Is this how i was going to die?
i wondered as i felt my energy drift from me. i tied to open my eyes which felt as heavy as lead. the figures before as blurry as blurry can be. i felt regret cloud my eyes. anger at my own self and everyone around me.
why did i listen to them when they told me that those little kids were witches? why did i...
"Andreana."
"andreana."
"hey andrea!" dad called me. as i fell to the ground. my feet felt heavy. my hands, immovable. but the hilt of my sword didnt leave my hands. "why do you want to kill it? show it why should it bow to you?"
"focus!" he screamed at me.
i struggled to get to my feet but my back felt like an elephant was sitting on it. with difficulties, i made it to my feet and held my heavy sword with both hands. i looked at the centaur that was preparing to charge at me.
"dominate it." my father shouted from above the treetop safe from the centaurs reach.
i remeber thinking, how the fuck am i supposed to beat a beast that is both men and horse?"
"remember, you are my son. you are a dragon. you are a troll, you are every beast that walks the earth." he kept going feom the safety of the tree as the centaur trotted around, enjoying kicking my ass.
it was waiting, dancing as it watched me struggling to my feet after it had pummeled me with its hooves and fists.
it was having fun.
And why the fuck was this sword so heavy? my boots werent helping also.o Or should i say Dad's.
i held the sword with one hand and stood up. my bones cursing at me.
it smilled that ugly, irritating smile then, it charged, so did i.
it wasnt going to kill me. it wasnt going to taunt me like that. i swung the sword in a circle, propelling myself with its weight and as the sword went for the centaurs head, i used its weight to roll myself in for a round kick as the sword almost tore my arm muscles.
the beast paused and ducked back as the sword tip grazed its hard skin and cut it a little.
my feet caught it on the neck and instantly regreted the idea. i hit hard muscles and felt like i only hit a wall. my bones i felt them brake. as the beast in rage bellowed and rained everything on me. trampling, punching slapping and...
i remebered it as i stared at Gruff who kept on talking like he was everything. after the centaur played with me as a kid and broke all my ribs, i swore never let anything bully me again.
but here he was smiling, charting happily about the princess being the witch queen. Her? Ariana? i may have known her for a day and only heard of her, but i knew a little to say she wasnt. even if she was, it was between me and her.
"Gruff," i said taking my eyes of Ariana who seemed pale and scared.
"what? gonna say..."
"you remember, when i saved you from the troll that was about to bake you, you said you will do anything to pay me back when i ask."
he looked at me quietly. "I'll take in that favour now." i said taking the marker from the hilt of my sword.
"okay." he responded. i gave the marker to him and looked at Ariana. she seemed as scsred as she was moments ago but though she heard i was a hunter, she still held me. i saw her hands tremble as i took them off my clothes.
"You are not gonna touch her. None of you today. She's my mark, and she owes me big." i lookes at them. "that being said..."
"you know i didnt kill you when i got your bounty because..."
"too bad, that is what we're gonna talk about in a minute. so stay still." i gave Ariana my dragon tooth daggers and pointed to the house. "go inside and wait for me there , cover, dont leave yet."
she took them with trembling hands and walked slowly towards the house.
i waited for her to go in as Gruff tried to talk but i coldly disregarded him.
"Now, who shot me?" i asked once she disappeared behind the walls of the old house.
"what are you going to do about?" The guy next to Gruff asked holding a bronze sword on him. i looked around them most had bows and arrows and swords. a two had an axe. the dwarves. but none had the star sword i lost the day i was shot. Someone is either missing or they sold it.
"i just wanted to know who i was going to kill last."
"how you going to do that? you dont have a sword." Gruff asked seemeing worried. i took out a throwing knife from my belt and and helt it tightly.
"i don't need it." growled and added, "how about we get started?"
Gruff drew his sword but before he could, i had already darted into him and had my knife on his neck.
i stabbed him deep and drew his sword. before they could attack, i dropped three people of the eight that were in the yard, five i tore their hearts out. three tore their neck and the guy who said he shot me, i didnt kill him.
i slit his wrists when he atracked me, tore open his back and stuck a sword in between his spine.
he shot at me and didnt kill me. i wasnt going to kill him, i was going to make him wish he was dead. but unable to die for hours.
just when i thoughf i was done, some fucker shot me on the back. Again.
as i collapsed, my life draining out of me, slowly, i cursed under my breath. i should have worn my armor. but was she okay? did she run off to safety or was she still inside?
"Andreana?" i heard my father's voice call out to me, softly as i lay on the ground?
"do you know why i do this?" i didnt know. bit that didnt matter, i hated him. i hated it. i didnt want to know.
somewhere I felt my body burn up. my spine tear apart.
"you have to tell yourself to heal." He told me. "you have a spirit of a caladrius inside of you. you can heal." but i couldnt. the pain in my back was draining. was this how...
i let the darkness engulf me. stillness took me in. then somewhere far i was shook, taken. i lost conscious for that moment. when i came to being, i was sleeping i the middle of a tent somewhere.
i tried to get to my feet, but i couldnt even raise my back.
"Dont bother." Someone with a rather deep voice than me said at my feet. i looked at him and there was the guy. the kne who told the guys i killed a dragon. "you're hurt, even a phoenix couldnt heal you completely." he said moving towards me.
were was i?
i looked at the floor of the tent and saw red stones all over the ground. i blinked once. then twice.
i couldnt be here.
i looked at him. he smiled as he saw my face.
"Welcome to the heart of the mooring forest, Andreana, or should i say Andre Anan? Son of Lucas Anan."
How does he know my full name?
i felt like crawling up and atracking him but my legs felt tingly, my back hurt. And i felt like puking.
"Thank you for bringing the queen home. Sir."