A Wager Of The Heart

65. The beast

:::Kent:::

I heard her sob and ran in the direction of the noise. I was no longer in control of my sense, I acted purely on instinct as I ran in the dark. There was a break in the hedge just ahead. I turned into the opening and stopped at the sight before me. 

One of them held Charity and another stood in front of her, blocking my view. "Halt!" One said as he stepped away from his brother and flashed a knife in the small amount of light before placing it back at her neck.

The other one turned with astonishment on his loathsome face. He smiled and watched me, he held a knife as well. I didn't care. I was no longer sensible, I was a beast acting solely on the primal need to get my woman back. I was going to kill them. I took a step forward and the one not holding Charity, the one that would die first, spoke. "One more step and Tallys will finish her."

I took another step but stopped when I heard her whimper. I took my eyes off my adversary and saw my dark, beautiful angel for the first time. Her hair was undone and fell in a twisted mess on either side of her neck. Her face was red and bruised even in the dim light, her silver eyes shone large in fear and anger. There was a but along her jaw amongst the swelling and another where the knife pressed into her skin, a small trail of blood ran down her neck. 

My conscious mind slammed back into my body. I would kill them, I would pound their faces until their skills were nothing but mush. But first I must get her away, make my angel safe. My eyes continued down her neck and I noticed for the first time that her shoulders were exposed, one cut and bleeding. Her dress was sliced down to where I assumed her navel would be, the only thing protecting her modesty was a thin, white chemise. Reason left me as I lunged forward and punched Kesler with all of my primal force. He fell to the ground and I turned on the man who held my angel and I growled. 

The other one pressed the blade closer to her neck and began walking in a slow circle so he was by the exit. Charity was not breathing and she stumbled as she walked backwards making the edge slice her skin and she cried out. I stopped advancing on the pair and my mind came back into my control. 

Kesler got slowly to his feet and watched me angrily as he regained his balance. "Look at her again and Tallys will slit her throat." Kesler spoke clearly and the anger left his face. He seemed completely at ease.

"It seems an awful waste when you've come so far to obtain something." I snapped, trying to devise a plan to get Charity to safety. My rage threatened to rob me of my senses yet again at his smug look. I took a few deep breaths to remain in control.

"Charity means very little, I was having a bit of fun. There are many others like her so it would be nothing to dispose of her." Kesler spoke casually, as if we were good friends and discussing tea in the comfort of my home. "Besides, she came to me. She wants this."

I grunted and tried again. "You would lose too much if you did anything to harm her." 

I ground my teeth as another unconcerned laugh erupted from his mouth. "No one would mourn a bastard. Ridding the world of a disgrace would only gain us favor among the people who matter."

We watched each other in silence as I reevaluated. He was beyond reasoning. They could not really hurt my angel before I got to her but she'd suffered enough and I didn't want another inch of her skin harmed by these people. If I could not reason with him, I would do the next best thing. "I go tired of your words." I said dismissively. "I will give you a choice: annihilation or demolishment." I said calmly. 

"Come again?" Kesler asked, his smug smile plastered to his ugly, imprudent face.

"You must choose between being pummeled beyond recognition, where each breath you labor for will bring pain so severe you will think yourself already in hell or you release Charity and you still get that, but less so." I elaborated, my voice low and dangerous. 

Both men laughed and watched my face and laughed again. I stared calmly at Kesler and waited. He continued to laugh even after his brother stopped. He was testing my resolve and I smiled when I saw his confidence falter. Kesler looked me up and down and his careless smirk returned. "You no longer have an advantage, you may be stronger and faster than either of us but we are particularly skilled with these little beauties." Kesler said, turning the knife on his finger tip.

I looked at Charity and was relieved to see that she had calmed down from her panic. She stood just as secured as before but she was no longer on her toes to avoid the sting of the blade. "I said don't look at her!" Kesler screeched angrily. My eyes swept over him and he gestured to his brother. Faster than sight Tallys' hand swept down and back with the knife at Charity's throat. She yelled and I saw the single thin line of blood appear above her left breast. "That was a warning." Kesler said when I met his gaze again.