The sheriff huffed.
“You’re here. Alive. Which is a hell of a lot more than you deserve after the shit you pulled. Who do you think let out that monster? Who do you think single-handedly brought this town to its knees by setting that monster loose?”
Samuel tried sitting up, but the pain of his leg stopped him.
“What?”
The sheriff laughed to himself, smacking his thigh.
“Do you know what some of the citizens are saying? That death, the dark servant of Azhuel, came to Haid in the form of a red-haired child to enact vengeance on the citizens, because some of them had broken the law by touching your old man and murdering him in the dead of night. Now that’s really funny. Almost as good as that demon theory. But it gets better. The latest rumor is that you’re the one that summoned her.” He wriggled his fingers over Samuel’s face. He laughed again. “Death. Demon. Monster. Little shit. Whatever that thing is, it’s good at killing. Really good. Really fucking good.”
Samuel arched his spine, the bones popping. “Why did you let her out?”
The sheriff nodded to himself, fiddling with his flask. He offered Samuel a sip, but he refused. “Maybe I just wanted my jailhouse back. Or maybe I’d had enough of our fat mayor. Maybe that little brat came banging on my door in the middle of the night telling me that you’d gotten caught, crying and saying he’d do anything to save you. Saying he needed my help. Saying that we could stage a coup in the process. Saying I could have my wages doubled as well as more control over my patrolmen. Anything I wanted if I saved you.”
“Why would Charles do that?”
The sheriff smirked. “You’re not that stupid, are you?” He laughed. “Anyway. It was his idea to set the little beast free, because he said she’d rescue you. I told him he was out of his damn mind, but he insisted. Said that monster wouldn’t hurt you, and he’d take the blame if it didn’t work. I said I’d kill him myself if it didn’t.”
“You hate her.”
“Damn right.” The sheriff closed the flask and stashed it in his pocket. “I know what that thing is capable of. Told the men I trusted to sneak through the neighborhoods and spread the word that something bad was coming. Tell the citizens not to leave their houses or open the shops or head to the woods. Most everyone listened. Those that didn’t went to the grounds for military training. They would’ve sold their souls to make a few extra coins.”
“People died.”
“Coming from you? That’s rich. None of this would’ve happened if it wasn’t for you.”
Samuel’s burned arm twitched, and a wave of pain forced his eyes closed. “I know that.”
The sheriff sighed. “I let the monster out myself. Undid the locks and chains. Told her I’d shoot her dead if she so much as made a move at me. Told her where you were and that you needed help. And I let her go.”
Samuel remembered how Zei had burst into the blacksmith’s shed, the way she’d slain the foreigner and Jax as if it were nothing. He remembered the way she looked at him, her hands stained wet with blood.
“Did she help you?”
“Yes.”
The sheriff shook his head, rubbing his hands over his face. “No shit?”
“How long am I stuck here for?”
“Right now, we’re keeping you hidden.” The sheriff stood, jamming his fingers into his belt. “There’s been some grumblings about how you’re the one to blame for all the carnage. Simple minds. Superstitions and all that. The little mayor wants you to stay in Haid, but I think it’s a bad idea. My opinion? You need to get out of this town.”
“Wait,” Samuel called out before the sheriff made his exit. “Mikael. The foreigner. He called Zei … he called the demon a Halyre. Do you know the word?”
“Are you serious?” The sheriff snorted. “Like I speak redlander.”
Samuel fumbled around the room, searching for his clothes. Instead, he found a stash of Charles’s clothes stuffed inside the large dresser. He picked a pair of fitted jeans, which he assumed Charles had outgrown several years before. He guided his bandaged leg inside of the pants, doing his best to avoid rubbing the wound.
He shoved his other leg in without as much effort, then wriggled the jeans up to his waist. He rolled up the pants twice, trying to prevent the bottoms from covering his feet. Dressing was an odd sensation. He’d been naked underneath the bedsheets for over a week, leaving them only to relieve himself. He slipped on a thick shirt and an oversized sweater before slowly making his way back to the lounge chair.
Samuel pushed his newly repaired glasses farther up his nose. Charles had paid a craftsman in Lehles not only to repair the damaged frames, but also to slightly increase the prescription strength of the lenses. Because of it, Samuel had never seen things more clearly.
He winced. His arm prickled with irritation, so he carefully patted the burned skin with the back of his palm. Not only did the burns ache, but they itched as well. He braced himself against the wall before snatching his coat up from the floor.
After he’d finished dressing, Samuel took cautious steps back to the bed. He got down on his knees and rummaged underneath the bed until he found his leather boots. He sat on the bed, lethargically slipping the shoes on and lacing up the strings.
Charles burst into the room, Samuel’s backpack draped over his shoulder. He smiled. “I bought you fresh clothes, you know. You can totally have those too. It looks good on you.”
Samuel smirked. “Thanks. It’s better than a uniform. What happened to my old clothes? The ones I was wearing?”
“Oh. Tossed them out. They were filthy.” Charles paused. “Covered in blood.”
Samuel picked at sweater sleeves. “Thank you, Charles.”
Charles blushed. He whipped Samuel’s backpack onto the bed. “Your money’s all there. Put in a little extra for you. Oh, and the blacksmith gave you some new throwing knives and sharpened your hunting knife. He says he’s sorry about what happened.”
Samuel nodded. He wasn’t angry with the blacksmith anymore. The man responsible was dead.
Charles got closer. He brushed back Samuel’s hair, his fingers lingering. “You should fix your hair. It’s a mess.”
Samuel nodded.
Charles cleared his throat, pulling away. He straightened his suit jacket and popped the stem of his smoking pipe between his teeth. “You ready?”
A soft rapping came from outside the hallway. Samuel turned. Claudette stood by the doorframe, her arms slung around it. Her four-cord braids fell down her shoulders like a still painting. Her brown eyes stayed downcast.
Samuel dug his fingers into his palm. His muscles tightened.
“Can we have a minute?”
Charles glanced at Claudette. He nodded, took his exit, and closed the door behind him.
Soft light peeked through the lace curtains. Samuel shifted his weight, the floor creaking below his feet. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She was beautiful. Inside and out. Pure. He never deserved her.