JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME!

KING

After two minutes of awkward oops and sorry, all from her, we finally fit into the compact space. She sat between my legs, resting her back on my chest. I covered us with more branches which also worked as a shield from wind, keeping a little space open to see the night sky and the surroundings.

We both were tired, and I had so much on my mind to initiate small talk. I was never a good company to talk to anyways. But there was only one person who didn't understand it even after spending more than two and a half months with me.

"Penny for your thought?" She asked softly.

"Do you still think that I am behind this too?"

I couldn't see her face, but I knew she was biting her lower lip in nervousness. "I know this attack was planned by Angelo Mancini, and not you," I answered truthfully.

She remained silent for a few minutes, she must be satisfied with my answer.

"How did that Angelo guy find where we were staying?" She again opened her mouth.

"I have my theories." I was thinking about this for quite some time.

"You believe in theories?" The wonder was evident in her voice.

"Sometimes" I should keep my mouth shut than talk with her about everything.

"Benji says that people believe in theories when they don't want to believe in facts." She said in a wise tone.

Of course, Benjamin Lachat has to have something to say on this too!

I didn't answer her after that and closed my eyes, resting my head back.

A minute passed when she twisted her body, and I felt her warm breath tickling my face. She didn't move for some time and then pulled my hoodie over my head which was fallen some time ago. I heard her rubbing her hands together, followed by a warm touch on my cheeks. She giggled in a lower voice, making sure to not wake me.

What was so funny about that?

"I still believe that you are a vampire. A cruel, bloodthirsty creature. Everyone is terrified of you but they also talk some good things about you. And I don't have any idea of what to believe and what to not. I wonder who you really are?" She whispered the last part softly, but I heard it in silence.

'I wonder the same about you, Miss Maxwell', I thought.

"Good night, Jerkface!" She turned again and rested her back on my chest, sending warmth throughout my body.

I opened my eyes to see her pendant sparkling under the dim moonlight. I hoped it would save us somehow.

I had many things to deal with when the sun rises. But for now, all I wanted was to live these moments with her without any distractions.

*

*

*

BRIA

The next morning, we resumed our journey to nowhere in search of finding help. But I was hungry. I told the devil about it numerous times, but he kept ignoring me, but at one point, I was fed up with his attitude.

"I am hungry!"

"Are you not fed up repeating the same thing?" He asked in an irritated tone.

"Are you not fed up being a dick?" I retorted.

Silence

"Please, I am serious. Look, my tummy monster is growling at me in ang-"

"Shhhh..." Suddenly he placed a finger on his lips, making me quiet.

I strained my ears for some moments before I heard a very faint sound of rustling like someone was approaching us... slowly... quietly. The same sound came again but from another direction. They were caging us from all sides.

Devil had his gun in his hand instantly, but I had no weapon, nor did I wish to carry any after I killed that Matthew guy.

'It's ok, Bria. You don't need any weapon to defend yourself. Have faith in your strength. Steel baby steel... you are made of steel!'

A blade came out of nowhere in my direction, but the devil pulled me out of its way, by showing self-possession. Six men from all sides came out of their hiding with a cry of war. They were clad in black dresses with various weapons at aid. When they finally realised that there was the world's most dangerous man with not another man but a girl to accompany him, shock was evident on their faces.

The devil took this opportunity and attacked the nearest guy. I also kicked into action and grabbed one by myself. I dodged his first blow, then blocked another one, kicking his leg at the same time. I slid out of his way and circled my arm around his throat.

I kicked him again at the back of his knee, making him fall to his knees. I squeezed my hold on his neck when another guy charged at me from behind. He pulled me harshly away from the first man.

Before I could collect myself, a punch came flying my way. I tried to block it with my hand, but it was a powerful one that made my eyes water when it hit my hand.

I staggered back, moving my hand repeatedly to release some pain and then charged at the attacker, kicking him in his gut. I was furious as my hand was hurting, making it harder to move swiftly. I cradled the man who now lay on the ground and started hitting him in the face repeatedly with all my might.

I didn't need to look at what the devil was doing as I knew that he could take all six of them by himself. And the cries of pain from these attackers were proving my judgement right.

Suddenly I felt my body lifted in the air, followed by flying. My back hit on the hard ground. Smaller stones and twigs pierced my skin, making blood appear in some places.

The devil paused fighting when he heard my cry, and a guy tackled him down, taking advantage of his distracted mind. The devil tried to fight back, but the man pressed his leg on the devil's chest. Another one rushed to his help and aimed his gun at the devil's face.

"No. Non sparare (Don't shoot). Lo vogliono(they want him) alive." The man pressed his foot harder on the devil's chest. I watched as creases appeared on the devil's forehead.

Though I didn't understand their language, I caught on to the word alive. They needed him alive!

My mind started chanting the prayer.

Oh no...no. Don't misunderstand. The prayer was not for him... it was for them. Because they were making the hugest, and the last mistake of their lives by not killing him when they had a chance. Especially the guy whose dirty foot was damaging the restraints of the deadly beast. I have witnessed the devil's power as he was the one who trained me in the fighting.

" Ce ne hanno parlato(they told us about) two men. Chi è lei? (who is she?)." The one who threw me to the ground gave me a sly smile.

He licked his lips, lusting over my chest, and I closed my eyes in disgust only to hear a gunshot, and within the next two minutes, every man fell to the ground choking on their own blood.

See, I told you they were going to regret not killing the devil!

In a matter of a second, the four dead bodies lay on the ground drenched in blood, leaving only two men alive. The one who threw me on the ground and the other one who dared to insult the devil in the worst way possible. Both were pleading for mercy, but the devil... he was like a beast unleashed.

He pulled a guy who threw me by his shirt and lifted him in the air, above his head. My eyes went saucer-sized in horror when he threw that man hard to the ground. I covered my ears to block his cries and the sound of breaking bones to no avail.

Baaanngg

Baaanngg

Two bullets were aimed at his chest, and he died right then and there.

My heart sank with every bullet that left the devil's gun. He kicked the dead body to satisfy the monster in him and ran his hand through his hair.

He collected some extra bullets, Knives and blades from the dead bodies but didn't turn yet to look at me. He walked towards me and crouched down in front of me.

"Miss Maxwell", his hand tried to reach my face, but I turned my face to avoid his touch. His hand paused momentarily but completed its journey, and I felt the warm, calloused touch of his skin against mine. I leaned in his touch as my mind became foggy to think wisely.

I felt a sensation that coursed throughout my body. Suddenly all I wanted to do was to throw myself in his arms, letting him carry all of my burdens for me. If I was horrified at how he killed that man, then now, I was terrified of my feelings. How could I find solace in the hands of a bloody murderer?

I got up quickly, dusting my clothes but gritted my teeth when pain shot through my hand.

"Let me take a look" He tried to grab my hand, but I yanked it away.

"No... it's fine. Just s-stay away from me!"

*

*

*

KING

I was pissed, to say the least. The only thing that was comforting was her silence. My hand was injured from the fight we had, and the blood was dripping on the ground. I was so pissed at both the situation and the only company I had that I almost forgot about it.

But after walking for hours, and without food or water, my body began to show signs of exhaustion. I rested my back on a tree for support while listening to her complain.

Yes, she had again opened her mouth. She noticed my state and offered, "Let's take a break. See, your wound is pretty bad. Let me-"

"No. Keep going. We can't stop." I cut her in the middle.

But then I sensed something. Without another word, I pulled out my gun and ran past her to disappear into the bushes behind her.

I found a young boy hiding in the bushes. I pulled him out before throwing him to the ground. My gun pointed directly at his head.

"No... stop." I was about to pull the trigger when she screamed.

I gave her an irritated look, but she ignored me and slowly approached the boy, who was shaking like lamb in a slaughterhouse.

"Hey. It's ok... shhh. You are ok." She cooed softly.

The boy obviously began pleading in Italian, and Fire knew so much Italian as a monkey knows singing.

Yes! There is no scope for a possibility!

That left me to act as a translator for them.

"He's asking to let him go and not kill." I still had my gun ready to put the bullet through his skull if he tried something funny.

"We are not going to kill you, okay? You are fine." She told me to translate that for her, and I did only to make the boy shiver in fear even more than before.

"What the hell did you say to him?" She glared at me.

"I told him to start talking or I will put a bullet through his head."

She groaned before hardening her glare. "If you mess with my words one more time, I will kick your ass with six inches heels." She threatened.

"Miss Maxwell"

"yes?"

"You can't walk without tripping in flip flops."

"Shut up and be a good translator!" She narrowed her eyes at me... again.

"Non ti ucciderò. Rispondi alle sue domande (I will not kill you. Just answer her questions)" I said in a deadly voice.

Fire offered her best-assuring smile, and the boy relaxed visibly looking at her.

He began answering her questions, and I translated them for her to understand. The boy was named Luca, and he lived in a nearby village.

After ten minutes of convincing, the enchantress cast her spell on him and made him agree to help us. Luca promised to take us to the village and arrange shelter for the night along with food.

And that was the only reason I refrained myself from digging his grave right then and there because the way he was getting over comfortable with Fire made me angry.

While on the way to Luca's home, he taught her a few Italian words she could use.

"Bria, sei Bellissima (You are beautiful)" Luca said hesitantly with a blush creeping his neck.

Not understanding what he meant, she naturally turned to me for help.

"What did he said?"

"He thinks you look like a panda" She turned to Luca with wide eyes, and the boy nodded, trusting the translator.

"Awww... Thank- grazie, Luca!" She ruffled his hair with a wide smile.

I made a disapproving sound at the back of my throat again.

But she had no effect of it on her, just like the previous eight times.

"Il tuo sorriso è più bello (Your smile is more beautiful)"

"You look like a squirrel when you smile."

She again thanked Luca, hitting his arm playfully, giggling like a schoolgirl.

What was wrong with that girl? Didn't it sound like an insult to her?

"He compared you with two animals" I pointed out the obvious for her thick head to notice.

She shrugged her shoulders. "So what? Panda and squirrel... I think they both are cute hairy creatures and many people like them. I took it as a compliment!"

She threw her hair behind her back in arrogance, ignoring my clenched jaws.

'That girl is going to die at my hands one day!'

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