Steel Roses

Death Over Love

Fairray threw himself out of the blade's path, almost falling from the tower, scrambling to keep his balance and get to his feet, drawing his own sword.

"Now Beldon, you be careful with that, it's not a toy," he said with a smile.

"I'm more then aware of that," Beldon snarled, launching at him, Fairray parrying off the strike but just barely parrying off the second before he backed up. Beldon watched as a realisation came to his eyes, he was seeing Beldon as more than just a pretty face now.

"You think you can kill someone with your blade?" he asked. "I did not believe you a murderer."

"I do not believe myself a murderer either," Beldon said, almost following after Fairray only to stop and back away so he was in front of The Beast again. "But I'm more than willing to mortally wound you."

"Does that not mean you killed me?" Fairray asked, laughing.

"It means you died of your wounds," Beldon replied with a sneer and Fairray laughed again.

"Oh I do like you Beldon," he said, "You entertain me."

"Well I am an entertainer," Beldon said, his attention torn between Fairray and The Beast. The Beast wasn't getting up. He had said the bullet had passed straight through, that he was fine, but Beldon could hear his laboured breathing. Whatever his sickness, everything was taking its toll on him.

He blinked, realising he had been distracted, fool! A beginner's mistake!

He turned and Fairray was upon him, sword already coming down. Beldon blocked it and shoved Fairray back.

"He's already dying, Beldon, you're wasting your time and safety protecting him!"

"He's not dying, he's just sick!"

"Sick from what I wonder, because it's not the bullet. Maybe it's a broken heart."

"Nothing's happened to break his heart yet," Beldon snarled, forcing Fairray further back, his sword swinging upwards and catching Fairray across the neck.

It wasn't deep enough to do damage, but it drew a line of blood across his throat, making his hand fly to his skin as he let out a gasp of shock. He pulled his hand back, staring at it as the rain started to wash blood off. Then he clenched his hand into a fist and his easy-going eyes darkened to a glare.

"You pushed your limits, beauty," he muttered and lunged at Beldon.

Beldon side-stepped, keeping his blade between them, easily blocking each strike. Fairray was good, there was no denying, but Beldon was better. Fairray's only defence was he had extremely quick reflexes - and what a defence that was.

Beldon managed to catch Fairray twice more, once across the wrist and the next across the cheek. The strikes were never quite good enough though.

And then Fairray glanced past him and jerked back in horror.

Like a fool, Beldon turned, glanced over his shoulder, just a second, a terror clutching his heart that something had happened The Beast and the point of Fairray's sword drove straight into his shoulder.

Beldon screamed as he was forced down, hitting the floor on his back and grabbing the sword, trying to pull it free as Fairray slammed his foot down on Beldon's chest to hold him down as he ground the blade down into Beldon's muscles.

Beldon let out another roar of pain, his screams echoing over the thunder and rain, his hand flying out to try and catch his own sword that had fallen away from him.

And then Fairray was gone.

Hurled aside; into a wall, hitting the ground and gasping, a snarl of pain emitting from his own mouth.