The Moon Dancer

Chapter 30

A scream escaped Ruhya's lips as she fell backward. Peli's blood trickled down her face, leaving crimson streaks on Ruhya's skin. Her breathing became fast and shallow with shock.

"You stupid son of a bitch! Fuck!" Peli screamed with rage and pain. He tore his shirt and pressed it tightly against the bleeding stump on his arm where his right hand used to be. The white cloth quickly turned bright red and dripped with excess blood.

Ruhya covered her mouth as she gagged. Good thing there was nothing in her stomach, or else she would have thrown it up. 

The man turned to face Ruhya, his sword stained with blood. Ruhya scampered back to Judar's side. His eyes were closed, most likely he had passed out from the pain.

"No, wait-please!" Ruhya cried out as the man stepped closer. He raised his hand and Ruhya squeezed her eyes closed with a whimper. A tear ran down her face as she waited for the sword's blow, but it never came. Instead, a warm hand rested on her head. Ruhya opened her eyes.

It was the sailor whos tongue had been cut off by Peli.

Relief flowed through Ruhya's veins as the mute man smiled down at her. He had saved her a second time even though it was because of her Peleus had attacked him. Tears burned Ruhya's eyes and flowed down her face.

"I understand, why do you keep saving me? It's all my fault that-that..." Ruhya sobbed, unable to even finish her sentence. 

Gazeem kindly patted Ruhya's head. He wished he could answer her question. He wished he could tell her that he had already lost a girl to darkness, he wished he could tell her how much it ate him up inside that he failed to save someone so close to him, but most of all, he wished that he could tell Ruhya that after all the bad he had put into the world, he wanted to save some of the good.

Besides, Gazeem had a personal grudge against Peleus, and this was the perfect opportunity to get even.

A hand for a tongue, while the exchange seemed unbalanced, it was enough for Gazeem.

"I should have known you'd be back." Peli spat out through gritted teeth, "I guess you didn't learn your lesson the first time, maybe if I splatter your brains on the floor you'll get it."

Ruhya wiped her eyes as the mute man turned back to Peli, the sword clenched tightly in his hand. She grabbed his pants and tried to pull him back.

"Please don't...I don't want to see you get hurt." Ruhya pleaded, but the man pulled his leg away. He faced Peli head on, ready to fight. 

"R-Ruhya..."

Ruhya whipped her face to Judar, his eyes were open again. He groaned in pain as he struggled to move.

"No, don't get up. You're still very hurt."

"I don't care about that. Are you okay?"

Ruhya grabbed Judar's hand and nodded, more tears flowing from her eyes. She grimaced at the sounds of fighting behind her, but she couldn't bear to look at them.

"I think the magic item's effect is wearing off. I can feel the Rukh around, but just barely." Judar groaned as green light surrounded his body. Ruhya sighed with relief, it seemed as if all his major wounds were going away. She helped Judar to stand, his arm around her shoulder as he leaned on her.

"Shouldn't she be the one leaning on you? You're too weak, you don't deserve her."

Ruhya felt ice in her stomach as she turned. Peli stood and wiped the blood that was dripping from his nose, his lips upturned in a cruel smirk. The mute man was sprawled behind Peli, a pool of blood seeping from his body.