Red & Wolf

1. Hourglass Reversed

"..... er here Valerie?"

A familiar voice echoed through the rumbling darkness. What was it?

And slowly Vally opened her tired and groggy eyes, as bare sunlight hit her face.
W-What..?

"That's pretty unlady-like, Valerie!" echoed the same voice. And a certain instinct-

And within a moment Valerie was sitting up, grabbing the outstretched had of the other person, in an alert and tight grip. It was all instinct, all she'd learned on the battlefield -

"V-Va.. lerie..?" mumbled the other person in a shock. It was a maid —no, Valerie's personal maid, Lorna. But why was she here? Wasn't she dead? Wait, why is she, Valerie herself, is here?

She was supposed to be dead. Long dead on the battlefield..

"Y-You're hurting me.."

"O-Oh, I apologise." Valerie spoke softly, snapping back to reality, and releasing Lorna's hand. Was that all a dream? No way... Too vivid!

Looking up at Lorna, the confused maid was about to say something when there was a knock on the carriage door. Yes, they were in a carriage.

Upon open, Lorna exited first and another outstretched hand, of a man, was ready for Valerie's descent. None other than, good old Thomas.

Still half dipped in her thoughts, Valerie descended and blindly followed her maid.

The pain of the sword, embedding itself into her shoulders, thigh, and guts... too real!

"Ah! Here we are" Lorna exclaimed, making Valerie look up as well. And her eyes widened.

She remembers everything... Everything's coming to her!

Yes. Slowly each and every memory was flowing into Valerie's head suddenly, like a puzzle shaping itself to fill the voids.

This is all where it started!

This is the place where her life took it's turn! After which she was no more the Duke's daughter or Valerie Rosevelt.. But the path to the journey of being a Tyrant!

                          ✶✶✶✶✶✶

"DRAG OUT THAT BASTARD, FROM WHEREVER HE'S HIDING!"

The voice seemed to shake the whole forest, into a menace. He couldn't let him go—not until he's this close to killing that traitor. This close.

"Lus—I mean prince, Nine is nowhere to be found."

"What are you cackling, Ren" Growled Luscious, viciously enough, that his fangs could be spotted easily. Ren, who was just the captain of the guard, shrunk back a metre from the Royal Blood.

"T-The patrol.. Even the assassins, they tried scouting —"

"Tell them to try harder!" Barked Luscious again. "Tell them, failing me has its on Dire consequences —and I'm sure they are well aware of how Nine's suffering it too... No go!"

A slight blow of submission.

"Yes, O'Second Prince of Werewolves. As you command....."

Luscious nodded, dismissing his servant. And then a grin that spread across his features. Unsheathing his sword, which was stained with blood, he ran a finger over it, as the menacing smile widened.

"A curr you are, Nine.." He said more of it to himself. ".. How long can a pup run after taking such a lethal blow?"

                            ✶✶✶✶✶✶

No more.. He could barely walk, rest alone hide from them.

The stump of the tree barely supported his body as Nine leaned back. Only his hands against his side was the only thing, that was prevent his guts from slipping out.

Running was futile, and Lus was right. A lethal blow of his sword, it wasn't a joke—certainly not. He could feel his life leaking out with his blood.

His breath was ragged, as he winced even at a single look, at that cut. Was it about to end so soon..? Like this?

"Here! I picked up his smell"

The two ears on Nine's head stood up. Goddammit... When was this gonna end?

                          ✶✶✶✶✶✶