sofia, a red demon with no power, no different from humans besides her vibrant color, was the only one who wasn’t a proxy. People sought after demons like Sofia for their beauty. My stomach rolled as I thought about Derrick stealing her for when she became a woman.

I’d been there my whole life. Optimism died after my last escape attempt at five. Derrick beat me until welts formed on my arms and bled.

“You’re mine, Nova. Mine. Don’t forget that,”he said.

I ensured I didn’t hear those words again. My life became about protecting the children brought in. I’d never make it to eighteen, anyway. One day, I’d be the next sacrifice in Derrick’s war. He plucked proxies, forced them to fight his battles. He sacrificed children.

I’d long discovered Derrick lacked a heart, only seeking revenge against another proxy—a story he never told. He only wanted prisoners knowing they’d sacrifice themselves.

He hadn’t forced that fate on me yet, but I’d spilled enough blood not to flinch, while taking a life. All I saw was right before me—what mattered, what I must protect.

Everything and everyone be damned like me. I’d do everything to get those four out before Derrick killed them.

I opened the door and called out, “Derrick!”

Derrick took more care of his home. He had a bed and a place to bathe while our cottage only had blankets and threadbare clothes strewn about. Derrick wouldn’t let me use magic to improve our conditions. If we wanted anything, we had to make a payment.

I hoped the dead hunter sufficed for food.

“I thought you were going to the river,” Derrick’s cold, deep voice came from his bedroom. His boots clunked to the floor, then he appeared, a scowl edged on his features. He appeared as a twenty-something male with brown eyes and hair, but I didn’t know his true age. Compared to his bulky soldiers, Derrick was lanky, but no one dared ignore his malicious glint.

Then again, who in the Underworld wasn’t cruel?

I’d yet to meet someone older than me to be anything different.

“Nova killed a proxy hunter,” Odin blurted before I could speak.

Derrick’s lips parted slightly, eyes meeting mine. I lifted my chin, instilling the ferocity in my slanted brows I knew he liked.

“The hunter’s body is miles from the city,” I said.

Derrick’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the way to the river.”

I prepared myself. “Would you rather I ignore a presence in the woods and let him roam free?”

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