23 _ Vengeance.

"Do you remember me?" He asked remving the gauze on his face and pointing to the deep scar running across.

"You are one of those Bandits ." Lucian snarled. "You are the ones that pit up the bounty? Too Indolent to take care of me yourself?"

"You did this to me And you are going to pay in blood ." Hanji said fiercely. "Vengeance will be mine!"

Lucian took up his Sword and held it in position ready to defend himself. Hanji lounged forward him and he deflected this attack with the forte of his blade.

Their swords struck against each other igniting small sparks as both wanted to defeat his opponent.

Hanji used the end of his weapon to slash Lucian's arm as a dark red liquid seeped out. Lucian tried to attack directly but the other was more experienced,and utilising this , he tossed away Lucian's blade and he was left defenceless.

"Surrender Yourself or be killed." Hanji said jeeringly , although knowing that even if Lucian gave himself up willingly , he would still kill him. He didn't care about Dai Xiu. He had his own score to settle.

Kaya wanted to do something but she could not. Her body seemed frozen as she was unable to move .She hated this feeling. .

This sense of fear.

She felt her heart beating violently as each beat became more acutely painful , reverberating as she knotted her hand against her chest as each pulsation echoed around her. Faint whispers flooded her head as her deep brown eyes were replaced by crimson red ; her pupils became narrow vertical slits.Kaya felt something burning inside of her , fighting to get out but she pushed in back inside.

Lucian was able to reach for his sword and Hanji on sighting the imminent blow let him go and rapidly propelled himself away from him.

Hanji saw a clear opening and went for it but was unable to see that it was a trap laid by Lucian. Seizing his legs , he immediately floored his unsuspecting opponent by using his sword to stab Hanji in his knee bone. The other man fell to the floor , his leg unable to move and being defenceless. He spotted his blade ahead of him and began to crawl , desperately hoping to reach it. Hanji thrust out his hand as He saw his weapon within reach.

But Lucian intercepted it.

The prince placed his heel on the man's hand and applied pressure as Hanji's face was contorted in pain. He glanced impassively at Kaya who was standing in the corner, looking at him , wondering what he was going to do next.

"You should leave Kaya." Lucian spoke sedately as he dug his heeling on the other man's face contorted in excruciating pain. "You may not like what I am about to do next."

When seeing that she refused to leave , he picked up his blade and placed it above Hanji's temple and set it down with brute force , striking his heart. Kaya shut her eyes as she heard a terrible gurgle before all was silent.

Lucian withdrew his weapon, blood dripping from his blade and he walked deliberately towards her. He place his hand behind her head , trapping her against the walls with his body and she lowered her eyes unable to meet his gaze. He knew what she felt. Appalled. Terrified. Of him.

"You wanted to know who I am Kaya?" He said in a low tone as he felt her hot breath against his face. "This is who I am."

"It is not true." Kaya retorted, her eyes boring into his. "You saved me.He wanted to hurt you Lucian. You protected yourself."

He sighed as he turned away from her ."If that is so..." Lucian uttered as he looked down at the person whom he had silenced forever.

"Then why... Tell me...Do I feel no guilt?"

Kaya moved toward him and held his hand in sympathy.

Lucian scoffed and pulled away from her comforting touch and gazed up at the dim night sky.

"It is not safe anymore here and Night is drawing near. Let us find a place to rest our heads for the night and we shall be on our way in the morning."

Kaya watched him walk away . Such heaviness in his heart. He needed to relieve himself from all that burdened him. And after all he had come for her ...

She would give him that succor .