Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Thirty One

I gulp as my fear turns to rage. The door behind us slams shut and Maverick slides a metal bar in it to keep it shut.

I raise my bow with an arrow on the shelf, but I don't pull the string back as my shoulders scream in pain. "You starved our people. Forced them to train and fight so they could be a pawn in your game."

John shrugs, "It was Lady's brilliant idea, I just executed it."

My nose scrunches and I feel my fingers tighten around my string. I loosen my grip and pull back as the four guards step forward to protect John. Alaric, Luke, Adam and Maverick spring into the fight, their attacks are jagged and unpredictable. Bodies weave with one another and I grunt in annoyance before locking onto a target. I release my string; the arrow slips between one man's helmet and breastplate, striking his throat. He collapses and Luke jams his sword through his side smoothly. Adam struggles to fight off his opponent, so Luke and steps in to help bring him down.

My eyes scan the room before finally resting on a cocky man.

"John!" I yell and draw my loaded string back again, "Hasn't anyone ever told you to kill the archer first?"

John's head tilts as he swings his sword, "You think I'm scared of your little arrow?"  

"It shouldn't be my arrow that scares you," I growl, "it should be my iron will. I don't miss."

"I'm not afraid of you," John spits at my feet and sneers. "Your weak like the Immunis I sent to battle."

"No," I build up the courage and hold my head high. "I'm strong like the Immunis you sent to battle." I release the string and he jumps out of the way so it grazes his arm.

I take another shot and it hits him in the helmet, wedged between the bars hiding his face. John grabs the arrow and try's yanking it out as I drop my bow and grab my duel daggers. I smash my fist into his helmet and it flies off, revealing his strained eyes.

"That's for killing my mother," I squint at him and jab my elbow into his nose, "That's for sending a little boy into battle." I kick his sword out of his hand, "That's for starving my people." I punch his ribs as he stumbles back, "That's for the innocent people you've killed."

John shoves me back licks up his sword and swings it again, "I will make you fear me."

I deflect the swing and kick his kneecaps, "That's for sacrificing the Immunis." I spin around and let my foot smash into his face, "that's for humanity." I hold his glare and block another sturdy swing from his sword by crossing my daggers. I push back and slide his sword away before jabbing one of my daggers into his ribs and twist. He stumbles back and I kick him to the ground, trapping his neck under my dagger, "And that's for murdering Roxy."

John panics and try's wriggling from underneath me. He looks around to watch his soldiers being beaten down before turning back to me. He doesn't hide his fear, "You have a choice to make Jean. Do you want to take the path of revenge or redemption? You can't have both."

"Who are you to tell me what I can't or can have?" I growl and shove the knife to his neck, grazing his skin. I absorb his fear and willingness to submit, to admit his wrongs.

"You're the one who has to live with yourself at the end of this," John's breathes are heavy, "make you choices wisely. Let me go."

I shake my head and press harder, "You were wrong not to fear me John. Because I am terrifying."

"No!" John fights my grip and I dig deeper into his neck, "You don't have to do this!"

I shake my head, "but I do." I slice his jugular with a slip of my arm. I watch his begging eyes fade as satisfaction shivers through my body, "And that's for me."

I get up and I turn to face the stairs leading up to Lady's labyrinth. It's now or never, if Lady wants to play we can play.

Ready or not, here I come.