Battle Scars

The attempt

Eve and Vixen were tipsy as they went, their hands over the other's shoulder as they giggled about everything and nothing. Ava and Maven had gone ahead since Ari had an emergency and Maven was not having much luck flirting so, ever the gentle-male, he escorted Ava home.

"I am happy," Vixen giggled. Eve snorted, "or high." They went into another small fit of chuckles. This was good, Eve thought, this was how her 20s was supposed to go, not fighting battles or worrying and having nightmares that included her beloved ones. She was enjoying herself- though she may have completed that thought a bit quickly.

For, the next second, the two friends were hurled against the brick wall. Eve felt her right-hand crack; her wrist broken. She hissed and tried getting up but received another punch to her face. Dizzy, she tried finding some support and slid to the ground. Someone chuckled in the background making her furious. Orienting herself a bit, she tried fighting back. Maybe it was some rogue or a robber....

Vixen stood there dumbfounded for a second as she watched Eve get punched to the wall before moving into action. Taking a metal rod which was thankfully nearby as construction in Adriata still continued, she tried attacking. The male, in one manoeuvre, had her disarmed. She barely saw the attackers face, strikingly familiar, before she was put to oblivion.

Eve heard a thud as her friend fell to the ground. By now, she had oriented herself enough that her nearby surrounding was clear. Readying a fireball, she attacked. The male dodged it like a piece of cake. The next second, he was onto her and it was a blur as they exchanged punches and magic tricks which he deflected easily. It did not last long though and soon, she was beside her friend, unconscious.

The first thing Eve felt was the hard wooden floor and a sour taste in her mouth that reminded her of Faebane. The next thing of her senses to be stimulated was when a shuffling sound was heard at the far end of her left side. A heavy footsteps sounded and Eve made sure to keep her eyes closed, hoping the loud footsteps hadn't noticed her change in breathing pattern. Someone groaned beside her- Vixen. "Why?" her hoarse voice filled the air. "You recovered fast, it's only been a few minutes," the male observed. So they must not be far away, unless he could winnow, Eve inferred. "What do you want?" Vixen tried again. "Your friend needs to pay after all she did to us," he replied. "Hybern had it coming." Vixen snarled and Eve had to bite her lips to keep herself from inhaling sharply. Unfortunately, the male noticed and let out a chuckle and turned towards her, "so you are awake."

She opened her eyes, no use pretending, and bared her teeth. "Won't you introduce me, daughter?" he asked, looking at Vixen while grinning. Eve didn't stop the betrayal and confusion that spread on her face as she turned her head to see her friend who had a helpless and guilty look on her face. "You are not my father," she replied not looking towards the male even as anger clouded her features. No, Vixen was trying to convince Eve that, that she had no part in this. The male suddenly snarled, furious. "You are my daughter by blood, its time you accept that." "I hate you," Vixen spat at her father who had aligned with Hybern, who had hurt Eve.

The male gave her a glare before turning back to Eve. "We have business to settle." Eve did not reply but simply stared, stoic-faced. He turned towards his daughter and led her out first though, letting her settle in a glamorous room before returning. By now, Eve' anxiety and panic had also come over and she was breathing heavily. She could not muster any strength to use her magic either- he must've drugged her. Another wave of anger. "Lets' finish this, shall we," he said and raised his sword to deal the death blow on her. She couldn't move, she could just state as he advanced. Her panic flared as her body remained in a state of paralysis. She closed her eyes, ready but the blow never came. Instead, the male in question was near her feat, dead. She almost vomited at the sight and had to look anywhere but at him in fear of getting more nauseous.

So, she looked up and got another shock. For, Azriel stood there with his Truthteller in his hands and a wide, frenzied rage clouding his eyes. Eve gave out a sound somewhere between a whimper and relief. She hadn't realised how much she had missed him till she saw him. Azriel. She whimpered again, trying to tell him she could not move and that she had to move or else she might vomit. His shadows informed their master, equally angry at the situation. Immediately, Az picked her up just as Mor entered the room, eyes wide. "Take her back, safely," Azriel told her. "Vixen-" Eve said, trying to feel the tip of her toes, "she was also-" "I will get her," Az confirmed and left, with her in Mor' hands. "Let's get you home," Mor said softly, before they winnowed back to Velaris.

Azwas furious. Beyond furious. He was thankful Mor had come on time making hiswork easier. In rage, he had killed the male without being able to get anyinformation. Where there more of him? Was he the leader or working on someoneelse' orders? Who was he? His shadows swarmed around him, trying to findinformation. Vixen- Eve had mentioned. He walked up the staircase. They werenot far from Adriata, just a mile or so. The house was desolate and only therooms were in a good condition, one of which held a terrified female. Vixen,his shadows informed, the male's daughter and Eve's friend, they added. Withoutwasting any second, he winnowed her to Hewn City- Eve's friend who had betrayedher trust, before leaving her and going to check up on his mate. 

Happy reading :)

XOXO,

the amazing author