House of Hunger

by Alexis Henderson

And many a southern priest had preached from the pulpit about the immortal dangers of bleeding, the toll that dark work took on the body and soul. There were ample rumors about girls drained of blood and spirit, returning to the South penniless and pale after years of bleeding with nothing but their scars to show for it.

We are all alike in the fact that our great life’s work is deciding who and what we are willing to bleed for. —Olivia, Bloodmaid of the House of Fog