Realm of Remorse

Aches of Affliction

There was a rustle, then a shout as Fenris fell sideways, Lucien barrelling through the trees and tackling him. The pair tussled around, swinging punches. Edeva watched for a moment, trying not to laugh at the state of them as they rolled around.

Edeva cleared her throat, folding her arms as she looked at them. The pair staggered to their feet, fists raised. Edeva had found it amusing for a while but now it was getting ridiculous.

"That's enough! You're both acting like infants. How many times do I have to tell you to stop fighting!" Edeva was growing tired of them.

Lucien gave her a curt nod before unsheathing his sword, walking back to her side and grabbing her arm. Fenris' jaw locked, as he stared at his hand on her arm.

The entire forest seemed to fall quiet again. You could cut through the tension with a knife, causing Edeva to consider the knife she had in her sleeve.
She knew from experience that Fen wasn't the friendly type, but the aggression that emanated from him, the darkness, it concerned her. He almost looked... Jealous?

Internally she was laughing, why would he be jealous? The thought didn't bother her as much as expected it to. Lucien was her protector, all Fen had done so far was put her in danger, as though she was only a pawn. The thought stung, like a thorn pressing against her throat.

Lucien was doing his duty, he was her bodyguard. Though at times, I have to admit, he has been a good friend to me. More than Fen had ever been. Edeva reminded herself.

Fenris was glowering, he didn't look happy. Lucien was studying him carefully, keeping his sword trained on him in case he moved. Fenris spoke, in a murmur, "She should decide where she goes. Not you."

"She's going with me, where she's safe." Lucien hissed, shoving Edeva behind him.
Fenris scoffed, shooting Edeva a glare over Lucien's shoulder. "Can't you control the help? He should know his place."

Edeva noticed Lucien's entire body tense up, she rose up on the tips of her toes, wrinkling her nose in annoyance. "He's not the help, he's my friend. And his place is by my side, doing his job. Protecting me. Even if the way he goes about it isn't always the most sensible."

She gave Lucien a pointed look from behind, who apparently didn't notice.
She could almost see the chill that settled in Fenris' eyes, the glowering turning into an uncharacteristic sneer. "He's doing a good job of it, taking you away into the woods to do what? Have you all to himself?" He spat at Lucien.

Edeva moved from behind Lucien to standing at arm's length away from them both, her arm was still being held in a vice-like grip by Lucien.
Lucien flinched, raising his dominant arm to wipe his face with his sleeve. He levelled his eyes on Fenris before speaking.

"You of all people don't get to talk to her that way. She wanted to come with me, desperate for some safety and peace for once. She'll only get that when she's safe, far away from you!"

His voice was quaking with anger.
"Lucien, could you let go, please? You're hurting me." Edeva said, quietly.
Lucien glanced at her, before loosening his grip on her arm. He still hadn't let go, but it didn't hurt as much now.

"I asked for you to let me go, that wasn't letting go." She whispered under her breath. Edeva tore her wrist from his grasp, stepping away from both of them.

"Lucien, I know you want to keep me safe, that's your job." She exhaled sharply, barely keeping herself together. Edeva flicked her wrist, letting the hidden blade fall into her palm. The sharp pain of the blade pressing against her skin helped her focus.

"I never said I wanted to go, but I didn't have the heart to order you to stop Lucien... You weren't listening to me." Edeva said, turning her head to meet his eyes.

His angered features relaxed into a weary sigh, "I needed to keep you safe, the only way to do that is to get you away-"

There was a crunch, the sound of bone connecting with bone as Lucien's head snapped sideways. Blood sprayed from his nose as Fenris' fist collided with it.
"Get her away from what?!" Fenris bared his teeth, his eyes as dark as the shadows that grew on the ground, stretching out from the trees, creeping towards him and Lucien.

"Fen..." Edeva warned him. The shadows were starting to unnerve her, she could only see them on the ground, but she felt their presence. It felt as though something brushed against her leg, but it left a slight chill. Edeva shivered.

"If you two aren't going to stop then-"
Fenris interrupted her with a growl, "Then what will you do? Lecture us to death? It's the only thing that's left for you to do right my lady?"
Edeva frowned, his words stung. She barely had time to register them before continuing on.
"You aren't like us. You're helpless, nothing better than a child. A whining, useless, child."

His words were cold, but they breezed through her. She felt numb, as though everything slowed down, everything but her. Her body felt distant, as though it wasn't her own.

She felt it, the coldness. The clouding of her thoughts. Edeva felt frozen with dread. Arden, he's here. She gulped in fear ,Somehow he's in my head.

All Edeva could do was watch as Fenris turned his attention on Lucien, barely a moment had passed but Edeva felt like she had been staring into space for hours. It unnerved her.

Lucien cleared his throat before yelling, his hands were steady, his gaze was cold. Edeva knew he would regret the next words he spoke.

"I'm going to get her away from trouble, the danger that you bring everywhere."

Lucien raised his sword, ready to slash it down in a silver arc, towards Fenris' throat. He was going to kill him, there was nothing she could do. She wasn't in control.