𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𖥸 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨

011 | Darkening Flames

Kyran exploded into her room, the tears dripping down her face endlessly as she began to wordlessly gather her things. There was no way she was staying now after that argument. It seemed as though she couldn't stop making people her enemies. 

      Sīdereus had followed her, watching her from by the doorframe and making no attempt to come closer. At this point, she didn't even know if he was done being angry at her. She just hoped it wouldn't last forever. He was all she had left when it came to her loved ones.

     Her hands were shaking as she packed a reasonable amount of clothes that she could easily carry with her. There wasn't really anything else she could really bring with her. She was going back on the streets after all. With her arm back, she could steal food easily and it wouldn't be impossible to find a suitable place to stay for the night.

     Maybe if she took the jewelry she could sell it and rent a room at an inn or something. She'd figure things out. For now, she had to focus on getting away.

     She couldn't stay here. It was clear she wasn't welcome. They hated her.

     "Well someone seems unhappy~"

     The voice caused her to drop the bundle of clothing in her arms and whirl around, heartbeat quickening in fear as her breath caught in her throat. No. No she couldn't have possibly followed her here. 

     A woman cloaked in black, with pale blonde hair clearly visible around her neck and a brown serpent curled around her arm stepped from the shadows, a smirk on those features.
      
     "Get out of my room." Kyran's voice trembled immensely as she kept her eyes on the enemy. 

     "Hmm, no." The woman continued to approach, so Kyran took multiple steps back, eyes wide.

     Kyran made sure there was a good distance between them as her fists clenched at her side. "How did you escape?" Her eyes flickered to the door, and she shifted her weight to run in case the woman attacked.

     "I wouldn't think about running just yet. I'll catch you," Kateri chuckled as if reading her thoughts. "And I have my ways." She stepped in the path of Kyran's doorframe.

     "What do you want from me?" The redhead demanded quietly.

     "Haven't you been paying attention? I've told you already. I want you to suffer for what you did to Bella," Kateri tsked.

     Kyran shifted her weight again and backed up a bit more, until she felt the wall against her back. "Are you going to kill me?"

     Kateri took a smooth step forward, drawing a blade from the folds of her cloak. "Not yet. Definitely not yet. That'll spoil all the fun."

     "Th-Then what do you plan?" She couldn't help the tremor in her voice.

     "Either you come with me willingly, or I drag you forcefully with me."

     "Come with you?" She echoed, clutching the knife at her hip. "Where?"

     "You'll see when we get there."

     She drew the knife. "I'm not going anywhere with you." Sīdereus hissed in agreement.

     "How cute. Guess we'll have to do things the hard way. Kalili, restrain the serpent."

     Her black mamba shot across the room with her jaws wide open, but the copperhead viper flashed away into passive before she had the chance.

     Kyran yelped as a burning pain spread across her chest, right over her heart. She touched the place where the pain originated, eyes wide.

     "No matter. At least he's out of the way," Kateri mused as she tossed the knife lazily. It found its mark right into Kyran's knee. The redhead shrieked and tumbled to the floor, pain taking over her body. At the last second, she chucked her own blade, aiming for Kateri's face.

     Kateri dodged it with the grace of a serpent, shaking her head with a tsk. "You were way off there, girl." She fished another blade from her cloak and weighed it in her hands. She made no move to throw it, however.

     The redhead forced herself to her feet, the pain in her leg spiking as she put weight on it. She pushed off the wall and lunged for Kateri, feeling her street instincts take over as she made a daring thrust with her knife.

     Once again, Kateri dodged, then wrapped her hand around the girl's throat before pushing her back into the wall. "I'm enjoying this pathetic attempt at freedom, girl. But I promised my brother I'd have you by tonight. He's very excited to meet you." She dropped the words into Kyran's ear with sadistic pleasure. "I promised him the honors of ripping your will to shreds for what you did to his wife."
 
   Kyran's body was shaking as she wheezed, trying to breathe in as much air as she could with the other woman's hand wrapped around her windpipe. There was no way out of this one. Definitely no way to get out unless she screamed for help and miraculously someone came to her aid.

     But who would? The entire court save for Ciaran hated her by now. Even the Queen did. No one would come help her.

     She was on her own.

     It shouldn't have surprised her. She was always alone, even surrounded by others. It seemed that fate never destined for her to be happy.
     
     "Giving up so soon? I thought you'd at least make things interesting by putting up a fight. Guess not. No matter though. It just makes my job much easier." 

      Kyran couldn't stop the tears from leaking out of her eyes as the woman sheathed her blade lazily.

     This was the end.

     At least she'd die knowing that Sīdereus didn't hate her.

     Kateri's fist rammed right into her face, causing her nose to crack and fresh blood began to stream down her face and mix with the saltiness of her tears. Her sapphire eyes saw stars and the moment she hit the ground, she fell into an unwelcoming darkness.