Red Within The Forest

Chapter Ten: Taunting The Heart

Asena blew her nose into a rag, "Oh, god, I'm so sorry for making a scene." she mumbled. Corvina shakes her head, "Hey, don't blame yourself okay?" she says. Asena shakes her head, "But it's my fault! I lead him on and he..." Corvina stopped her from continuing. She shook her head, "Nah ah, we're not doing at. You were just being nice, you were being yourself and he took it as a sign of you liking him back and assuming. If anything...he should be the one apologizing." she stated. Asena took in a deep breath before sipping on some water. 

Nia opens the door with Gawen and Anton strolling behind her. Nia made her way over to Asena, "Hey...how are you holding up?" she lightly asked. She kneels next to her. Asena placed the cup down, "I'm doing alright...just a little shaken." she said. Nia nods and Anton nods his head, "I don't think that piece of shit will bother you again." he stated.

Asena looked up at him, "What do you mean?" she asked. Gawen chuckles and sits down, "Well...Nia can tell you herself." he teases. Asena turns her head to Nia. Nia playfully sticks her tongue out at Gawen before taking the seat next to her. She fiddled with her fingers, "I might or might not have...broken his nose." she confessed. Asena blinked at her, "What?" she asked. Anton coughed up a laugh, "Oh, come on Nia! You did more than just break his nose. You should have seen it!" he stated. Nia flicked his arm, "Okay, okay. I might've done a bit more than that but that's it!" she defended. Gawen smirks over at her, "A bit more? You almost broke his arm." he added. Nia huffs while the group laughs at her pouting. Asena stares at her in admiration. It made her heart feel so light. Her head felt like it was floating.

She smiles at the woman, "I've never had anyone do that for me..." she confessed. Corvina gave Asena a puzzled look, "Not even your own father or Lieve?" she questioned. Asena nodded, "Father tries to keep a clean image while Lieve...brushes everything off." she said. Nia hums, "Well if you need anyone taken care of or be given a few good beatings, let me know." she tells her. Asena frowns, "But...you don't know me well." she says. Nia shrugs, "Still. Even if you and I don't know each other, that doesn't mean I wouldn't help you. I can tell you're a really good person Asena." she confessed. 

Asena shared her smile and the two held each other's stare. Asena could continue to stare into those golden eyes of hers forever if she was able to. They seemed to melt like honey as Nia continued to stare at her. Asena could feel her neck and ears warming. Anton glanced between the two, "Um, did you two forget there are others present?" he said. Nia scoffs and glares at him. He just grinned at her reaction. Asena glanced down and her cheeks warmed. Corvina shakes her head at Anton, "Way to ruin the beautiful moment." she mumbles. Anton came to his own defense, "I'm just saying...if they wanted to continue being all sappy with one another, they could've done it somewhere else!" Gawen smacks Anton's head, "Stop it!" he scolded.

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Lieve crushed some dried-up white berries into a bowl of peppermint tea leaves. She heaved a heavy sigh before she added some more tea leaves into the mix. Her hands hovered over some white berries peering up at her. She snarled, "That little hunter is sticking her nose into things she shouldn't be asking about." she said to herself. She grabbed three of the berries and placed them down on a flat surface between two plates. 

She squished them down and watched as the clear juice dripped out into a small vial. Lieve brought the glass container to her eyes, it should be enough to at least render the hunter for a while. If she had just been a good little puppet and blindly followed her brother around like a lost puppy, then she wouldn't be doing this! That stupid little hunter will no longer be of her concern when she gets rid of her.

Lieve got ahold of her knife and pressed down on her hand. Her blood tickled her skin while she raised her arms up and chanted in tongues. Her green eyes glowed against the candlelight as she slightly levitated in the air. Her hands shook. Her lips trembled when the words passed her lips. Lieve's blood seemed to become more darker, almost black like freshly made ink.