9. Hanna

Adeep exhale escapes me, realizing that I've escaped death. For now.

When Kazrith emerged from behind the crates, towering over me in his shadow form, I nearly wept. I thought it was over for me. I thought I would never see my dad again.

Somehow, for some reason, he has decided to keep me alive. I don't know much about this demon so far, but something tells me that he won't hesitate to rip me to shreds if I give him a reason to.

"I just want to make sure I'm not compromising my business profits if I allow you to stick around," he explains, eyeing me up and down. "Besides, we might raise a few eyebrows at the port if the xaphans see me transporting a human woman out of New Solas."

"I-I understand, but believe me. I don't mean any harm at all. Not to you, not to your business. I escaped slavery, that's true, but I was never meant to be a slave in the first place."

"That's what they all say," Kazrith says bluntly. "What makes you different from all the rest? Why do you deserve your freedom?"

I frown deeply. Are demons always so brusque with their words? "No one deserves to be a slave in the first place."

"That's highly debatable," he shoots back. "Some beings don't have any other use besides serving others."

Shaking my head, it's pointless to argue with him on this topic. Demons don't have a good view of humans at all. Arguing with him might just make him toss me over the carriage wall and leave me behind.

"Well, that's beside the point. I was never meant to be a slave. Before this, I was training in the xaphan facilities near the heart of the city. I wanted to earn my wings. I was so close."

My voice cracks inadvertently, remembering all the tireless days and nights I spent training. For hours upon hours, I devoted myself to my training with the hope that I would receive my wings. Everyone was going to see me and what I accomplished.

Everyone was going to be so proud.

But Zathex took that from me.

"It seems like I've lost you," Kazrith remarks, tilting his head.

Blinking a few times, I remove myself from my memories and focus on the present. Kazrith stares at me with an indecipherable look in his eyes. Perhaps it's pity. I hope it's not malicious.

"Anyway, I was trying to get my wings, but I was sabotaged. That's when I was thrown into slavery. It was entirely against my will and it wasn't right at all. I was going home to see my father, and then…"

Even trying to remember what happened to me proves too painful. I close my eyes and wince, recalling the jolt of pain I felt once I was struck in the head.

"I was about to get sold into slavery back there, but I figured out a way to escape. I said that I was going to soil myself if I didn't go to the bathroom. That's what gave me the chance to leave. Then I ran away and found your carriage and jumped in. I'm sorry."

Finally, I have the courage to stare up at Kazrith. I've never been this close to a demon before. His face looks so pale it appears to be made of bone, with long black hair that frames his face. I can't tell the color of his eyes from here – they look almost sunken in – but they're dark and penetrating. The hairs on my skin rise from looking at him for too long.

His black attire doesn't allow me to see much of his body, but it's long and hangs loosely. Shadows emerge from out of his back and materialize in different ways, from what I can tell. They can make him look bigger, but he can also move things with his power.

Kazrith runs his tongue over his teeth, revealing some sharp fangs near the back of his mouth. His nostrils flare and he lets out an audible exhale.

"Come sit with me at the front. I would like to learn more about your story."

He turns, expecting me to follow promptly. With a staggered breath, I push myself to my feet and hurry along, watching as he hops into the carriage's front seat and takes the reins that are attached to the two zarryns ahead.

The height proves difficult for me at first. It takes a few tries to jump into the front seat beside him, something that he laughs at me for.

"Humans are small creatures, I forget about that. Even the men don't stand very tall compared to demons."

"Sorry. I'm not able to control my genetics."

"No, not at all. But it should serve as a reason why humans will never stand at the top of society no matter how hard they try." Kazrith glances at me. "Though, it's commendable that you were doing everything in your power to fix that."

I sink into my seat, rubbing my hands together against the chill of the incoming breeze. The wind gets stronger the closer we get to the water. Kazrith whips the reins and the zarryns start moving along the path again.

"You're an interesting human, Hanna. I've only ever seen human slaves, human servants, human concubines… you get it. They've always been submissive to others, but I've never seen a case where one of them fights for a better life."

I scoff. "There's a lot of us out there. I wasn't the only one on the verge of earning my wings, you know. And besides that, we have lives, families, and homes of our own. My father has a greenhouse where he grows his own food. He now has an apprentice. We can make things of our own if we're only given the chance."

Realizing that I'm rambling, I stop to take a deep breath. Kazrith's jaw clenches and he keeps his eyes firm on the road ahead of us. Instead of replying, the shadows extend out of his back.

The sight makes me freeze. I've ruined my chances. I've said too much. Demons think that humans are beneath them and I've made a big mistake in talking back to one. As I brace myself, thoughts of my father immediately fill my mind. His warm laughter. His easy smile.

But then, Kazrith only uses his shadows to move obstacles in the path, like some stones that were blocking the carriage wheels from moving. Or the dead branch left behind from an old tree nearby.

My hands clench. I'm trembling again. Kazrith doesn't seem to notice. Or care.

"Are you taking me to Ikoth?" I ask quietly.

"Hush for a moment. I'm trying to think."

The carriage slows to a stop. Kazrith perks his ears and waits. The zarryns ahead of us shake their manes and neigh. I hold my breath, trying to understand what he's trying to do next.

Eventually, a three-horned animal emerges from the bushes and stares at us. Kazrith stiffens. Before we get the chance to do anything, the animal ducks and disappears into the foliage. Kazrith relaxes, as do I.

"You have to be careful on a route like this, you know. There are stragglers all over, looking to take advantage of the first vulnerable being they find," he says. He stares at me. "Without me, you'd already be dead by now. I hope you know that."

I bow my head. He already has his own way of belittling me with his words. However, he cracks a smile and doesn't seem to mind. This is the first time I've been around a demon for this long and so far, I haven't been thrilled by the experience.

Still, I'm grateful that he has spared my life all the same.

"It'll be risky to take you along. I don't know if it's the right choice."

"I can help you," I blurt out. "I'll do anything. I can hide in your carriage. I can… I can pretend to be your slave. Whatever you want."

Kazrith furrows his brows at me. "I would never own a human slave. Demons who do that are lazy, and I am nothing like that."

"It's only for pretend. Please. I'll do anything."

"Again, with the pathetic pleading." Kazrith waves a hand through the air. "Enough with that. You make it difficult to focus when you act like a helpless animal."

"Sorry. But I'm serious. I can help you somehow." I just don't know how I'll do so.

I need to figure something out quickly. If he thinks I'm too much of a liability, he'll leave me at the port and I can't let that happen. The xaphans will talk. Word will reach Zathex, I know it will. And then he'll come back to finish what he started.

Bile rises in my throat at the thought of seeing him again after all he's put me through. He'll hurt me. He'll destroy me. For my own good, I can't leave Kazrith's side.

Our journey continues further along. Kazrith focuses on the road, grip tight on the reins, and the foliage around us thins as we trudge along towards the waters. I've never been to Ikoth before; I've only heard the rumors of how strange and horrifying it is. The red sky, the demons surrounding you everywhere you go.

Maybe it's not as bad as others make it out to be.

I never thought that continent would one day be my salvation, but here we are. I'd do anything to make it there with Kazrith.

The lengths Zathex has pushed me towards have become too far. He will pay for what he's done to me. He doesn't deserve those wings of his, and when I get the chance, I'll sever them off myself and throw them into an open flame.