At midday when the town was at its busiest the sheriff arrived around the back of the inn tying the horse to the post out back. He searched the inn until he found him and Rosile eating their midday meal and talking. The sheriff listened for but a moment through the closed door yet the need for talking was long past.

Knocking frantically Le Velle shouted through the door “Nico, I need to speak with you. Now.”

Rushing to the door Nico opened it to find the sheriff standing before him “What’s wrong.”

“Its… my daughter.”

“Come in sheriff.” Nico rolled his eyes as he stepped back to let him in.

“What did she do, sheriff?” Rosile asked leaning back in her chair.

“She and the town council are coming tonight to lynch Nico to hang you, son. She made them believe that you are a demon sent here to rape, kill and bring evil down upon us.” Sheriff Le Velle connived seriously and without a care for his daughter. “Rosile they are going kill him.”

His words did not come as a surprise to him having known this was inevitable however for Rosile her words came flying out where his remained silent.

“Your daughter is nothing but a fucking whore. She is the demon not this boy. Joy is a succubus using men until they have no value. When Nico turned her down, she couldn’t take it, so she made people hate him to satisfy her lust. Now she is going to let him kill an innocent boy.”

While Rosile was busy venting neither she nor La Velle noticed that Nico had begun to put his boots and coat on. Before packing his things.

“Let me go Rosile. I know this day was coming from the second she stormed out of this room.” Nico somberly spoke.

Surprised by how quickly he got dressed La Velle walked over to the window looking down at the church hoping for a sign from God, but none appeared. “This isn’t fair. We are taught to accept everyone for who they are, that is what the bible teaches. But this town and its’ people everyone I believed in turned out to be evil.”

“Look! Sheriff, you can believe in God and the bible all you want but your faith and devotion to them blinds you and clouds your judgement. Why don’t you put your faith away and stop turning toward it for guidance. Grow a set and be a man, Christian. Think for yourself or end up like them. They are so blinded by hate and words supposedly spoken a thousand years ago!” Nico shouted coldly and bluntly at Le Velle with no regard for his faith as he gathered his saddle bags. “People are who they choose to be not because of some person on high. Your daughter is a whore just like the men that murdered my family are land hungry and you are honorable not because you were told to be this but because you choose it. No one is born to a certain path we are who we are because of what we choose to do.”

Le Velle looked at him seeing a wise man far beyond his years where a young man should be. “I understand however you did not choose this life it was thrust upon you. There will come a day when you can stop. I only hope that your death doesn’t come first.”

“You are right I didn’t choose this life nevertheless I now need to finish what was started. Only then I will be able to stop Christian. This wrong must be set right – blood for blood.”

“Your horse is saddled behind the inn. Go Nico, don’t tell us where, just go. But watch your back.” Le Velle half heartly smiled as he took him into a small embrace.

“I will never forget what you did for me one day I can only hope to come back and repay you.”

“You already have. You showed me who these people are there is no debt between us. Should our paths cross again then I will look forward to that…one day.” Le Velle smiled as he broke their embrace.

“Come here!” Rosile urged him into an embrace one that she never wanted to break.

“Don’t worry.” Nico whispered into her ear. “Death is an old companion of mine one that is always thee watching and waiting for me. It does not scare me anymore don’t worry I’m not ready to go yet. Not until I settle my past until that day I will watch back. I promise.”

“Never give into their hate.” Rosile whispered back.

“I never do.” Never smiled breaking their embrace.

“Before you leave get down to the kitchen and grab some food and water.”

“Okay. Be careful the both of you. Believe me when I say one day they will find out and they will turn on you. They always do its only a matter of time. Take care of each other.”

Nico left them this small warning before saying farewell and leaving his room. Heading down to the kitchen first grabbing enough food to last several days before heading out, throwing it into his saddle bay along with several water containers Nico loaded it onto his horse. As he mounted his horse, he looked up to see Rosile and the sheriff looking down at him smiling back at them he rode off. Before they knew it, he was far from their sight and far from Azreal.

Neither Rosile nor Le Velle spoke about his warning as both knew this was possible as it was only a matter of time. Not wanting to let on that anything was wrong both carried on with their day as if nothing ever happened. They talked downstairs in the sitting room finding they had much in common. From their loss of children to staring over again even as they talked Le Velle never betrayed Nico’s trust. Keeping secret, his origins never realizing Rosile knew, and she would never tell the truth either.

Before they knew it the sun had set, and the streets had been cleared of families. Where the families once were, now was a mob led by the town council and Joy marching towards the inn. The men shouting riling each other up shouting about killing a demon. By the time they reached the inn the men and Joy thought of nothing but his death. The mob stormed the inn with bull whips and stones in had intending to purge the demon from him even if it killed him knowing they would come Rosile and Le Velle sat in the sitting waiting for them to come. They sat and watched as the townspeople entered the inn seeing in their eyes a lust for blood. In his daughters eyes the sheriff could see the look of utter joy and the hand full of stones she carried in her hands.

“He has left.” Le Velle quietly yet loudly spoke as the mob started to make their way up the stairs never once looking up at them.

Though riled up the council men felt somewhat relieved.

“Why did you let him go! He’s a demon!” Joy shouted at her father pushing her way through the men.

“Gentlemen, Lady. Would you be so kind to leave.” Rosile smugly asked.

“No.” the council leader shouted back at her.

“He left hours ago; I saw him leave. So go home or be arrested for trespassing and lynching.” Sheriff Le Velle calmly spoke as he stood up.

“Stand you ground! The sheriff is in league with the devil!” Joy shouted accusations at her father.

“Shut the fuck up, Joy! You little bitch!” Le Velle shouted at her shutting her up. “That boy is not a demon nor are we in league with the devil. You are!”

“wha…wha…” Joy stumbled over her words.

“For too long you have whored yourself out to every man in town and every drifter that has passed through! Every single one of these councilmen has fucked you! Don’t you fucking deny it.” Le Velle shouted at the councilmen and who tried to protest but each of them looked at each other not really knowing what to say since all were careful in their affairs with Joy. They only hoped now to leave with some dignity if any and disassociate with Joy.

“That boy didn’t fuck you because he saw through you in a matter of seconds when I couldn’t in five years. You have no honor – he does. That boy has more honor and respect then you ever will! You have shamed me for the last time pack you shit from my house and leave this town. I don’t care where you go but you will be leaving on the nine o’clock stage tonight. I wash my hands of you.”

Blindsided by his words Joy trembled in fear at the prospect of leaving this town. Embarrassed and humiliated in front of everyone present, none of the men she laid with would stand up for her. Not even the council leader all stood silent like the dead.

“But father…I’m…your daughter?” Joy muttered as tears began to fall from her eyes.

Turning his back on her Le Velle coldly answered her “I have no daughter.”

As she looked around at everyone in the inn from Rosile turning her back not wanting to look at her any more to the council members sheepishly walking away. Until only Joy remained standing frozen and hoping it was all a dream. Expecting her father to take her into his arms.

“Papa…” Joy mumbled yet he still did not acknowledge her.

 She stood frozen for a time before walking away back to her father’s house where she packed her belongings into three trunks and dragged each one to the stage stop. Waiting there under the light for the stage, Sheriff Le Velle and Rosile watched from the inn doors at the quiet empty streets like nothing ever happened. Yet in the one-day Nico was there the whole town changed as did a few peoples mind opening them to see more than just the bible. None more than Sheriff Le Velle seeing now that the townspeople were far from wholesome for most having a dark side he never seen before particularly in his daughter.

No one ever mentioned this day or Nico again choosing to act like it never happened never existed. That night was the last time Le Velle saw his daughter as she boarded the stage heading east towards Boston. neither of them said goodbye before she left. Rosile comforted Le Velle as he watched the stage drive off, yet he shed no tears for her cause from this day their relationship was done. Joy never wrote to her father or lovers no one ever heard from her again so no knew what became of her. However, she like Nico left her mark on the town and the people that lived in it.