Page 56 of The Lost Child

TWACK.

I didn’t even flinch as his sword hissed across my face, leaving a deep, angry slice that started to drip with dark blue blood.

“That’s for fighting my men. Half of ‘em are injured with broken bones. Stupid creature.” He spat on the floor and stalked away. My ears tracked his steps down the hall and into a far door.

I touched the wound on my face, only to frown as my fingers met only smooth skin and dried blood. Was it because of Nerissa’s blood in me still? I spat on my fingers and wiped my face, turning as I spied a smooth piece of stone across the room that sent my reflection back at me. I seized it eagerly, then nearly dropped it as I saw my face for the first time.

Master had called me a monster my entire life, but I supposed I never understood what he truly meant. I had always thought the reason I was kept away was because I killed and hurt people; I made everyone bleed who entered my domain. I knew I had claws and wings where the others didn’t and fangs that could bite. I thought that was the reason it was my job to kill; I was better suited for it than anyone else.

Maybe that wasn’t the reason.

Master and Nerissa had smooth skin. Mine was blemished with bumps and scales like a fish. My ears were tufted and much longer, and the pupils in my eyes were different, a narrow slit that I had never before seen in any other creature. They were a green color that glowed in the darkness of the room.

Monster.

No. There was a different word.Draken.

I was a terrible, ferocious beast.

Now I understood why the master wanted Nerissa away from me. I was nothing like her. I would only ruin and taint her.

I’d already hurt her. She could have gotten away and saved herself, but she’d stayed for me.

A sad sound left my throat as I glanced over at her limp form, the dried blood from my bite still caked around her neck and chest. I threw the shiny stone down, not caring as it shattered into a thousand pieces on the floor.

I had noticed before I let go that there was no wound on my cheek. Master must have missed. I must have imagined it.

Master never missed. And the blood on your cheek was real.

I gathered Nerissa in my arms. I was going to get her away from all of this. Even if I couldn’t see straight. Even if it killed me.

Nineteen

NERISSA

Iwoke up smelling blood and tasting it on my tongue. Canavar’s wound on my neck hurt, fire racing through me as I slowly sat up. The ceiling of my room greeted me, and for a moment I was calm.

Then the massive shape next to my bed twitched, and I jerked.

“Canavar?”

The figure jerked and turned a sullen glare toward me. I remembered my father knocking me out, but that was all. Had Canavar taken me here? Had he attacked my father? We had to move quickly to get out of here!

I stood, ignoring the world as it tilted slightly. My head pounded, but I couldn’t let that stop me. “Come on, hurry before he comes for us.”

Canavar took a wobbling, pained stepped forward then buckled, falling to his knees.

My door opened to reveal a short woman, middle-aged and in a threadbare dress, carrying a pitcher of water with a few rags and a dress slung over her shoulder. She took one look at me, then Canavar, then screamed.

“Oh no, missy, get back in there.”

My hopes sank into the pit of my stomach as my father appeared, forcing the maid back into my room with a hand on each of the woman’s shoulders. He didn’t comment on Canavar and me on the floor.

“Get her clean and ready. Don’t mind the dog.” He grinned nastily at Canavar and shoved the maid into the room before he strode out. He slammed the door behind him, and the sound of the key turning in the lock was oddly loud in such a crowded room.

I ignored the woman for now. “Canavar, get up. You can do it.” I tugged at his arms and tried to get under him and lift his body with my legs. I staggered back down to the ground. I was too injured, and he was too sick.

“Miss … please …” The serving woman was pressed with her back against the door, her face white and sickly as I implored her. “Please let me do my orders. Please.”

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