BLOODS ( THE SILVER CABARET #1)

HORDE

Ash falls from the heavens coating the ground in fine grey dust, I glared at the heavens as if it's the reason for all our troubles, my family's troubles. Glad that the harvesting is over and done with. Appa has explained how he had cheated and made sure I wasnt chosen, just like Ziria's parents. They've found a loophole to cheat the magic that gives the orb the power to chose offerings.

I stared at my inner elbow, gaze wistful, thinking of what would have happened if we never got out, if our death was never faked. Appas haunting eyes fills my gaze, the hopelessness in them was enough to make me want to punch at something, anything. The very reason Im creeping back into town with a lot of witch-hatch to last us some time.

A sound has me stilling, head tilted to one side, cocked waiting for something, anything before I explode into action. The familiar ice-cold feeling of being watched sluices down spine, and I stiffen, tightening my grip on the satchel and small knife in my hand, bleak determination in my eyes, my eyes flashing in warning and fear at whoever stalks me so deep in the woods. I should've followed my instinct and took the safe route out of town, but Appa needs this herb, its either this or buy the pills at a high price, one I cant afford. Not for the strings attached with it.

Soft footfalls rings behind me, and I broke into a sprint, more follows, snickers claw at me in my wake.

" Silly meat, why run when you know what happens?" a voice taunts, I force myself not to turn back, not give in to my mounting fear. My kinky-curly hair sticks to my forehead and the back of my skull.

Suddenly a figure jumps down from a tree, forcing me to a skid to a halt, I slash and kick at him, the slash he dodged but not my well-aimed kick which had him stumble a few feet back. He chuckles, drawing my gaze to his, red-orange orbs filled a galaxy of anger and sadness, his lips parted in a half gasp, revealing sharp-serrated teeth that brings a shudder to my skin, the others caught up, and I stared at their clothes, these are not the predators I expected, they're worse, I swallowed audibly, and watch their irises expand on me, without a word they attacked, acting on pure instinctual desperate fight for my life, I jump on the motionless boy and press my blade on the right side of his chest, where his heart lies, his surprise was palpable, that slip didnt make me waver, the other four stop in their tracks and hiss at me. I lift a calm brow at them, my gaze challenging.

" Eidrak?" the girl steps forward panic laced in her voice, her eyes lacerating me where I stand holding the boy hostage.

"I'm fine Taka," he replies calmly. A calm I wish I had threatening a boy, someone important, I didn't know how long I will live in this world, now I know how long, but not without taking him with me. Again, I wish that I could take it all back, listen to Appa more about the dangers residing in the outskirts of our town.

"What do you think youre doing?"

" Killing him, if you don't let me go."

" You won't be alive after that."

"Not counting on it", I smirk and press the knife deeper into his chest. If you want him to live, I want a vow from you that none of you will harm me in any way if I let go.

" If!" A dusky skinned boy steps forward, eyes a deep scarlet red, I watch in amazement and fear as red lights comes to life under his skin, taking a myriad of shapes before my very eyes.

I push the knife a smidgeon into my hostages chest, and he winces, that stopped him in his tracks. See, like I said you try anything, I won't hesitate to kill him. I meet Taka's eyes and she claps a hand on the dusky boy ready to rip my throat to shreds.

He whips around snarling, she snarls back, keeping hold of him. "Fine, I give you my vow as an Akura of the Silver cabaret, you shall not come to harm by my or my kins harm."

I pull the blade out from his chest and take a step back away from reach. Wiping the bluish blood on my ash-covered cloak, I ignored the ocean of nausea churning in my stomach or tried to and glared at the five inspecting me like theyve never seen any like me before. Shrieks rang out, more hungry ones followed, a never-ending shriek that has me empty my stomach on the forest floor. It looks like that the heavens have forsaken me today, I pull out my spare knife from my boot, and took a stance waiting for the wave of hell heading for us. The five Akuras pull their hidden blades in an instant, eyes and skin taking on the red theyre known for, I stared incredulously at the unknown humming runes on their bodies and wondered what it means, I itch to walk over to them and run a hand on the runes and see how they felt under my fingertips, my eyes run over their features, all of them look the very picture of monsters, the very reason why our world went to hell, why we have those shrieks heading for us. If they haven't manifested, we wouldnt be in this mess of a world.

My muscles corded as the Shraks come into view, a horde of yellow eyes, fangs, and claws ready to render flesh from bones, mine, and theirs. My heart thumps in tandem with their shrieks, a smile curves my lips and I explode into action before they did, slashing and stabbing at their skulls, my body dances with ease I have forgotten that it can muster, stinky, fishy gore spatters the air and in my wake concealing me in their stench and viscera.

My eyes latches onto the Shrak at the fringe of the horde, intelligence like no other shone in its putrid depth, one that shouldnt shine in its eyes, it gives a one last accessing glare our way, and starts backing away, I threw a knife at it, and it gave a satisfying wet clunk when it hits its mark, the Shrak didnt make a sound, it just pulled the knife and threw it back at me, I flipped to the side and it hits the Shrak lunging at my back, its body flew in the air, and slams into a tree trunk. My brows hitched at that, when I look back the Shrak had disappeared, only its shriek of retreat could be heard. The horde of Shraks rushed out of there, not attacking just obeying that shriek.

A cold blade that sizzles on my skin lays at my neck. "Who are you?" The Akura bites out, barely holding his temper in check.

"Eidrak what are you doing?" Taka takes a step forward, a strange light in her eyes. She wades in the bodies of Shraks and hurries to the Shrak pinned to the tree trunk.

I lift my hands in the air, and slowly turn around and face the angry Akura, suspicions swims in his gaze." I am just one of the towns residents, I went to get some witch-hatch for my Appa. I am not the enemy, please he needs this. "My throat bobs," Kill me or let me go." I gaze at Taka, but she won't, a meet my eyes. So much for her oath. Eidrak lifts his blade high and bring it down, I close my eyes. A tear spills down my cheek, and splashes down the forest floor.

"Anuka"

A body crashes into mine, a wetness splashes on me, and a gurgle-sigh rings behind me. I open my eyes, fishy blood gushes on my face, the Shraks dead eyes stared into mine, peaceful and serene. A small smile on its lips, I scramble to my feet and was out of there before anyone could move. I hug my cloak closer to me, glad of the fishy smell that clings to me, it will be hard to be track by them no matter how superior their sense smell is. Appa wouldn't like what I have just done, but in the end, this is for him. I just need to stay out of their way until they go back to whatever posh hell hole they have sprung from.