Where the Dark Stands Still

by A.B. Poranek

“What did any of this accomplish? All you did was bleed everywhere, you useless demon.”

Marriage is an inevitable thing for village girls, but Liska always ignored it—she assumed it would come like death, arriving when least expected and stopping her life in its tracks.

“I… you… ah,” she says stupidly. “Yes,” he replies, also stupidly. “Thank you.” “Mm.”

32 IN WHICH LISKA SETS THE LESZY ON FIRE

“You might have warned me,” he says weakly. Liska sniffs, wiping at her eyes. “I said it was risky!” “You didn’t say you were going to set me on fire.”

“You,” he seethes. “Me,” she says pleasantly.