Erador slogged up to the top of the manor steps and opened the door. Sacks, crates, and baskets were stationed on the black rug. Mikra picked up the chicken cage and moved it. Sescina instructed Pia where to take the baskets. A head of messy brown hair was in the center of the goods. Breck leaned against a sack, feet propped on another.

  “Off,” Sescina said, shoving his legs down. “If you’re not going to help, get back to your post.”

  “When I’m done,” Breck said with a full mouth. Juice slopped down his chin as he bit a peach.

  “Mothy.” Jerus hooked his arm around Erador’s shoulder and guided him toward the food. “Look at all this.”

  Erador tensed under his hold, hating that he was forced to look at Yuni’s poison. Jerus shoved a peach into Erador’s chest but he didn’t grab it, letting it drop to the floor.

  “Isn’t this great?” Jerus outstretched his arms and turned in a circle.

  “You should eat, Erador.” A small voice piped up from behind a stack of crates. Pia popped her head out. He felt guilty for being angry when he saw her glowing face.

  Jerus’s beard scratched his ear as his breath blew on his cheek “Still doubt Yuni now?” He picked up the fallen peach and took a bite.

  Erador looked past the food at the empty throne. His gaze shifted to the joyful caregivers. His chest swirled with fire that reached his ears. Seeing them happy shredded his insides. He wished this didn’t come from Yuni.

  “Where’s my father?” Erador said, but the Paradins conversed too loudly to notice.

  This time, he yelled. They stopped and looked at him with surprise as if he was ruining the moment.

  “Relax.” Jerus bit into the peach, the juice squirted onto Erador’s shirt. “He’s in bed.”

  Erador’s jaw tensed as the splotches seeped into the fabric. “Where did Yuni get this food?” He lifted a sack of grain and looked around, but everyone dodged him, even Eonidas who shut his fingers around the nuts in his palm. “This wasn’t free. Did she steal it?”

  “Does it matter? We got food.” Breck dug his fist in a bag and scooped up a handful of dried beans. “Actual food.”

  Erador kicked down a sack. “She has you all poisoned under her spell.”

  The front door closed with a bang, causing his heart to jump.

  “How sad, Erador, that you think stealing is how anyone survives.” Yuni walked past him. “I guess I can’t blame you when you're poor.”

  Erador clenched his teeth.

  Yuni looked around. “Enjoying the food?”

  Sescina went to Yuni. Her emotional thank you further upset Erador.

  “It’s my pleasure to help those in need,” Yuni said, flashing a smile of yellow teeth.

  Erador’s stomach heaved at her words. Except maybe it wasn’t that. It was the lingering pain of hunger. He resisted the fuzzy peaches and taste of salted meat. It was poison. His mind kept wandering to the nuts Haven had given him but Yuni ruined that too. Erador moved to the bench and sat next to Eonidas who stiffened.

  “I’m sorry, brotha. I’m...”

  Erador crossed his arms. “Just pray it’s not poisoned.”

  Eonidas pursed his lips and shrugged as he placed a nut in his mouth. “How are yah healing?”

  “Fine,” Erador said, trying to ignore the stinging pain from his wounds.

  “Did you get a session today?”

  Erador watched as Sescina sorted the food. “She’s busy. Maybe tomorrow.” He tried to ignore the happy atmosphere. It fed Yuni’s ego. She sat high in her chair as if she were on the throne now. Gillian sat against a pillar and tried to make herself seem smaller as she nibbled a carrot.

  “I wish Emera were here to enjoy this,” Breck said. “When Taurin beat me, I was too scared to return home. Emera would leave food out for me every night to make sure I had a meal. I wouldn’t have made it without her. She was the only family I had and we weren’t blood.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Erador couldn’t bare to look at Breck.

  “I can’t believe I thought living with my uncle would’ve been better.” Breck bit into the peach and glared at Erador. “Last I heard, Emera was alive when Erador scared her to shit.”

  “She was trying to get rid of Lord Judgment,” Erador said.

  “And you had to threaten her?” Breck rose. “She didn’t do anything to hurt Judgment.”

  “How would you feel if someone was spreading lies about you?” Haven said.

  Erador’s heart leapt. Haven walked down the rug and stopped near the piles of food.

  Breck moved out from the sacks with his peach. “Well, I don’t threaten the person in the middle of it. I would go to the source.” He cocked his head. “Miraline is your problem.”

  “Emera contributed,” Haven said, folding her arms. “If only Emera thought for herself.”

  Breck squeezed the peach and juice flowed down his wrist. “My aunt was abused. Taurin tore her down. She would’ve had more confidence if not for him.”

  “She didn’t see him that way,” Haven said.

  “That isn’t true.” Breck raised his voice. “She knew what my uncle was, but he always found a way to convince her to come back to him.”

  “Why didn’t she leave him?” Erador said.

  “She wanted to make sure I was taken care of and had a place to call home. Taurin would have kicked me out if it weren’t for Emera.”

  “You had no home?” Erador said.

  “I left my parents.” Breck swallowed, trying to hide his pain by whispering. “They didn’t want me.”

  “Nor did your uncle,” Haven said, without care.

  “I chose to be away from him,” Breck spat. “I would rather be on the street than bend to him.”

  “You do it now,” Haven said, looking at his wolf mark. “You take orders from Judgment.”

  “That’s not the same. In the end I choose what to do,” Breck said, jabbing his chest. “Judgment may seem like a god to you, but he’s not to me. The reason I want him well is so he will remember when I spit on him and tell him how much pain he caused my aunt and I.”

  The caretakers looked up from their tasks. Even his father’s Paradins were beginning to hate him.

  “What pain?” Erador said. “My father has tried to help you.”

  “Keeping the Raven alive for one and making Taurin Retribution was one of his biggest mistakes. I wish I never vowed to serve.”

  “He changed,” Haven cried. “He did so much for Lucrethia.”

  Breck scoffed. “You think when he became Retribution he remembered how he conned people out of money and left them to rot on the street? What about when he nearly had Gillian killed, knowing she is weaker? Did you know he forced Mikra’s family onto the streets in the most crime ridden district in Morgo Reis?” He looked at Mikra who dipped his head, curls covering his face. “It didn’t end there after his father killed himself and his mother was murdered. Taurin deserved to die!”

  “Stop!” Haven screamed. Electricity shot from her fingertips and burned the carpet at Breck’s feet. He jumped back into the sacks, smoke leaking off his shoe. Erador stomped out the flames on the rug.

  Mikra dropped a sack and ran to Breck’s side. Eonidas dashed toward Haven and grabbed her arm before she could move.

  “It’s not worth it,” Eonidas said.

  Breck groaned and checked his feet. “Bitch,” he mumbled.

  Mikra helped him up.

  “Taurin was never perfect.” Haven ripped from Eonidas's grasp. “But he helped me in more ways than you can imagine. Judgment didn’t have the right.”

  “Taurin had his rebirth,” Breck said. “He should’ve learned then.”

  “Gillian never learns.” Haven looked at Gillian who shrunk against the pillar. “Taurin should’ve had more chances. We all make mistakes and sometimes we do it more than once. I know I have and so do all of you, whether you admit it or not.”

  No one looked at Haven, not even Erador could. He had his mistakes. Emera was the latest one on his conscience. Erador wanted to be forgiven for his wrongs, especially for something he never intended to do.

  “We should forgive more than my father allows.” Erador moved next to Haven. “How do we learn if we don’t make mistakes?”

  Gillian moved out from the pole. He was usually angry at her presence. Instead, he felt guilty for his actions toward her, especially when he received similar treatment from the followers.

  “If we don’t forgive, we’re more likely to lie in fear of punishment. My father’s methods worked on the surface, but it kept many from admitting lies. Lucrethians fear my father, because he can decide their fate. And do you see what it has done?” Erador aimed his arm toward the front doors. “Our people are turning on us during a time when we need to come together the most. The food will hold them over only for so long.” Erador looked at them in shame. “We need to help each other.”

  Jerus left. The others avoided him. He had his reasons. They all did, but Erador was angry. He didn’t have any answers to what was going on and no one here cared but him. Eli telling him to leave sounded more intriguing. Pressure built behind his eyes, but he held back any tears for Eli, the one person who cared about him no matter what. He would have to bury those dreams because he wouldn't feel right leaving Lucrethia like this.

  A hand slid onto his shoulder and he tensed afraid of rejection. He melted when he heard Haven’s whisper.

  “Meet me by the swing in the morning. I’ll bring food.” She moved in front of him, eyebrows drawn in. “Ask Sescina to help you with your wounds.”

  For once, he felt hope in this miserable place.