fear and hope

- chapter two -

The moon was halfway through her course across the sky by the time the man was ready to start his task. I had changed back to my human form and watched him look at different symbols and mutter about spiritual alignment, another crazy Oracle, i thought, rolling my eyes...

****

... I often found myself glancing toward my twin and holding my breathe, listening for his. Nothing? Of course not. He's gone!

I laugh when the moon guy looks at me weirdly. I must look like im kn the verge of insanity.
Something about the look made caution echo in my mind though.... Something.... Evil.

"What's your name?"

"You're doing the will of a godess, you tell me" i snap, sick of his presence

He bared his teeth and said

"You're just making this harder on yourself"

"Fuck you" i spat "my twin has died and i havent even had time to mourn him. My life is hard enough, why would i make it harder"

"Because thats what people do" a quite voice said and when i turned, a quick left jab made me fall to the earth. I didnt feel the impact, or the man's hands when he lifted and slung me over his shoulder as if i were a shoulder strap from his favourite bag. I didnt feel the cold air stick needles in my arms and i didnt feel the warm breathe of the man carrying me. My brain sloshed around in its bone cage, sending tigles of static down my spine and arms, life went on around me normaly though, oblivious to my abduction. Id probably be dead soon i thought but remembered the mans words and i closed my eyes to stop the tears.

No, i thought, jaw clenched

I would find my brother.

When the word brother entered my mind, the world snapped back into the loud, filthy place that it was and i attempted to keep my muscles limp. They didnt know i had awoken and i would use that to my advantage.

"Hurry up" man 1 growled "she's already changing"

Man 2 growled back quitely but didnt answer.

Changes aye? I mused, hiding a smile.

A potential strength over them perhaps?

******

Soon we were in a meadow. The moonlight played with a small stream nearby and the scent of rotting wood penetrated my nose. Filling my tired mind with images of spruce and oak trees stretching themselves on rainy days.

Of lightning racing accross the sky and mist soothing angry souls.

Guy 2 ruined my mental slide show when he dumped me on the ground (rather unceremoniously) and gave me a short sharp kick in the ribs.

I screamed and curled up, shocked by my own weakness. I was a warrior god damnit. Not some bastard pup.

Man 1 snicked and a cold rage filled me, i will wear this mans pelt. I growled to myself.
A plan crystalised in my mind and i hid a grin.
When he grabbed and hauled me to my feet i used the potential energy to form momentum and drove my elbow into his solar plexus before smashing a backhand fist into the bridge of his nose. a sickening crunch followed by the mans howl gave me satisfaction..
but it was temporary because my other opponent made use of my distraction and grabbed a fistful of my hair before jolting me back in his grip and forcing me to my knees.
I growled and thrashed but the man just tightened his grip on me.
There was no escape.
Man 1 walked over to me, his face a mixture of rage and smugness and i spat at his feet.

"You fight without honour you ass breathed slug"

His raged intensified and his hand snapped across my cheek. Splitting the soft skin with his knuckles.

"Maybe we should keep her" he mused "The bitch has claws after all."

When he finished his sentense i snorted.

"You can't keep me. I already belong to someone."

He snarled and ripped the shirt off my shoulder.

"You bear no mark, you belong to no one."

I snarled back and said

"I am a soldier, i belong to my unit. maybe you should've came to moonsoul when my father sold me to the highest bidder."

Man 2, his tone contemplative and voice still soft said

"I know what thats like."

"Well" i said but the words caught my ears and i continued, less certain this time. "wait... what?"

"I understand what its like" he s

aid again patiently.

I turned my head slowly in his direction, which he allowed, loosening his grip on my hair and i looked at him properly for the first time. Scars, large and small, criss-crossed the skin on his arms, neck and jaw. another one stood out alone on his face, jagged and still raw, running from his temple to his cheek....  but it complimented his face somehow... in a weird... Sick way.

All the things he's been through to get those scars... Inside my mind i whistled but i kept my expression blank whilst looking at him. He only returned the favour. Not bothering to be subtle.
I came to a conclusion.
I didnt pity him (A warrior didn't like sympathy) but i would respect him. I glared at man 1 and turned back to man 2.
"Do you have a name?"
"Yes"
"Can i know it?"
"Well-" he said. Uncertain for the first time ever in my presence "-im not sure-"
"Just tell me" i say cutting off his words.
He schooled his features into a careful blankness and said his next words with care.
"My name is seraph"

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Haha. You thought i was going to tell you anything important in this chapter?... Damn. Oh well *shrugs* i might add something in the next chapter. Emphasis on might...
Anyway.
This book will be about struggle and i might add a bit of war and what you people recognise as love as well. Still dont know. This story is just a mumbled word in a complex vocabulary.

Bye now.