Roses of the Arena | ONGOING

06

It happened fast.

Atticus kicked his horse in its ribs. It lunged forward with a sharp whinny as his sword came down in a flash of silvery steel. The poor man didn't have a chance.

The young woman's scream was the stuff of nightmares. It pierced the sky, mingling with the cries of the crowd. "Papa!"

I watched in stunned silence, eyes wide as Daron dropped to his knees. The sword was speared downward through his chest at a horrible angle, the tip protruding from his lower abdomen. A hollow intake of breath racked him. Confused eyes flicked upward to Atticus as fingers grazed the sword's hilt.

"You..." Daron fell onto his back before he could finish his thought.

What the seven hells just happened? The crowd was in shambles now, crying and yelling as they huddled closer together to save themselves. The young woman ran forward, pale as death, and dropped to her knees beside her father.

My attention shot to my centurion.

Emotionless eyes stared down at the dying man, face taut with tension. His gaze flicked to me as if he sensed he was being watched, and a tight smile spread his lips wide.

He scoffed and wheeled his horse around, addressing the crowd with a haughty air. "This is the same fate that will befall you should you refuse to bow to the Empire. Men, join our ranks. Ensure the safety of your family as this stupid man could not. Refuse, and you will become prisoners of war, sent to the arenas to fight for the Emperor's glory."

Already, men were moving to do as he suggested.

But I couldn't ignore the loud sobs that came from the young woman before me. Quickly, I dismounted my horse. She clutched her father's hands, pressing kisses to his knuckles. He gasped for breath, staring down at her with tears in his eyes.

"Lily." He closed his eyes, pain contorting his face. "Lily, listen..."

"You can't die," she said, and her voice quivered. She sniffled and squeezed his hands tighter. "You can't leave me, Papa. You can't leave me!"

He silenced her, raising a hand to rest against her cheek—a crimson stain smeared beneath his fingers, leaving a bloody handprint on her skin. "Find your mother's family. They can...can help you." Even from this distance, I could see him struggling to get the words out. His head fell back, eyes rolling to the sky. "The house...in...the house..."

The man's hand fell from his daughter's face.

Her eyes widened as she leaned forward. "Papa?" Pale hands, trembling with adrenaline, grasped his shoulders and shook. "Wake up, Papa. Papa!"

I stepped forward.

Atticus was beside me instantly, wheeling his horse around to sneer down at the girl. "Shut her up, Lieutenant."

"What do you want me to do with her?" I asked, straightening my back as I waited for his orders.

"Put her in the wagon with the others. She'll be the first of our conquest here. Others will surely join her." He shot her a seething glare as she sobbed, curled down over her father's body. "Get my sword while you're at it."

His horse snorted as he turned away, watching the villagers as they moved to decide.

What a heartless bastard. Heaving a heavy sigh, I turned back to the young woman. Mother would kill me if she knew of the things we did. Moving forward, I knelt on the ground beside her. My hands hovered above her shoulders, then dropped to her arms. Where was the best place to grab that wouldn't get me an elbow to the face? How...? Rolling my eyes at myself, I rested my hands on her shoulders.

She gasped as if lightning had struck her, jerking around to stare at me with eyes so full of hurt, I could almost feel it myself. Panic set in immediately, another sob wracking her slender frame as her hands flew to her face.

"Easy, easy," I said, immediately letting go and holding my hands aloft. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Please don't kill me," she whispered, and it was as if a thousand souls were torn asunder by that simple phrase.

"I'm not going to." Testing the waters, I slowly laid my hands on her arms, wrapping my fingers around her wrists. "You need to come with me, though. You can't stay here."

Confusion seeped into her gaze, eyebrows knitting together, and I knew she was trying to process what I was saying. "But why?"

"No one will be staying here. We need to go."

"I can't leave Papa." She shook her head, already turning back to her father. "I can't leave him. He needs me. What if he wakes up and I'm not here?"

"Get the girl, Lieutenant!" Atticus's harsh bark rang out over the background noise. "We don't have all day."

Irritation sank its talons into the back of my neck. Shooting him a glare over my shoulder, I turned back to the woman. "You will die if you do not come with me right now."

"Then kill me!" she cried out, fresh tears welling in her eyes as she screamed at me, laughing bitterly in my face. "Kill me so I may rest with Papa. Bury us both here so we may never leave. Please, I beg of you, kill me."

She was hysterical. I shook my head, frowning at her as I reached out to grab her. When it dawned on her I wasn't going to, she lunged.

"Hey!" I shouted, grabbing at her arms.

She was slippery, fighting like a wildcat, as she tried to grab ahold of my sword. "Just let me die. That's all I want."

Something clicked in the back of my mind. I couldn't let her die. Not while I could help it. Setting my jaw, I grabbed her wrists in my hands and pinned them to her sides. I pushed forward, and she yelped as she was thrown backward, effectively pinned to the ground.

The momentary fire in her eyes was extinguished. Her lips quivered as tears filled her eyes, and I knew she was done fighting. She fell limp beneath my grasp as I hoisted her up, throwing her over my shoulder. Either from exhaustion or submission, the young woman didn't resist as I carried her to the wagon.

A soldier nodded to me as I approached, opening the barred door. The prisoners already inside moved back, fearful eyes alert as I gently set her down on the floor.

She didn't bother to move or even look at me, instead curling in on herself as she let her emotions take over.

I pressed my lips together, trying to think of something to say. It was best if nothing was said. I stepped out. The door was shut, and with it any chance of her escape.

As I turned around, I lifted my gaze to find Atticus staring at me over everyone's heads. Something stirred within my chest at the darkness I saw in his gaze. Some unsettled knowing that refused to let go as we locked eyes. Finally, he scoffed and turned away.

Something wasn't right here.