Sin: Path of Poison

Chapter 23 Part 1

Only a few blocks up the road the carriage came to a sudden stop. The driver explained there were twelve people blocking our path. I placed my finger to my lips and tapped at them quickly, annoyed. Lei finally realized why I wanted to avoid this path. Following Lei's gaze, Blake stared at me suspiciously again. Nomi shrunk back, looking scared.

"Ask them what they want." The Crown Prince said to the driver. Following his directive, the driver called ahead. It took all my willpower not to roll my eyes, they wanted to fight. To cause a scene. It was likely they'd already killed any guards that were sent here to stop them. He was trying to draw me out.

"We want to fight! Winner takes your carriage and anything you have in it!" I recognized the voice immediately, it was Jayce. Blake reached under the bench, picking up a sword, he handed it to the Crown Prince. Returning his hand under the bench again, he retrieved one for Lei. He was careful to not let them make a noise as he finally pulled out the last sword for himself.

"I'll take the lead with Lei as my backup, you stay near the carriage." Blake said in a low voice, trying to keep the Crown Prince out of the immediate danger.

My teeth clenched as I turned my head to the side to avoid looking at them. Lei knew at that moment they wouldn't return alive. I glanced up to find him reading me. He smiled down at me, as if it was okay they would die. He only looked scared that something bad would happen to me. Foolish, underestimating my abilities.

The three of them rushed out, I could hear swords clambering. Even the driver, with his minimal experience in martial arts, was trying to protect us. I heard Jayce laugh as he stood back, still not even joining the fight. Using my senses I could feel Blake kill two, but just as he was about to get a third he blocked an attack aimed for Lei and received a shallow cut to his side.

The Crown Prince tried to come forward to help block the next attack, stepping closer to the battle, away from the carriage. Lei downed another assassin when suddenly Jayce came forward. Mad that three of his crew had died and a few others had been injured, he was done standing on the side. With a quick series of movements from Jayce the three of them were covered in shallow wounds. Jayce was toying with them, slowing them down first, he took a step back to recharge his energy.

The scent of blood hit me, I could smell the medicine I gave Lei fill the air. My senses recognized the shallow wounds that covered Jin's torso. Blake was in the worst shape, taking the brunt of the force from both the lackeys and Jayce. Anger bubbled up inside me, I had to expose myself or fail my contract.

I stood up and released my anger then gathered energy in its place. Nomi, aware of my movement, looked up at me as tears streamed down her face. She had been holding her mouth shut with her hands while trying not to cry out. I tore the robes off my body and removed the hairpin and hair clasp from my hair.

A short distance away, I could feel Torch edging closer, aware that I was going to act. A sheath no longer held the razor sharp blade that was my hairpin. I gripped the weapon tightly in my palm, the sharp needle jutted out menacingly between my fingers. Lei was the first to feel my presence within the group but as soon as my foot touched the ground Blake spun around. His eyes went wide as he held up his sword, unsure of which way to place his back. Lei immediately grabbed Jin and pulled him towards me, towards the carriage.

"She won't hurt you." Lei said, trying to get Blake to put his weapon down. "Do.. do you need any help?" Lei asked quietly, not entirely sure of my abilities.

"I'll let you know if I need anything." I commented.

As Blake kept his sword up to fend me off, the Crown Prince looked me over in confusion. Perhaps some person that vaguely resembled me appeared out of nowhere; someone that wore a different outfit and carried a menacing aura. The pressure I emitted was tangible, anger seeped from every pore. The assassins, still unaware of the change, laughed gleefully when they saw me.

"We're in for some fun boys!" One called. The three in front rushed forward. Dropping low and using a sweeping kick, the first assassin fell hard to the ground as the next one stabbed at me. I quickly grabbed his arm with my left hand, diverting the sword. With an upwards motion I punched hard into his armpit. The needle of my hairpin plunged completely through and came out the shoulder.

Using his body for momentum, I swung my leg around, kicking the other assassin square in the jaw which made a loud crunching noise. Pulling the needle out of the assassin, I pounced on top of the first one that I knocked down. The needle punched straight through his throat. I stood up, staring at the remaining scum. Five assassins and Jayce. The hair pin became slippery with blood, I tossed it back towards the carriage.

"Lei, sword." I commanded in a completely normal voice. I spun just as he tossed it, catching it in mid air. I ran and jumped towards the five remaining guards, shadow stepping between them, slitting their throats before any of them had a chance to react. Dropping the sword to the ground, I stared at Jayce.

"I've been looking for you." He looked at me in awe.

"I thought I made myself clear when I left." I replied.

"You never chose.." He trailed off.

"I chose neither of you." I came back. "Choosing neither is also a choice."

"Come back with me?" He sounded, heartbroken? It had to be an over reaction from the last time, when he was affected by the poison of my blood.

"No." I said, sounding irritated.

"Tell me what you want?" He pleaded.

"What I want? I don't even know you, why would I marry you?" I laughed out loud, as if I were watching a comedy.

"Did you choose one of them instead?" He asked, referring to the men behind me. Anger rose from his voice. Channeling my energy, I shadow stepped to him and grabbed him by the throat to stare into his eyes.

"I would choose anyone over you." My words were dry and cold, I let him go. He yelled out in anger. Still holding his sword, he thrust it at me. Last time we fought he didn't know about the glass snakes. The difference between our skills then hadn't been so great. Now things were different.

I easily dodged his attack; grabbing his outstretched sword arm with my right hand, I pushed it away. I twisted my body, turning around and kicking him hard in the temple. His body fell to the side as I let go of him. Despite being shaken, he got up quickly and attacked again. Ducking low and reaching forward, I grabbed his leg out from underneath him. With my left arm raised, I blocked the sword arm coming down. With a right hand punch to his ribs, he flew back again. The rib cracked loud enough for everyone to hear the break.

"Sin.." His voice was barely a whisper as blood spat out. I could feel him gathering energy, his maximum capacity was minuscule compared to mine. With his current injuries he was able to gather even less than normal. With a burst of energy he tried to get around me, tried to stab at any of the men standing behind me.

Without mercy I grabbed his neck and flipped him to the ground in the middle of his charge. Holding him by the neck, I gathered energy in my hand, easily breaking through his barriers and collapsing his throat. Standing over him I struck hard in several acupoints stopping the blood from reaching his heart. His throat had collapsed with the impact and blood failed to pass through the acupoints I pressed. A deep gurgling sound came out of his body as it went limp.