Rat King Boyfriend: Volkhard (special preview)

Tonight is no different, as I lead another batch of rats to the river beyond the woods. I despise how long it takes to get through the woods with the rats in tow. Playing the flute, walking in the woods at dark, all the while keeping the procession going is extremely hard work.

I sit by the river for a moment, taking a breather as the rats wash away. My hair is starting to feel heavy again and I contemplate shaving it at the scalp one more time. As I am between being bald and having uneven chops, I hear something in the woods. 

Looking up, I see someone stand by the riverbank and look down. They’re huge, frighteningly so. I stand up from my spot and ready myself to reach for the dagger on my hip. I consider myself quite tall, but this man, or creature, really makes me feel small. He must be close to eight feet, maybe nine feet tall. His shoulders are round and broad, his chest is barreled. His stomach sticks out but I bet if I were to punch it, that flesh would be hard as stone.

“So that is what is happening to my rats,” the voice comes out like a steaming hiss. 

I step back, keeping myself silent as he shakes his head. Something seems strange with that though. The hood over his head seems rather large, perhaps he has a giant pumpkin for a head. 

The man turns, but his head is still shrouded. In the dark, he is perfectly hidden. “Never would have expected someone like you to be the one sending them to their deaths.”

I scowl, keeping my stance strong. I wasn’t going to back down, not even if he was twenty feet tall.

He chuckles, his shoulders shuddering. “What do you expect to do? Throw me in the river as well?”

“I uh-” I swallow back the lump of fear growing in my throat. “I haven’t been paid to, so what would be the point? Unless you have something against me, then I will throw you in to defend myself.”

“Who all has paid you for this service?” He sweeps his hand out and I see he has extra digits on his palm. Dare I say I have counted eight fingers in total?

I stiffen my back. “I am not at liberty to say.”

He steps towards me. “How much for the list?”

I smell a waft of chocolate in the air or something of equal confectionery pungence. “What would you do with such a list?”

“Oh, you know, anger and such,” he laughs. “Just a simple payback for what has been taken from me.”

I cock my brow at him. “For the rats?” I ask. “You keep rats as what, pets?”

He leans back slightly, as if looking down his nose at me. I can’t be certain though, I cannot see any of his features aside from his size and extra fingers. “I consider them to be my family.”

I keep my own laughter in check. “Mind if I ask who you are?”

“Only if I can ask the same of you. I have heard tales of someone known as the Princess of the Gutters, but I didn’t believe such things.” He then sweeps his arm across his stomach and makes a slight bow. “Baron Volkhard, at your service.”

The hair on my neck stands on end. I had heard tales of a Baron Volkhard around the city. He had once lived there ages ago, but had been chased away due to his proclivity for beautiful things, mostly people. He had created for himself a concubine of gorgeous men and women from all over the city, using his wealth to keep them happy, entertained, and in grasp. Considering him a vile piece of trash, the city chased him away, leaving his estate empty for as long as I had been in the city, even before then.

“When did you return?” I ask with a sniff.

“Not important.” He holds his hand out to me. “Your turn.”

“Ludwina,” I answer quickly. It was one of the many names I used, perhaps the most common as it rolled off the tongue nicely.