Fangs and Roses

Forty-Seven: History Repeats Itself

*Alexander Lykos*

Blood dripped down my chin as a fist struck it against it again, it filled my mouth as another tooth loosened. I stared into Damien's eyes as spit it out.

The arena he put me in was covered with stains from dried blood, the familiar scents causing my lips to curl... it was the most I could do as the rest of my body was paralysed from the waist down, leaving me unable to do anything besides growl and snarl.

My gaze never faltered as Damien gripped my jaw, tilting it downwards, his eyes searching mine for answers.

"How are you still healing?"

I clenched my jaw as he released it, forcing my head to hit the wooden board of the stand I was mounted on. He turned his back to me, walking towards his men who immediately fell to their knees.

"He acted just like Her Highness did after we administered the poison to her, but... we have never administered it to an actual Lycan before—"

Only a gargling sound left his mouth as Damien tore his throat open with his claws, the healer's blood spraying down the front of Damien's clothes as well as his companions who were kneeling beside him.

Damien continued to go down the line and more bodies soon fell, but all I could focus on was he said... my eyes started to wander around the arena and further strayed to the clothes on their backs... they were wearing the attire of a period that had died, not the usually clothes that packs of today wear.

Her Highness... Sapphire!

"I can see the gears in your head finally synced together... it took you long enough, but any other expectation would be giving you far too much credit."

I was too consumed with my thoughts that I had not noticed Damien making his way to me, the men who were once kneeling before him now laid behind him, their blood seeping through the grooves of the stone floor.

"Do not worry, Xander... my Queen is safe, she is taking a nap as we speak—"

"What have you done to her?"

He smirked as his eyes took in my expression, enjoying every moment of my distress.

"Her safety is never compromised when she is with me, I have done a better job of keeping her safe then you ever have."

I could not help but left out a short laugh in disbelief at his delusions.

"You killed off her entire family, taking away the thing she loved the most without even giving a second thought to it. Even after finding out that the both of you were mates, you chained her up like an animal for amusement, tortured her---"

A sharp pain caused my jaw to clench as his claws sliced through my cheek, the blood droplets taking the path of their predecessors before hitting the ground.

"That was a lifetime ago, I have been given a new purpose, a second chance to reclaim what you stole from me centuries ago. This time, Xander Lykos, you will not come between us."

His eyes were deranged as he raved about the past, his hands moved quickly around in his excitement to recite the events that had long passed... Damien had truly gone mad.

"You truly have gone mad, Damien."

He stopped his tirade and turned to glance at me once more, I clenched my jaw in anticipation for another blow... but it never came. He just stood before me; hands still raised in the air as if he was frozen, but they soon fell limply to his side as he started to laugh.

His laughter bounced off the blood-stained walls of the arena. His own warriors taking steps back as he swayed on the spot laughing, even more terrified of him than when he slashed the throats of their comrades right in front of them.