The Old Gods

Enemy

Zorya was exhausted, her body was so tired, her soul couldn't take it anymore, and she desperately needed to be away from every possible human contact. As soon as the funeral ended, she left her parents to mourn for their child, because it was so hard to watch them suffer so badly. Boris distanced himself as well, avoiding Zorya as much as it was possible, probably feeling unbearable guilt because of the fact that Yaropolk died in her arms, and he wasn't able to do anything to prevent that.

And also, Zorya always felt as the twins could not live without each other, she considered it to be a sacred bound between the two of them, something she couldn't ever understand.

That night, Zorya took her axe, and went into the forest taking her wolf with her, she needed to isolate from all the pitiful looks she has been receiving since news of her brother's death spread, she didn't want compassion, she didn't needed anyone to understand her and to tell her that it is going to be alright, she just needed to be alone with her thoughts.

She rushed to the crystal clear river that was flowing through the forest and started aggressively washing her hands, finally wiping the blood away, she just needed it to be gone from her skin.

The images of the previous battle flashed in her mind, together with the memories from her childhood, making her feel lost in her own mind as she almost tearing the skin from her hands as she wished to remove the blood. The cold water numbed her hands, making her feel no pain or fear that she will hurt herself.

Suddenly, Kreshnik growled and Zorya immediately grabbed her axe cursing herself for not being careful enough, because her forest was not as safe with all the enemies around. She saw a man holding a torch, and she had recognized the face of King Darius the Dark. His presence would probably scare her, but now it only made her angry.

"This forest is not safe for someone like you." Zorya snapped

"Are you referring to my eyes again princess?" Darius asked as he began approaching her, and her body tensed.

"No. I am referring to the fact that you don't know it, and it doesn't know you either, so it could have a desire to hurt you." Zorya said making Darius almost chuckle at her words.

"I am coming in peace princess."

"I don't want your peace."

"But you don't want my wrath either." Darius answered with a twisted smile on his face.

"You want a revenge, am I right?" Darius asked.

Maybe, he was right, maybe a part of her soul ached for a brutal, barbaric vendetta already, but not on him, it wouldn't be honorable considering the fact that he had stopped the battle when Yaropolk was slaughtered and she wasn't in a suitable condition to fight.

"Enough died today." Zorya said as she placed down her axe, surprising Darius with so civilized answer, even more then he was surprised she didn't jump at him together with her beast to try to pull his throat out.

"Is that the reason you are not already trying to kill me?"

"No, I simply owe you."

"Owe me for what?" Darius frowned.

"You could have killed me today, when I mourned my brother and you chosen to stop the battle instead. I respect you for that."

The princess suddenly caught him off the guard, she noticed something that he didn't want to admit to himself, but seeing that pagan girl in pain didn't bring him pleasure, in fact it made him feel bad, as if he had done something terribly wrong.

But Darius refused to trust his instincts, she was a savage, as same as every other pagan, and as every single one of them, she carried something evil and wild inside of her.

"I am not a savage." Darius answered coldly.

"And that means that you probably think that I am one?"

"Are you not?"

"I don't know. I am what you call a pagan, I carry a weapon and fight the battles, I hunt, and I kill when I have to. But don't you do the same? Only, you justify your acts with your religion calling yourself civilized." Zorya said.

Never before Darius heard a woman speak like that, and Zorya was even an uneducated pagan girl.

She could be so much more, it would be ashamed to leave such a gem here.

Darius smiled slightly as he sat on the ground right beside her, a making her body tense with fear, afraid that he might wanted to hurt her after hearing her speak such a words.

"Allow me to see you." Darius said.

Zorya shivered at the way he spoke his words, with his low and enchanting voice that made her feel uncomfortable in some strange way that she actually liked.

"You are allowed."

"You have my gratitude."

The rough and cold hand found its' way on her face, making her almost jump in surprised. It traveled from her tender cheek, touching her forehead and her yaw as well, just slightly brushing her pink lips.

Zorya cursed herself as soon as she felt her heart race.

Darius seemed contented with her reaction, he removed his hand from her face that he had studied with his touch, making sure that his eyes didn't cheat on him while he fought her on the battlefield. Surprisingly, his damaged eyes were telling the truth, the pagan princess was indeed a beauty, in some different and feral way.

"So? Do I look like a savage?" Zorya finally broke the silence.

"Indeed you do."

"I am glad to hear so."

Through his damaged vision Darius was able to notice something else as well, or he was thinking that he was, he could rarely rely on his eyes. He noticed her hands were covered in something that looked like wounds and blood.

"Did you hurt your hands?"

"People get hurt in the battles all the time."

Darius shook his head and took a tissue out from his pocket and carefully placed it on her wounded hands.

"Don't be dumb! You should't take care of your enemy's wounds!" Zorya snapped.

"I am doing that so we can fight again soon." Darius answered with a smile on his lips before he got up from where he was sitting.

"Good night princess." 

Hey everyone, here is another chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading! 

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