Master of Death

Chapter 3 - Vengeance

Vengeance

Rage is a fire that creates the poison of hate, destroying everything in its wake.

Despite the darkness I persist my run further, even when I feel as though my lungs are threatening to burn out of my body. I only stop when I am seemingly on the verge of death, sitting up against a tree and gasping for the air I desperately need. Everyone watched me kill those soldiers, and their eyes were brimming with fear and hatred. I can't stand those stares that judge me upon first sight, and every time I see them all I want is to get as far away from them as I possibly can.

I tilt my face up to meet the starry sky. The moon's gentle glow kisses my face with the purest love I have ever felt. A love so forgiving and magical that it is all that is there for me when I am without anyone else. The night carries with it many secrets; monsters or otherwise, all of which I am unafraid of even at my most vulnerable. How can I fear what hides so desperately under the cover of darkness the same way that I have done for as long as I can remember? They are similar to me in that sense, whoever they might be.

But without a house to sleep in, no warm bed or blanket to give me even the slightest sense of assurance, I rely on the soft earth beneath me to be my shelter for tonight. Curling up on my side, I contain what warmth circulates throughout my body, and hold myself together while struggling to sleep.

A sleep that proves to be restless.

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The sound of a branch snapping somewhere near causes me to flinch out of my slumber. I have to remind myself not to groan as I stretch and open my drowsy eyes. I prop myself up on my left hand and survey my surroundings where it was too dark to properly see last night. I hear rustling and conversing only a few minutes away, and peek between a bush to see who it is. There is a grand carriage that I recognize to be used by the princess of the territory we're in. There are a few soldiers riding horses, though most of them are walking on foot with their hands constantly touching the hilts of their swords. Now that I think about it, these people could be a great help to me in my current condition. I move around a bit and prepare to act like an injured noble girl, and I don't go unnoticed.

"Who's there?" One of the soldiers asks, stopping everyone's movement.

I moan as if in pain and use the tree beside me to help me to my feet while I breathe heavily with fear in my eyes. My blood stained dress, filthy skin, and disastrous hair help me out a fair bit. My act must be working because everyone lowers their guard and one of the men walks over to me.

"What is your name?" he asks with a less guarded voice.

"Isis, sir," I reply quietly and with more innocence than I have.

"Guards, what's going on?" Everyone turns their heads to look at the princess dressed in a robe of blue and pink silk, who steps down from the carriage. She can't be any older than me, and is incredibly beautiful as all the princesses I have seen are. "Good god, what happened to you?" she asks me with wide eyes.

"Th- The city not far from here was attacked by soldiers if Emperor Shin. They came so close to killing so many people; they even ransacked people's homes and beat some of them. I- I saw someone killing them but I fled before I saw anything else. I didn't know what else to," I stutter with tears rimming my eyes.

"We you no longer have to fear, friend. We are stopping at the next city. There I shall supply you with a new dress and hot bath to clean you up. Poor thing, you must be so tired," she says sweetly. "Come with me,"

The man beside me takes my hand and helps me get to the princess, who's shiny hair is done up in a complicated bun decorated with pricy pins. She and I are both helped into the cart with a decorative interior and exterior, where the door is locked and the princess hands me a blanket that I wrap myself in.