Butterflies of Blood

Chapter 4

Aias pulled on Jokarmun's reins and they stopped.

Kaecilia turned to him, "What's wrong?"

Aias swung down from Jokarmun and took three steps away from the horses, there was a thick tension in the air and Shahromyes shuddered under the sudden malicious presence.

"So, J, you've finally come," Aias said.

A cloaked figure stepped out from behind a tree about seven meters from where Aias stood.

Lupine growled from her perch on Jokarmun's back, her ears where straight back and she had her teeth bared. The newcomer tilted their head in her direction and Lupine snarled as she crouched lower to Jokarmun. The horses twitched and fidgeted, Shahromyes could feel Oberon about to bolt and murmured soothing words although he half hoped he would take off and leave this menacing place behind.

"Elden's dead?" It was a question but the asker already knew the answer.

"He is," Aias responded.

A deathly quiet fell over the clearing.

"Hey, you in the tree, come down," Aias said but his eyes never left the person in front of him.

A second cloaked figure dropped to the ground, this one was small, childlike almost, but the same killer aura radiated from them.

"You are Aias?" J asked.

"That I am," He responded, cocking his head to the side and smiling.

A knife flew at Aias's head, he moved, just enough so that the blade sailed passed.

Kaecilia had to pull tight on the reins to stop Ari bolting.

"Stay calm," Aias snapped.

"Calm!" Kaecilia shrieked. "What's going on!"

"Later," Aias said and his voice commanded silence.

"Let's dance." J tilted her head up and Aias could see an evil smile break from under her hood.

Aias carefully removed his cloak, underneath he wore a short sleeved shirt which was laced toward the top. It was tucked into heavy pants that were stuffed into his boots. His ragged black hair hung around his shoulders and fell over one eye.

Aias held out his hand, palm up, and around his wrist was a black bracelet, at the clasp hung two double bladed scythes. Aias tapped the blades twice and then flicked open the clasp. The bracelet began expanding, doubling then tripling in size until it fell into his grasp. The weapon was terrifying in its own right, two blades curved in opposing directions off each handle, totalling four and each was the length of Aias's arm. The handles were twice the length of one blade and ended in a spear tip, connected by a long chain. Aias held the weapon, one by his side and the other resting over his shoulder, one jerk in the right direction and he would cut himself in half.

The two stood, perfectly still and then, as though on cue, lunged for each other.

Aias tossed one of the blades high into the air, catching the chain on its way past and spun it. Then he leapt forward, casting the blade out wide and hooking it around, then bringing the other down hard at J's shoulder. She side stepped and leant backwards her hands hitting the ground on the other side of the first blade and kicked up, a small knife clicked out of her boot. Aias sprung back, narrowly avoiding the attack. J landed the back flip, all her moves silent and controlled, graceful as a cat. Her hood fell back and a wild mass of black curls tumbled over her shoulders and down her back, extending all the way to her waist. Then, from beneath her cloak she hurled two knives, Aias swung around, using the momentum to throw his scythe out once more, he yanked hard on the chain and the blade cut through the air, straight towards J's head. She ducked and threw a third knife at Aias. He leapt sideways, returning the first blade to his hand and then hurled out the second, jumping over the chain to allow its maximum range. J leant backwards, just out of the way and caught the chain, she pulled hard, knocking Aias off balance. Then she shot a long, thin knife straight along the chain. Aias crumpled to the ground.