Free Vampiris Sancti: The Elf by Katri Cardew Page A

prince.
    “They serve no
demons and would not help a Martyc in a Folly.”
    Zyre’s heart
sank because if everyone was calling her his Folly then she was
doomed.
    “Who calls it
this?” she demanded sharply.
    The eyes of the
sly creature gleamed in memory. “A Myruj is arriving.”
    Zyre absorbed
this information because a Watcher meant that the Empire was
concerned how the Xatn handled his chase of her and this meant
public knowledge of his intent. This was worse luck than being made
to listen to a band of Pixies singing dirges! The complexity of her
situation was increasing with every second. Folly was the demon
term for an obsession out of control, and it could range from an
object, to revenge, but more often than not was for a particular
being. What others called desire Martycs called their emotional
interior and Zyre glowed for a second. It was so fleeting it was
almost an optical illusion while she considered how quickly this
had spun out of control. The Myruj, the Watcher of the Empire, only
came on world if the local prince was suspected of failing in his
duties. A Folly was one thing that could affect the disciplined
prince of the Empire.
    She leaned into
him again, her breath fine wisps against his skin. “Tell me about
the Druqe.”
    The scout
looked like he wanted to weep because this betrayal sealed his
fate. Once the Martyc knew he had been sighted with an Elf the Xatn
would be relentless in his questioning. Zyre knew of the situation
she was placing the Poqir in, but his had been a reckoning long
time coming. These demons sold information to anyone willing to pay
the price never considering nor caring of the consequences, so
their survival was always going to be a haphazard affair. The
Reveal was not a safe place to play fast and loose. Especially when
every other creature encountered had the potential to exhibit a
superior brutality or power.
    “Afir will
never betray the Xatn as they have been together for years. There’s
no escape, not even if you leave this world. Once one from the
Empire wants something—nothing can stop them.”
    The bitterness
in his voice didn’t elude the Elf because she was well aware of the
Martyc Empire and their devotion to profit at the expense of
everything and everyone else.
    She gave the
Poqir a sweet smile. “Should have offered me a drink.”
    Startled by her
statement the demon looked across to the bar for a second, but that
was all an Elf ever needed. She dissolved back to the roof across
from the pub and sat in the dark while considering what options
remained open to her.
    “Blinkity
buckets, blinkity blinkity buckets.”
    Her Elf curse
did nothing to relieve her stress as she scowled at a brown beetle
scuttling across the corrugated iron dips of the roof. The
information of the scout was of little use, so Dhaigre had tons of
security—all Martycs had tons of security, but a Watcher might be
an avenue worth exploiting. Maybe she could convince him that Vryn
had lost control of this world, or that he had lost his marbles. At
the thought of marbles, she checked her pocket and several shalurs
clinked together reassuringly, so at least she could still get some
sweet. One comment stuck in her mind as the Poqir said Vampires
served no demon, which meant they might be a possible, or temporary
once they had a taste of magical shenanigans, friend. She dissolved
away into the night because it was best to consider her choices
once replenished and she had seen a lovely bed of flowers
earlier.
    Had she stayed
a few seconds longer she might have noticed the sleek black car
move with a graceful purr down the street until it stopped outside
of the pub. Two bulky creatures leapt out their silver skin
obscured under the light of an even more silvery moon helping them
feign being human. One opened the back door of the car and a dark
demon exited—the mass of his body revealed by the flickering of the
street light. He stood a good six foot five, a dark creature
against the dark