The Umbra King (Vincula Realm Book 1)

Nina flounced into the kitchens not long before Rory’s shift was over and gave her a cruel smile. “I heard you’ve been making food and sneaking it to your room.”

Rory stiffened. “And?”

“And you will eat with the others in the dining hall, or you will not eat at all.” Nina looked positively delighted, and Rory dug her nails into her palms to keep from punching her. “It opens for lunch soon. I suggest you hurry.” Nina turned to the other staff still in the kitchen. “If any of you allow her to leave with food and I find out about it, you will not be pleased with the work you are assigned.”

Anger roared in Rory’s ears. She threw her rag in the laundry bin by the door and stepped through it, needing to be alone before she did something she’d regret. Nina knew as well as she did the dining hall wasn’t an option.

Unable to look at Nina a minute longer, she marched out the back door of the kitchens and across the stone courtyard surrounding the palace. When she reached the edge of the massive space, she slipped through a small man-sized gate at the back.

It surprised her to see a garden filled with various lush plants and beautiful flowers. The stone walkway twisted in a spiral toward a large flower in the middle. The plant was huge, with a bell at the top.

“Fitting you should find the reaper flower,” a voice said from behind her. “It blooms once a year and smells of death.”

A small, growl-like sound emitted from her chest. “Fitting you should find me to gloat.”

In her peripheral, he stepped next to her, but she refused to look at him. “You will need to refresh my memory. I’m right about many things.”

The pebbles beneath her feet crunched when she turned on her heel to flee, but shadows stopped her retreat. “I am fucking sick of these things,” she half-yelled as she swiped her hand through them. To her surprise, they scattered despite being solid seconds before.

“Refresh my memory,” he repeated. “What has the little butcher wound up today?”

She spun on her heel again to face him, red hot fury seeping from her pores. “Nina made sure to tell the kitchen staff to stop me if I tried to take food to my room. Seeing as you were the only person who knew, I have you to thank, no?”

“You made quite the impression on the staff.” He smirked. “They are giving you the welcome they think you deserve.”

“And you?” she challenged. “Do they give the infamous sister killer the treatment he deserves?”

She was shoved to the ground, but shadows cushioned her fall, preventing the gravel from cutting her knees.

He strolled toward her, his expression lazy. “I must admit, Miss Raven, I enjoy seeing you on your knees.” His pupils flared.

She recognized the lust in his eyes, and she fought to keep her expression neutral.

The shadows kept her pinned in place as she struggled, and the king smiled. “You despise me for two deaths, yet you have taken thirteen lives. Does that seem rational to you, or are you as deranged as they say?”

He would swing headless for all his people to see, she vowed silently to herself.

“You are nothing but a hypocrite.” His words should have held venom, but they held nothing but amusement. Giving her his back, he walked away, but not before calling over his shoulder, “I hope you have the day you deserve, Miss Raven. I know I will.”

Once he was out of sight, his shadows released her, and she glowered as they retreated. “You are assholes too,” she hissed after them.

A plan formed in her mind, and she wanted to scrub her skin clean at the prospect. She saw his desire, and she would use it to her advantage. The king may hate her, but he was attracted to her, too.

Nothing brought down a man’s defenses like sex.

Rory was lost in her own thoughts as she wound through the palace garden for an hour. If she was going to do this, she would do it right. Seduction was nothing new to her. When she wanted a good fuck, she found one.

The first thing she needed to do was use her credits for new clothes. She would buy comfortable items, including jeans that showcased what little butt she had and whatever else she could find to make the king drool like the dog he was.

She would do this. Her sister’s soul depended on it. An hour passed before she marched back inside like a soldier heading into battle.

Throwing the door to her room open with newfound determination, she began ripping off her wretched uniform but stopped short. On her bed sat a tray of food. There was a burger, potato sticks, and what looked like a glass of lemonade.

She approached her bed slowly and poked at the food. Her first thought was, they had burgers here? It dawned on her they must have shipments brought in from Erdikoa, which would explain the modern clothes and whatever else was in town Bellina told her about. There was nothing like this in the kitchens, and she surmised it came from town.

It could be poisoned, but she was starving enough to risk it. Grabbing the burger like a wild animal, she bit into it and moaned. It was delicious. She lifted the bun to see what was on it. There were no condiments, only lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions.

Setting her burger down, she picked up the tray and placed it on her nightstand before taking a seat on the bed to eat the rest. News in the palace travels fast, and Bellina must have heard what Nina said to her in the kitchens and grabbed it for her. She was a lifesaver.

After scarfing down the rest of her meal, she took a shower, relishing in the warm water as it pelted against her skin. Showers were her only reprieve as of late.

She needed to get the king alone, but how?

She might not have to. Somehow, he kept finding her. Her lips curled into a smile as she rinsed her hair. This might be easier than she thought.

Rory meandered her way through the halls to the seamstress’s quarters in search of Bellina. No one else would speak to her aside from hurling insults, and she needed a guide around the town. A dark bob caught her eye, and she made a beeline to the back of the room.

Glares were thrown her way as she passed the other workers, but she ignored them when Bellina spotted her and waved. “What are you doing here?”

Rory leaned on Bellina’s work station with puppy dog eyes. “I was hoping you could show me around town today and help me order clothes.”

Bellina clapped excitedly with a wide grin. “I love shopping! Let me clean up, and we can go.”

Rory stepped outside the front of the courtyard for the first time since arriving in Vincula and was taken aback. Her eyes widened as she took in the bustling town. The brick buildings lined the modern streets, oil lamp posts dotted the sidewalks, and people were everywhere, as well as legion officers on patrol.

It wasn’t a city like Erdikoa, but it was more civilized than she’d imagined. What took her breath away was the beauty of the town silhouetted against the twilight sky. She knew she’d miss the sunshine, but the dusky sky was just as beautiful. The sunset wafted over the town like a blanket, and various plants decorated the buildings.

“This…” she began, but her voice trailed off.

“Is gorgeous,” Bellina finished for her. “I couldn’t believe it the first time I saw it. I expected a muddy, dreary mess, but in some ways, I like Vincula more than Erdikoa.”

Rory could only nod, still in shock. Keeping up with Bellina was harder than she thought. The woman’s tiny legs moved fast, and Rory took long strides so as not to be left behind.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

Bellina pointed to a shop across the street. “We’ll order clothes first, and then I’ll show you around. Have you received your card yet?”

Rory furrowed her brow. “Card? I’ve heard nothing about it.”

“Those assholes,” Bellina huffed. “You’re supposed to be given one on your first day. You show it to the vendors to keep track of your credits. There is no money system here. Every inmate gets credits for each shop per month to get whatever they’d like.”

“How do they scan cards with no essence?” Nothing about this realm made sense.

Bellina pulled out her own card to show Rory. “It has your name and number on it. They look you up by your number and mark how many credits you spend.”

Rory grabbed Bellina’s arm, forcing her to stop. “How is this a prison if we are given things for free, no matter where we work? I don’t understand.”

Bellina shrugged. “I told you it isn’t the hell they’ve painted it to be. We’re treated well, as long as we follow the rules. I know you hate the king for whatever reason, but he is good to us and makes sure we are taken care of. Rumor has it the Seraphim thought being in Vincula would help change souls for the better, and even though we don’t remember our time here, our soul is changed all the same.”

Briefly, Rory wondered if there was a chance for her soul but shook off the notion. She didn’t want redemption. She wanted retribution.

“That is brilliant,” she said finally. “Rehabilitation for the soul.”

Bellina nodded. “If everyone wasn’t a dick to you, I think you’d like it.” She stopped in front of the shop. “Do you at least know your number?”

“Like my phone number?” Rory asked. “Or my mystic number I was given by the Crown?”

Bellina puffed out a burst of air. “They told you nothing. It’s your inmate number for Vincula. It will be printed on your card and above your room.”

Rory perked up. “I know my room number.”

“Perfect.” Bellina grinned as she opened the door. “You can give it to them this time since you’re new, but you’ll need your card next time.”

The shop was like any other clothing store in Erdikoa but without technology. There were jeans, jackets, shirts, dresses, and anything else you could think of from the other realm.

Rory reached out to touch a shirt. “Do they have these imported?”

“Ding, ding, ding,” a deep voice said.

She spun around, facing a man who looked to be her age or a few years younger. He had a mischievous smirk, and his hair was like Nina’s, only darker. “What color is your hair?” She grimaced at her lack of manners.

“You’re weird,” he replied with an amused smile. “It’s auburn. You’ve never seen it?”

“I can only see the color of souls,” she admitted. “I have grey-scale sight.”

“What is that?” Bellina was eyeing the man’s hair.

Rory played with the end of her hair to give her hands something to do. “I can only see in shades of grey, black, and white.”

The guy whistled. “Damn.”

“My hair is dark brown,” Bellina offered. “Almost black.”

“And my gorgeous eyes are hazel,” the man added, making Bellina roll her eyes.

“You’re The Butcher,” he said, sticking out his hand. “I’m Asher.”

“Leave her alone, Ash,” Bellina chided.

Rory shot Bellina a withering look. “I’m in no position to pass up someone being nice to me.” She turned back to Asher to shake his hand. “I go by Rory.”

“Rory. I like it.” He tossed his arm over Bellina’s shoulder and bent down to smack a kiss on her cheek. “I told Bell to bring you out with us, but she keeps refusing.”

Rory understood. “You’ll get a bad rep if you’re seen with me.”

Bellina pushed Asher away. “Don’t call me that. I told him we needed to give you time to adjust first, but you are welcome out with us anytime. Everyone here is a criminal, so they can fuck off with their judgment.”

A laugh burst from Rory. “I knew I liked you.” She turned to Asher. “You know of my atrocities. What are yours?”

He seemed embarrassed, which struck her as odd, seeing as how she was a serial killer.

“Armed robbery of a bank when I was twenty-two,” he said, regret lacing his voice.

Rory wondered how long he’d been here. His phrasing suggested a while. “How old are you now?”

He ran a hand through his hair, and Rory couldn’t help but notice how his biceps bulged. “Fifty-one.” He chuckled. “In a twenty-two-year-old’s body. How fucked up is that?”

She lifted a shoulder. “At least you’re a hot fifty-one-year-old. Gives a whole new meaning to the age-gap kink.”

He threw his head back with a loud laugh. “This is my last year, thank the Seraphim.”

“Lucky,” Bellina muttered as she plucked a shirt off the rack.

Asher reached over and tweaked her nose. “I’ll miss you.”

Bellina’s expression grew somber. “No, you won’t. You won’t remember us.”

Silence fell over the group. “I’ll remember you both enough for all of us,” Rory tried to joke. “I was sentenced as long as the king.”

Asher clucked his tongue. “I heard. Tough break. Next time, maybe only kill seven.”

They laughed, but then he asked her, “Why’d you do it? I have to know.”

Bellina slapped his chest. “You can’t just ask people why they killed someone.”

Rory smirked at Bellina. “You did.”

The seamstress shrugged. “I knew we’d be friends, but there’s no guarantee you won’t get sick of this one,” she said, motioning to Asher.

He looked at Rory expectantly. She knew it was natural for others to be curious, but the thought of having to tell the same story over and over irked her. “I need to hand out flyers and put this to rest.” She looked up, mental exhaustion taking over. “They were all black souls I caught in the middle of trying to hurt someone.”

Asher stared for what felt like hours. “Good for you.” He slapped her on the shoulder. “We’re going out tomorrow night. Come with us.”

Rory glanced at Bellina. “Who is ‘us?’”

“Asher, Max, and me. Max is older, but he’s fun. Drinks like a fish. Tallent, Kit, and Cat might be there too.” She looked at the apprehension on Rory’s face. “They couldn’t care less what you did. We’re all here for a reason.”

Rory swallowed hard. “Screw it. I’m in.”

Asher lifted his arm for a high five, and she laughed, slapping his hand in the air. It was nice to have friends again.

Asher tagged along as Bellina showed Rory the rest of Vincula. It was amazing, and she couldn’t get over how many shops there were. There was an extensive park with gravel in place of grass, cobblestone walkways, random lawn games, picnic tables, and even a large lake nestled in the back. Plants similar to the ones in the palace garden were everywhere, giving it appeal.

“There are fish in there, too,” Asher said, pointing at the water where people sat on piers, holding fishing poles and talking quietly.

“This place is incredible,” she breathed. “Maybe five-hundred years won’t be so bad.”

From the foliage to Rory’s left, a black panther emerged, and Rory screeched, backing up and bumping into Bellina.

Bellina steadied her and giggled. “That’s Lo. She’s like the Vincula mascot.”

“Why are you talking about a killing machine like she’s a Seraphim-damned house cat?“ Rory demanded. “Are you crazy?”

Asher walked forward and stroked a hand down Lo’s silky coat. “She basically is a house cat. Just bigger.”

A deep rumble sounded from the panther’s chest, and she nipped at Asher’s arm. He jumped back and frowned, and Rory pointed at the enormous cat. “I’m not going near her.” Like an idiot, she addressed the panther like a person, “Sorry, kitty. I would rather not chance you taking a chunk out of my leg. I need them to run away.”

The panther’s head tilted to the side as her tail twitched. She turned and disappeared back into the lavish brush, and Rory looked at the other two. “Did you lure me out here to feed me to her?”

The two busted up laughing while Rory stood with her hands on her hips. “It wasn’t that funny.”

Bellina nodded as she laughed so hard she sounded like a teapot. “It really was. You should have seen your face when Lo stepped out.” She swiped at her eyes as her laughter died down. “She’s harmless. The shop owners let her inside, and I’ve seen her in the palace a time or two.”

Rory stared. “You’re all insane. What happens when she turns on you?”

Asher shook his head. “You run.” She blinked at him, and he laughed. “I’m kidding. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Are there more?” Rory asked and slid her gaze to the bushes where the panther disappeared.

“Not that we’ve seen,” Bellina said. “There are other animals, but they keep to themselves.”

Rory shuttered. Great.