Page 113 of A Soul to Guide

His singular laugh was dark, lacking in humour. “What do you think your people would do if I came banging on your gate?”

“Talk to you?” she asked in confusion.

“Raewyn, that’s delusional. They would see a creature who has a dead thing on their shoulders and would likely perceive me as evil, or some omen of death.”

“I don’t think so,” she stated in a quiet tone. “We always gave everyone a chance.”

“Children don’t like looking at dead things; they find them frightening. Adults are no better when it comes to things they don’t understand. You are speaking from an experience of dealing with people who don’t appear like Duskwalkers do.”

Perhaps she was biased, because she truly thought her people were accepting, but her entire chest swirled with anger. She turned her face towards him, so he knew she was glaring.

“You’re wrong. We’ve allowed Demons who have asked for sanctuary to live among us.”

“And you imprisoned them once they succumbed to their hunger because you forced them to eat your way. I would be faced with the same issue if I smelt blood or fear, and I doubt I’d be forgiven, even though I cannot help it. It’s easy to forgive a face when its similar to your own.”

“Because we didn’t know that before,” she bit, slitting her eyes in his direction. “We now have a section of the city that holds livestock for them, because they can’t change what they require to eat any better than we can.”

“Do they look like you? Smell like you? Talk like you? How are they treated? Are they subjugated, living in their own section as outcasts?”

“They chose that out of comfortability. They wish to live closer together because they are wary of themselves and don’t wish to endanger anyone else. They are welcome anywhere in the city. Not everyone chooses to live there.”

“Did they choose that, or were they pushed to make that decision based on how they were treated or looked upon?”

I don’t understand,she thought, shaking her head in disbelief. He was defending people he didn’t know, had never met.It’s like he wants to see evil in us.

“No,” she answered with complete resolve. “Just because their housing is together doesn’t mean they don’t work with us, eat with us, play or converse with us. They shop in the same markets, put their children in the same schools. There is no divide in that sense. There is no difference between us, to the point where my assistant is a Demon and I hand chose him. We even call them Delysians, because even though they are different, they are just like us, and as long as they aren’t hungry, they’ve never harmed another.”

“How can you be so certain?”

What more could she say? She’d eaten at Cykran’s table with his neighbours. She’d played with their children and spent time in that part of the city as Cykran’s friend – while he boasted about working in the councillor palace.

Just as she opened her mouth, Raewyn shut it when a striking realisation hit her like a thunderbolt.

This has nothing to do with the Demons.She rubbed at her cheek before doing the same to the back of her neck.It’s about him.

Merikh, in his own weird way, was trying to find out if he would be accepted among her people, despite his appearance.

“Merikh... as long as you truly tried not to harm anyone, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be accepted,” she said as she softened her features. “We’re not like the humans. You’ve been able to walk among them, speak with them without accidentally hurting them. As long as you were able to make that same effort with us, you wouldn’t be forced to hide your face behind a glamour.”

“You cannot say that with absolute certainty.” When her brows twitched, he added, “You were frightened of me the moment you met me.”

“That’s different!” she shouted in outrage. “You were cackling like a psycho and acting aggressively. You’d lied to me, made me think you were someone else entirely.”

“If I had revealed what I was to you in Clawhaven, you wouldn’t have walked out that gate with me. Admit it.”

“Well, no,” she pouted. “But that’s because I didn’t know you, or what you were. I do now, and I can speak on your behalf.” Then she bent her arm, as though she was flexing her biceps muscle. “I’ll be your strong arm and you’ll be welcomed in no time. I am synedrus councillor Raewyn Daefaren, lead representative for the Duskwalker people.”

It started off quiet, like someone trying their hardest to suppress it, but it grew louder and louder until a yellow flame burst. Merikh’s chuckle grew in depth, like he couldn’t help himself.

“A representative for a Duskwalker? Never in my life did I think I would hear something as absurd as that.”

“It’s not absurd,” she grumbled, trying not to grin in triumph.

He’s laughing. I made him laugh.It was sincere and genial, making her heart flutter in its wake.

“Fine, Raewyn. I’ll let you try, but don’t be too disappointed if you fail.”

“I won’t fail,” she stated with absolute certainty. She wouldn’t let herself fail. “So, you’ll give me your diadem now?”

---