Perzys Āeterña | Hope Mikaelson

Chapter 13

She went right to the gym.

"Occupied," called Sebastian, twirling his sword in hand and hitting several wooden blocks.

"You're not using all of them," she said, holding out her two swords. "What you have is a lot thinner than what I'm used to." She held up Dark Sister and Blackfyre. "Valyrian steel. I'm sure it would do a great deal of damage... even to you."

"Oh, you just loathe me, don't you? I wonder who hates me more, you, or the Headmaster. He's already declared that tomorrow, I'm to be evaluated all day to decide whether I get to stay at the school." He gestured to her. "One killer to another, do you think I stand a chance?"

She lunged at him angrily, slamming both swords down toward his head. He caught them with his one blade, strong enough to fling her to the ground.

"You're not very good with those, are you?" he asked.

"I have killed men with swords. And I can kill you, too."

"Mm, not very easily, I take it. You trained with what... foot soldiers? I trained with pirates. I know all sorts of dirty tricks that you wouldn't be equipped against."

She shot up, dropping Blackfyre and wielding Dark Sister alone, slamming at him with all the anger she had inside her. He had to take several steps back, and gained only a little bit of ground with the raw power he had over her. Their skills were matched. No matter what he tried, he couldn't fend her off. At last, she kicked him right in the chest, slamming him to the floor and pressing the blade to his throat.

"Your hunger will only be satisfied with a kill," said Sebastian casually, not making a move to defend himself.

"Then I'll start with you," she muttered, digging the sword in.

"Ah... I wouldn't do that if I were you. Elizabeth would not take it well. Besides, who better to help you than I? It appears I may be the only person who understands you." He tapped his ear. "Can't quite turn these off, can I? And it seems you're upset because you wish to get things done and everyone else... why, they like to see the bright side, don't they?"

She scoffed, stepping away. "I thought this school was a great place. I was glad to have a home, glad to have friends. But horrible things have happened, the people I care about have almost been hurt. We could prevent future instances if we just tied up loose ends. So why don't we? Why does everyone care so much about morals and not killing? Sometimes, it's one of the hard choices you have to make."

"And you like it," he said, pulling himself up. "It's what you were taught to enjoy. The rush of taking a life, of controlling fate. You get to play god. What did you say you'd deliver me to? The Stranger? You get to play that role when you kill... you make the world safer. And no one sees that, do they? No one tries to understand your side of it. They always attempt to tel you what to do and that's not fair, is it? That's not how you deal with a dragon. You cannot contain a vampire's urges anymore than you can contain a dragon's."

"They're never going to understand that," she said, slamming the sword against one of the wooden blocks. "They'll never–" she slashed, again and again, "see– that I just want– to protect them– like I couldn't protect– my parents! And he just– manipulates Josie, he taunts me about my mom, and they forgive him just like that? They give him a second chance? I– call– BULLSHIT!"

The block was sliced in half. "I want to rip something apart!" she panted. "I want to rip someone to shreds. I can't help it, I need to."

"So, do it," said Sebastian. "Who will stop you? You're a dragon. You can go anywhere in the world and kill."