36 Begging for mercy

Beth felt helpless. She knew that she was going to die tonight just because she was a witness. But maybe if she told them the truth, they would spare the girl, she thought hopefully. 

 She stepped forward, her hands clenching into fists. "You don't understand. She-"

"Three." One's cold voice rang loudly, interrupting her confession.

Within seconds, she got pushed to the ground as the minor god passed by her to get to the girl. Beth looked at the sight in horror. These gods had no mercy. The woman gripped Fifty-eight's bruised wrists tightly, pulling them back at an awkward angle to stop her from struggling too much. 

"No! Leave me!" Fifty-eight cried out helplessly.

One clucked her tongue, shaking her head at the sight in disappointment. "And you were such a hardworking slave. It is a pity that I have to do this." She said, pushing her hands into her robes.

That was when Beth noticed it. Inside the folds of the cold god's robe was a long sword, secured tightly around her waist and guarded by a decorated sheath. The woman's hand gripped its hilt languidly as an uninterested expression enveloped her features. There was no hesitation in her eyes nor pity. All that remained was an endless cold that sent shivers down the onlooker's spine. 

"Please." Fifty-eight managed to croak, trying hard not to scream from pain. 

One huffed. leaning towards the pleading slave, she asked, "Do you know what the death eaters like the most?" She paused, raising her eyebrows as if expecting the girl to know the answer. Hearing nothing but silence, the woman answered, an evil smile lifting the corners of her lips. "The soft flesh of a child. I heard it is a delicacy among their kind."

Fifty-eight's eyes widened in fear at the statement. Her lips quivered and her knees buckled as her feet gave way. The only thing that was holding the girl up was Three's grip on her twisted hands. It was too hard to watch. Beth stood up hastily and rushed towards her companion. 

She grabbed Three's hand and shook it, looking up at the woman pleadingly. She had been the only god who had shown at least an inch of humanity to her so far. Maybe she would help-

Before she could finish that thought, strong hands grabbed her hair and yanked her back. Beth screamed clutching her hair instinctively. But Two didn't let her go. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to set herself free. 

All her attention was on Fifty-eight, whose head hung low in defeat. Tears dropped down to the floor like the slow drizzle of rain as her body shook in silence. 

"Leave her alone!" Beth screamed, thrashing her arms behind her, hoping to claw the god's hands away from her hair. 

But no matter how much her fingernails raked his hands, the gods didn't let go. Instead, Two's grip tightened as he cursed under his breath. One rolled smirked at her in pity and turned her attention back to the kneeling girl. 

With a quick move, she unsheathed her sword and pointed it towards Fifty-eight's neck. The edge of the blade cut into her skin, drawing blood ever so slightly. The girl whimpered helplessly, biting down on her lip to keep herself from screaming. 

"Don't worry. You will long be dead when Two and Three here toss your body down the trench." One said, cocking her head to the side. She raised her brows and asked, "Do you have any last words?"

Fifty-eight shivered. She looked up at the minor god with teary red eyes. "I beg you, please. I didn't plant the tree." She said, her voice coming out raspily. 

Beth was about to speak up as One burst out laughing. It was the first time that she had seen the woman do so. The laughter didn't touch her dead eyes and her shrill voice echoed in the dilapidated room. Three looked as surprised as her as she stared at her colleague in confusion. Suddenly the woman stopped laughing. 

She narrowed her eyes at the girl and screamed, "Die!"

The candlelight flickered as the minor god stretched her sword back in preparation. One smirked as she readied herself to land the blow. Fifty-eight's eyes were closed in fright, mirroring that of the god who was holding her in place. 

Beth knew that if she were to lose this moment, then someone else would die for her actions right in front of her. She didn't think too much as she twisted herself quickly and bit into Two's hand. The minor god screamed, letting his grip lose as he stepped back in pain. One was unfazed by the actions as her sword came swishing onto Fifty-eight's chest. 

"No!" Beth screamed as she dashed in front of the blade hastily. 

The metal pierced her flesh, cutting through her fragile bones into her heart. The pain lasted for a second and then she was numb. Everything turned blurry as she felt herself fall towards the ground. She saw the floor bounce as she did, or was it her who did that? She had no clue. But the blood rushing out of her wound and seeping onto the dust-covered floor ensured that she was dying. 

It was an irony since she was already dead. She didn't know that she could bleed like that. Her blood gushed to her throat, choking her as it got into her windpipe. Her body jerked as the minor god withdrew her sword, cursing under her breath. 

Soon she heard a shrill scream echoing in the room behind her. But in the next moment, that too was gone as she heard another thump on the floor somewhere behind her. Or had she imagined it? 

Beth was barely conscious and felt nothing. Her eyes were becoming too heavy to be kept open. She was drowning in her blood. As she began to slip off into darkness she heard a cold voice speak. 

"Throw their bodies down the cliff. The death eaters will have a feast today."