𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✦ 𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭

-13

In the middle of a busy intersection, a cart overloaded with food blocked
the traffic from all directions. A younger boy, strained wildly to pull the cart up a small hill. His—master it seems, a
beefy little man with arms the size of ham hocks, was beating the child
with a length of chain. The poor boy was bloody, yet his eyes were emotionless.
In the manual you had just presented to the temple, there was a
list of procedures to follow. You should take down the names of the culprit
and witnesses, the specifics of the crime, descriptions of the wounds…yet all thoughts of procedure flew out of your head. A bolt of furious energy went through you, and you shoved your way through the crowd. “Stop it! Stop it now, or I'll kill you!”
Startled by your appearance, a few people scrambled hastily out of your way. The thick-necked man paused in his beating and glared up at you. “Mind your own business, bitch!”
Ignoring him, you approached the terrified the child. Drawing close, you patted his back as he leaned in like he's seeking refuge. A wave of astonished exclamations issued from the crowd. The owner seemed unimpressed. “Get away from him” he bellowed, raising his arm threateningly. “I'll make him climb that hill or send him to hell.”
“And I'm going to have you arrested before you do that” you shouted, sliding your arms around the quivering boy's neck “The cart's too heavy for him to pull, you stupid bastard!”

“Get away!” The chain came whistling through the air, striking the
ground near your feet. “Move away, or I'll lay your head open wi' this.”
Your arms tightened reflexively around the boy. Looking into the man's purple face, you knew that he was enraged beyond reason. He was deadly serious in his threats. Yet you couldn't back down—you would never forgive yourself if you left this helpless creature to be beaten to death. “Sir, my family will compensate you generously—” you began on a halfway conciliatory note, but he burst out with a flood of obscenities and drew back the chain to strike you.
Suddenly everything happened too fast for you to understand. All at once Rezef was there, grabbing you with bruising force, shielding you with his body as the chain whipped around in a shining streak. You felt him flinch as the metal links struck him, and you heard the swift rush of air between his teeth. Then he sent you stumbling away with a hard shove. For Rezef, the impact of the chain on his back set off an inner explosion he had never expected. All awareness of the present disintegrated; there was only the past, rushing over him, making him blank and crazed and bloodthirsty. He found his hands clenched around the man's neck, staring into watery blue eyes that were filled with rage and dawning fear. A black, murderous mist surrounded him.
“No,” the man whimpered, squirming in fright, his fat little hands
coming up to Rezef's taut wrists.
Rezef choked him into silence, his fingers digging into the thick,
straining neck. The lust for murder oozed like sweat from his pores. Only
one sound reached him…a woman's voice, low and intent, pulling him back
from the edge.
“Rezef, Rezef! let him go!”
He blinked and shivered, glancing in the direction of the voice. You was close by. Your e/c eyes held his. “Let him go,” you repeated.

Somehow the ecstasy of violence faded, and he relented, giving in to
your quiet command. Reluctantly he took his hands from the man's throat.
Reeling in terror, the man fled into the crowd. He managed to shout
hoarse warnings as he clutched his bruised throat. “He's the devil! Look in
his eyes—you'll see! The devil himself…”
Some people dispersed. Others stayed to complain that their way was
blocked and they wanted the intersection to be cleared. A few volunteers organized a group to pull the cart of bricks to the side of the street.
Rezef's fingers were stiff and coiled. He flexed them, worked the tension from his wrists, only vaguely aware of your supervising the boy infront of you. Her tone was brisk and expert as she directed one of the footmen “We'll bring him to my family's home,” you said "i think he can make it as long as the carriage is not moving too fast"

Rezef wanted to leave. The confusion of the scene was nothing compared with his inner chaos. He had to be somewhere quiet to think, to compose himself. He sent you a commanding look, his gaze boring into your back until you glanced at him over your shoulder. Understanding his
silent message, you obeyed at once. You were calm and unruffled as you made your way back to the carriage helping the boy. Rezef entered the vehicle and sat opposite you. To his surprise, he saw that your face was pale, and your fingers were twisted together in a tight knot.
“I see abuse like this all the time,” you said in an agitated voice. “I'll
never get used to it. Why do people have to be so cruel?”

Rezef didn't reply, only snapped the curtains shut against the sight of
the swarming crowd. You stared at him through the darkened interior of
the carriage as the vehicle finally began to move. “It must have hurt when
the chain hit you,” you said tentatively. “Are you all right?”
He nodded once, still consumed with old and dark memories. He lost control over his emotions. This happens all the time. They overtake him…it was a weakness he couldn't afford.
You spoke again while you combed your fingers through the fallen
locks of your hair, patting the child lightly avoiding to stir him from his nap. “Thank you for coming to our rescue. It seems I'm in your debt again.”
“Not this time.” His attention returned to you slowly. Although your face
was averted, he thought that you seemed to be struggling with your feelings.
“Do you want a handkerchief?” he asked abruptly. You shook your head in
refusal, but he fished for one in his coat and held it out to you anyway.
“I'm not crying,” you said. “I never do. It doesn't solve anything, and it
never makes me feel better.” you took the square of soft white linen and
blew your nose noisily, shooting a defiant look at him.
Suddenly Rezef felt his heart pound in a hard rhythm. Other women used tears for purposes of seduction or sympathy, yet they had never moved him. Only you, denying your weakness and challenging him to say one
word about it, could affect him like this.
Rezef found himself moving toward you. He took you in his arms,
ignoring your unwilling start. After a brief struggle you relaxed against him,
your breasts pressing against his side and chest. Your hair was unperfumed,
the scent as fresh as if she had been walking in the woods through patches
of fennel and crisp green moss. He breathed deeply of the smell, and he
hovered at the edge of violence, all his calculated plans threatening to crumble beneath the pressure of overwhelming desire. Somehow he kept his hands impersonal and still on your back, in spite of his desperate need to
touch you.
“Stubborn, impetuous little fool,” he whispered

Rezef was transfixed by the brilliance of your eyes. He longed to
press his mouth to your skin, to kiss the fiery crescents of your lashes. He struggled with his self-control
while it threatened to slip away like sand through his fingers. With all his
strength, he locked his feelings away and spoke in a cool, slightly amused
voice. “I said there's no need for tears, y/n. You mustn't be so emotional.”
“I can't help it” you said grumpily. “I've always been this way…out of
place, out of step. I wish I could be like my sister like everyone else. My only hope is to marry"
"Duke Heinrich?"
"No! I'm not talking about about him—
"if you think he would have given you happiness, you're wrong. I'm familiar with his kind.They exist everywhere. As common as mice.” he continued
“However, Did you ever let anyone see this side of you? Did you ever dare to argue with someone? You adopt a soft facade to please them because you liked Their looks and slippery charm, and you thought they wouldn't want you if
They knew how intelligent you are, how brave and ferocious. If they don't value those qualities they aren't man enough."

"Stop trying to flatter me— I don't like it.”
Rezef caught your jaw in his palms and studied your flushed face. Your
skin was tender and soft beneath his fingertips. “so beautiful” he repeated, staring hard into your eyes, not letting you turn away. A shiver went through your body. You must have felt it too, the ineluctable force that drew you.

A carriage wheel bounced across a hole in the road, jolting the vehicle. As the child seemed to wake, Rezef broke apart from you and settled himself opposite you. He continued to watch you steadily, but you kept your gaze on your folded hands. No words were exchanged until you reached the duchy.

Hesitantly you broke the silence. “I'm grateful for your help today, Rezef. I really am. But…I would rather you didn't make any further efforts to see me. I don't think we should be friends. I can't see that any good would come of it.”
Perhaps you expected him to disagree, even argue. Instead he shrugged
and gave you an oblique smile. “Whatever you wish.”