A Court Of Blood And Rays

Her First Kill- 3

Trigger warning- mentions of death and murder.

Niravi tossed and turned in the bed that they shared. It seems tonight her mind decided to relive her first kill and she couldn't push it back into her memories.

The fourteen-year-old was pouring drinks for both the men and women at the tavern. She was lucky to get this job only because she looked older than she really was. The woman who owned it took pity on her and gave her a small wage, enough to buy one meal a day. The girl sighed for the umpteenth time and ran her fingers through her locks as her stomach grumbled with hunger. Her sisters never knew where she got the money, they never asked. She hoped Feyre had gotten a kill tonight, for she was about to lose herself to hunger. She was stirred out of her thoughts as another man placed his glass in front of her. She locked eyes with the man; she knew him, he came almost every day. Blond hair, green eyes with a lean figure that any woman would drool over. "another beer little lady" she grunted. She poured it into his cup silently.

"Aren't you far too young to be working here? he asked.

"Hunger makes you do anything, besides; I have a family to take care of. Any little money that we get is worth the pain" she replied, her eyes filled with renewed determination.

"What will you do to keep your family alive?" he asked in all seriousness.

Niravi looked deep into his eyes, fire burning in hers as she replied "Anything"

The smile that he gave should have sent her running as far as possible from him, but she held her ground. He leant into her as if he were to whisper a secret. "see that man over there?" he pointed to a scrawny man, with black dusty clothes, blue eyes and reddish hair amongst the crowd. "I want you to seduce him and then... kill him," he said as if she were discussing the weather.

Niravi although her heart was thudding in her chest soo fast she replied in a cool voice, "And what will I get in return?".

"A bag of gold of course" he grinned, dumping a small pouch of gold enough to last her family two weeks. "what crime has he committed?" she asked her voice lined with desperation.

"You don't need to know all of that boring details". he replied as his tone took a more dangerous turn, "if you want that money all you have to do is kill him for me." He pushed a small dagger. It was beautiful its hilt engraved with small rune carvings and its blade shining with sharpness.

"Very well then" she replied emotionlessly. She took her jar of beer and swaggered towards the man she was supposed to kill. She fluttered her lashes and smiled sensually as she refilled his drink.
"If you want something more" she purred bending forward suggestively, "Come behind the tavern" she whispered as she swished back to the counter.

She grabbed the knife that her newly found "friend" had given and looked over her shoulder to see the tuft of red hair, eyes darkened with lust walking towards her. without another glance, she walked out of the tavern. Just as she reached a dark alley she felt a hand on her waist and it pushed her to the wall. Her back thudded on the brick wall as she looked at her attacker. "Hello beautiful" he whispered as he buried his nose into her neck. One of her hands ran across his back and the other to the hilt of the knife. Before she could rethink it, she raised it overhead and brought it sharply down onto his neck. He gasped and looked at her in shock, before he could scream she covered his mouth as tightly as she could as both of them slowly slid to the cold ground. He was choking on his blood as before she knew it the light left his eyes, his body took one last shuddering breath as he became still.

She didn't know how long she was staring at him until a heavy hand fell on her shoulder, she was startled violently as she raised the knife to hurt her attacker, but a strong hand stopped her.

"Relax darling," he said softly, "it's only me",

She lifted her hand out for the money and soon she felt a small weight on it.
"You are natural, almost like you have done this before" he curiously questioned. She glared at him"Oh I am sorry if I feel reluctant to share my first kill with a complete stranger" she snapped. She didn't know if she hated him or was in debt to him for his money.

He laughed "Well it seems like I was wrong, it was your first kill. I am surprised that you aren't bawling your eyes out and begging for some god to forgive you".

"There's is more to me than what meets the eye" she snapped, she was tired and hungry, all she wanted was to sleep.

He covered the body with the wooden crates and sheets at the end of the alley. "Well my work is done and I must head back," he said, as he turned around to vanish away "keep the knife with you, I have more than what I can count; you saved me from getting my hands bloody."

"Wait," Niravi said, her heart clenching at what she was going to ask, but she locked it away at the back of her mind," If I am willing to do this again will you pay me more?"

He turned around with a feral grin "Of course sweetheart. Whenever you are free come to the small hovel at the edge of town, that is where I reside, I will teach you of you wish to become better." he said.

If someone else had said it, it would have sounded like an offer, but from him, it was a command.

"You have got some fire in you that I have rarely seen in my three decades of life" he stated;

"Good night", he chirped and grinned as he walked away.

"Wait" Niravi pleaded again. "What's your name?"
"Akhil," he said without turning back and walked into the night.

She washed the blood off her hands and hid the small pouch in her pant- pocket and walked home. Niravi will never be the same after what she had done that night, but she never claimed to be the bastion of temperance, she knew she was ruthless and selfish when it came to her loved ones.

For her family and friends, she had undying loyalty and love which no one could rival for she would burn the world for them without a second thought.

A/N
I hope all of you understand Niravi's character better. She is a bastard born who would kill for her family. She is willing to sacrifice even her innocence for that.

I was thinking of pairing her up with Helion. What do you all think? Have anyone else in mind?

Have a nice day