The Fangclaw Inheritance: The Eye of Half Blood

VIII

VIII

      Annabella Fangclaw jolted from her bed, soaking with sweat, her hands on her Eye of Half Blood. She had to make sure she was whole, in case if Ramnasia had truly cut her in half. She wore her usual battle gear―she had forgotten to change into a sleeping blouse. Having enough strength to stand, she slowly rose and decided to wander around the hut. Roktu and Serastios were still wriggling on their beds, same with Marlox; she picked up her dual rapier on the right-hand side of her bed, while her left hand reached for her weapons container on the left-hand side. She placed the strap over her body, and then inserted the rapiers on her right waist.

                Annabella wondered who relieved her of her weaponry and her light-weight boots once she fell asleep. She would’ve guessed it was Serastios, but knowing the hospitality the Adlets gave her, it must’ve been one of them. She went towards the great door, pushed it open, and allowed the bright beam to blind her. It was early in the morning, where sunrise was initiating. She grew accustomed to the sun rays, her eyes gleaming at the beauty of the island. The sunrise was compatible with the mountainside, the yellow halo obscured by the ranges. It was like watching ascension of an angel or a holy figure, but she always knew seeing an angel would make her eyes boil out. She saw the Adlets rise and stretch, some making dog sounds, some making human sounds.

                They proceeded with their usual lives, the warriors coming out of the City to go forth their hunting, while the women continued to perform pottery or weaving clothes out of wool. The children run merrily through the City, Annabella watching them all. It remded her of home, where she would watch her own people walk without any care in the world; they had no need to worry of the Supernatural world, but these creatures were smack dabbed in the middle of a Century long war.

                It was prudent to protect them in order to keep the peace, but to venture outside of City walls meant the danger was strong. She observed daily life of Adlet Island with a smile on her face, while the tranquility made their way of life normal.

                “Good Morning, Annabella,” Roktu’s voice said from behind.

                This nearly made her startled. She turned around, merrily replying with a “Good Morning.”

                “Somebody’s on a great mood today!” Roktu was clearly fully awake; too many hours of sleep must’ve made her hyper daily.

                “If this island’s in peace, there’s no reason to stay serious,” Annabella wasn’t as hyper as Roktu, but it was clear she was beaming brilliantly. “Are you ready for venturing around the inner island?”

                “Hell yes, I am!”

                “Then you two better hasten and ready yourselves,” It was Serastios, his long-sleeves rolled up to line with his elbows. He wore a black vest atop his white dresscoat, the dual broadswords strapped to his back. Annabella never saw how burly his forearms looked, but she glowered in red once she saw them. She would be a perfect man for her, she thought if he wasn’t her butler.

                The elder Marlox was the next to exit, clothed in a bone-armored armory. She could see the breastplate made from bones of a figure, the shoulder plates made of the animal’s rib cage, but it was big enough to fit through his broad shoulders. On his head he wore an iron-made helmet that seemed like an Adlet’s head. Annabella stared in awe at the power Marlox portrayed, with one of his spears strapped to his back, and a series of daggers suspended through his left and right ribcage.

                She thought of how penetrable his armor would’ve been, for she always knew bone-crafted armory were weaker than those made of steel. His hand patted Serastios’s shoulder, his golden eyes cast at Annabella.