ChaPter 2 - Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

52
As Marchosias turned to face the crowd, he glanced at
Aya and smiled, and Kaleb felt a burn of envy. Not only had
Aya defeated an opponent largely expected to force her to
forfeit, but now she’d secured the backing of the head of the
ruling class. Being lower in the ranking didn’t matter nearly
as much if she had already gained Marchosias’ support. The
judges would bow to Marchosias’ will, and Aya’s ability to score
bloodpoints would increase immediately.
“Call witnesses,” Marchosias directed.
Aya’s stand-in accuser blanched, but he held his voice steady
as he called forth a number of witnesses. Each and all offered
very precise details citing Aya as the deliverer of Verie’s death.
Finally, Aya herself stepped forward.
The judge was now barely restraining himself from
looking at Marchosias. He looked directly at Aya, who stood as
if she were without any care. Like Marchosias, she had decided
to make a wordless statement: her kill trophies hung over a
shirt that was one of the finest weaves and cuts available. At
first glance, it appeared to have a floral pattern, but a second
glance made clear that the pattern was bloodstains. In her
simple choice of clothing, she reminded everyone there of her
bravado, her caste, and her kills.
The judge motioned her closer, and as she stepped onto the
platform, he looked at her bloody kill trophies. Aya touched her
fingertips to the claws, talons, and teeth she wore like pearls.
The judge opened his mouth briefly and then closed it as
Marchosias laughed.