Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Four

The knock on the door causes my body to stir as my heavy eyes remain shut, but once a hand rests on my shoulder I flinch awake and throw the person over my body. Pinning them to my bed I jab my forearm into their throat and slide the knife I was given from out underneath my pillow.

"You like to go rough in bed I see," Alaric gently pulls my arm off his throat and lowers the knife as he sits up.

I sigh and relax a little as I slip off his lap shaking my head trying to cool my nerves, "it's just you."

"Is that a good thing?" He asks hopping off my bed.

"If it weren't I would've stabbed you," I tuck the knife under my belt and reach for my bow.

"You won't be needing that," Ric takes my hand and pulls me away from my bow.

"I don't go anywhere without it," I yank my hand away and wipe it on Issy's shirt which lays on her bed.

"But after I train you you'll be so good at self defence you won't need it."

I give an unimpressed look before gazing back at the bow.

"In order for me to trust you I need you to trust me a little. Give me a sign that you aren't going to kill me in your bed, I like it rough but not that rough." Alaric walks to the door and opens it.

"Ew," I groan, "you don't have to say it like that." The complaining tone dulls as I follow Alaric, fiddling with my knife as I notice that everyone in the house is gone but Adam who sits at the table glaring at me.

"Also you were right Adam," Alaric rests his hand on Adam's shoulder which he immediately shoves off.

"Don't touch me." Adam glares with daggers in his eyes, "get out of here before I gut you."

I stare at the wild-eyed Alaric as he kicks the legs of Adam's chair off the ground. He spins on one leg like a spin top before Alaric finally stops the chair so that Adam faces him. Alaric's icy eyes freeze over and he slams the back of the chair into the table which is behind Adam.

"Don't threaten me," Alaric glares back, his light eyes only darkening, light no longer reflects off of them but is absorbed into the abyss. "Don't make me regret giving you a place to live. I can and will make your life a living hell if you treat me with that disrespect again."

An uneasy silence scrapes the walls, begging to be let out of the tiny, suffocating room. Uncomfortably I inch towards Alaric and tap his shoulder, "we should go before it gets late."

He lets go of the back of the chair and holds the eye contact with Adam who shifts his gaze to me before returning to Alaric. I walk out the house and Alaric follows his eyes steady as the darkness seeps out of them. He reminds me of Luke in that way, one second he will be kind, the next dark and unfamiliar— the only thing is that now everything about Luke is familiar.

We walk to a park where men are training, some groups larger then others, but each one practicing their techniques. I shift uncomfortably as some of the men's eyes move to me and off their opponents as they scan my body.

God, are all men here desperate?

I roll my eyes and cross my arms giving them glares.

"You know it wouldn't kill you to be nice," Alaric sighs.

"I think it would. I'm not a fan of being an object that is examined by men."

"Do you need me to make you a sign that says no looking only touching." Alaric snickers to himself as he greets some of his friends.

"No thanks," I growl, "I think I can handle myself."

"Good to know, when we are on the battle field I need to know that you can take care of yourself. Hence why I am giving you lessons during the time men usually train."