The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Four (Revised)

What I could only think of was how stupid I was.

Hashin had already cornered me and all I could do was stare at him as he talked about how annoying I was. He was pretty grumpy for a guy who I only met about five minutes ago. I know I should be scared, but I was feeling the opposite. There's no way he'd actually kill me. I waited for a single moment when he'll have his back turned to me or even his face away, and that should be enough for me to escape. But as how things were looking, that would be impossible.

I was about to give up when we heard sounds coming from the other side of the hallway. That distracted him long enough and I ran to my room as fast as I could. I was about two steps from the door of my room when he yanked my hair back.

"You're not getting away from me," he said.

Fear took over for me. "Guess again." He had his sword lowered, and with one breath, I elbowed his face.

"Aaahhh!" He screamed as I made a run for it. "Now you'll pay you little—"

I tried to shut the door but he pushed it open. At least there were many things that I could throw at him. I threw figurines, shoes, books . . . everything I could lift at him. He was too surprised too move, but when he started dodging, I grabbed a poker near the fireplace.

"You think you can hurt me with that? I am an Agnai!" he grabbed my wrist with a sudden force and twisted it until I cried out in pain and dropped the poker. I tried to kick him in the shin but he only smirked.

"My body is like metal!"

I aimed for the place where I was sure it will hurt, and he could hardly scream. "Like metal, huh?" I taunted as I watched his face redden.

I was about to take his sword from the floor but he beat me to it. He punched my stomach and there was nothing to prepare me for it. It was like air was being sucked out of me as I slumped against the wall. My eyes were watering and I was desperately coughing.

"I will surely enjoy slicing your precious body into pieces, and this time, I will make you feel the pain," he said as he raised his sword at me. I shut my eyes, helpless to do anything, but I opened them immediately when I heard a familiar voice.

"Get away from her!"

Hashin toppled over my drawer, and Cyrus stood over him with a sword.

"Cyrus Castor? I thought you were gone. I knew you were gone. I watched you accompany the king. How could you be here?"

"You thought I'll leave the palace unguarded, didn't you?" Cyrus said with his usual cool manner.

Hashin made a growling sound and got up immediately. With a blink of an eye, Cyrus was falling to the floor, but he broke his fall by using his free hand to spring him back to an upright position.

"Cyrus," I whispered his name for the first time as I walked over to him, but he only glared at me as he pressed his left hand to his right shoulder. It was bleeding.

"You haven't changed, Cyrus Castor. Still slow."

"We'll see about that," Cyrus said. He turned the flat of his blade, and as Hashin charged swiftly, Cyrus sliced at the air. Hashin's movement stopped, and I saw that Cyrus's blade was on Hashin's neck. I didn't want to see what was happening, so I closed my eyes. I heard the sound of bones breaking, a loud thud. Then I finally peeked. Hashin was on the floor.

Cyrus made a loud huffing sound and then sheathed his sword. What just happened?

"Is he . . . dead?" I asked, my voice hoarse.