Labyrinth: Into the Malignant Book 2

Old Foes

I threw myself up in order to fight the followers of the King of the Malignant. I could hear the mass confusion and chaos below me as I threw my weight into the swing of my sword. It didn't take long before I had slain the four fighters on the roof. I turned in a circle to find a way down, but before I could, I was shoved.

My body stumbled over the roof. I tried to grab for something, anything, but nothing was within reach. My momentous screech echoed throughout the battlefield, but to the people in combat I was just another lost soul. My body hit the ground and rolled many times before coming to a stop. My breathing was ragged from the fall. Pain exploded in my arm causing me to cry out in horrific discomfort. I expect for my father or Edoneon to rush to me, but the other thing I saw was red before a cloth was slapped onto my face and my vision went dark.

***

A sharp pain in my neck woke me from my darkness. My eyelids opened wide as I took in a deep breath. The room I was in was humid. It was an odd type of room before I noticed it wasn't actually indoors, but outside. The plant cover made it seem as though I was inside, but the sun jutting through the cracks in the cover persuaded me that I was actually outside.

Thorn covered vines were tide from in between two trees to connect with my wrists in between. I winced at the sting from the poke of the thorns every time I moved my hands. I could feel warmth from behind me, so I turned my head to see what the source was. With a shaky breath, I laid my eyes upon the kind of beast that chased me through the Malignant when my Intangible had left me. Its soft growl of breathing shook me to my core as it moved its head to look at me.

"She's awake?" I turned my head to see a familiar looking man. His red hair didn't register his identity until he walked over to me and dragged his thorn covered finger over my shoulder.

"Baccara?" He smirked down at me.

"You remember! How sweet of you. You know, you dislocated your shoulder from the nasty fall you took. I was kind enough to fix it. It looks like you've met my pet behind you. He is your guardian, but I wouldn't look into his eyes. He takes eye contact as a challenge and you would fare well in that battle with your bound wrists" I tried to move my wrists again, but the pain was too great.

"What do you want from me?" My voice was shaky as he leaned down closer towards my face.

"I don't want you. I never really did. I wanted your body sure, but now more important matters have come up. I need your father. He will be able to help me. Maybe after I speak with him, we can get right to what I originally desired" I shivered and looked away. "He should be arriving soon. I made sure your father knew where I was going" Baccara stood to his full height as three two bodies entered the covering.

My head lifted until I saw my father and Edoneon walking in with swords at their sides. Both men were worn from war. Burn marks, small cuts, and blood covered their tired bodies. They searched for me, but when they saw me they made no movements to come for me. The beast behind me began to growl at the two intruders. My father watched Baccara with furious eyes before unsheathing his sword.

"I see the man of the hour has arrived. I'm sure you remember me. I am Baccara son of the King of the Hematic Terre" My father made no move to come any closer.

"Why have you summoned me here?" Baccara smirked at my father before squatting down beside me and brushing a piece of hair that fell in my face away.

"I have a proposition. I want the throne of the Malignant. My father is a stubborn old man who believes his years on this ground are still many. Unfortunately, because of your daughter I have been cast out for my inability to keep her as a bride. I have taken her back as rightfully mine. I am willing to do a trade at the moment. I will give you your daughter if you give me the thrown and don't fool with me; I know it is only you who can bestow that kind of title."