My master will be very, very mad.
I gnawed on my bottom lip once again, hearing the sickening crack come from the girl who was tied up to the chair in front of me. Sympathy radiated through me as I felt her family and friends trying to break my barrier that held them away.
Their attacks on the barrier didn't do much against me, but I felt the guilt of hearing the sad girl getting hit restlessly. It made me have second thoughts about revealing her destination to her.
My master would be very mad if I let her friends through, they fought hard against my barrier but I knew that with my programming that they would not be able to break the surface of my power. They'd merely chip off the first of several barriers before they could touch her.
I was only programmed to have my barrier and tracking spells, nothing else and while I felt defenseless. Watching the girl in front of me getting beaten by her father only made me sick to my stomach.
Tears freely fell from her eyes and I could tell that she was having such a hard time but she was determined.
Something that I've never seen.
Something that I never felt.
My master would be very, very mad if I disobeyed him.
I'd learned my lesson plenty of times and it wasn't as if giving the girl's family a way through would make him go any less softer than the last time I was punished. He whipped me for hours merely for dropping a plate on the ground after cleaning his dishes.
The stark pain that I remember from the memory made my back sting from the sudden ache.
My master would be very mad... Very, very mad...
I saw the man backhand her once again as I felt anger with a mixture of fear swirl within me, deciding if I was going to die. I wouldn't bring the sad girl with me.
Glancing down at my bloodied hands that were in shackles, I brought my finger to my lip and pierced the outer layer of my skin. The pain was tolerable since I've been doing it all my life, but it didn't mean I liked the small stab in pain.
I scribbled symbols into the ground without them noticing, making sure that the wall around me stayed long enough for me to make brief contact. Hopefully, they'd continue to battling against long enough for me to make contact. If not, this would all be in vain.
I felt another presence, not just two witches trying to break through but now three. One of them seemed significantly stronger than the other two and I could detect that the newest witch was a woman rather than the other two.
My master will be very angry.
I continued thinking before closing my eyes and thrusting the witches and myself into an illusion of mine. A sharp breath went through me as I outstretched my arms, worried that the spell I inscribed with my blood wouldn't stay up as I envisioned it too.
Three witches- no- people stood in front of me. One woman and two men, all three powerful and had bewildered expressions at the sight of me.
"What th-"
"Master will be very angry once he finds out I am talking to you," I admit in a quiet voice, knowing that if I was too loud then the bad parents would alert my master of my bad deeds.
That is if they haven't yet...
The woman had flawless red hair that swirled around the middle of her back while her soft grey eyes watched me closely, worry running through her gaze. Knowing that she didn't truly care for me but rather than the information I had about the sad girl.
I also noticed that the woman was round and wasn't sure whether to assume she was pregnant or not. Clearly, it hurt women's feelings if you assume that kind of thing.
I didn't know this until I accidentally asked one of the scientists if she was pregnant, learning that she was just large around the midriff. That day was the first time I was hit so hard that it caused a scar ever since.
"It's okay. We won't hurt you." The woman assures, taking a tentative stepped forward and holding her hand out. I thought she was going to hit me so I involuntarily flinch, though she seemed to be the only one to notice the action.
The nice woman says this now... but once she learns of my identity.
What will she think then?
Will, she hurt me as those before me has?
"Speak for yourself." The man who radiated with power grumbles with irritation, reminding me much of my master making me shiver in fear. His copper red hair looked slightly similar to the woman beside him as his red eyes stared down into my very soul.
The look he was giving me scared me shitless.
Literally.
"Dad. Not the time." The woman stares at her father before glancing back at me with a soft gaze. "What's your name, honey?" Her voice sounded so pleasant and soothing that it made me shuffle uncomfortably, the chains around my body clattering about.
It was hard to deny that the look in her eyes made me feel making me say, "My master calls me Khole..." I whispered, hearing commotion outside of the illusion. "He's coming back," I said fearful, letting my eyes roam to every person.
If the sad girl was determined to see her family again, I was determined to memorize each and every one of their faces.
"Who's coming back, Khole? Who is it?" The woman asks, this time more frantic as her eyes watched me making me snap my arms back into my hold. They knew something was wrong, there was no point in holding the barrier tighter.
"Master. He's come to hurt the sad girl again." I murmur. "I'll let you through my barrier, but please. Save me." I whisper, feeling the thudding as the people shared a look.
I knew my barrier would hold up for long enough, but I worried my punishment would grow worse the longer I am in the illusion. Either way, I knew that I was going to be hurt badly.
"You are the mage that is preventing us from coming through?" The man with copper-haired questions, sudden respect filling his eyes for me when I nodded and gnawed my lip again.
Now all three of them stared at me as if I'd just eat a tarantula...
If I survive this... They may see me eat one...
Maybe...
They were the best arachnids in the world to eat.
"It's the only thing I know. I can't defend myself." I admit to them, feeling my barrier crashing with the force of my master acting upon it. Though I was determined to speak with them longer.
For the sad, but brave girl.
"Does the sad girl have long black hair and dark skin?" The other man finally spoke, the frenzy of brown on top of his head while his blue eyes watched me weary.
I nodded and said, "She's be-" The sudden force I'd felt knocked the wind out of my throat. "Hurry. He knows. H-" My barrier finally snapped under the pressure of being broken before I was thrust out of my barrier and illusion.
My eyes cracked open, seeing his angry shadow cover my trembling body. I knew this was going to be my end, but maybe I could help the sad girl.
I tore open parts of my barrier as I was thrown against the wall across from me making me whimper out and slide down the wall. "YOU STUPID GIRL!" My master roars with pure anger, storming over to me and grabbing my dirty clothes before slamming me against the wall.
A crack resonated from me when I felt my head crack making my world go black. He dropped me on the ground while my eyes and mouth started bleeding, the fear of dying leaving my body just as I heard him roar once more in pure fury.
〰〰〰
"Finish him, John. He is an easy target and will make our daughter grow heartless once again. It's good that he's here honestly. Good girl, Nava." The woman's voice from before sneers as I felt myself stirring with an unknown strength.
I opened my eyes but saw nothing, they were bleeding and my face was caked with blood and dirt.
Why...
Why wasn't I dead...?
"My pleasure, mate." The sad girl's father said as if he was happy to cause his daughter such grief as I pushed myself off the ground hearing the woman gasp in shock. The adrenaline I suddenly had helped me press forward when my body wanted to fall and wither away.
I dove to my feet, unsure of where or what was happening but the man here to help needed my help. My hands connected with a strange, scratchy fabric when I shoved it hard enough away and threw out a shield around me and the crying sad girl.
I heard her, the fight, the panting of other assassins that were dying.
I smelt blood, chains, and anger.
My master's anger.
"You fucking, pet! Andrew is going to kill you when he finds out!" The woman screeched, pounding her fists against the barrier while I strained against the barrier. Already feeling dreadfully weak again but I was determined to hold out.
For the sad girl.
"I can't hold it up for long," I admit, gritting my teeth as my hands trembled badly enough for the chains to rattle loudly.
The woman continued her relentless attack, not letting up when I bite into my lip and drawled more blood. The taste of iron filling all my senses while the fight between our savior continued one until there was a sharp slice through the skin and flesh.
"John!"
My worry for the person was soon distinguished as the woman hitting my barrier pulled away and dove for something. Knowing that her attention was on something else, I dropped down to the ground in exhaustion and misery.
I-I can't see anything...
I can only see darkness...
My vision...
Wh-
I felt a jacket wrap around my shoulders as more of my body fell limp knowing that I had no other choice other than to blindly trust the person that the sad girl loved.