Nero Salvic~Memories of the Protector

Chapter 7

I wake up awkwardly the next morning, dizzy, but I have no time to focus.

There’s noise outside my door.

Again.

What is this? Mess with Nat week?

I sigh, not sitting up, but just moving my head so I can stare at the door.

There’s a knock. I don’t react.

“Oi!” A woman’s voice, foul to my ears, calls, banging the door with her fist harder.

I groan.

“DICK-HEAD!” Zecta yells, “Open up.”

“It isn’t locked, shit-bag.” I reply, voice sour.

Zecta pushes the door open, frowning angrily.

Her face appears to me like a storm.

“I’m here to talk about the other day.” She growls.

“Ah.” I smirk, sitting up, “Perhaps we should.”

“I’ve brought,” She starts, considering her words, “a friend.”

I raise my eyebrow.

“I believe you know her, if what you told us last night is true.”

My eyes go wide, and I grit my teeth and lean back as as silhouette enters.

I recognise this person.

Long red hair, sea coloured eyes…

“A…Annetta…” I stumble, voice confused. But then the look in my eyes hardens.

I jump to my feet, bed sheets flying across my bed.

I’m fully dressed from the night before.

I hurry to the door, putting my hand on Annetta’s back to push her out of my home.

I’m taller than her now.

She’s just a woman. And I’m a fully-grown man now.

“Nathan!” She protests.

“I never liked that nickname!” I hiss at her, and her eyes go wide this time.

“Na… Nat…” She tries.

I just growl slightly and go back to pushing her out of the door.

Elsi is standing outside the door.

“Oh no, mate.” She says, the look in her eyes dares me to try and win against her in this game of strength, giving it a sense of a tug-of-war event. Reversed.

Push-of-war?

I frown and throw her a look that says I accept her challenge.

But I pull Annetta into my house.

I notice that she’s more casual today, not in the ridiculous, beautiful, dress from when Mother dragged her into town.

I suppose it wouldn’t have been a case of dragging, if Priscilla didn’t make her dress like that.

“Nat.” Annetta says, and I turn to her, a furious glare settling on her.

I walk into the only other room.

“How did you end up in a place like this?” She asks, studying the dank walls, the dirtied sheets on a bed where the wooden supports are growing moldy.

The one cabinet, my bedside table, is also rotting, and one draw hangs out, revealing my collection of weaponry.

“You aren’t still… playing those games… are you?” She asks, her eyes settle on the weapons.

I look down at them.

“No.” I answer simply, but then go cruelly on to explain, “I found the answers to my questions concerning that, and I am yet to think of new ones.”

I smirk at Zecta.

“However,” I continue, “I have a new game.”

Zecta folds her arms over her breasts to protect them, but I can see them a bit, at the top, pressed together.

I chuckle devilishly.

Annetta realises.

“NAT!” She cries, “That’s vulgar! I never thought my brother could be a voyeur.”

I turn my smirk on her, it’s a cruel look that I wear.

“You’d be surprised how many voyeurs there are in this town. Get used to it.” There’s a slightly sour tone directed at Zecta.

“You’re the only voyeur. We are thieves.” Zecta protests.

“Thieves who dabble in assassination.” I snap at her.

“Assassination…?” Annetta seems slightly shocked, but not as much as someone might expect her too.

She, too, has dabbled in weaponry and war.

She, too, came close to killing.

I turn the conversation to Annetta.

“What about you?” I ask, “What are you here for?”

“Here for what?” I reply snidely, “For me? Don’t lie, sister. I know you wouldn’t take me back to the castle.”

She stands stunned for a moment, not expecting me to steal her reason and announce her bluff.

She sighs, and puts her hand out.

“I want my dagger back.” She demands.

“What…?” I don’t recall for a moment. “Ah.” I remember, “THAT dagger?”

“Yes.”

“The ‘party trick’ dagger?”

She nods reluctantly.

“That wasn’t a party trick,” She spits, “That was stupid.”

“Oh?” I smirk, then turn away, “Anyway, I can’t return it.”

“What?!” She seems angry, I’m not sure though.

Her eyes are deceptive…

I frown as I look into them and turn to look at Zecta.

“Where’s Krasia?” I ask Zecta.

She glares at me.

“She has the fucking dagger, ass-hole.” I hiss.

Zecta grits her teeth.

“Probably with Dragon. That guy follows her like a puppy.”

“He’s a dog. What do you expect?” I snicker.

“He’s not a dog. He’s cursed.”

“He’s a dog.”

“Curse.”

“Stop it. Where’s my god damn dagger?” Annetta cuts in.

We both smirk at Annetta, and Elsi puts her head in her hand, embarrassed, outside and leaves.

“Alright.” Zecta gives in, “Whatever. She’s probably at the base.”

I step outside, pulling Zecta behind me by her wrist, and she struggles to pull away.

Annetta follows unsurely, but determined, behind us.

 ____________________________________________________________________________

Author Note:

Is it just me, or have I accidentally made it seem like something is going on between Zecta and Nat?

Seems interesting if you ask me.

Ah well... I suppose I'll find out as I write more. I'm not even sure myself, you see. It's just something I've noticed.