A Court of Shadows and Stars; Azriel

X

*Warning- Violence*

I coughed and spluttered weakly until the King's laughter caused me to look up. He smiled down at me menacingly. I broke contact as my throat began to burn. He didn't even flinch as I began vomiting violently, off to the side.

Before I could catch a breath, I was dragged back into the tent I was previously in with Elain.

Thankfully, she looked unscathed. Shock enveloped her features as she took in my form. I gave her a look of confusion before the guard from before blocked my view of her.

He smiled creepily at me before stepping outside the tent and shouting at the rest of the soldiers. The celebrating and cheers died down from outside and he shouted,

"Who wants to have fun tonight?"

Everyone cheered and held excited looks as they gathered in the tent around me, scanning my nearly naked figure. 'Men disgust me'.

Gathering all the strength I had left in me, I sprung myself toward them. I took a couple in the front by surprise and sliced my hand up sharply to their necks, leaving them sputtering and gasping for air on the ground.

They all looked surprised before jumping into a fighting stance. Jumping from the pile of bodies on the ground, I swung my legs around my torturer's neck. I squeezed my thighs tightly and flipped him onto the ground. Jumping up, I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine before taking on the soldiers rushing towards me.

I heard a satisfying groan come out of him before I threw myself at my next victim. I ducked under a swing and advanced forward.

No holding back.

I formed my hands into fists and launched myself at my opponent. I dug my fingers into the bicep of his swinging arms, drawing blood, while striking the forearm on the same side.

I slammed my head into his nose and he stumbled back. He and another guard rushed forward. Taking each of their faces with one hand, I ripped into their faces with my forefingers from the eyes to their throats, grabbing their windpipes.

Once they fell, I continued striking the remaining guards unceasingly. Palms to both ears, I stepped under one of their flailing punches and elbowed him in the gut, and finished him off with a heel onto the bridge of his nose.

There was no wasted motion; each movement rolled into another.

Bodies jerked from one direction to another, falling beside me. I lost myself and allowed my body to act purely on instinct. One of the few guards still standing got a punch in and blood splattered from my nose and mouth.

I acted in a tumble of movement and blinding speed, being a little less gentle with him in return for my now bloody face.

One last soldier remained and he glanced around the bodies that surrounded us, and then to my panting form. He cowered and raised his hands in surrender. Sending him a quick, powerful kick to the head, his body jerked backwards and made a satisfying noise as he collapsed amongst his comrades.

"Elain," she peeked out from behind her hands at the sound of my voice.

I rushed over to her and undid her bindings. She took notice of my lack of clothes and gasped before blushing slightly. '

Better me than you, Elain', I thought.

"Are you alright?" she nodded and her mouth parted as she looked at the bodies behind me, so I moved to block her line of sight.

Night was still overhead, and dawn was perhaps two hours away. We needed to get out of here before more soldiers discovered what happened. I grabbed Elain's hand and made our way out of the tent.