Runic Storm (ONC 2022)

Chapter 6 || My Brother Is Going To Kill Me

The bathrooms were down a hallway, leading to the back of the tavern. After finishing up, I washed my hands and reached for the paper towels when it happened.

Ouch.

A small thorn, stuck between the towels, had pierced the skin on my ring finger. I cursed quietly as I pulled it out. When I looked up, I was greeted by my tired reflection in one of the bathroom mirrors. Nothing seemed to go right this day. My grey eyes looked wary, and my skin was pale. I hadn't even brushed my hair today. I sighed, trying to comb my fingers through it quickly.

Not exactly pretty.

Not that it mattered, considering the situation we were in. I splashed some water on my face when the door opened and a woman entered. She was part of the couple that had come in earlier.

Her long strawberry blonde hair was braided tightly to one side. She wore heavy make-up plus tight fitted leather pants coupled with a dark, oversized jacket. I gave her a quick nod in greeting as I moved to step around her.

"Your boyfriend seems cute. Quite the catch you got there."

I frowned at her apparent misconception but didn't speak up to correct her. I could feel the tiredness creeping up on me again, so I just mumbled a quick thanks and reached for the handle. As I opened the door, I noticed thin vines decorated with small, colorful petals running along the walls.

Had they always been there?

Something was off. I stumbled a bit as I walked through the opening.

"Oh, dear don't fall now." The woman reached for me, but I dodged her. Her green eyes were gleaming in a strange light.

Wait, that's not...

I realized it at the last second. Without hesitation, I projected a gust of wind in a slashing motion. The vines that had been creeping up on me from all sides were flung backwards, but it was too late. My right hand was gripping the wall, trying to keep me steady as I fought the dizziness that was taking over my body.

Of all things, it had to be fucking plant magic. Plant magic basically had two attributes. Healing and poison. I fucking hated the second one. Plant magicians were usually very annoying to deal with.

Shit. That thorn earlier...

My movements started to turn sluggish as I faced her.

She was smiling brightly at me in a creepy motherly sort of way. "Don't worry dear. I will make it quick for you." She reached behind her back under the jacket, pulling out a short sword.

They were definitely professionals, giving me no chance to react. I could see the sword coming at me, knowing full well I wouldn't have the ability to react fast enough to block or dodge it. The poison was already spreading through my limbs, paralyzing me.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around me and I was jerked back against a hard chest. The other arm reached past my head, stopping the blade inches from my face. I gasped in horror when I realized Ty had used his bare hands. By now, the paralyzing effect had spread so far that his arm was the only thing keeping me upright. He must have come looking for me when he sensed the woman blocking my way back.

The woman's face scrunched in confusion. She tried pushing the blade deeper into his hand, but he didn't even flinch. "You should be dead," she said, glaring at Tyler.

He tightened his arm around me before replying. "Let's make this quick, so you can follow your dear husband." Tyler pushed her blade so hard she stumbled against the open bathroom door, eyes wide as she realized the gravity of his words.

"No, you couldn't have won against him!" With a screech her magic erupted as she jumped forward again, her blade ready, but Ty simply waved his hands.

At first, I didn't understand what he did. The thorns that were coming for us from all sides had frozen and turned grey.

He petrified them.

They crumbled to the ground as he reached forward, grabbing her sword. She screeched again, but this time in shock, as the blade shattered into pieces.

Someone was pissed.

"Who sent you?" Tyler asked quietly. The fact that he kept his voice low, quiet even, just enhanced the threatening atmosphere he was projecting.

The woman shrunk away from us. I could basically see the gears turning as her eyes darted around, looking for a way out.

"You need to work on your intimidation skills. I don't think she's gonna talk just yet," I managed to say despite the numbness that had taken over my body.

"Don't worry", he said coldly. "It was more of a rhetorical question anyways."

"You can struggle all you want," the woman snickered at us. "You guys are fair game for everyone. I am doing you a favor by doing this fast and painless. Tell me what happened to my partner, and we can sti- "

"Oh, shut up."

Two knives cut through the air, and plunged into her throat and chest. Her eyes widened as she slid down onto the floor. She didn't move again after that.

Tyler produced the pill box I always carried around and dropped one into my mouth. "You okay?"

"I'm fine..." I trailed off feeling slightly embarrassed that he had come to save me.

He simply narrowed his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I reached for his hand. To my surprise, it looked just the same as it did before. Overall, he didn't look like someone who just got into a fight. Not even his robe was ruffled.

"Of course." He grinned down at me, as he pulled his hand out of mine to put his hood back on. I supposed it was better not to ask what happened to the husband. Without further ado Tyler picked me up and started walking towards the back door.

"Hey, I can walk, just give me a second," I said weakly.

Ignoring my protest, he swiftly excited the building, his movements fast and unhindered as if he didn't feel my weight at all. "We don't have a second. There's more coming."

"What do you mean there's more? More random maniacs?" Although, the timing of the couple didn't feel random at all.

"No. More bounty hunters."

"What?"

He held me up with one arm as his other one reached into his robe, procuring a piece of paper. "This is already circulating through the underground." His eyebrows crunched worriedly as he placed it in my hands. He then tightened his grip on me before quickly moving through the streets, trying to put as much space as possible between us and the tavern.

I clutched the paper with shaky hands, my eyes slowly scanning the content. Below my name, it was written in big capital letters. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.

Shit. My brother is going to kill me.