As dawn broke inside the inn while Nico slept Rosile was busy fixing breakfast for herself and the few guests she had. The inn was all quiet apart from the kitchen as the sheriff entered going straight towards the guest book to find Nico’s room. Finding it on the third rather quickly as he was the only make guest. Unsure of what he was going to find after seeing the state of his daughter and her room. Apprehensively he walked up the stairs to his room and knocked on the wooden door.

“What?” he groggily shouted after waking up to the knocking.

“It’s Sheriff Le Velle, I need to speak with you. So, open.”

“Fuck.” Nico shouted, throwing the blankets off.

Marching over to the door and removing the chair from the handle then unlocking the door he stood before the sheriff in nothing but his trousers.

“What didn’t I do now?”

“Nothing. However, I need to speak with you. So may I come in?” Sheriff La Velle replied taken aback by his strong body.

“Make yourself comfortable.” Nico sighed as he stepped aside to allow him in. “What did you want to talk about?”

Le Velle turned to answer him just as he was closing the door, but the words failed him once he saw his back. For the first time since he arrived Le Velle began to understand why he is so stoic and quick tempered. All the sudden words rattled out of his mouth. “Oh, my lord! What happened to you? Who did this?”

“Why do you care? When you like all the others already passed judgement on me because of how I look. Yet none of you know who I am, let alone want to know.” He coldly replied looking at the sheriff dead in his eyes.

“It’s my job to help people despite their appearance. Whoever did this to you needs to be punished.”

“What’s your name?” Nico asked as he pulled a shirt on.

“Christian.”

“Tell me Christian would you raise arms against men like you? Ones who are pale skinned full of hate and a belief that what they do is justified. All because you can’t understand what you see even if the truth stands before you.”

Confused by his words Le Velle shook his head. “I don’t understand what you are saying, are you saying that white men did this. I can’t believe that white men are not savages. We follow the word of God, and he would never let something like that happen. Especially when you’re white too.”

“That’s what I thought.” Nico sighed shaking his head in disgust.

“Why would God let you suffer …”

“I hate to destroy your faith Christian, but God is one of the most judgemental things out there. Like you the men that did this to me believed in God and that the bible was never wrong because I don’t believe in it or what the bible says I should be punished and so should my parents because they did not believe in the bible or your fucking world. So according to your God I am supposed to burn in hell for all time. I was not the only one they hurt, all the pain was because my family was different, and they couldn’t accept it.”

“I don’t understand son. What makes you or your family so different? And you are wrong about me hating you I am simply confused by you.”

Le Velle was taken aback by Nico’s words never thinking about any other way before. La Velle like the others of Azreal believed the bible was how the world should be.

“Why?”

“Because of Joy, my daughter.”

“I understand now, I take it she flew off the handle when she got home.” Nico laughed slightly.

“That’s to say the least all I could hear was her throwing things about her bedroom. I don’t know why but she is usually happy.”

“She came here a few hours ago Sheriff, attempting to finish what she believed we started in the tavern. When nothing happened nor would it ever.” Nico confessed sitting down on the bed.

“You didn’t have sex with her? Sheriff Le Velle asked surprised by his answer. “Why? Do you not like women? Every man that comes here fall prey to her even those that live her have bedded her.”

His questions made Nico laugh having never thought having sex with another man or woman. Since he had only had sex once before. “No, I didn’t have sex with her nor would I. And I haven’t had sex with a man before but then again, I’ve never tried. As for your daughter Christian she’s a whore anyone could see it. My parents raised me to love and honor women not use them for fodder. So why would I bed a woman who has no sense of honor or respect for herself unlike the others I can see through her.”

Falling into a chair Le Velle shook his head rather calm and composed even after he called his daughter a whore. “Your right son, even if she is my daughter. She is a whore and yet I love her. I am proud of you Nico your parents raised you right. I see her doing it every day, but I can’t stop her.”

“Sheriff, you can’t or won’t see it or realize that she’s bringing you down. She’s a grown woman now Christian, maybe its time to let her go.” Nico told the sheriff leaning forward.

“Why won’t you tell me what happened to you? I promised I won’t tell another, tell me about yourself like your age. How old are you?” Le Velle asked trying to change the subject.

“I can’t.” Nico shouted at Le Velle as he marched over to the window looking out as the town was waking up. Closing his eyes Nico sighted “Eighteen.”

“What? You’re just a boy.” Le Velle spoke surprized and caught off guard.

His initial bafflement quickly passed as curiosity began to pique so did his need for his shotgun. “Were you in prison?”

“No.” Nico sighed deeply.

“Then …”

“…they came like ravenous wolves thirsty for blood and violence…”

“Who...”

“The townspeople, once good turned cruel and hateful because some men and their views and their preaching. We never stood a chance we never saw them coming until they were in our home. I tried to protect them, but they hit me hard across my face right before my mother. They dragged us from our home strung my parents to a tree branch before my eyes. They made my parents watch as they whipped me repeatedly until I was nearly dead. They hung my parents the only family I had leaving me chained to the ground as they walked away the ‘good’ townspeople kicked and spit on me. They killed us for land and what they believed your God told them to do. The townspeople left my parents hanging and myself for dead all because of who we were.” Nico quietly spoke staring out the window reliving the day.

Le Velle listened to him seeing the pain in his words and eyes a pain that none should ever feel. For a stoic person La Velle could see that this was only part of him because in all his words a single tear fell from his eye. Showing a side, he never expected to see from someone like him. As he sat there, he began to realize there was something not quite right with his words.

“Who? What do you mean by who we were?”

“They were freed slaves…”

“Slaves! But…but you’re white!” Le Velle replied with both shock and disgust.

“They were humans, Christian.” Nico turned his head looking at him with no emotion in his voice. “Humans like you. Better than you because they saw no color only people unlike humans like you.”

“But slaves…were you stolen by them?”

“They saved me. Gave me a life, a name, and love something the people who brought me into this world didn’t want to do. They abandoned me left me to die alone because I wasn’t strong when I was born. My parents found me, raised me, gave me a name, taught me to see the world as more than black and white. They showed me that everyone is equal and to see the shades of grey people like you can’t – won’t see. The townspeople saw me as traitor because they didn’t understand the love, they had for me and I for them. No matter what people like you say they were my parents and I, their son.

Some like your daughter see me as a freak or a monster because of how I look or act. Yet it is them who are the monsters not I.”

Le Velle though once disgusted by the thought of slaves raising a white boy now felt nothing but shame and distain for himself and his fell townspeople.

“I’m sorry, truly I am.”

“Don’t be sorry sheriff. Prejudice and fear are natural for humans.”

“I am sorry, Nico. I came her expecting to find a man of evil, I never expected to find the evil in us or my daughter.”

“There’s always going to be evil …” Nico softly spoke.

As they talked both Nico and Le Velle were unaware that Rosile stood outside his door with a breakfast try in hand listening to everything especially his story. A tale that brought tears to her eyes and broke her heart, yet it also gave her an understanding to why he is so angry. His scars once a mystery – now took her breath away never believing any white person could harm one of their own. Nicos story was more than enough to change her mind because evil had left its mark on him and now, he had cut off his emotions towards everyone. This thought brought little to no comfort to her for she couldn’t make it better no matter what she did. Yet there was one thing she could do. Clearing her throat and wiping her tears Rosile knocked on his door and it didn’t take lone for him to answer.

“I brought you some food.” Rosile greeted him trying not to let on that she heard every word.

“Thank you.”

“Look, Nico I think you should stay here today. The people here are still afraid of you, and I fear they might do something to you if you go outside. Last night when I was coming back from running a few errands I saw Joy, leaving last night after midnight. Trust me when I say she is very vindictive if spurned…I am sorry sheriff.”

“It’s alright Rosile. Joy is vindictive, cruel and a whore I see that now. And I thank you for that Nico. Nevertheless, Rosile is right you should stay here until the people warm up more. If they warm up.” Le Velle cautioned him placing his hand upon his shoulders as he started to leave the room. “I came here expecting to find a monster instead I found a man of honor.”

The sheriff’s words left him speechless watching as he left the room. His words also left Rosile for a loss of words since the day she arrived Rosile always believed the sheriff to be loyal to his town. Instead, she saw a side of him one she never thought he had. Nico looked at Rosile for advice or words, but she had none to give apart from a small warm smile and gentle touch to his face. Rosile left him to enjoy his meal in peace. Peace however was not on his mind for all around him Nico began to wonder when they will come. For it was only a matter of time.

  Across the road Joy was waking up to thoughts of vengeance and retribution. Awaking to an empty house (something she had grown a custom too) with much to do Joy dressed and made up her face and hair wanting to look her best for a friend. A council leader who had shared her bed many times before and was easily manipulated by her. It did not take long for her to arrive at his house, nor did it take long for her to spread her legs and he to enter her. As he thrusted deep into her Joy whispered words into his ear turning his thoughts until they were now hers. Though the council leader never seen him her hate was now his and it was strong. Joy laid on his bed watching him as he made ready to talk to the council members not to drive him out but rather to hang him.

Going to the church where the meeting was being held Joy and the councilman talked before the members striking fear into their hearts and mind. Telling them that the stranger is not a man but a demon once that the devil had sent to destroy their faith, rape their women, kill the men and turn the towns children into slaves for the devil. Being both religious and a ‘family’ man the council members believed every word they said never questioning their words. The need to protect their wives, children and loves ones from this demon. The council members made ready plans to strike at night long after their families had gone home for the night leaving no witness.

As they plotted one man heard their plans one who had the power to change things – Sheriff La Velle. He listened to the councilmen spread her lies as if they were his own. He listened to their planning and saw no other option but to get Nico out of Azreal and far from their hate.

Wasting no time the sheriff set about collecting his horse and saddle readying him for their journey. While trying not to draw the attention of the townspeople La Velle acted like he was going about his regular duties. While the sheriff took his time Nico was relaxing by the inn’s fireplace talking with Rosile completely unaware of what was going on around the town.

They talked about their past though he wasn’t fully forthcoming telling her only the good parts – the happy parts. They continued to talk even as Rosile made their midday meal he found comfort with her as he once did with his mother. Rosile too found comfort talking with him seeing him as the son she lost many years ago when he was but sixteen years of age. The hours passed slowly for them however they didn’t notice as they talked, she forgot all the things she first thought when she first saw his back and all she heard. This enjoyment was soon to be broken by the arrival of the sheriff.