Page 6 of A Hunter for Luna

The unlighted streets frightened me. The darkness pressed down, though the slim moon provided a little light when it rose. The noises of steps reminded me of the stories about ghouls who crept out at night and devoured those foolish enough to walk on the streets. Especially children, because they were tender.

I asked Sofia about it, and she’d answered ghouls couldn't easily live in Legnali because it flooded too much and so most people were given to the pyre, so there wasn't much for them to eat. Oddly, that didn’t reassure me or Rose much.

The moon was well up by the time I crept up the cracked marble steps. I hoped Father was out drinking, or with one of his mistresses.

The absent gods didn’t intervene for good or ill, according to the priests. If that were true, then chance hated me rather than the gods, for Father stood near the entry hall, staring at me.

Fear rolled over me, drying my mouth and I bent almost double as I bolted up the stairs, hoping he wouldn’t be able to catch me on the risers. But his legs were longer than mine and he caught up with me on the landing. His hand twisted in my hair, yanking me back from the first step of the second flight.

"What did you do so wrong that your husband refused to take you?" he roared, his lean face flushed crimson with rage.

Before I could reply, he slapped my face open handed. My lip caught on my teeth, and I tasted blood. I screamed and threw my hands up to shield myself, and he shook me like a dog with a rabbit.

Staggering, I tried to grab the hand holding my hair and he punched me in the stomach. I wheezed, then the remains of that wonderful supper heaved up, on him and me. He stared down at his stained clothing, the red flush shading to purple.

Absent gods. He would kill me now, rather than just beat me.

Rose screamed and ran down the stairs, grabbing at his tunic. "Stop, please leave her alone."

In a flash, he backhanded Rose, sending her reeling. It was the first time he had ever struck her. Her mother Canta rushed down the stairs and grabbed Father's free arm, attempting to restrain him.

"Emilio, stop this madness," Canta said. Her thin voice was almost drowned out in Rose’s sobs. Slender as a reed, she was no match for his strength, but her grip dimpled the cloth of his velvet sleeve.

Father threw me toward the wall, whirled around and shoved Canta backwards with all his might. I’d caught myself before I hit the wall, so Canta was fully in my view as she tumbled down the stairs. A dull crack rang through the room as she came to the bottom, and she lay very still, her gown hiked up almost to her thighs by the fall. I wanted to straighten them, I knew that she’d hate people seeing her like that.

Her head lay at a bad angle. Father raced down the stairs to her still form.

How would he find another wife after killing his first two? And what a foolish thought to have right now.

This was our chance. I grabbed Rose’s hand, hauling her up from cowering on the floor, and ran upstairs. Sofia's bedroom doorflung open as we reached it. Sofia stood there with a frustrated expression.

Her eyes rested on Rose’s cheek, already swelling and red and purple. “This is harm to my ward. This breach of contract I can work with,” she murmured.

"We have to go, now." I winced as I breathed. My ribs stabbed me with pain now that I’d stopped for a moment.

Sofia scooped up a small bundle wrapped in a shawl sitting on her trunk, took Rose’s hand, and strode for the servant’s stairs. The steps were narrow and steep, but this passage was unlikely to be blocked by father or anyone he might send for to tend my stepmother.

By the time we reached the servant's entrance on the main floor the stabbing pain in my ribs made breathing hard.

“Where did he take you?” Sofia asked.

“d'Alvarez. Benedetto is my husband,” I gasped.

Rose put a gentle hand on my side and frowned. “I can try to heal you, Sofia taught me the spell.”

“No, my magic will just eat it. I’m fine, and we need to get far away from here.” I stared at Sofia, the adult.

She nodded in agreement. Then she pressed her fingertips on Rose’s eyelids, and I saw a dim glow linger when she withdrew them.

“Rose and I will lead, since we can see clearly. And we won’t run; that will both hurt you and attract even more attention. Link arms with your sister, Luna, and I’ll walk a step behind carryingthis. Your mother’s wedding veil is in here, as well as your other belongings.”

Tears pickled under my eyelids. My mother's red veil was the only piece of her I had left. Sofia and Rose helped as much as they could and saving that was so precious to me.

I murmured “Thank you.”

Arms around linked, Rose and I turned onto the street, still walking quickly.

Tears streaked Rose's face, but she walked steadily. I had no comfort to give; Canta was dead and getting us all safe had to be the priority.

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