Bloodlust by Devin Thorpe

Author:Devin Thorpe [Devin Thorpe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Devin Thorpe
Published: 2024-02-11T00:00:00+00:00

36

A Nightmare

They didn’t even check the contents of the bag slung over my shoulder. If they had, they would have seen the silver dagger I stole from the amphitheater, and they definitely would have seen the vial of black blood potent enough to infect their entire army. They tied us up like lamb for the slaughter and ordered us to follow.

There was no mention of the soldiers I massacred. They did not ask who was responsible for the death of their companions. They shrugged at the sight of mutilated bodies and carried on with their mission. I expected to pay for the damage I caused. Death for death, or at least a firm beating.

But Saunter didn’t breathe a word about the blood that covers my body nor the fact that it belonged to members of her own race. After giving her orders, her hood stared at me for a brief moment, then she turned and disappeared into the army’s ranks without another word.

We prisoners huddle together in a tight group surrounded by the marching Undead. They surround us like herding shepherds around a flock of sheep. Every step hurts at this point, but the Undead have long whips to persuade our feet to keep moving.

My skin is charred and peeling from the exposure to fire. My crotch burns from sweat battling chafe from long days of travel. My skin can barely breathe from the thick coat of mud and ash and soot that covers me—like layer upon layer of makeup on an actress. The soles of the boots I stole days ago are falling off. I often trip over the torn laces and peeling toe cap. My ragged shirt and pants are barely holding on at this point. They were cheap to begin with, but not even royal seams were designed to withstand this volume of travel.

My mind runs as I mindlessly shuffle along with the Undead army. I try to ascertain the meaning behind keeping us alive. What use could Saunter have for sixty half-dead, half-burnt prisoners. We are a tumorous dead weight on them. The Undead could be in Yueltope by now if they flew there. Instead, we march, because humans cannot fly.

It doesn’t make any sense to my overthinking mind.

Surely they have all the humans they need to sustain their hunger in Sygon. It is the largest western city on the coast. Nationally, only the Areopagus has a population larger than Sygon. Why preserve our lives? Why risk traveling with Solis’s rise a few hours away?

Creon and Crixus stick close by. We stay in the middle of the humans to avoid being whipped by the surrounding lashes. We do our best to avoid drawing attention, but it is hard when we three are the only ones covered in blood belonging to the Undead. None of us talk. We look down at the ground and watch our feet as we march.

Some humans drop dead along the journey. Heat exhaustion from the fire and dehydration are a deadly combination. Luckily for my pack, we have been trained to go without water in miserable conditions before.

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