Night Beast

"What is your name?" Zariel, the one who held a false name and a false life, inquired. He could see the cracks of the soldier's skin, the weary stance he had. He was a tad old, littered with scars just beneath his leather jerkin and tunic that stretched up to his neck and onto his cheek.

'Kasem," The Lone Soldier replied, shuddering at the stare held by the young duke.

"And how long have you been in the Army?" Zariel pondered loudly.

"Thiry years m'lord," Kasem hastily said, hearing the tone of nobility in the Lord before him. How could he not have seen and worked with a few knights? "Started when I was but a boy of eleven moons."

"This does not help," Added Aurelia intently, glaring firmly, "Why is it you failed to mention such a critical piece of info? Twenty Teams! What the hell type of beast is it?"

The words held by Kasem seemed to fail him. His legs grew heavy, and his back began ever so slightly to arch into a bow. "I-I-I I couldn't pay. I couldn't pay, is all. I am but a farmer and a retired soldier."

'Yet you stand outside a massive villa. Form how it looks, you seemed to wish to take over this land," Sionn pointed out.

Many narrowed their eyes, hearing Sionns words, after all. Why would a soldier be here? He was no knight, no nobleman. It was, after all, not unheard of that a commoner would take over the land of a nobleman in the event of their deaths—especially in a remote region like this one.

"now that you mention it. I find it odd that you were at a party in a villa such as this. " Ella added on with Sionn, 'Who are you really?"

Kasem's heart froze in but a moment, falling to his knees, his head touched upon the icy snow bring a chill that slithered its way down his spine.

'M'Lord I-I am truly a just a simple farmer. You must--"

Unsheathing her long silver sword, Aurelia's blade touched upon the chin of Kasem, lifting his head to meet her gaze.

"Shhh," Aurelia hummed softly, silencing Kasem. "I will drive my blade through your eyes if you lie once more."

"Good, Good! Come to the dark side, let your hate--

"Shut it!" Aurelia fired off, glaring at Zariel, laughing wildly. "Your high, arent you. "

"Yup. Definitely high! I may need to lie down." Zariel cheekily slurred, with a gaze cloud with a thin haze of fog.

Creasing her brow, Aurelia's jaw opened slightly, but words seemed to fail her. She had never liked Zariels new habitual ritual of smoking. She had once approached him, hoping he would stop only to be ridiculed.

'You know nothing of me." He replied, shutting his stone-cold eyes. "Leave me."

Knowing nothing would change, the Young Fallen shifted her attention back to Kasem on his knees, "Tell me what I wish to know, or my Elvan friend here will devour you whole. I caught her a few days ago nibbling on my ear; I wonder what she will do with you."

Licking her plush cherry lips, Ella fiendishly giggled, with a hawk-like stare, "I wonder what humans taste like? Come now, although you are a bit old."

"Ok, ok, I'll talk. Just don't eat me. By Azalea's Grace, please don't." Kasem beseeched in tears.

"I might. I am getting hungry. This new strain is definitely my favorite." Zariel curiously added, staring intently at the man who could not even believe his ears.

"You're a devil, a demon in sheep clothing. Are you not human? How can you." Kasem desperately sought out, unable to grasp the young man's mind no more than eleven years.

To eat of man was something only those that were desperate and without food.

Losing a bit of his high, Zariel's gaze grew focused and sharp. He did not respond to Kasem but instead to the faint scent of something metallic in the air.

'Blood?' thought Zariel calmly, scanning his surrounding.

Piercing her iron sword through Kasem's left hand, a dreadful screech tormented the hearts of everyone, but the now harden Aurelia.

"Did the knights send you?" The Fallen demanded, glaring with a bloodlust not seen by those her age.

"No. Please. I do not know anything. All I wanted was to live in peace with my family. My wife is with birth; please just let me go. Please." Kasem howled in tears, pleading for life that could very well fade at the hands of those before him.

"Aurelia," Ella muttered softly.

"Just kill him. Humans are better off dead anyway." Sionn harshly snapped, "How many have already died?"

"I had no choice!" Desperate for life, Kasem lifted his head, staring intensely into Aurelia's golden eyes. "Please. My wife is seven months pregnant. The child needs a father. I am the only one who can give them a chance of survival in the coming winter."

Turning to the Young Fallen, Zariel could see the hesitation on her blade. Knowing she was not ready, he did not push her. There was, after all, a lot of time to mold such a young girl. Whose dark tendencies were growing with each passing day.

"Be on guard; there is a whiff of blood in the air," Duke Blackwater suddenly uttered, causing them to draw their blades.

Holding her stare upon the man staring back with a pleading look, Aurelia frowned, "Hand us all your Coin and leave. Speak back, and I'll drive my blade through your neck."

"O-Of course, it's all yours." Said the lone soldier, paling at the price of survival, but he understood what needed to be done.

Slowly stretching his hands beneath his jerkin, Kasem's pale expression turned even paler when all of a sudden, the glint of a dagger swished through the air.

Parrying his vicious stroke, Aurelia's gaze did not show surprise or concern. Yet only horror was seen upon the Soldiers expression.

"wait--"

Driving her blade through Kasem's throat, in a swift flicker, Aurelia's lips, for the first time, rose into a sweet smile, "I did warn you, but your body will be a good bait."