5 Monster

"Hah, I am tired."

I stretched my arms and neck. Then my cute red-haired Irina came running to my side.

"Miss Lucia!"

"Irina! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"No, Miss Lucia, I am alright."

"Excellent! Help me burn those bodies and… well you know what for the potion."

"Yes, Miss."

Irina and I were amid countless dead bodies talking happily. We looked as if nothing had happened as soon as the fire died out. However, I was pretty aware of the stunned faces of the knights looking at us.

I knew they saw me. In the middle of my slaughter, I saw one of the soldiers lighting a torch. Their scared eyes could see my black figure moving extremely fast among the thieves, killing them, and wrapping the corpses in flames with a flick from my finger, and burning them before their eyes.

"What happened? What did you do?!" One terrified soldier said with a trembling voice. "What are you?!"

"Who are you?" The deep and powerful voice of the Duke calmed the bunch of scardy-cats knights.

"I am your fiancée, Your Highness, and your savior. You don't have to fear me, I won't kill you…" and I had never killed anyone before today. I looked around a bit shocked by my deeds. It was true, it was the first time I had killed someone. My only attempts to hurt someone alive ranged from scratches and small cuts to suck drops of blood from other people when necessary, but I had never killed them. Never. The emotion I felt scared me. It must be the curse that runs through my veins. Must be.

"Should we go now, or do you plan to wait for these guys' reinforcements, Your Highness?"

Those deep blue eyes from the Duke disturbed me. I felt as if someone was seeing through me.

"What are you?"

"Your Highness, I can't tell you here." I looked at the frightened soldiers behind the Duke. Fortunately, he caught my meaning. Then he nodded and instructed his knights to pack quickly while Irina was working hard on burning the corpses and drawing blood.

'Great! With this amount, my miss will have at least half a year of supplies.'

I think my Irina was becoming weirder each day, but who cares.

***

A few minutes later, I found myself riding a horse under the sun while Irina was following me closely from behind. However, the beaming eyes from the knights stealing scared glances at me from time to time bothered me a bit more than the sunlight. Goodness! They should stop, I won't eat them, well, scratch that, there is a slight possibility. My mind was becoming cloudy after all, and although I had sucked a lot of blood, I was exhausted and the journey under the sun keep weakening me. I wanted so badly to rest under the shade of a tree.

We had to go faster to reach the Duke's territory and finally find protection for ourselves, but it was taking a toll on my health, and my self-control.

Unexpectedly, the soldier who was injured in the battle let out a loud cry and nearly fell off the horse. The rapid movement of the ride was making him dizzy and his bandage was torn. My eyes had been following his body for a few minutes. I knew he was about to fall, the blood from his injury was dropping slowly making it harder for me to stop licking my lips.

"Stop!"

The loud shout of the Duke woke me from my delusions, great timing! A bit more and I would… *cough* He made us stop for a few minutes to regain strength. My dear shade! How much I missed you.

"Your Highness! Sir Elton is critically injured. I don't know if he would survive the day." One of the soldiers with medical experience whispered to the Duke, he didn't want to let the others know but I could hear every word even from afar.

"If you let me, I can help you. I have some medical knowledge." Oh my! Dear Irina, I knew she would say that. She had been looking at the man's condition with a worried expression, or more like she wanted to use some of his blood for my potion or for her little experiments?

He was pale with a large wound on his chest from a sword stab. He would not survive the night. Great, a perfect subject! A mighty strong knight with nutritious blood and about to leave the world of livings.

"Get away from here, freak! You monsters!"

Seriously, after all we've done for them. How did he dare to shout at us? Goodness! His red hair and good looks are for nothing. How awful manners!

"Carlton! Shut up!"

"But! Didn't you see what they did? They are monsters!"

The disturbing knight's name was Neil Carlton. He was a very arrogant young man. How did he end in the Duke's army? From the beginning, he was the most disrespectful towards us. Who does he think he is? Does he think he is a mighty knight? For sure, he was not a bright one.

Now that they know my identity, should I use this opportunity to impose myself on these ungrateful men? Well, it wouldn't hurt to scare them a little.

I have regained a bit of energy thanks to the shadow of the tree. Now I could even make the atmosphere turn cold and the little fire they were lighting off. The sky got clouded and I could feel my red eyes sparkling. How funny their faces looked, all white like mine!

"Sir Greyson, I just want to help, your friend won't survive the night and the group that is tailing us is not far behind," Oh my dear Irina, she is such a gentle and courteous girl, they don't deserve her kindness.

"Let them." Again, the deep eyes disturbing my peace. What is with this Duke? Why is he the only one with no fear in his eyes, he even looks amused? Whatever…

"Yes, Your Highness."

The next moment my cute Irina took a little bottle from her bag and poured the medicine onto the dying man's wound and into his mouth. Then she started counting.

"1, 2, 3…, 8, 9, 10. Done!" Her bright smile was directed to me. "Miss Lucia, it worked." I could only smile a little, I wanted to keep a cool front.

The soldier's wound began to heal, and his complexion improved. His breathing slowed down and his pale face regained some red color.

"What did you do?" Sir Greyson looked amazed at my dear girl. "That's magic, are you a magician?"

"She is surely a witch."

"One more word from your mouth and you will be my dinner tonight." That was my scary voice, they could come at me anytime but not to my Irina. I felt how their hearts almost stopped beating when a mighty thunder fell nearby. I bet the chilling feeling took them by surprise. I was really angry.

"Carlton," That was the menacing voice of the Duke. "Pack your things…" He was sending him first to the castle, but the Duke's eyes were sending coldness at him. Great power, humph, I can do that too.

"Ye... yes, Your Highness."

"And… if you said another word or tell anyone about what happened here, be prepared to carry the consequences." His eyes turned to look menacingly at Sir Carlton. The Duke was upset too. Well, at least he knows how to be grateful.

"Yes… yes, sir." The red-haired knight turned around and mounted his horse very quickly. Finally, some peace.

"Miss, I apologize for his behavior, we all are grateful to you for saving us back then and for saving our friend's life. We are in debt." Greyson lowered his head and the other knights followed. Well, okay, this one is not that bad. I had no choice but to recede the clouds.

Then I closed my eyes, I wanted to rest and replenish, but something else was starting to disturb my calm. I could feel the Duke looking at me. Seriously, what's with him?