Halfling (Black Petals Book 1) (27 page)

My breathing must pick up or something, because Aiden squeezes my hand tightly for reassurance. As we walk, the guards walk, as if they are robotic. The guards at home were nothing like this. They had at least some freedom of choice. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s freaky as hell. They act like zombies.

We walk forward, and I swallow hard, plunging forward against what my head is telling me to do. We walk into a huge brick building. When I say
huge
, I mean mother fricken
huge
. It looks like some sort of factory or something, or maybe one of those ancient castles you see on TV. It’s not welcoming, in fact it, it chills me right down to the bone.

Inside is no better than the outside. There are no windows, none that I can see anyway. There are red carpets and dimly lit lights hanging from the ceiling. I can’t tell much else with all the guards around us.

“This is far enough. We can take ourselves from here,” Aiden instructs in a deep, commanding tone. The guards are gone in an instant, and it’s just me and him.

The door we came in with closes with a loud bang and silent ensues.

“Are you ready to go home yet?” Aiden asks me, a tired look in his eyes.

I’m about to nod when I think better of it. Going home means either death or getting reassigned to some random demon, who I just know is going to be an asshole. “No, we just got here,” I say in a whimper. At least there are no fiery pits of bones and big caverns full of blood like I seemed to imagine. It could be worse, right? That’s what I tell myself.

Aiden stares into my eyes, searching them. I know he’s trying to understand what I’m thinking. There’s no way that he can’t tell how terrified I am, surely he can hear my heart beat hammering.

“I’ll take you back,” he states with a completely blank expression.

“No, no don’t. I’m fine. It’s just going to take some getting used to. It’s the best alternative that I have,” I remind him.

A look of defeat crosses his expression, and he nods promptly. Aiden shows me to my room which is attached to his by a door. My room is beyond beautiful. It’s amazing really, but I’m still uncomfortable here. Aiden begins showing signs of irritability within less than an hour of arriving here and this too makes me feel unease. I know it’s already happening, hell is stirring things inside him that shouldn’t be stirred.

I sit in my room for the majority of the day or night whichever it is, it’s hard to tell when there is never any sunlight. At some point a knock sounds on my door, and I welcome whoever it is inside, assuming it’s Aiden.

A petite blonde girl, who looks no older than maybe fifteen brings in a trolley filled with all sorts of food. Everything from pies to chicken to rice. She smiles at me kindly.

“Ms. Caplan, I’ve brought you supper this evening,” she says cheerfully. “Mr. Castile told me you probably wouldn’t want to leave your room and come to the dining room, so I gathered a few things up for you.”

I nod in appreciation. I’m starving. “Please, call me Megan. What’s your name?”

She looks surprised by either my telling her to call me Megan, or my asking her for her name, maybe both. “I’m Tamzen, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Tamzen, for supper. You didn’t have to do that,” I say appreciatively and reach for a bun off the trolley. “This is far too much food for just myself. Would you care for some?” I ask her, taking in her near anorexic looking figure.

She licks her lips as if tempted but shakes her head quickly. “Of course not, Ms. Caplan. That would be very rude of me.”

“Come, have some. You can sit across from me at that little table,” I suggest, pointing to a small brown table with two chairs on the other side of the room.

The girl’s pretty blue eyes look to me with confusion and wonder.

I get up from my seat on the bed and begin pushing the cart over to the table. The girl follows me.

“Let me push that, ma’am,” she exclaims as if I’m going to knock my back out pushing the thing or something.

I ignore her, pushing it the last few feet. She stares at me like I’m some sort of weirdo.

“Come, sit,” I point to the seat across from me as I sit down. She sits.

“What would you like to eat? Pick what you want,” I urge. Her white blouse and slacks are so loose that I’m not sure how they’re being held up. She clearly is malnourished.

“I’m afraid that I mustn’t. I could get in trouble and lose my rations,” she says sadly.

I grab another bun and toss it to her. “I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. Plus, I’m in pretty good standing with Aiden.”

She looks to me as if I’ve just cursed a blue streak. “Thank you.” She stuffs the bun into her mouth and eats it like it could be her last bit of food ever. When she finishes, she asks, “Are you one of Mr. Castile’s acquaintances? I heard you call him by first name. If you don’t mind me asking of course.”

“He is my mentor, and we are friends,” I tell her. Is friends the right word?

Her eyes widen. “It’s not often we have halflings stay here. There is only one other in the entire building. They are normally not important enough to live here or not unimportant enough to work here.”

I stare at her a moment, then I put some chicken on a plate for her. She lights up as if I’ve just given her gold.

“I will remember your kindness my entire life,” the girl whimpers as if about to cry. This pains me. They clearly have no shortage of food around here. Why send me an entire cart full and not feed these poor people?

“It’s not kindness. It’s humanity. Eat as much as you want. There’s tons here. More than enough. You’re human? How old?” I ask.

She chews her chicken thoroughly before shrugging. “I don’t know how old I am, but I know that I was born in the mortal world and taken as a baby to come serve the masters here. I am human, yes.”

“And are there lots of human servants here?”

She nods. “Not as many now as in the past I hear. They’d rather have changeling servants than human. They’re faster and live longer.”

My heart feels for this girl. Now that Aiden is in charge of this place, can’t he do something about this obvious problem? “What do you get for being enslaved?”

“I get a ration of food every two days.” She finishes her chicken. “I cannot eat anymore without getting sick,” she informs me. No kidding, she’s probably not used to eating much at a time. “I must get going, before I get in trouble.” Why enslave humans at all? Surely changelings would be more loyal and like she said, they would like longer and work faster. They’d have to compel the human and the demidemons that they enslave. Demidemons do not feel the same pull their parent’s maker as born changelings do.

She scurries from the room. I don’t know what it is that possesses me to do what I do next. I follow her quietly through the halls. She doesn’t notice. She runs into a room, and I peak in. It’s a kitchen with nearly thirty changeling and human servants running around cleaning and cooking.

One of the changelings relieves herself of her duties and runs over to Tamzen. I nearly gasp when Tamzen is slapped harshly across the face. “You’re late. What took you so long?!” the woman demands.

I know she’s about to admit that she was eating, so I barge in, interrupting the confrontation. “She was helping me. I dropped some of my food onto the floor and needed help cleaning it up,” I blatantly lie.

The changeling looks up from Tamzen and zooms in on me. Her eyes widen, and she stiffens before bowing and greeting me as Ms. Caplan. How do they all seem to know who I am? In unison, the rest of the room also does the same to greet me.
Creepy
. “I hope she cleaned to your satisfaction,” the nasty lady says.

“Yes, she did an excellent job.” I decide to push my authority, not knowing how much I have much. “She deserves a reward for her actions. She stopped hot gravy from spilling on me. Give her extra rations from now on.”

The changeling looks surprised. Other servants turn to stare at the three of us, mainly at me. I think I see a near smile on Tamzen’s face.

“Very well then, Ms. Caplan. I will see this is done,” the changeling lady assures me. I smile at Tamzen before turning. From the corner of my eye, I see all of the servants exchanging looks with each other. Apparently giving rewards is not a usual thing.

“Thank you, Ms. Caplan.” I hear Tamzen call from the kitchen. “I am forever in your debt.”

As I leave the room, the sounds of banging pots and voices rise again. I hear one voice over the others, and it intrigues me. A male voice says, “A master in the kitchen? And to recognize a servants action to top it off? I must be dreaming.” He obviously doesn’t mean for me to hear.

Just like that, I’ve found my purpose. I am not pussying out of this. I am staying in hell, and I am going to make a difference here. I am going change things around this place. No one deserves to starve or be pushed around. I am going to somehow fix this servant problem. There will be no more malnutrition. There will be choice. I will fix this. I will give the last three months of my life to help these people.

I realize that when Aiden asked me if I ever had someone that I would give my life for, I couldn’t really answer not because I’m a selfish asshole, but because there’s never been anyone in my life worth giving my life for. Not besides him. Well, until now. These hundreds or thousands of servants need someone to speak for them. I will be that voice.

“Hey, Megan,” a gentle, male voice calls from my left.

I turn and drop the black rose I am about to pick from the thorny bush. It’s the same kind of flower that Aiden gave to me at his place once. I wonder how flowers grow here without sunlight.

Forrest stands down the pathway waving. What is he doing here?

“Oh, hey,” I greet him with a warm smile and wave off the guards blocking him from coming to me. You have no idea how sick I am of being followed by guards. I thought it was bad back at Aiden’s house, but at least then they would leave me alone. These ones follow my every move, and I can’t make them leave, which I assume is because Aiden’s compelled them not to listen to me if I tell them to leave my side, so I don’t get myself into trouble. Speaking of Aiden, I haven’t seen him since we arrived here in hell yesterday.

“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside where it’s safe?” Forrest asks me.

I give him a shrug. When I’m inside I feel like Rapunzel stuck in her tower. “I just needed some fresh air. I think I have enough guards to keep me safe.”

He nods and takes them all in. “I bet you’re not used to that,” he mutters with a flimsy smile.

I shake my head and take a seat on a wooden bench. I motion for him to take a seat beside me. I like Terry, and I’d like to get to know his son. Not only that, but Forrest is a demidemon. A son of a human and changeling. They’re extremely rare, and I’m a little curious about him.

He sits next to me and sighs.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Halmo?” I ask him.

A devilish smirk lights up his face. “I’m not from Halmo. I’m from here. I’ve just been Halmo on a job for a few days.”

My eyebrows merge together. “Doing what?”

“Just errands. I get things, information and people usually, for whoever pays. I make a living by sneaking around stealing shit from people for other people,” he explains with a wide grin.

“That sounds dangerous.” I run my hand through my tangled hair. “Aren’t you a demidemon? Doesn’t that mean that you should be enslaved or guarding?”

He shrugs. “Nah. I earned my way out of slavery. They let me go. I made a deal with the devil so to speak. Compulsions never worked on me so compelling me to be a slave…well, it didn’t work.”

I wait for him to continue.

“Years ago, Lucian sent a bunch of guards to kill this old guy who had been killing the human slaves for their souls which is frowned upon. None of them came back, so he sent more. He even sent some demons. None came back. I was a servant at the time, and I offered to do the job in exchange for my freedom. He accepted the deal, likely thinking I’d be slaughtered. I killed the guy and won my freedom. I am as free as any pure blood demon. Well, I can’t legally own slaves or have guards, but I wouldn’t want them anyhow.”

“You’re freer than your dad,” I state. This seems weird.

He nods. “Yeah. One day I’ll make a deal for his freedom too.”

“So do you live in this place?” I ask him, pointing to the near castle I live in now.

“Yeah. I live in my dad’s section of the basement. He was Lucian’s favorite so the place is decent. I’ve had it to myself for a while, since he’s been topside. It’s been quiet.”

“Topside?”

“That’s what I call it,” he jokes.

Demidemons aren’t allowed to leave hell which means that Forrest has likely never been to the human realm. That is terrifying to me.

He crosses his legs and looks up at the sky. “How’s Mr. Castile?”

“I haven’t seen him since we got here,” I admit, hearing the sadness in my tone.

“He’s probably extremely busy I’d imagine. I like him. He’s definitely my favorite pure blood. He puts on a good act for the others, but I see through it.”

I suck in a breath. Does Forrest know about Aiden’s act? Is this a bad thing?

He begins chuckling. “I’m exceptionally good at reading people,” he tells me. He then eyes the guards around us who look weary, because I’m sitting next to Forrest. “My dad likes you, both you and Mr. Castile. That’s enough for me. If you ever need anything, come find me.”

I nod, and a moment later he is gone.

A few hours later while I’m getting ready to go get something to eat from the kitchen, I run into Forrest again. Literally, I
run
into him in the hallway.

“Oops! Sorry,” I chime, assuming he’s a servant doing food rounds.

He laughs and pulls me from him, steadying me. “Gee. Careful. I was just coming to get you.” He then looks around the hall. “Where are your guards?”

“They seem to leave me alone on this floor. They’re guards at every door in this place so they know who comes and goes. They don’t need to be looking right at me and getting all up in my bubble,” I answer and look down the hall. Literally every doorway has a guard outside of it.

Forrest glances around again quickly and then throws his hand over my mouth and pulls me into a room on our left. To my surprise, the guard in the doorway does nothing. Why do I always trust people that I shouldn’t? Why do I even trust anyone after everything?

Forrest closes the door and throws the lock shut. The guard looks to be in a daze.

“He’s fine. I just compelled him,” Forrest reassures me.

“How? You’re a demidemon,” I wonder confused.

“So?”

I look at him blankly.

“Demidemons usually inherit their changeling parent’s abilities. My dad can use compulsion, so that means so can I, only not as well. Talents fade the further they go down the line,” Forrest says slowly as if I’m stupid. “
Anyways
…back to me trying to be badass and scare you…apparently that didn’t work.”

Right. “Yeah, why did you just do that?” I ask him, a little annoyed now.

“I just wanted to talk to where the guards couldn’t hear,” he grumbles. “I expected you to flip out the hell out. I’m not used to people from the human world. I thought you’d be all flinchy. Isn’t it all butterflies and rainbows there in the human realm? The only people solely from the human realm that I know are halflings who have been made into pure bloods and they’re no fun. They’re all crabby like all pure bloods.”

“I think I’m out of flip outs honestly. I’ve been kidnapped more than once and attacked and…” I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I’m going to die in a few month anyways. I’m seriously just sick of all this. I’m more annoyed than scared. Also, no it’s not all butterflies and rainbows there for your information.”

He grins. “Why would someone in your position choose death over becoming a pure blood anyway?”

“I don’t want to give up my chance at living again after this life,” I answer him. “I don’t want to give up my soul or have to kill people for eternity.”

“Your life would be long like Lucians and full of luxury. You wouldn’t need other lives. You wouldn’t have to kill anyone either. You could just learn to take parts of people souls. They recover you know. People’s souls can heal themselves after time. You would be doing no harm.”

I’m silent for a moment in thought. I didn’t know souls could heal. “Why are you still a demidemon?” I ask, wanting his view.

“Well, for starters, I don’t want to lose my free will and go all nutso clingy to a pure blood and feel the need to serve them for eternity,” he mutters, tossing around a hack sack in his hands.

I suppose that’d be a major turn off.

“Plus, I’m more changeling than human. I have all the perks of being a demon. I mean besides the speed and strength. I mean, I’m still way faster and stronger than a human. I can use compulsion, I have a soul, I have freewill, and I have eternal life as long as no one kills me.”

More good points.

“Anyways, I wanted to talk to you about a possible mutual interest. A certain favorite servant of mine has been getting extra rations and from the sounds of it, you’re the culprit,” he accuses me, pointing a finger into my chest and everything.

I nod. “Yeah, well she’s far too skinny if you haven’t noticed,” I blurt.

He laughs and nods. “Yeah, but no one ever gives the servant extra rations. You care about the lives and wellbeing and rights of the servants. So do I. You obviously have power to change things around here. I do not. I do however have the ability to sneak people around,” Forrest says smoothly in a softer voice as if he thinks the sound proof walls might not be enough to keep people from hearing us.

“What are you saying?” I ask him.

“I’ve been planning a way to get the human servants back to where they should be which is out of hell. I have a plan to get the humans out of here, but I need help. I can’t overrule the compulsion they’re stuck in because my compulsion is far from as strong as Lucian’s or Mr. Castile’s. They’re compelled to listen to the royals. I’m not a royal, far from it. You, on the other hand, apparently they’ve been told to listen to you. You have authority. They won’t leave without someone allowing them to do so. You don’t need to be able to use compulsion to get them to drop their compulsion because they’ve been compelled to listen to anything a master says. Know what I’m saying? You just have to tell them to forget everything they’ve seen, and tell them they don’t have to listen to the masters anymore.”

“You want me to help you free the servants?” I ask for reassurance. This is against so many laws. We could both get killed for sneaking servants from hell.

He nods. “You say you’re just going to die anyways right? Well, I have my soul intact, so I’m not afraid to give up my life this round if that’s what it comes to.”

I debate this. Could the two of us really change anything? We’re merely a halfling and a demidemon. Surely someone has tried to free the slaves before, and surely they didn’t live to tell the tale. What would Aiden say about this? Why do I care what he’d say when I know this is the right thing to do?

Before I overthink it, I nod. “Yeah, okay, let’s do it.”

“I’m also going to need your blood to open a portal to the other realm. Demidemons can’t get through the damn things. Also, obviously you can’t tell anyone about this, Megan, especially not Mr. Castile.”

He’s right, so I agree.

“You called me Megan. No one calls me Megan,” I realize, smiling. No one besides Aiden that is. I’m ecstatic to hear someone call me by my actual name.

He grins, his lips arranging themselves in a quirky half smile. “Yeah, I don’t like to follow the rules, Megan. You better get used to that.”

I snort out a laugh. “How did you compel that guard?” I ask him curiously. Not even compulsion can make a guard go against their master’s wishes. They are by nature too loyal to the ones they serve.

“I didn’t. Apparently fake contacts are a thing in your world. That there isn’t a guard. It’s an uncompelled human I smuggled from one of the soul kitchens and dressed up like a guard.” He laughs hysterically like he’s hilarious. “You’d be right in assuming that he wants out of here pretty badly, so he’s cooperating well.”

I eye the man dressed as a guard and see that he isn’t in a daze as I thought he was, no, he is quivering in his boots out of fright.

“Isn’t someone going to hear his heart beat and think something is up?” I wonder skeptically.

“No, because they’re going to think it’s my heart beat. You’ll see. Okay, come with me,” Forrest instructs and unlocks the room. “Remember that there are eyes and ears everywhere.”

The human follows us down the halls, gripping Forrest’s wrist while he cusses and swears as if he’s pissed off. The two are pretending that Forrest was up to no good and got caught by a guard. Smart thinking because it covers up the humans surely rapid heartbeat. Forrest is very smart that much is obvious.

I’m half surprised when no one of the other guards follow us. I guess they trust me leaving this floor with the ‘guard’ and a seemingly incapacitated Forrest, and it’s not like there won’t be guards on the floor beneath this one. We go down many steps all the way to the basement where there is a grungy hallway filled with tiny rooms branching off of it. Forrest leads me to the room furthest down the hall and picks the lock with two shiny silver tools. Neat trick. I’ve always wanted to learn how to pick a lock.

Inside is what looks to be a boiler room. He leads me around a tangle of pipes to where there is a metal hatch in the floor. He lifts it up and orange light floods into the dark room.

I get closer and look down the hole a tiny, old ladder is all that’s there. Are we really going down that?

“This goes down to where the souls are sorted. It goes to a section that isn’t used anymore. They used to use this hatch to dump pure bloods who broke the law and were sentenced to death. They’d be thrown into hell fire. Now, if they break the law their punishment is worse than death. They are usually tortured and locked up for years, decades or centuries sometimes, before they are slowly sliced up with a brass knife enough to kill them.”

Forrest begins down the ladder and motions for me to follow. I swallow hard and gaze down the hole. It doesn’t look like somewhere I want be going. It sure doesn’t smell like it either. The smell coming up from the hole is rancid. I try not to make guesses as to what the smell could be.

I follow him and the human comes after us robotically. It takes almost fifteen minutes for us to get to the bottom. When we do, I begin to sweat. It’s insanely hot down here to top everything off.