Then he faced me again, cruel humour dancing in his eyes.
"A powerless weakling like you thinks he can threaten me," he laughed."Very well then. Do your worst!"
He pounced like a wolf. He was fast—His had reached out to touch my face.
I didn’t want to think about what would happen when all his fingers touched me.
I yelled within my mind. "Repel!"
The glyph for repulsion glowed between us:
An invisible wall of energy slammed into Axon, sending him crashing straight into the the mast of the boat.
I would’ve liked to use divine word for destruction agin. But i knew I would have trouble focusing the spell on Axon alone. This ship, along with the weakened Fey could also end up being destroyed.
I couldnt allow that.
Besides, the truth sayer spell had put a massive drain on my magic reserves.
Attempting another great spell would completely burn me out.
Axon was pulling himself out of the rubble now, laughing, "Seriously. That’s your meta ability? You can shove really hard?
I almost feel sorry for you. . .almost. .’
I tried to ignite my flames, but the accumulated fatigue from all the constant battle was now taking its toll.
I was sluggish.
He rushed again, but he was more careful this time, constantly shifting like a mirage.
’We’re both young vampires. . ’ I thought in puzzlement. ’So why is he so much stronger— faster.’
Axon appeared at my back. I turned too late to duck the heavy kick flying at my chest.
He is foot landed against my ribs with force of bulldozer.
I stumbled backward, pressing my hand against my sternum. Pain wantonly shot through my nerves, and each breath felt like I was inhaling needles. He’d definitely broken more than a few ribs.
Get up, I scolded myself.
Fortunately, Axon was in no rush. He was slowly sauntering forward, taking great pleasure in this.
"You know Mason. At first I used to envy you. You were clearly nothing conpared to me, and yet somehow ended up as royalty. The clan lords Mate. If you just had died like the pitiful worm you are. I would have been the one most likely to be chosen. You stole that future from me. But now I’m taking it back. It’s the entire reason I volunteered for this doomed voyage— the reason everyone else had to die. Aren’t you and the clan lord half-siblings anyway? What kind of sicko mates with their half sister?’ I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. ’You commited a mass killing of several innocent vampires a few moment’s ago. And now you’re about to kill me. .. are you seriously preaching to me right now?"
"Haha you’re right."
Then Axon’s foot ploughed into my side and sent me crashing against the ship metal railing.
The metal creaked and bent against my spine.
I bounced off the railing, and landed roughly on the deck.
My vision blurring. My torso felt like a mess of fractured bones, ruptured vessels, and punctured organs.
Axon loomed over me, chuckling with evil delight. I knew I wasn’t going to survive his next assault.
Was I going to die here?
To this jerk?
"Goodbye worm." he mocked.
Suddenly, he clutched his head in pain. His knees dropped down on the planks, his body convulsion in agony.
A few feet away, Fey supported herself against the hatchframe. Her brows furrowed in concentration.
In a split second I understood what was happening.
I reacted quickly.
I caught his unprotected neck and then. . .
My fangs sunk into his flesh, the motion was oddly gentle, almost like a caress.
The flavor of his blood was strange, but I had not time to dwell on that.
He was still screaming when I place one hand against his jaw, and another on his clavicle.
I wrenched the two apart with every bit of force I couldnd muster.
There was a deafening metallic screech.
And then his head was no longer connected to the rest of his body. A flower of blood erupted from his neck, dousing me completely.
I froze, horrified of what I had just done, even more horrifying was how good it had felt.
I stared dumbly at the still bleeding, decapitated body.
Fey managed to rise through the hatch, then she stumbled over and I caught her in an embrace. I was so relieved to see her, I almost didn’t feel the searing pain in my chest.
"Are you okay?," She breathed softly. she said it like she was still reeling from the fear that something might happen to me.
"Fine," I smiled."He landed a few solid shots, but ill be alright."
Fey pressed her fingers against my chest and sharply exhaled.
My chest still felt like it had been studded with bolts.
Fey muttered a divine word and a soft velvet mattress appeared on the deck. Even though she was still recovering, she somehow found the strength to help me on it.
"Ouch,"I complained.
"Lie still." She commanded.
She drew a few glyphs in the air.
The glyphs materialized a small transparent liquid filled with a rose colored balm. She began rubbing the balm on every injury on my skin: cuts,and bruises scatterd across my torso.
The pain in my chest reduced immediately.
The wounds had even began to close.
Fey’s hands were warm and smoth. The scent of the magical balm was pleasant: a mixture of lavender and sandalwood.
It definitely wasn’t a bad experience.
Fey scooped another glob of balme and mashed it against the big gash on my back.
The cut mended, and I could almost feel my broken bones mending slwoly. I took a deep breath and was relieved to find it didn’t hurt anymore.
"Thank you,"I said gratefully."What did you apply on me?"
"Amrita,"she answered.
"Whats that?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "It’s a balm— infused with the extracted life essence lesser creatures. I only ever comissioned the one jar. So don’t get injured anymore."
"I see." I said with a frown, understanding why she’d been reluctant to tell me.
She knew me better than anyone now— and she knew my distaste for the cruel act she had just described was inevitable.
But that did not mean that I wasn’t grateful for what she had just done for me— she knew that too.
A somewhat awkward silence passed us by.
I was the one who broke it.
"Are you feeling better now?"Iasked Fey.
"I mean . . . has the poison been completely purged..."
Instead of answering, she gazed into the broiling sea, rising waves of fire and sulphur. Now that she was getting better, her irresistible beauty was returning.
She looked utterly ravishing in the light of the flaming sea.
"Yes.. .and I owe you my life. If I had not in that moment, lived every second of your existence with you, I could never have believed that someones soul could be so pure. I am actually still in awe . . . and ashamed. . . What you gave up for me . .."
"It was worth it,"I continued."You are worth it. I would never forgive myself if i simply watched you die knowing very well that I could save you."
Fey pursed her lips."You’re wrong about me. Im cruel, and vain, and selfish. I’ve lived for nearly seven millenia. And I have committed evils you are not yet capable of imagining."
"But not to me though,"I reminded her kindly."You may have had your selfish reasons. But the fact remains . .. that you saved my life. You gave me hope to rescue my gaurdian And then, you even taught me the secrets of magic."
A gentle geyser of sulpur erupted a few meters away from the ship.
Thereflection in Fey’s eyes reminded me of how I’d looked when Hera met her Fate:
Like I was burning from the inside out.
"The reason I did all of that. . . "Fey cried ,"Oh child. . ."
"Fey?" I whispered, worriedly grasping her fingers. "Are you all right?"
She didnt answer me.
Tears gushed out from her eyes without warning, streaming down her flawless face.
"Fey!" I called out to her, louder this time.
"What’s wrong?" I asked as wiped the tears her cheeks.
"Just what. . . have . . .I. . .done?"She said with sobs breaking through her voice.
She was scaring me now. I tried to get through to her, but her pupils only turned grayer with despair.
"It’s okay, Fey. We’re both fine, and I’m here with you." I reassured her.
"What are you worried about?" I asked softly.
"I dont deserve to live," She wailed, wrapping her arms around my neck and sobbing into my chest.
I laughed once.
"Dont be dramatic, Fey. Whatever it is. We can solve it . . ."
"Not this one," She cried. "You would never forgive me." Her words surpised me.
’She has done something bad to me?’ I thought— confused.
"You know that I will," I urged. "Tell me what you did."
"The reason why you were attacked. . . ." She trailed off, pulling back into a broken tear stained expression that showed told me she could not bear to continue.
"It’s fine if you cant say. Whatever it is, it doesnt matter, just please stop scaring me," I pleaded, my expression etched with worry.
But she didn’t. Instead she wrung her arms around my neck and kissed me furiously. The motion was desirous and desperate —it was need, an unbearable need directed at me.
I responded slowly but firmly.
I pushed her away as gently as I could in my surprise, holding her away by her shoulders.
"No, Fey," I said in a very strained voice.
She slumped backward lifelessly at my rjection. The light in her eyes dimming.
’Fey!’ I called, entirely confused and agonized at her current state.
"Of course you would reject me. . . as if I could ever be worthy of–" She mumbled, barely audible.
My panick deepened, and my mind raced— searching for something I could do.
When I found nothing, my shoulders slumped in resignation.
I pulled her close to me, locking lips with her, and she responded immediately:
Hands clutching my back. Legs clamping around my waist.
I surrendered to her with a groan.
Next Chapter title: My declaration
Fair warning: 18+ content