Sin: Path of Poison

Chapter 32 Part 1

The tables were arranged on the floor, my table marked the head. I stood, inspecting the three guests I never expected to see in my chambers. I wasn't sure what to do or say, why they were here. Suddenly feeling uneasy, I stared at the Crown Prince, who stared back at me dumbly. He wasn't injured, none of them were injured. Did I leave a loose end? Were they fleeing for their lives? We were too different, why would they seek me out unless they needed help?

"You're..." I trailed off, my eyebrows scrunched together as I tried to figure out the words. "You're not injured, is there.." I trailed off again as the maids approached the front door with food.

I sat on my pillow, both legs turned out to the side uncovered. The sight seemed to unnerve the three men who sat in front of me, their eyes moved to stare at the top of my head. I looked down at my dress and back to their faces again. I closed my eyes briefly and shook my head in disbelief, they came to Demon's Peak expecting what? For me to be dressed as a citizen of the capital? Fully clothed from neck to toe, the glimpse of an occasional wrist scandalous? Placing a finger to my forehead, I sighed. The maids, unsure of the atmosphere heard my sigh and hurried faster, placing dishes in front of each person.

"Would you prefer I change into something different?" I asked. Tiar nearly dropped the dish into Lei's lap upon hearing the words. Luckily he was able to catch it in time. She apologized profusely and stepped away. Only Myria had the nerve to continue as if hearing nothing, her mind was clearly focused on Torch.

Judging from the reaction of the maids, Blake understood where I sat, as if the Empress herself was offering to change her clothes to make her guests feel at ease. Not understanding our connection, the maids were probably worried they'd be cleaning up dead bodies next.

"Myria." I called as she was still dawdling on her way out. She rushed forward again, the opportunity to take another glance at Torch not wasted. "Arrange for two beds to be brought to my room, before the sun sets. They will go in the rooms up front. Bedding as well. Oh, and change my bedding later, after he's gone." I waved my hand towards Torch. She nodded eagerly, trying to control the series of expressions that crossed her face.

Just as she left the front door, Torch seemed to come to life, he groaned then held his head. I walked over to check on him. His eyes blinked open as he stared at the red cloth hanging above his head. In a panic his eyes opened wide and his entire body scrambled to sit up, backing up towards the top of the bed.

Seeing my approach, his mouth hung slightly open as if wanting to explain but unable to. How could he possibly understand why he was in my bed? My hand reached out towards him, his eyes closed tightly. His body was tense and stiff, like a statue, a statue with no eyes. I held his wrist and sat down on the edge of the bed to feel his pulse, his life was unharmed. I looked up to stare at his face, his eyes opened just enough to see me, his pulse immediately quickened. I returned his arm back to him, setting it down gently.

Something in the back of my head buzzed, like a warning. My carnal instincts felt discontent. Gathering energy I channeled out my senses. A faint noise in the back of my head cried loudly, "Sin!"

Lunging forward suddenly, I pushed Torch onto his back, against the head of the bed with more force than he deserved upon just waking. With my senses cast out I could feel every fiber in his body scream, yet he stayed perfectly still. Reaching over Torch's body, my own body lay over his, I grabbed my whip chain and channeled my energy. Shadow stepping past everyone without an explanation, I threw the door open and left my front gate before they said a word. Shadow stepping through the main street I turned left and froze.

In front of me some unknown disciple held Myria against a wall, his forearm pressed into her throat. His other hand poked small holes into her body with a silver needle. He whispered in her ear then pulled his head back to stare down at her again. Uncurling the whip chain, I lashed out, skillfully wrapping it around his neck without harming Myria. I tugged him towards me, he fell in alarm. I could sense Torch running down the street towards me, followed by the Crown Prince, Lei, and Blake. Loosening the whip slightly, I stepped towards him. My energy pressed against him full of fury, he cowered and fell to the ground.

"Who told you to do this?" I yelled.

"They'll kill me." He whimpered.

"Mm? You think I'll let you live?" I started in a calm cold voice. "You shouldn't worry about who will kill you, you should worry about how they'll kill you." I removed a hair pin from my hair, causing some of my hair to spill down. I looked at it lovingly, smiling in pleasure as my gaze returned to him. It was well known that I carried poison on me.

"No.. no.. it was Angst's disciples, they'll kill me." He groveled. I could feel Angst arrive a small distance to my side in a separate alleyway. Only a moment later two of his disciples landed nearby. They smirked at me, the smug expressions were too much to bear.

Yanking hard on my whip chain, the weapon that I'd wrapped around his neck pulled suddenly. His entire body rose then fell back to the ground with disturbing speed. My arm moved in a slight circle as the whip chain unwrapped from his broken neck.

Without hesitation I spun and flung the chain back out. The sharp edge of the tip slammed into the throat of the disciple who stood to Angst's left. I pulled it back and cast it out again, it struck deep in the throat of his other disciple. My body froze for a brief moment. One arm extended outward with the whip chain in the disciples neck and the other arm extended behind me, I stared directly at Angst.

"The servants are not to be tormented unless there is a just reason, and even so it is to be decided on as a group. That is our rule, the only way we'll keep servants on this mountain." I started in a calm voice. I finally retracted the chain, the sharp dagger was ripped out of the disciple's throat. Blood sprayed out as he fell to the ground, reuniting him with Angst's other two disciples. Angst threw his head back and laughed.

"You sound like Silver." He turned slowly to leave, laughing all the way, not caring about his dead disciples. He had many and never cared for any of them in the first place.

"Torch, carry Myria back to my room." I commanded. She held out an arm as if in protest, but Torch swooped in and picked her up anyways. I deftly moved my arm, the whip chain flashed through the air as I grabbed it with my bare hand, returning as if I'd folded it. Back within my residence, Torch looked at me as if unsure where to put her.

"My bed." I stated. Following my directions he took her towards my bed, despite her protests. I walked over to my medicine bottles and removed two before sitting down beside her. Torch moved back a step as I untied her robe, her face turned red with embarrassment, but she was too weak to fight back. Torch immediately turned away as did the rest of the men, all facing my front door as I opened her robes just enough to look at the wounds around her ribs.

There were four punctures. The wounds were bleeding, but they weren't deep enough to do any permanent damage. He was likely afraid she'd pass out from the pain if it hurt too bad. I went about cleaning her up and spread medicine on the wounds. Her body, weak from the scare, looked limp and frail. I adjusted her robes to look proper again and tied everything securely in place. I moved further down the edge of my bed to give her space.

"You're to rest until the day after next. Don't let me see you. Torch, take her away. You don't have to start practice until tomorrow." I waved at him to take her and leave.

"The beds will be here by tonight and Santi is getting fresh bedding now." Myria managed to say out loud, her eyes were fierce and determined to fulfill her last given order before she could accept this new one. Stubborn.

They left the room, Torch carried Myria despite more protests. I fell backwards to lye on my back for a moment in my bed and sighed, it smelled of Torch and more recently Myria. I sat back up again to see the Crown Prince, Lei, and Blake diverting their eyes from my unladylike behavior.

"The food is probably cold, you don't have to eat it if you don't want to. I can find something different." I said, while sitting up and walking towards them. They stood staring at me silently, having not said a word since I walked them up the hill.

My eyebrows scrunched up and my head tilted slightly. I looked at them with suspicion, bringing up my finger to tap on my lip. I walked closer to the Crown Prince, his eyes focused on my outfit before looking away again. Pulling up the hair that had come loose, I folded it easily back in place and shoved the hair pin through. No more than a step away from him I continued to watch.

"Did all of you forget how to speak?" My voice sounded confused and irritated as I couldn't figure out what game we were currently playing at.