Bella
I adjust my grip on Sally; she's half asleep with her arms around my neck. Next to me Sarah is guiding their cow through the wet snow as it pulls Marcus and their belongings. Troy stands on the other side of the cow, alternating between glaring at me and helping Sarah.
I pause as I see more tracks in the snow, "Seems your beast gets around."
Sarah blanches, "We usually see less of it once it snows, but this," She waves at the tracks, "It seems to have circled the farm quite a few times."
I check on Sally to see if she’s still asleep, "I hate to pry but, How long has it been since...?" I look at Sarah expectantly.
"Her father disappeared? A few months." She says quietly.
"Has it ever come this close or stayed this long before?" I ask.
Sarah shakes her head, "No, not that I remember."
My stomach tightens, "Why would it come back then?"
"Something else must have drawn it here." Troy glares at me.
"Troy!" Sarah cries, causing Sally to stir.
I frown, "It may have caught my scent from where I left the road, yes, but I don't understand why it would care. And, unless you know something I don't, we were clearly safe inside.”
"This time," Troy says sourly.
"I'll stay somewhere else if it'll make you feel better." I offer.
"You could leave, too." He glares at me.
I don't bother looking at him, "It's not in my nature to abandon people in need. I will see what I can do to help, whether you like it or not."
"Meddling Fae," he mutters.
It's not long before we reach the outskirts of the small town. Sarah leads us to what looks like a home with an attached smithy and knocks on the door. Heavy footsteps echo from inside before it swings open. "Sarah!" the hulking blond man pulls the petite woman into his arms, "We were worried. What with the snow and-" he cuts off when he spots all their things, and me.
"She already knows, Ian." Sarah says quietly as she puts a hand on his arm, "She saw it last night, and we saw tracks around the house, too. It's why we're here."
He sighs, "Of course. You can stow the cow in the barn and we'll find a place for you and your things." He looks at me again, a wariness in his eyes, "And you are?"
"Just passing through." I say. Ian's eyes widen as I climb the stairs and he realizes he's actually looking up at me.
I offer him a smile, but he scowls and turns away.
Sarah unhitches the sled and helps Marcus get up. Troy takes the cow's lead from Sarah and leads it to the barn out back as I transfer Sally to Sarah's care and help bring their belongings into the smith's house.
Once we're all back in the house Ian looks at me and crosses his arms over his chest. "Who are you really?" he says roughly.
I blink at him for a moment, "Simply put, I'm a traveler. The complicated answer isn't one I'm willing to give. I do have some questions about the region's problem though."
Ian scowls, "There's nothing to know." He says roughly, "Nobody goes outside after dark. Been that way for years now.."
"Right. If you know that being out after dark is a problem, and you know that this beast doesn't enter homes, why is it that people still go outside?" I watch him steadily.
He hesitates; all the adults in the room look at me with worry in their eyes. "Some people choose not to-" I cut him off when I raise my hand.
"Do us both a favor: don't lie to me." I say softly.
All of them exchange a look and it's Sarah who breaks the silence. "The beast isn't as violent if it gets a... sacrifice." she can't look at me.
My fists clench and my eyes flick to Sally, "They're sacrifices. Your husband, her father was a sacrifice?" I whisper.
None of them will meet my gaze now. Rage boils through me, my nails cutting so deeply into my palms, they draw blood. I take a deep breath and look at the ceiling as I wrestle with the darkness that writhes within me; the flames in the hearth flicker then jump to new heights.
After a few moments I look at Ian, he takes a step back. "Tell me everything the town knows about this beast. I'll deal with it, somehow."
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