The Knight and the Butcherbird

by Alix E. Harrow

But Sir John of Cincinnati said, in the stilted, old-fashioned manner of the enclaves, “Be easy, good lady.”

Ah, the great land of Cincinnati

Still, they say demons are spirits freed from hell by the fifth trumpet, along with cancer and microplastics, which slink into people’s souls and change them into monsters.

At six, I’d thought love was a full belly; at sixteen, I’d thought it was wildflowers and gooseberries and Mayapple’s mouth on mine. At seventeen, I knew better: love is whatever you’re willing to kill for.