Misfortune Market: A HASEA CHRONICLES STORY (BOOK 1.5) by Stuart Meczes

Something felt…off.
    “Gabriella, be careful,” I warned as she broke away from us.
    “I will,” she whispered back.
    The crowd parted to allow her through. She moved with confidence, one hand clutching the stolen coin, the other resting on the fold of material that covered the Kapre Belt, where the Blood Brother daggers were hidden. Everything seemed to grind into slow motion as she moved to the front of the stage. I glanced towards the others and they nodded back at me. Hands moved towards hidden weapons.
    They feel it too.
    I signaled to the others and started to push through the tight crowd towards the stage. At the same time Zaris grabbed hold of Andrea and started to manhandle her over to the stage steps.
    “Get off me, you disgusting creature!” screamed the Chosen. Twisting her neck, she sank her teeth deep into his forearm and ripped off a good layer of fur and flesh. Barely flinching, the Devil cuffed her across the back of the head. Andrea fell to her knees on the stage, moaning as blood flowed from a deep gash.
    “Zaris, wait!” ordered the Overseer. The Devil paused, staring at the market leader through questioning eyes. The Overseer turned to address the advancing Gabriella. “As you can see, this one might prove somewhat tricky to handle. It might be a good idea for you to come up here to collect her.” He nodded to Zaris and the Devil yanked the Chosen back to her feet.
    I remembered how much he had overreacted when the Skinshifter had come onto his precious stage. Now he was inviting Gabriella onto it.
    I don’t like this…
    Andrea tried to back away from Gabriella, but her captor had her clutched in his powerful claws and wouldn’t give an inch. Our Huntmaster climbed the stairs to the stage, the heavy clomp of her boots echoing across the silent room like the final steps of a prisoner bound for the gallows. 
    Come on! I growled internally as I forced my way through the tight crowd. It was shoulder to shoulder near the front, as everyone had piled forward, wanting to be the closest to the action. 
    “Oi!”
    I’d barged right into an Ifrit. He turned – eyes flaring – and drew his fist back to attack. There was a flash of metal and he went stiff. Scarlett withdrew her Pinknife from his arm and he toppled to the ground. People around him shuffled to accommodate his unconscious body, but no one did anything to help.
    “Thanks,” I breathed.
    “You’re welcome.”
    I turned my attention back to the stage, the bad feeling growing. Gabriella was walking to the centre of the stage –right at the heart of the lion’s den.
    The Overseer slid a gloved hand into his inside pocket and my stomach lurched.  He produced a slim black key – seemingly for the adamantine shackles that bound Andrea. He extended his arm towards Gabriella and opened his hand, letting the key lie flat on his palm. My heart became a hummingbird smashing its wings against my ribcage.
    This is all wrong.
    Gabriella extended her hand to take the key. In a burst movement the Overseer grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.
    “What the-?” she gasped as she stumbled towards him.
    He wrenched the coin from her other hand. “I memorise the costume and scent of everyone whom I give a notching coin. This does not belong to you!”
    Without a word, Gabriella grabbed the Overseer’s gloved hand and placed pressure between his thumb and index finger. He howled in pain and doubled over, dropping his cane in the process. “Zaris!”
    A second later the Devil had abandoned Andrea and had his arms clamped on Gabriella’s shoulders.
    “Go, go!” I shouted to the others. We continued to smash through the last few rows of Market-goers.
    “How dare you?!” screamed the Overseer, his cool façade well and truly gone. “First you disrespect my auction by stealing another bidders coin, then you have the audacity to lay hands on me !” He used his good hand to retrieve his cane and straightened up. “For your disgusting