Thirty eight
God, I hate that sinister smile Eagan is giving me, as he nimbly jumps off the bed, in front of us," Hello butterfly, " He croons, " Do you know why I call you butterfly?" It's a rhetorical question, so I don't bother asking 'why' because I'm pretty sure he will tell me, either way.
I'm starting to think that Eagan is not the sharpest tack. I'd be inclined to say that he is all brawn and no brains, although compared to the boys, he is not all that big.
There is a fine line between being confident, and smug. Even a finer line between stupid and downright dumb.
" Because butterflies, don't have a very long life span. Just like you," He points the rondel dagger at me and then glides his dagger-holding hand towards Mason and then stops at Graham.
I expect fear to grip me in its tight vice, but it never comes. I've taken him once, I can do it again and again, until that sucker learns to stay down, where he belongs. With his face in the dust.
Mason chuckles," If you're here to impart your knowledge of lepidopterology, then I would like to thank you for that utterly useless piece of information. I'm tired of Micah's games," Mason seethes at my side, and that only emboldens me to hold my ground and not cower in front of anyone.
" We have company," Graham chimes in under his breath as he rushes into the room, garnering Mason's attention.
" Not so smug now, Mr Kinnaird," Eagan snickers, jogling his dagger. Of course, that's why he is so at ease.
" Zareen is sealed. The only way out of here is with your feet first," Eagan pretends to be impressed, but I know the fucker is only buying time for the others to get here.
And I have very little power accumulated. Not enough to make a dent in a glass. I need more time. And perhaps that's why they chose to strike so soon. Micah will keep hitting me until I'm down, and then he will swoop in and finally get his frigging prize.
Not without a fight.
" Stay close, Canim," Mason says under his breath, just as Lissete strolls into the room, wearing an entire armoury strapped to her chest and that godawful leather duster.
"Hello, lover," She throws Mason a wink and kisses Eagan on the lips.
Would rolling my eyes at the scene be an act of obnoxiousness I wonder, as the kiss deepens, and they begin to grind on each other moaning. Jesus, get a room. He'll, you can have one in Zareen. As long as you leave us the hell alone.
Mason gives me a salacious smile, and I giggle because that's what we've been doing every chance we get, minus the crowd cheering us on.
After an eternity they finally break the kiss panting, looking at each other lovingly, all dazed and googly-eyed. I have to hand to them, that the display of unwavering love has me feel slightly ashamed for having backed down when things got too tough.
" Now, " Lissete begins all cheery and happy smiles. Jesus, this girl has me confused.
" Who wants to die first? Obviously, not you. You're coming with us," She points at me, and I laugh. How could I not?
" You think I'd willingly go with you?" I'm in disbelief at the audacity this girl is displaying.
" Yes," She claps rather vivaciously, making me do a double take to make sure I'm seeing this right.
" Well, aren't you in a good mood today, my love," Eagan purrs in her ear, watching us and smiling.
Lissete bounces on the ball of her feet like the good little crazy girl that she is," Yes," She beams, all smiles, and sunny disposition. Fuck me. What's wrong with her?
When Eagan straightens to say something, a knife lodges in his throat that has Lissete screaming, scrambling to catch him as his body loses the battle with life and gravity.
Mason winks at me and hands me a short dagger, while Lissete quickly recovers and turns to us. The smiles have vanished, the sunny disposition replaced by what I can only describe as murderous fury.
" Today you die," She announces in an eerily calm tone.
" I don't think so," I say calmly, turning the dagger in my hand, and getting ready to strike. Even though she is about four feet away from me, that is far too close for my liking.
She slips her hands over her hips, reaching for two stiletto daggers, while a laugh bubbles in my throat. I don't know why, I find the scene so amusing. I've gone against both of them and won. I fucking won. Why am I hiding?
The moment she takes a step forward, I launch the dagger and hit home. It lands straight between the eyes, for a moment she is still, her eyes crossed looking at the blade impaled in her forehead, and then she falls flat on her back with a muffled thud.
Graham is the first to react while Mason grabs my hand and gives it a light squeeze.
" And so it begins," He says under his breath while more V'asay begins to barrel inside the room, briefly disturbed by the sight of their leader lying on the floor, but quickly jump into action.
From the corner of my eye, I see Graham pull a serrated long blade from the waistband of his trousers and begins sawing off the necks of Eagan and Lissete.
The shock evaporates just as fast as comes when a fist connects with my jaw, the pain lancing through my face, as I stumble backwards on my feet.
One punch that is all you get, I think as I lock eyes with the V'asay in front of me.
I hope my eyes convey the murderous feeling quickly taking over every limb in my body.
I consider myself a nice girl, although I do have my shortcomings. But he is going to pay for hitting me.
Squaring my shoulders, I look up at him and smile, feeling the bite of pain in my cheek. I'll have a pity party of all my aches and pains after this is all over.
The guy launches at me, just as I'm about to crouch down and tackle him like a brute. But someone kicks the back of my knees in rapid succession. I fall on my knees, on the ground as guy no. 1 lands on top of me pinning me to the floor. This won't do.