The Sinister blade

E I G T H T E E N : G A R E N

She's a very strong person. Talon used to say. She's so good at hiding her emotions including fear, confusion, love, but she is very bad at hiding her anger. She always thought that violence solves all problems. And when she has a goal, nothing will distract her from working on it. No one will stop her from achieving her aim. I fell in love with a devil & I cannot find my way out of it.

I look at Katarina and search for the devil which Talon was describing and I cannot find him anywhere inside of her. Her hair falls on her shoulders & I can see the sweat on her forehead every time she jumps trying to find a way through the jungle of Leary. All I see is the will to survive in her wild green eyes.

Katarina & I reach the Demacian castle. She's panting next to me as we have been running all the way. She was too fast. If I didn't know it's my attention she wants, I'd think she was running away from me, not to me.

'' Finally, you're back. '' A voice says from behind as Katarina and I enter the castle. I turn to face Akali who has been standing by the castle's gate.

'' Oh Hi Akali! '' I salute her trying to hide how anxious I am from her actions. Akali has been watching me now for days because of Katarina. Every Demacian member knows how much I hate to be watched & spied on, especially by an assassin.

Another thing which annoys me, I don't want Akali to find out Katarina's real identity. If she does, she will tell about her for sure. And that's not going to end well for both of us.

'' Hey Garen. Hello Katja. '' Akali's eyes are on Katja who just sighs and leaves both of us on the corridor.

'' What are you doing here? Isn't it too early? '' I question Akali who's still watching Katja walk away from us.

'' I think I should ask you the same thing. '' Akali says as she walks a few steps towards me. '' What were you doing in the jungle of Leary? '' She says those words and I confirm that Akali is a threat now for Katarina more than she might be for me.

'' That's it Akali. I order you to leave this castle and continue your training programme in another area. I'll tell the coordinators to inform you which tribe you shall join next. '' I say the words and walk away from Akali who has been as surprised from my reaction as I was.

I know what I did must be wrong. But I cannot risk Katarina's identity to be discovered by an Ionian assassin.

'' I really don't understand why would you be defending Katarina Du Couteaux? '' Akali shouts from behind. And I freeze in my place. '' Why would you defend your father's murderer? '' As I hear her shouting the word I brutally turn and rush towards her.

'' Lower your voice. Do your ears hear what your saying? '' I aggressively hold her arms in my hands.

'' You're hurting me. '' She tries to release herself from my grab.

As I hear the voices of guards approaching us, I let her go. My eyes are still on her. Questioning how she already found out about Katarina's real identity. Only if she wasn't my friend. Only if she wasn't a champion. I would've known how to shut her completely. I would've sent her away for good.

'' Are you okay? '' I ask as I see the blue scars I left on her arms.

'' Do you really care Garen? Do you even care about anything except that criminal? '' Her voice is still loud enough for the guards to hear which annoys me.

'' Lower your voice. '' I order her.

'' I won't. I really do not understand. Why are you protecting her? '' She keeps shouting and I drag her from her arm towards the nearest room, her own room which is opposite to Katarina's.

'' Let me go! '' Akali keeps shouting & tries to open the door brutally.

'' Is everything okay? '' I hear a soft voice coming from outside.

'' Get me out of here, please! '' Akali keeps shouting & the room's door slams open. It's Katarina Du Couteaux.

Katarina drags Akali out of the room and she shoots one of her daggers which falls on my shoulder. At the surprise & the speed of the moment the guards arrive to the room. I manage to hide my injured shoulder with my Armor.

'' Everything is under control. Don't worry guys. '' I tell the guards who don't seem to understand anything. I keep avoiding Katarina's eyes which are watching me and trying to gaze under my Armor.

The guards walk away of us and I get out of Akali's room. As I do, she goes back inside and locks herself.

'' I am sorry I didn't know it was you. '' Katarina tries to hide her worry under her sharp tone. But she fails to hide it more as she holds my hand and tries to wipe away the blood which is streaming down my shoulder.

'' Don't panic okay, I know someone who can help. '' According to her, she's trying to calm me down. Only because she doesn't know that the storm which is bursting inside of me isn't because of the injury.

'' It's fine. '' I hardly spell out the words.

'' It's bleeding! '' Katarina drags me inside of her room. She starts removing my armor from my shoulders which seems very heavy for her. As she sees her knife hanging, she tries to take it out. '' It's not going to hurt. I promise. '' She comforts me. She takes out the dagger & I don't feel anything except her hands laying on my shoulder.

Katarina brings a bowl of water & starts washing the blood off of my shoulder. She keeps glancing at me checking if it's hurting me. Only if she knows that at this moment, I do not feel anything except her hands on my skin. As she talks, I can only see her lips moving, the only sound I hear is my uncontrollable heartbeats.

I close my eyes to ignore the feelings which are overwhelming me. Hoping she'll finish soon & I can get out of here. Hoping she won't notice what her touch does to me.