12 After Pride

Von was still hiding outside the embassy, stuck not knowing what to do. He would kill Lance and the other soldiers easily, but this was not his mission. He clenched his fists with his head down, he was furious. Furious that there was nothing he could do, that he had to get Sophie back safe. He could not get revenge for her injuries, he could not kill the bastard with his bare hands. He trembled with rage, his dark brown hair fell across his face, blocking his vision. He ran, trying to push those thoughts away, disappearing into the forest, looking for the one he was supposed to protect. He found Sophie lying on the ground, that sight ached in his soul. It was like a dagger stuck in his chest. He picked her up and walked out into the forest, both bodies dripping with blood and exhausted.

He didn't know how long he had wandered in the dense forest, it was already dawn and Sophie didn't wake up. He tried to remember the way, he couldn't get the map from his backpack.The blood on their clothes was already more than impregnated and for the first time that smell made him sick. The blood on their clothes was already more than impregnated and for the first time that smell made him sick. Von put Sophie down and took a bottle of water. He removed his overcoat and his upper garments, washing it. He put the overcoat back on and slung the blouse over his shoulders. He continued walking with Sophie in his arms, he would walk for many more hours with his small steps.

He was hungry and fortunately the weather was cloudy, at least neither he nor Sophie would get sunburned. In his mind a battle was being fought. He did not know if he had done the right thing. It was Sophie's mission to kill those men, and it was not his job. But why should he hesitate to kill Lance and the other soldiers? Why did seeing Sophie wounded distress him? That day he went to the whorehouse just to forget Sophie's kisses! But it had only been a cycle, he went there for her and continued there thinking about her. Having sex with the prostitute he accidentally called Sophie. That sex opened his eyes, made him see what would happen if he wasn't careful. Von wouldn't fall in love. His pride would not allow him to care about anyone except himself. He wouldn't be attached to anyone except General Norgard. But that cold body in his arms, which every now and then whispered faint moans of pain, made him hesitate. As if there were certainty. There wasn't. But there were gaps where he could escape from those green eyes. Then he realized that maybe there was no one else there, just a dead body. His body froze. What would it do if Sophie was dead?

-Cold...- The whispered word caused the dagger that was in Von's chest to slowly come out, as if the wound would then heal instantly. The black blouse was already dry and Von stretched Sophie out on the shore of a stream near where they were standing. He looked at the running water of the stream and then closed his eyes. He would have to clean her body. He laid her down straight, accommodating her head in the overcoat beside his backpack, taking care that no hidden blade would hurt her. With a dagger, he tore the hood off the overcoat. He dipped the piece of black cloth in the cold water.

Winter was coming. And after winter...war would come.

Carefully he removed the small black jacket that covered her white shoulders, and ran the damp cloth over her arms and shoulders. He wet the hood again and brushed it over her white face, worrying all the time about his level of sanity when he saw Sophie's beautiful face. The pants she was wearing were torn at the knees and both were skinned, Von would not mess there. He wiped the blood from his boots and smiled.Her face, shoulders and legs were clean, all that was missing was her back and belly. He took the damp cloth and ran it over Sophie's flat abdomen, there was a lot of blood splattered on it. As he passed the damp cloth down the left side of the redhead's belly. Von frowned, her blood was fresh. He continued wiping the blood until he felt a puncture. What he saw made his blood boil. Sophie had been shot in the stomach and the bullet was still lodged inside her. That wound was sure to scar. Von cursed in words the man who had done this.

His trembling hands made the improvised surgery the assassin was trying to perform difficult. Even though he was enraged, he controlled his breathing and slowly placed a small blade inside Sophie's wound until he found the bullet lodged in her skin, and carefully removed it. After removing the bullet, a little blood trickled out, but was soon contained by Von who pressed the damp cloth he used to clean the wound against the wound. He looked in his backpack for some bandages, and made a bandage around the redhead's abdomen. Von looked at the creek because he couldn't look at her body. He blamed himself for what had happened. He let her get hurt.

-Von... - He heard the weak voice, but continued to watch the moving water. His body and mind were still frozen. He couldn't look at her. He didn't have the courage. He wanted to run away.

-Don't die in my arms, Sophie." the assassin spoke in a bitter, emotionless voice as he continued to watch the stream.

-I won't die. - He instantly looked up at her. - I just want something to eat. - Sophie smiled weakly.Von felt his heart race, and smiled along with her.

The assassin spotted a rabbit on the other side of the stream and without hesitation threw a dagger at it. He felt martyred when he realized that he would have to cross that stream. He took off his black boots and kept only his pants on, crossing the icy water. The water was hitting his navel and giving him goose bumps. It didn't take a minute before he had the white ears of the rabbit in his hands. He crossed the water again and removed his soaked pants, letting them dry on a tree. It was too cold to wear only his underwear, especially in that dense forest. But Von didn't care, Sophie had to eat. With a dagger in his other hand, he cut some small branches and gathered them into a heap. He took his lighter and burned the wood, making a small fire. He plucked the rabbit's bloody white fur and tore off its head, throwing it into the stream. He stuck a branch into the animal's flesh and made the blood drip as if it were a support. He placed it on top of two branches that were standing upright and left it there, frying the food.

He looked at Sophie, she was sleeping, leaning against his huge backpack. It was amazing how much useful stuff could be found inside that backpack: first aid kit, water bottles, map, smoke bombs, a pistol and ammunition. His pants were still wet, but he put them on anyway. He put on his black boots and looked for something else to hunt, an average rabbit would not fill Sophie. She looked around and saw some birds. He couldn't shoot them, if there were any Dendalian troops nearby, their location would be discovered. That's when he saw a deer. It was the perfect prey. Von's eyes stared into the black ones of the animal. The assassin held his breath and without making a sound, he threw the machete again, hitting one of the animal's legs. He walked quickly to it and saw the suffering of the poor deer. But he had no choice, another head was thrown into the stream.

Night would soon come, and the deer was burning in the fire. Von had eaten the rabbit and would leave the bigger one for Sophie. He was used to going without food, but the sight of the golden meat made his stomach churn and he ate it piece by piece. There was something different while Sophie slept. But he didn't look at her for a long time. He looked away. Looking at her was like seeing his failure in print. It was like seeing how useless he was. The mission was a flop, and it all happened to gain an advantage in a war. But Sophie's battle was glorious. It would have been. He removed the stag from the fire and waited a while. Taking Sophie's face and giving her the meat. He pushed back a strand of hair that was insisting on falling out. She opened her eyes with difficulty. At least those green eyes were intact.

-eat. - Von stood up and watched the night that had come. The sound of the owls gave him goose bumps and uneasiness. He didn't like insects and nocturnal animals much. The darkness was enough for him. He turned to face the stream, but unintentionally saw Sophie's green eyes. When he looked at her again, he froze. She was so much more beautiful. But it hurt his chest, took his focus away, confused his mind. The look was overbearing, dominant. In a spontaneous movement, he laughed. But the redhead was still serious, staring at him as if he were an enemy. He shuddered. Von was afraid. He felt useless again. He stepped into the fire with his boots on, and walked to a wide tree. He sighed in frustration. He had done so much for her and received a mediocre look. It was such futility that made Von lose his temper. He leaned against the tree and slid down the trunk until he sat on the ground with his legs spread. His vision was limited because there was no light, and he stared into nothingness, into the dark. Trying to get some response from the void.

-There is water in the backpack.- Von said dryly. He heard the zipper open and the water running down the redhead's throat. The assassin was tired, night was falling and he just wanted to sleep. He looked at Sophie's shadow and saw her near the stream, trying to see herself reflected in the water. Von watched her silent suffering. She touched the wound on her belly and a lone tear trickled from her left eye, turning it red. Von bowed his head. He didn't want to see her like this. He didn't want to be the culprit of those injuries. He didn't want it to exist. He didn't want anything to hurt Sophie. Some time passed and Von fell asleep. Sophie awake was not dependent on him. He lay on the ground and leaned against the log without his shirt on that cold night.

Sophie pulled herself together, saw a blur in her eyes that burned and prevented her full vision. She remembered the reason for the pain. Lance had tried to turn her into Swiss cheese, but she had managed to dodge the shots. She was stupid. She disobeyed her father by killing the Dendalian soldiers and commanders, and burning down the embassy. Her mission was simple, kill the diplomat and collect information about the Dendalion and Gran Tlaboc agreement, and what kind of armaments were being negotiated there. Her intentions were good, at least at the moment she thought about it, but the diplomat's death would be of much greater value to Cermina. Stupid was the only word that could describe her at the moment. She had slept for almost a day and knew by now that her father should know. She sighed in defeat, accepting her mistake. She watched Von sleeping on the log and went to meet him. She crouched down and touched his cold cheek.

-You idiot, you'll catch cold. - She said to the wind, Von still had a serene sleeping face. She smiled and snuggled between his legs, leaning her head against his icy chest, inhaling the smell that made her so bewildered that she forgot for a few seconds what was coming.

Watching him, she was sleepless. His dark brown hair was longer, his breathing was calm, and as time went by his body warmed up. But as she continued to watch him, her desire grew stronger. She lightly sealed her lips on his, cold and aggressive. However, this woke him up. Von tasted Sophie and hesitated to open his eyes. He didn't want to have to look at her, but he still stared at her. What happened next was just a mistake by a man in his most primitive form. He didn't see when he took her by the hair and kissed her, or when he tore off her black blouse and black top. He could only taste the redhead's skin mixed with blood residue. He kissed her voluptuously, his desire was so intense, so reciprocal. He couldn't remember ever wanting someone as much as Sophie Chasseur. He ran his hand over her and squeezed every possible spot. She nibbled his lips and played with his black hair. A frantic dance for possession. He heard and felt her moan against his lips, as she gently pushed Von's bare shoulder. The moans were not of pleasure, but of pain. Von felt the liquid on his fingertips and released her by the shoulders immediately, looking into her eyes without understanding. Looking at the nakedness of her lap was like losing his sanity, otherwise he wouldn't have cared about the wounds on her body.

-Forget it. - Von pronounced trying to contain himself, looked at the blood on his hands and licked his fingers. Sophie still looked at him with a confused expression, "I won't forget it," was what was going through the redhead's mind. He took the black top and blouse that were lying on the side and handed them to her with his head down. He wanted her so much, he wanted to possess her so badly. Then he realized that he hadn't used the word ''sex'', but ''possession''. It was still pathetic. But something was stopping him. If it were any other woman, he wouldn't care about the wounds on her body. He felt himself being forced against the trunk, and a shiver ran through his entire body when Sophie pressed her nipples against Von's chest. He huffed in frustration and grabbed her fists, lifting her arms over her head. He moved closer to her ear and whispered: - You are hurt. -

He put the top and blouse on her body and lined her up between his legs, hugging her. Like he had never done with Sophie before. He placed his lips against the back of her neck, realizing how sore she was. Von had refused her. Twice. It didn't matter if she was hurt, she wanted him. She rested her head on his shoulder, and allowed herself to be embraced as she watched a solitary bead of sweat trickle down the assassin's face. Von took Sophie's cheek and kissed her softly, with an affection unknown until then. A simple touch mixed with regret. She touched his cheek with her fingers and kissed him in response, a hot, wild kiss that made Von hesitate to run away.

- Damn it, Sophie! I want to hear your voice! - Finally he declared, taking the weight off his shoulders and confessing how desperate it was to be silent.

-I don't want to sleep. - She smiled weakly and leaned against him again, closing her eyes and smelling the intoxicating aroma.

Von opened his eyes in the dim light, the first rays of sunlight hitting him as if this was his only salvation. As he tried to move, he realized his position. He had never intertwined his fingers with anyone else's, but he seemed likely to do so with Sophie. Lying on the grass, next to each other with only their hands joined. That could have been the last straw. It could have been the trigger for his escape from those eyes. The memories invaded his mind. The kisses... Those lips were his doom. The caresses... The touches were as if they were his road to hell. It would be so much easier to run away, and he would.But he wanted that body, he wanted to feel her warm breath again, those seductive lips.

He withdrew his hand quietly and watched her. He was in constant error. The wounds were turning her skin a little purple. A smile broke out on his lips. No scar could take away the beauty of this woman. She had almost died, but this would become a lesson. Von nudged her, trying to wake her up, stood up, and felt the sudden urge to sneeze. He ignored it as if it were nothing, but after his green pupils opened, the urge returned, and finally he sneezed. Sophie knew he would get the flu and threatened to remove her black blouse, but the look Von gave paralyzed her. It was an angry look, but it had a sparkle of its own. Sophie smiled. Von had scolded her.

-Taking off my blouse won't change the fact that I have the flu. - His voice was drier than he would have liked as he checked that everything was in his bag.

-Giving you the blouse will make you warmer.- Sophie replied in the same tone. She waited for him to turn around and removed her blouse, leaving only her black top. She held the blouse in her hands and when Von started to walk, she stepped in front of him, placing the blouse around his neck. Sophie's look at Von was almost protective. However, Von just took the blouse and threw it over Sophie's head. Accepting defeat, she put the blouse back on.

They walked side by side, heads down and steps slow. The falling rain was thin and silent, but enough to wet both of them. The silence was broken by the chirping of birds and crickets. Each listened to the other's gasping breath, but they didn't exchange a word. Wet, they already knew what awaited them. As they recognized the forest, they psychologically prepared themselves for what would come next. When the forest ceased, Sophie swallowed dryly at the sight of the mansion. She just hurried on leaving Von behind. She clenched her fist, and with each new step, confidence exuded. She needed to assume her mistake.

-If you want, I'll go with you.- she heard Von's voice, and looked back.

-It's okay! - She answered in a loud voice, trying to believe her own words.

When she got close to the mansion, she could see the General facing the window of his room, with his hands behind his back, watching the wet glass. His expression was impassive as always, but Sophie knew those eyes,. The same eyes that showed disappointment. This would hurt. She entered the house and thought about going to her room, but her orders were to go straight to Norgard's office. Von just watched quietly. He knew it was not all right, he knew she would be reprimanded. But what could he do? Fight with the general about Sophie's mistake? No, besides being pathetic, that would be like proving to himself that he wouldn't run away from her. But, he would. He had to run away from her.

Sophie was standing looking at the books on Norgard's shelf when he entered. The General looked deep into her eyes and sat down in his armchair. He looked Sophie up and down.She was all wet, sweaty, bloody, her pants were torn at the knees, and she was wearing blood stains on the bandages covering the shots she had been shot and still wearing Von's blouse.

-Is that what I call a daughter? - Norgard finally spoke after his analysis. - Sit down!-

Sophie swallowed hard and did as she was told. When she sat down, the arms of the chair held her wrists in the form of a bracelet. Her eyes widened, her pupils dilated, and her only reaction was an angry look at her father. They looked at each other with such contempt, with such hatred. They were the same eyes staring at each other. Norgard in one swift movement raised his right hand and slapped her. Sophie felt her face tingle, she looked incredulously at Norgard, not believing what had happened.

-I can't believe you had the decency to hit me! What are you going to do now? Torture your own daughter or just kill her? - Another slap was slapped across her face as the words hung in the air.

-Don't be disrespectful to me, Sophie! Who do you think I am? Or rather, who do you think you are to disobey orders from the High Command?

-I just saw an opportunity to do more damage! What right do you have to try to be right, since I alone have killed more men than you ever could? What right do you think you have over my choices? Just because I am your daughter? - Sophie spoke in a tearful voice, felt the tears coming and shook her head. - Daughter, eh? The daughter you must have hated so much when she was born, since you married Veronika only to kill her later! Who do you think you are but a puppet of the High Command, General...Norgard Chasseur?

-Nough! - Norgard shouted, and this time it wasn't a slap, he hit Sophie directly with a punch that made her lips bleed, her vision blurred and she couldn't open her left eye. - You don't know anything about me and your mother! Don't say things you don't know, Sophie!-

General Norgard Chasseur had never lost control, but Sophie had earned it. He felt so frustrated, thinking he was creating the best assassin in Verulian while receiving news that the target was not dead. She looked like a child playing with knives.

-Do you have any idea what this has done to Cermina? What this has done to the reputation of the Chasseur family, Sophie? - Norgard kept shouting, while kicking Sophie in the knees. Again she held back her tears, she would not cry for her mistakes. She just gathered up all the spittle she had in her mouth and spat it in Norgard's face. He looked at her indifferently, as if he didn't recognize her.

-Let's see those bullet marks. - He spoke with a sadistic smile on his lips after wiping the saliva from his face. He lifted Von's blouse that Sophie was wearing and covered her mouth with the cloth of the blouse. With his other hand he pressed the gunshot wound Sophie had on her belly. Harder and harder as she struggled, in vain.