(THIS CHAPTER IS A REWRITE)
Two figures stood atop a roof–a silver-haired man wearing a dark lavender hooded top held by uneven naples, and on his waist, grey wrappings similar to bandages. His black pants were baggy, and under were short leather boots. His golden and unreadable eyes observed the movement of people beneath.
The blood-red haired girl on the other hand, wore a black cloak that covered her as a whole. Her eyes were as red as her hair, it reflected the eight phases of the distant moon around her pupils. Unlike last time, she wasn't just tan-skinned–thin boxy lines from the bottom of her eyelid spanned down to her neck similar to tattoos.
"What are the sins of this gang?" asked Sévir.
"In total, they have thirty-six counts of theft, eighteen counts of murder, twenty counts of rape, and nine counts of slave smuggling." Sanguinex's brows knitted the more she mentioned their atrocities, an edge growing in her voice. "They're terrible.."
Sévir noticed her fists shaking in anger, both of which also had similar lines to her cheeks. "I'll sit back and let you do the work." he aimed his left hand that glowed orange at her. "Ready?"
She nodded, though she flinched as a ray of fire surged from his hand to her neck. The black lines glowed orange as the fire expanded around them, her body warming up as if she was in a hot spring. She smiled in pleasure and stretched her arms up as he stopped. "Oh, that feels great~ Well then, I'll finish the job." she declared before leaping off the roof.
.
Within the walls of an open square space, were long tables and chairs in rows that men sat and ate on. From the corner, three men grilled meat. The atmosphere was upbeat, their laughs and chatters resonating non-stop.
"Brent, what did 'ya do with that young maiden from yesterday?" asked a man, his voice loud and raspy.
The man in question–Brent who sat beside him, chuckled. "Oh you know, after I separated with you guys to catch up to her, I had my way for the whole day!"
"Lucky you!" the man who asked laughed along.
"She was tasty for sure. We all know how kind I am, so I brought her along for the others to play with!" he stood up. "Let me fetch her."
After a minute, he arrived back with a white-skinned, meek-looking girl, her messy blonde hair covered her eyes, and every single part of her was trembling. It caught the attention of everyone nearby. Brent sat her in-between him and the man from earlier.
"This is the girl." he leaned closer. "What's your name again, sweetie?"
"..M-M-Mary.." her weak and trembling voice managed to utter her name, which they just barely heard.
"Mary, she said." Brent brushed her bangs away, revealing pristine blue eyes that would captivate anybody she locked gazes with.
The rest of the men who stared at her were left wide-eyed and smiling, all silently agreeing in relation to her looks.
Brent wrapped his big arm around her shoulder, keeping her close. "Here, eat." he shoved a slice of steak inside her mouth. "We need to give you energy for tonight, I'm sure every single one of us wants a try."
..Is this really my fate..? she nodded. I don't..–I don't want this! she couldn't help but stare down at her lap and bite her lip. The clear image of a man and woman with similar traits to her appeared in her mind, both smiling. Mom.. Dad.. I–I shouldn't have ran away!
Tears dropped to her hand, her shoulders trembling even more. "Hey, why are you crying?" asked Brent, who was the first to notice.
"Isn't it obvious? She doesn't like being around you guys." said Sanguinex's loud voice as she walked up to the table. "You guys are having a party, huh?" a smile curled up, her nails growing and sharpening. "I can cook for you guys, only if you give me the girl.. Though, I can't guarantee you all won't be part of the main dish!"
Every single one of them stood up, alarmed by her presence. They felt a sense of familiarity from her, but didn't know her name. "I–It's you!" said Brent, he pulled out his dagger as did everyone else.
"Oh yes, it's me," she chuckled, "the cute girl who you'll wish to die to!" she braced herself, dashing forward in inhuman speeds. He looked back and noticed Mary missing, realizing Sanguinex snatched her as she returned to her original position. "Hey! Come get her!" she called out to Sévir who stood above. He jumped down and hooked Mary in his arms, jumping high up to the roof and disappearing after without giving them time to react.
"Now, it's me and all of you alone," she folded her right arm in front, "are you ready~?"
.
At last, Sévir landed on another roof away from their original spot, Mary was still in his arms, carried like a princess.
Though, she was not at all elated about it–rather, her hands trembled more as did her mouth, her eyes widened in terror and skepticism.
"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." his attempt on soothing her backfired as he spoke with a stiff voice, though it did some work by letting her stand on her own.
She took a step back, her eyes locked on him. "S–Stay.. Stay back!" she pulled out a dagger from her back pocket, extending it forward with both hands.
I didn't notice she snatched a dagger. even so, he remained within his boundaries and took a step back as well. "Got it."
His willingness to step back caught her off-guard. "You're.. Not going to hurt me, right?"
"I won't, so please put down your knife."
She eyed him with suspicion. "B–Before I do, you.. You aren't one of them, right?"
He shook his head. "I am neither your enemy or ally."
"Then.. What are you doing here!? Why were you there!?" she raised her voice, a hint of confusion looming within.
I shouldn't be saying this, but I'd rather gain a sliver of her trust. "I, and that girl who snatched you were sent to.. Take down the gang that captured you–we're assassins."
She took a moment to absorb this information. At last, she put the knife down little by little. "You.. Really won't hurt me, right?"
"I swear to the Magic Gods that I won't."
She was taken aback from his oath. "You swear to them.. The highest oath?"
He nodded, resolute to show his desire to gain her trust. "Do you trust me now?"
Alas, her eyes still narrowed in suspicion. She sighed in resignation right after. "A..–A little.."
Silence ensued, she continued to tremble a little, intimidated by either his presence or the fact he's a man.
.
The ground, chairs and tables were soaked in blood, the unidentifiable and burnt to crisp bodies lying and scattered everywhere.
There stood a lucky man in-between, blood splattered everywhere in his body–not his, but of his fallen comrades. This man was no other than Brent, his black hair being the only hair that remained amongst everyone, save for Sanguinex, and his life-filled black eyes stared at hers, resolute and unshaken from the sheer amount of gore around him.
From across, stood Sanguinex who was also drenched in blood, her smile as devious as her giggle. "You're still alive? I was sure I killed you first."
He smirked, wiping the blood off his face. "Don't look down on me, the very fact I'm still here amongst all these weaklings should say something!"
"Then, let's test it." the moment she stopped speaking, she dashed forward. Much to her surprise, he mustered all his strength to block her ram.
He dug his heels deep and grinded through the ground as he was pushed back, his teeth clenched from the impact and pain in his arms. Agh! That was harder than I expected!
"GLOBUS AHI!" a huge fireball grew and shot out of her palm, Brent dived and rolled to the side by just a mere inch.
When he stopped, he looked up wide-eyed–before him stood Sanguinex, her razor-sharp nails raised and ready to slice him down. No–
She sliced his throat down and swung her right foot, sending him far to the wall right across.
A sigh of relief escaped her mouth, her nails shortening and smoothing out. "Ohh boy, I went on a roll there." she looked around the silent battlefield, the sunrays aimed down at each and every one of them. "I guess I can let them rot here.. Now, where are those two?"
.
It took her less than a minute to find them. She walked up behind Sévir, her arms raised and ready to attack. Any second now.. she took one more step forward. NOW! she jumped off the ground towards Sévir.
As if he expected such, he twirled to the left and slammed her down the hard roof, her face pale as if her soul left her body upon impact.
A loud grunt escaped her mouth. "D–Dammit Sévir! Was that necessary?"
"My instincts acted up." he said rather blatantly.
"..You're the girl that saved me.." Mary spoke, her voice much more composed than before. Sanguinex looked and stood up, wiping the dust off her cloak.
"Yes, that's me." she glanced at Sévir who glanced back. "Hey, do you have a home?"
The question caught Mary off-guard. Nevertheless, she nodded. "..I do."
"Let us take you there, at least you can get home safe that way."
Mary looked down, clasping her hands in front as she bit her lip. ".. I–I don't think I can come back after all what happened." After all.. I w–was.. even her thoughts refused to continue, her heart crushing to millions of pieces from the painful truth.
Much to her surprise, Sanguinex walked closer and held her hands. "Mary," her silvery voice caught her attention, "I don't know the situation in your house, but I'm sure of one thing–they're waiting for you to return with open arms."
Mary's eyes widened once more as those very words resonated within her. "But.. I ran away because I argued with them.." her voice turned shaky again, her eyes teary.
"That could be the case, but I doubt that they hate you–what kind of parent would hate their children?"
Mary shook her head. "I gravely sinned against them–"
"Then apologize!"
The former was quick to let go of her hands, her brows knitted. "But it's not that easy!" she exclaimed, hints of annoyance and desperation in her voice.
…
From across the table, a blonde man rubbed his temples, his glasses on the table. "Mary, please tell me you're joking."
Mary looked down, a regretful look on her face. "..I'm not."
He slammed the table with his balled fist, he put his glasses back on with his glare still evident. "Me and your mother spent so many sleepless nights preparing and so many busy days tutoring you just so you can pass the entrance exam, then THIS IS YOUR RESULT? FORTY-SIX OUT OF ONE HUNDRED!?" his raised voice reeked of rage, catching even Mary's mother off-guard. "WHAT HAPPENED!? WHY DID YOU FAIL THE ENTRANCE EXAM!? DID YOU EVEN TRY!?"
Naturally, she trembled and shrunk in fear from his reaction, the tense air suffocating her with no room for escape and rendered her unable to answer.
He slammed the table again, so strong that it could break if he went any stronger. "ANSWER ME!"
As if something clicked, she stood up and slammed the table as well. "W–WELL, YOU DO NOTHING BUT PRESSURE ME! WHENEVER I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, YOU GET MAD! WHENEVER I DO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T ACCORDING TO YOUR WANTS, YOU GET MAD! WHENEVER I TRY TO FOLLOW MY OWN STUDY SCHEDULE, YOU FORCE YOUR OWN TO MINE–"
He stood up and raised his hand, swinging it across for a loud and stinging slap on her cheek. The room went silent, the tense air turning as hot as a sauna.
"..I've never had a daughter this ungrateful.. You don't know how to appreciate the efforts people make for you." he put his hand down. "We've spent years doing our best to give you a comfortable life, yet you're here complaining like a little kid. What are you, eight? You're already twelve for crying out loud."
(You try to give me a comfortable life, but is it what I want?) she asked herself because she knew she could no longer muster the courage to say it right at his face.
"The door is open for you to leave if you stay this way." he pointed at the round door right across.
"..Then I'll leave." her sudden declaration caught them off-guard, as if the two didn't expect her to go through with it. Alas, she sprinted down and left the house.
"..W–WAIT! MARY!" her father tailed her, followed by her mother.
…
"I–I ran away after being inconsiderate and yelled at them, just how can I come back with that and the fact that I was violated!? That's even worse–"
"Then what do you want?" Sévir spoke up, a noticeable edge in his voice. "Do you want to lose them entirely from your grasp and live in regret for something you didn't do?"
"..."
"No matter what happened to you, or what you did to them, they'll still accept you because that's what parents do–you should be lucky you still have them, because they won't be here forever."
Silence ensued until Mary's defenses finally shattered, she dropped to her knees and, a surge of tears gushed out, accompanied by her cries.
Sanguinex kneeled down and hugged her tight, patting her back. "Come on, let it all out."
With assurance and a feeling of comfort and trust, she did so and poured all of it out. Brief images of yells directed at her and back at her parents, passing by Brent and his group, him catching up and abducting her and him violating her without a sliver of remorse–all of it travelled down to her tears, desperate to be pushed out.
The bright sun shone upon them, its brilliance a show of life's support for Mary against her internal battles.
Such unfortunate events are never easy to escape from once the damage is done, but it's only natural to want to recover and strive. he glanced at the vulnerable girl. Return to your parents, they'll show you the path to the happiness you lost the moment that man harmed you, Mary.
You can do it.