★★Mariella's POV★★



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I ease his lifeless body to the ground, making sure it makes no noise as it hits the forest floor. It's like he was never there. I stay low, barely breathing, watching the other guards as they continue to search the woods, oblivious to the fact that they're now down one of their own.

I crouch low behind another tree, my body tense as I wait for the right moment.

To be honest, this would be so much better with some music. God, I should've brought my AirPods. What's a showdown in the woods without a killer soundtrack?

Now I'm stuck with just the sound of leaves crunching and these idiots thinking they're about to win.

Spoiler alert: they're not.

The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but my focus is sharp. The guard's footsteps crunch on the leaves, signaling his approach. I hold my breath, remaining perfectly still.

Just as he's about to walk past my position, I hear a slight shift in the air—a sound, a rustle, something that alerts him. His head snaps toward the movement, and he starts walking toward the tree where I'm hidden. He gets closer, and I move, careful not to make a sound.

My heart pounds in my chest, but I time it perfectly. As he nears the tree, I slip around the opposite side, silently closing the distance between us.

I'm right behind him now, too close for him to react. In a single, fluid motion, I pull my knife from its sheath and press the blade against his throat. With a swift, controlled motion, I slit his throat open, the sound of it barely audible in the stillness of the night.

His hands instinctively grasp at his neck, but it's already too late. Blood spills, staining the front of his robe, but he can't scream.

Oopsies.

I catch his body just before it hits the ground, my arms steady as I lower him silently to the earth. His weight is nothing to me, a simple dead weight, but I treat it with the same care as I would my own movements. My fingers gently guide his form down, keeping him from making any noise.

The forest remains still, as if holding its breath. The only sound is the soft rustle of leaves, the faintest echo of distant chanting. I move quickly, slipping into the shadows once more, ready for the next part of the hunt.

I pause, my breath steadying. I surveys the area, ensuring no threats remain. A wry smile tugs on my lips as I mutters under my breath, "Alright, let's speed this up. I've got better things to do—like sleep. God, I miss my bed."

I peek out from behind the tree, my eyes narrowing as I spot the two targets standing close together.

Perfect.

I reach for my trusty throwing knife, fingers brushing the smooth handle. A silent prayer escapes my lips, "Please mighty Lord, guide my aim." Wait- I shouldn't have said that—"Thou shalt not kill" and all that. But in this line of work, a little hypocrisy is a given.

I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves. With a flick of my wrist, the knife sails through the air, spinning gracefully. It strikes the first guard in the neck and the blade curves left fast and embedding deep into the chest of the next one, they both instantly collapsed with a loud thud of their body.

A triumphant grin spreads across my face. I pump my fist in a silent "yes," a giggle escaping me.

My mentor would be so proud of me.

I grab my knife from their body and start sprinting back to the ritual. I hear, off in the distance, the guards yelling at one of the kids to shut up. The anxious guard looks around frantically, his body trembling, and tells the other one, "Do you know what's taking them so long?"

The second guard looks around annoyed and runs a hand over his frustrated face. "Why don't we just take these fuckers ourselves and use them for pleasure? We can even sell them for a whole lot of money." He smirks.

"What! Are you crazy? They'll kill us, you know what," the nervous guard protests, his voice shaking.

The guard looks at him, clearly annoyed. The impatience radiates off him, and he can't seem to keep still, glancing around, checking his watch for what feels like the hundredth time.

"Go check it out," he barks, voice laced with frustration. "I'm getting fucking impatient."

The guard hesitates, but the leader's sharp gaze pierces through him. The anxious guy still standing there, waiting, is the perfect example of hesitation, the kind that could get them all killed.

The leader looks at him coldly, his stare unwavering, daring him to say something. "Well? What are you still standing there for?" he demands, the command hanging in the air like a threat.

The nervous guy grabs the knife from the guard, his fingers trembling as he wraps them around the handle. His pace is slow, as if expecting something to jump out of the darkness at any moment. Every step he takes is cautious, the crack of twigs underfoot loud in the eerie silence of the woods.

He's walking directly into my trap. I know exactly where he's going, and I'm patient. Let him get closer. Let him feel the fear building in his gut.

I smirk.

Yes, come to mama.

I don't waste any time. He walks past me, looking around frantically. I can hear his teeth chattering as the cold takes its toll, and his hands are shaking violently, gripping the knife as if it's his only lifeline.

There's no way he didn't just see me. Can he be anymore stupid?

I move swiftly, grabbing a knife and driving it into his skull. His body stiffens as I twist it, and I make him turn around, his eyes locking with mine as consciousness starts to fade.

"Hi, there, buddy," I whisper, my voice cold.

As his eyes start to lose focus, I lean in a little closer, just before he goes completely limp. "Nighty night, love."

He crumples to the ground with a thud.

God, he was boring.

I turn around and start skipping towards the ritual, like a little girl walking into a candy store.

The sound of my feet lightly hitting the ground. As I come into full view behind the guards, I can't help but smile. The moment I catch his attention, he turns around, just as I anticipated.

Without a blink of an eye, I reach for my gun and shoot him straight in the kneecaps.

The scream that erupts from him fills the air, the kind of sound that stirs something dark inside me. He drops to the ground, clutching his knee, squirming in agony.

God, what a delightful sound. I breathe in the air, as if I'm on a Saturday morning walk, soaking in the beauty of the moment.

"You fucking bitch!" His voice cracks, filled with pain and rage.

I take my time, walking slowly toward him. Like a lion closing in on its prey. Each step deliberate, as I savor the power, the control. I kneel down, getting close to him. My hands rest on my knees, leaning in, and I say with a calm smile, "Dude, language. There's kids around, can't you see?"

I glance at the children nearby. Their faces are streaked with dried tears, but I flash them a gentle, reassuring smile. "All is safe now," I say softly, letting them know that they no longer need to fear. The predator in me is hidden for a moment—replaced with the calm of a protector.

I tell the kids, "Close your eyes, and don't open them until I say it's ok. Alright? " I can't stand the thought of scarred little faces, not anymore than they already are. They do as they're told, though I can feel their tremors even from a distance. Once I see their eyes shut tight, I turn my back to the man still groaning, still writhing on the dirt.

"Geez, you're looking a little pale there," I tease, tilting my head like I'm actually concerned. "Want me to grab some foundation? I've got my KKW contour in the car—could really warm up that ghostly complexion." I flash a smirk, barely holding back a laugh. "Might even throw in some blush if you say please."

His pain, it amuses me. It feeds something inside.

His voice shakes, weak but desperate. "W-Who the fuck are you...?"

I pause. The air feels thicker, heavier. I turn back to him slowly, making sure he sees my face—my last gift to him before the darkness takes him. I stare down at him with all the coldness I can muster.

"Glad you asked..." I draw the word out, my voice low and almost teasing. "Serpente."

Before he can react, I strike—swift, precise. My blade barely grazes his skin, just a whisper of steel against flesh, but that's all it takes. He jerks back, confusion flashing across his face before realization sets in. The sting comes first. Then the burn.

His breaths grow shallow, his limbs tremble. He tries to stay upright, but his body is already betraying him. I take a step closer, watching him with detached amusement.

"See, botulinum toxin is a fascinating thing," I muse, twirling the knife between my fingers. "It blocks nerve signals, paralyzing muscles one by one. First, your fingers feel heavy—hard to move, right?" I nod toward his trembling hand. "Then it spreads. Arms, legs, even the tiny muscles that help you breathe. But the real kicker?" I crouch beside him as his knees buckle. "You'll be fully aware the entire time, trapped in your own body while it shuts down."

I tilt my head, studying the panic in his eyes. "They call me Serpente for a reason. A single scratch... and you never see the end coming."

The second the words leave my mouth, I don't waste a second. With a smooth flick of my wrist, I pull a needle from my hair, spinning it between my fingers like a deadly weapon. Before he can even process what's happening, I drive it deep into his eye. The needle sinks with sickening precision, and I watch as his expression contorts in pure agony. His body goes rigid, but he can't escape—trapped in the shock of the moment as his world blurs into nothing but pain.

He gasps, the last breath he'll ever take rattling through his chest as his body goes still. The fear in his eyes doesn't fade; it stays frozen, locked in that final moment. His face, scared and wide-eyed, stays with me.

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Ok. Thoughts?

And how is everyone doing?

I was kinda debating if I should put in kim k meme. where they ask her what is one thing she cant live without. Pls tell me you guys know it. lol

Bye, lovies! (っ◔◡◔)っ

Maddie♡