Chapter 67: Blood and Madness





The traitor must die.



The words rang through my ears louder than the explosions and gunshots in the battlefield. I looked at the blade pointed at me – it was sharp and seemed to be getting sharper as the seconds passed. It was whispering to me; promising that it would take my life.



The sword was lifted high and it struck down at me like a lightning from the sky firm on its target. I had barely escaped it and rolled to the side as its blade licked my left arm. It cut on the cotton of my dress and penetrated my skin drawing a line of blood from the wound.



"What the hell are you doing? You're not even supposed to be here. It's not safe!"



She smirked and pulled the sword from being stuck on the ground. "You've become famous in the castle. Words about your heroic act are going around like a ringing bell that's irritating my ears. I had to go outside and breathe. And that moment led me into realization and decision that both brought me here."



There was madness in her eyes and the warning in my head was signalling me to be cautious around the woman.



"I'm not a traitor, Janeia. I just did what I thought was right."



Janeia laughed manically. She was holding the weapon adeptly and I realized that it was the first time I saw her holding one aside from the cup that she was about to throw at me that day. I remembered the strength she had during our confrontation in the balcony. She was a pirate after all – a beautiful and ruthless one. And she was currently aiming her sword at me.



"Aren't you going to ask me what my realization and decision are? I mean – just so you know why you have to die."



I gritted my teeth as I desperately searched for a chance to escape. "No. I still have lots of wounded fighters to help. I can't deal with you right now –"



She swung her sword skilfully and I gasped as its tip landed threateningly below my chin. "And since you insist on asking, I'm going to tell you what's on my mind." She beamed as she moved the sword and scraped my neck. I felt it bit on my skin and thin streak of blood made its way down slowly to my chest. "You're a Crimson. And no matter what you do, you can't change it unless you drain your blood in your body and die a painful death. You are with them; I know that they'll take you back. Aside from that, the Skull loves you. I am now admitting my defeat. And I know that he'll choose you to be on his side when the time comes for him to rule the land. When this war ends, whether whose side wins, you'll survive. So do you think that I'll just stay and wait inside the castle knowing that a filthy blood like you will be the only absolute thing standing at the end?"



Fear. That was what I felt at that moment. My blood ran cold as I stared at her. She was determined to do what she's about to do. And she firmly believed that what she was about to do was right. And that made her the most dangerous person for me to be around with.



"You're right. I will not allow a little wench like you to win in this war. You'll die with it; buried and forgotten just like your filthy blood."



She only had one mission and that was to kill me. It wouldn't be hard for her to do it; this war would cover it up for her. And she would go back to the Skull's side as if nothing happened. She was already blinded with rage and no words from me could make her see.



But I couldn't allow that. I held the bag tightly, which was already light because of the thrown emptied bottles of water on the ground and waited for a chance. And it came when a loud explosion occurred not far from where we are and she turned away from me for a second to see what happened. But that little second was enough for me to throw the bag at her wrist which caused her to drop the sword. And with a clenched fist, I launched at her and threw a punch on her face. She grunted in pain as she fell on the ground with a bleeding nose.



At that time, I realized that I had always wanted to do that. She had always been mean to me and I thought she deserved that punch. However, the pride I felt was short-lived when I realized that she had fell near the sword and before I could act, she had already grasped it. For the second time that day, she pointed the sword at me. Only this time, she would make sure that I would meet my death.



I blanched knowing that I would never get the chance again. I should've run when I disarmed her. I should've escaped instead of getting back at her for being a nasty woman. But I didn't. And now I had to pay for that mistake.



She got to her feet and brushed the blood on her nose with the back of her hand. She glared at me and said, "That's a clever move, bitch! And that would be your last one!"



And she swung the sword at my direction with the intention to decapitate me. I ducked to escape from it, but she moved fast and swung it back. I tried to move back but I wasn't able to dodge it completely this time and cried out as it made a shallow slash across my abdomen.



"Oh, that's a nice sound coming from you. Any last words?"



I clutched my stomach to cover my wound as if by doing so would protect my life. I knew that it wouldn't, though. She had trapped me on the ground with nowhere to run.



"Aren't you tired of this, Janeia?"



She leaned her head to the side in confusion but still not taking her guard down. I sighed trying to calm myself despite of my lips quivering.



"These senseless deaths because of blood; we are killing each other for something we couldn't change. Don't you think that it's a waste of life because after all, we are the same? Our bloods are both red and we die when we lose it. So why can't we just live together? Stop all the greed and –"



"Shut up!" she screamed.



It was my last appeal to her conscience. I thought that somehow, it could bring light to her mind. But I failed. And she was now raising her sword again in the air, aiming to slash me to my end.



She was fast and determined this time. Any desperate move to escape was lost as the blade came closer at me. I closed my eyes, hoping for a miracle that my life would not end here. I still wanted to live. I knew that after the war, dreams would grow in the dead field. And I wanted to see them bloom. I wanted to see the land filled of beautiful dreams and wishes waiting to come true.



And that miracle came when the judgment of her sword didn't come. Instead, I felt the gust of the win just like the way it did in the Eastern Woods. I opened my eyes and watched as a figure moved past me leaping to the ground like a dark ghost in the middle of the night. It rushed swiftly passed Janeia, who was also stunned at the sudden appearance of a man. Before she realized what was happening, the sword slit her neck and she choked in blood as she fell kneeling on the ground. She looked at me; shock and disbelief were written in her eyes. She wanted to move, turn around, and see who did it. But she couldn't. And so she dropped to the ground, gasping for her last few struggled breaths, and dying without knowing who killed her.



But I did. And maybe it was better that she didn't know who was it. My hand clasped on my mouth in utter shock as I came face to face with my saviour.



"Threy?" I cried.



But he didn't respond. He was just staring down at the ground with his sword soiled in blood on his side. He didn't want to do it. It was obvious that he didn't want to look at Janeia's dead body. She was the only Borgian he knew making her an important person to him. That was why I understood that what he did was a huge decision that shook him to his soul.



I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and that's when I finally noticed my surrounding. The war had finally caught up with us. We were almost in the middle of it and staying unnoticed would soon be impossible. Threy was immediately kneeling on my side when panic started to overcome me. His eyes were trained only at mine and I could clearly see the pain and sadness in those grey orbs. But those emotions were suddenly replaced by worry and fear when he saw the blood in the hand that was grasping my stomach.



"You're bleeding." His jaw clenched as he tried to remove my hand gently from the wound. He breathed a sigh of relief after checking on it. "The wound isn't deep. You'll be alright."



I couldn't find my words at that moment. I was still shocked of what happened so I just nodded as tears wet my cheeks.



"It was a choice I had to make. I couldn't save her anymore."



This time, my tears intensified. I wasn't only crying for myself; I was also grieving for him because he couldn't at the moment. I remained in that helpless state and didn't notice that he left. He was back in the blink of an eye though, carrying the bag I would need to tend my wound. He helped me sit behind the rock and caressed my face with his warm palm. His gentle fingers brushed my tears away and looked at me straight in the eyes.



"Listen to me, Primrose. I need you to bandage your wound quickly and run away from here. More enemies are coming; it's not safe for you to be here. I'm going to stay near this rock to protect you while you take the time you need. Please, Primrose. I need you to stay alive."



There was desperation and sincerity in his eyes that begged me to listen and do what he said. He was pleading for me to stay safe. He was looking at me as if his life was also in my hands; he saved me but he gazed at me as if I was the one who saved his life. I didn't know how he did it but his mere words and presence gave me strength. I stopped myself from crying and put on a brave face. I had to show him that he doesn't need to worry about me. I quickly opened the bag and started fixing my wound.



"I'll make this quick, Threy," I said. "I will not allow myself to be your weakness this time. Don't worry about me. Go back to the battlefield and win this war."



He studied me intently and sighed when he saw how determined I was. He knew that he needed to trust and believe me. He was about to stand on his feet when I grabbed his arm. I pulled him back to me and touched his lips quickly with mine. He was surprised at what I did. But he got back to himself faster than I expected and I knew that he wouldn't let a thief like me to steal from him easily. He grabbed the back of my head and turned the kiss into a deep, searing one. We didn't care that we were in a war or that there were dead bodies lying around us waiting for the others to join them. We didn't care that our time was limited at that moment – for what we were truly scared of was the possibility that there might be no more time for us after this. And so, with our hearts still beating and bodies still breathing, we stole one more kiss from the universe knowing that when everything else falls, this love would never be defeated.



We were both panting when the kiss ended and the world started moving again with the explosions and gunshots getting dangerously near us. "Please stay alive for me. Promise me that you will live when this war is over," I whispered.



He stared at me; at my soul. "I will," he answered.



And that was when I let him go praying that the promise we shared will not fall into the sea of broken ones. I had already gone back to stopping the bleeding of my wound and he was about to walk away from me when another man suddenly made an appearance in front of us.



"Is the Borgian king getting scared now hiding his ass behind this stupid rock?"



I paled when I heard that voice. I would never forget his arrogant way of speaking as if he was showing everyone that he's the only man who could do it well. And yes, he probably did it well for I instantly recognized him through it; it would be hard to forget someone like that.



I looked up at the same time he noticed my presence and I didn't know who was more surprised between us. At first he attempted to speak but failed. It took him a few deep breaths before he finally succeed and whispered, "Fuck!"





AUTHOR'S NOTE:



Dear readers,

Please stay home, be healthy, and safe. Read the books you haven't read and re-read the ones you loved and kept. Write the poems and stories you've always wanted to be written and draw with the colors once again. Let's look out for each other and take care of ourselves. Pray to God and believe that we will get through this.

For now, I'm gonna hug you all through my stories.



Siel Alstreim