Desiree The Half Elf Princess Warrior: Keeper of the Rune

TOOTH AND CLAW

CHAPTER TWENTY

       Desiree's heartbeat was thrashing in her ears. She shook her head as if in denial over the turn of events. Kyle took a few steps forward. Instinctively, Desiree leveled the wand at Kyle, hoping the weapon would halt his progression.

     Or so she hoped.

     "Is that supposed to scare me, Runekeeper? I don't know what's the big deal is. You're not so scary. I'm not afraid of you. But I will tell you what... I'll give you props for effort."

     "Why are you doing this, Kyle? We're supposed to be classmates. I thought we were friends."

     Kyle scoffed. "Friends? We were never friends. You're just the means to an end. I need the necklace, and you happened to be the one unlucky enough to be wearing it. You see my dilemma?"

     Desiree blinked rapidly at the sight of Kyle, who seemed undeterred of her pointing a knife at him. "Y-I-I don't get it. W-Why are you helping a known murderer? She killed Mrs. Wiseman for crying out loud."

     Kyle kept his hands up, but he inched a step closer to his female prey.

     "Stop where you are!" Desiree shouted. The weapon shook unsteadily within her grasp. "Don't come any closer. I'm warning you. I don't wanna hurt you."

     Kyle's grey eyes were dark, deadpan. He let out an annoying huff, and spoke with a voice that had a hint of dangerous intent. "I know, a terrible end for a person, if I do say so myself, but what is done is done. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And far as her killer goes, Isabella is the leader of my Klan and family friend. In other words, you should show some respect."

     Respect? Desiree couldn't take it in. As far as she was concerned, a criminal won't get any respect from her. "She wants to kill me. How can you even follow the orders of a killer?"

     "Aren't we overacting a tad bit? Nobody wants you dead, well, as far as I know, but then again, anything's possible. Like Isabella mentioned earlier, you are more valuable alive then dead. I much prefer to keep it that way."

     "You could've me fooled," Desiree's words held a trace of skepticism.

     "Look, I can see how this all looks to you and everything, but honestly, it's nothing personal. It's just that the Order wants you and the Rune, and they are rewarding anyone who turns the two of you in."

     Desiree frowned. "Why are you working for the order? What's in it for you?""

     Kyle let out an arrogant fit of laughter.

     "Wouldn't you like to know? Better yet, that's for me to know and you to find out, but you will be in the know soon enough."

     Desiree tilted her head to the side; at the same time she pursed her lips. She was taken aback by Kyle's inexcusable behavior. "Why are you helping them?"

     "You're not getting it. I don't have a choice. My hands are tied. It's either you or me. I pick me."

     "You always have a choice. And besides. I thought we were friends. How can you do this to me?"

     Kyle let out another fit of arrogant laughter. "Is that what you thought? Well, you're very naïve. I hate to burst your bubble, but we were never friends. I only invited you here just so that I can get my hands on that necklace. Other than that you mean nothing to me."