"Give me a reason not to kill you."
My heart stuttered, failing to beat for a moment.
I could barely see the knife planted on my throat but I felt its sharp edge, cold and eager to draw blood.
Everyone else was too absorbed in their own minds to notice what was going on, and I didn't dare scream.
It was only me and my assailant.
"Please" I choked out, swallowing a heavy ball of saliva as cold sweat poured down my skin.
No answer.
I turned slowly and shakily, pointing my palms flat to the floor. He kept silent, allowing me this much freedom.
My attacker was exactly who I imagined. The short, young guy whose name was still a mystery.
I pulled out a smile, but I could feel how terribly my face twitched.
"I'm sor—" The words barely left my lips before the handle of the knife rammed into my forehead.
The dizziness finally caught up to me and I fell flat backwards, unable to steady myself from the force of the blow.
Only the hard ground caught my fall, my eyes stung with pain and tears as the world became a blurry mess of shapes.
Suddenly a weight pressed atop me and the knife resumed its place on my throat.
"Don't touch my feelings or I would kill you on the spot". My attacker said calmly as he straddled me.
"P!..... please!... Don't kill me!" I cried out.
Once I spoke, the knife left my throat.
I eased a breath of relief as I watched him pull away the dagger.
'He could still be reasoned with' I thought.
But then his expression changed suddenly to anger and the knife pierced into my thigh.
A scream tore out of me, only for my attacker to swiftly cover my mouth.
I bit on it fiercely as my leg thrashed under his weight and yet he didn't even flinch.
My head was slowly pressed into the soft earth as I struggled, desperate to free myself.
His other hand closed around my neck, squeezing, choking the screams out of my lungs.
I hit him desperately with my fists, and chewed on his fingers till I tasted blood and yet he didn't release his grip on me.
My eyes started to blur, and even the ground didn't feel so firm beneath me anymore.
Then I heard a scream, and all of a sudden a warm liquid spilled over me.
My throat was released, and the weight was thrown violently away from me.
I immediately turned to my side, coughing and spitting out blood.
I wheezing out breaths in between coughs, until my eyes slowly cleared completely.
"D....ad?" I tried to say before bursting into another cough.
He held Ren's white sword in his hand and his whole body was stained in blood.
To my far left was a headless corpse, still bleeding.
"Dad....." I cried, hot tears stinging my face.
Suddenly Mum hugged me, then placed a kiss on my forehead.
Relief washed away my worries as her presence calmed me.
Then, she wordlessly pulled the knife from my thigh.
I only managed a faint shout of betrayal and pain before a comfortable feeling— like a rush of soft warmth under your skin flooded my senses.
My mind and body completely eased, as I released a moan of relief.
Just as quickly as the feeling came it also ended, yet it left me with renewed energy, I couldn't even blame mum for how she handled things, I know it was better that way.
I stood to my feet, rubbing my hand against smooth skin, not even a scar remained.
Everyone was up now and watching me, apart from my family there was Ren, he did not seem to hate me but I could tell I deeply shook him.
And for that he feared me, even though he buried it deep within him.
I held a firm grip on my emotions to keep the tears from my eyes. He could never see me the same way again.
My family already knew what I was capable of, but to him this was new.
I instantly fell to my knees, lowering my head to the floor, "Please forgive me" I begged, "I had no other way to protect myself".
Mum joined me wordlessly, holding me as we both knelt.
It seemed like forever until Ren finally spoke. In that time I didn't even dare to look at his emotions.
"Stand. Please. You are the reason we are still alive anyway." He walked towards me, helping both me and mum stand before getting his sword back from Dad.
"I would have killed the guy myself, he had no right to hurt you" He said as he swung his sword like a toy, the same sword that just decapitated a man yet remained untouched by blood.
Suddenly the weight of what just happened hit me.
A man was dead and by our hands.
"So let's get to cooking" He continued, gesturing to the many corpses. "Theo went to get the girls so we shouldn't worry about him"
Clap, Clap.... Clap.
The sound of applause sounded from behind me.
Fear climbed up my spine as everyone instantly turned silent.
No one should be there.
I turned in an instant.
The beheaded corpse was no more.
nstead the man stood in a puddle of his own blood. Completely whole, not even a scar on his neck.
"You killed me." He said slowly, pointing at dad as emphasised each word, he didn't even sound angry.
"For someone who could control you and lead you all to your deaths" He spat, a thick blood red substance that mixed with the earth.
He walked slowly, face completely neutral as he stalked us like a predator.
'How was he still alive?'
Ren laughed breaking the tension, "You attacked first, you can't blame us for defending one of our own." His voice was playful, like he wasn't talking to a dead man— like he knew this would happen.
"You fools! You would protect her?, She could be playing you at this moment, or even make you kill each other and feel happy while doing it. That.... That's the person you would protect?" He shouted.
"She would never!!" Dad shot back, he was already in a position to fight.
Mum tugged on my arm, pulling me back.
"Relax friend, she's the only reason we are still alive." Ren spoke in the same chill tone. He had no reason to trust me, and yet he defended me.
"Fools. All of you." He said, shaking his head as he turned to leave.
"Cadavir" Ren spoke suddenly.
"That's your name isn't it?"
He stopped, but only for a brief moment before he continued on wordlessly, neither denying or claiming the name.
Leaving us to watch in silence.