Yeah, that would do it.
The Limus slams into the Earl. Green goo encases the man whole. Inside the demon, the Earl of Acca flails, trying to whack his way out with the crossbow. Next to me, the Scala Heir and Gianna continue chatting. I nudge her in the ribs again.
“Your father’s in big trouble.”
She looks at me and arches her eyebrow. “No, he’s not. And if you keep interrupting me, Gianna’ll put a hex on you.” She turns to face her friend, showing me as much back as possible.
On the tournament grounds, the Earl of Acca feebly kicks and punches from inside the Limus demon. Some thrax stand up in their pavilion seats, their faces twisted with worry. The Earl stops moving altogether.
That’s it.
I rip the lantern off the post and hurl it with all my strength. The fire slams into the demon’s skin. The Limus bursts into emerald flames. The thrax in the pavilions gasp. The fire dies down, leaving the Earl standing alone, wheezing and covered in green goop.
He points at me, slime dripping from his finger. “YOU! How dare you!”
For a few long minutes, there’s a lot of confusion, gasping, and cries of ‘how dare you’ from the Earl. It’s all a big blur until a familiar hand grips mine. I turn to see Cissy standing beside me. She tugs on my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She pulls me past the tournament field, stopping behind one of the tents. Her eyes grow large with alarm. “What happened back there, Myla?”
“I saved that guy’s life.”
“Everyone said he was doing fine.”
“Everyone’s wrong. A Limus demon was about to digest him whole. He was not doing fine.” I fold my arms over my chest. “He’s just a pompous blowhard who didn’t want to get showed up by a girl, even if that girl saved his life.”
Cissy grinds her teeth. “The House of Acca is freaking out. I need to do some damage control.” She winces. “This could take a while.” Cissy’s forehead creases with concern, the same expression she wears when feeding stray cats or tending her shoebox of moth cocoons. She doesn’t want this blow-up to cause trouble for Zeke and his family. Which, since I’m associated with them and their house, it very well could.
I won’t let her face this alone. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, best if you stay scarce. Every Acca flunky within yelling range is screaming how you dishonored them for a second time.”
Dishonored, really? I pause, rubbing my neck with my hand. After hanging out with Adair, it’s not actually all that surprising. That House of Acca is bad news. I chuck Cissy gently on the shoulder. “No worries. I can just head back.”
She tilts her head to one side. “Are you sure?”
“Sure, I’m sure.” If I can ever find my way back to the parking lot and Betsy. That was a hike.
Cissy gives me a peck on the cheek. “Thanks.” She lifts up her skirt a bit, spins about and speeds off. Once she’s gone, I scope out the grounds, trying to picture the long path back to Betsy. Not really sure how to begin.
That’s when I hear it. Angry Acca voices calling for the ‘foul demon,’ ‘scum fighter,’ and ‘quasi whore’ who humiliated their Earl. I saved the guy’s life, and this is what happens? My throat tightens. Sadness and disappointment wind about my ribs. What have I been trying to prove by fighting these people? Did I think they’d realize a quasi girl has as much value as a thrax warrior? No matter what I do, they’ll never see me as anything but a foul demon.
My eyes sting. He’ll never see me as anything but a foul demon, either.
A bitter gloom settles into my bones. I need to head home, now. I try to slog my way back to the parking lot, but I’m not used to the puffy dress and heels. I slip in the mud, landing on my bum with a thump. Warm tears blur my vision.
Footsteps slosh up behind me. Even in the mud, I can’t miss the military precision of the owner’s walk. Lincoln.
I lift my hands, watching mud drip through my fingers. “Look, buddy. If you’re here to complain, I’ve already heard it. The House of Acca yells much better than they fight.”
Lincoln clears his throat. “On behalf of myself and my people, thank you for saving the Earl’s life.”
I shake my head, not sure if I heard him correctly. Was that actual niceness from the Prince’s mouth? I watch his outline as he walks away.
My head cocks to one side. “You’re welcome.”
I slowly haul myself to my feet. My gown’s so loaded with mud, it now weighs a ton. I frown. It’s going to take me forever to slog back to Betsy, even if I can figure out where I parked her.
A whinny sounds from a nearby line of trees. I scan the dim forest. Nightshade’s bluish-gray coat gleams in the shadows. I smile.
“Perfect timing, Night. I could sure use a ride.”
Chapter Thirteen
Cissy’s chipper voice carries from my front door into my dingy bedroom. “Hello, Momma Lewis. Is Myla home?”
Sitting upright in bed, I slam shut the schoolbook in my hands.