The silent alleyway had become more eerie and I could hear the blood pounding in my ears as I stared down at the dagger still, paying no heed to the bodies littered around me.
They said that power came at a great price, didn't they? I slowly turned the dagger around slowly, loving the reassuring weight in my hand. What was the price for this then?
A twisted sense of satisfaction coursed through me. It was just like the real world, once you had a taste of money, you wanted more, it was the same thing here. I had a taste of the wonderful feeling of having so much power at your disposal and now I wanted more.
The serene environment was disturbed by the sound of rushing boots and I slowly looked up in time to see the city guards approaching, the sound of the their swords jingling as they approached the scwne. Their eyes darted from the lifeless bodies to my blood-stained dagger, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
"Halt!" their captain barked, his voice a tremor of authority and fear. "In the name of the one who runs this land, you are under arrest!"
I raised an eyebrow, my heart pounding in my chest but I held my ground, a smirk playing at the corner of my lips. "Arrest? For what? Defending a helpless woman from those thugs?"
The captain's face hardened. "Defending? We saw what you did, blood mage. You slaughtered them, reveling in their deaths. This is not justice, but a grotesque abuse of power."
A wave of anger surged through me, the whispers within the dagger urging me to strike back, to show these mortals the true extent of my power.
But I had seen firsthand what these guards could be like. The one at the gate was very powerful and there was no telling what these ones could do too. Besides I didn't even know the extent of my powers and Shadowsong was right about me. I was behaving like a newbie. I blame that on the fact that I was actually one.
"The woman was clearly distressed," I retorted, my voice laced with indignation. "Those men were harassing her, and I simply intervened."
The captain scoffed, his grip tightening on his sword hilt. "Intervened? You tore them apart like wild beasts, their blood painting the very stones of this alley. You reek of death, blood mage. Your kind is a plague upon this land."
His words stung, a harsh reminder of the fear and suspicion that surrounded blood magic. I clenched my fist, the whispers in my head increasing their frenzied efforts to make me attack but I kept myself in check.
"Your ignorance blinds you, Captain," I spat. "Blood magic is a tool, no different than your sword. It can be used for good or evil, depending on the wielder."
The captain's eyes narrowed. "And which are you, blood mage? A force for good, or a harbinger of destruction?"
Before I could respond, one of the guards lunged, his sword aimed at my heart. I twisted aside, the blade grazing my arm. Blood welled up, and I groaned. What the hell? My lips were chapped and slightly parted as I looked down at the gash that was still seeping blood. That would probably leave scar even if I healed it.
"Enough talk!" the guard snarled. "You'll face the King's justice, mage, or die trying!"
The other guards followed suit, their weapons a blur of steel. I dodged and weaved, my blood magic enhancing my speed and reflexes. I parried a thrust, disarmed another guard with a swift kick, and sent a third sprawling with a well-placed elbow.
They didn't back down and damn it, they were strong swordmen and while I had to get close enough to deliver a blow, their swords allowed them to slash at me from a reasonable distance. A sword slashed across my back, a searing pain that ignited my fury. I channeled my blood magic, the air crackling with crimson energy. A wave of force erupted from me, sending the guards stumbling backward.
I seized the opportunity, leaping over their heads using a cheap spell i had learned a while back to propel me up and into the empty marketplace. The shouts of the guards mingled with the screams of what I had yet to identify in my head as I raced through the stalls, my heart pounding in my chest.
And then I reached a dead end, a thick wall that spanned upwards and was at least 8 arms thick, I don't think I was strong enough to crash through this without harming myself. I spun on my heels but the guards were already there, a determined look in my eyes.
"Don't you guys get tired?" I muttered, my hand gripping the blade tightly.
So much for trying to help that poor woman, too bad she wasn't here to help me prove my innocence.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the crowd, his movements smooth and effortless. He was tall and lean, his face obscured by a dark cowl. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of energy rippled through the air, disarming the guards and silencing their shouts.
A blood mage. There was the dark aura around him and runes on his exposed arm.
The world seemed to slow down as he approached, his presence commandeering respect. Oh shit. I had just encountered one of kael emberheart's blood mages. My power didn't hold a candle to his.
He stopped in front of me, silent as he stared at me under the black cloak that was over his head.
"Enough," he said, his voice a low growl. "Your reckless display ends here, blood mage."
I raised my dagger, but he was too fast. His hand shot out, gripping my wrist with an iron strength. A surge of energy pulsed through me, disrupting the flow of my blood magic. The dagger slipped from my grasp, the whispers in my head fading away as the dagger clattered to the ground.
The guards, who seemed to be filled with bravado swarmed me and subdued me. I struggled, but my strength was gone, my magic extinguished. The cloaked figure stood over me, his eyes filled with a mix of disgust and pity.
"You are reckless and arrogant," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "Your power is a curse, a burden you are not yet ready to bear. A shame to even the worst blood mages"
He turned to the guards. "Take him to the dungeons. Kael Emberheart will decide his fate."
It was like I had lost control of my body as I was dragged away and soon thrown in a damp cell, the feeling of the cold metal under me making me groan.
The iron bars clanged shut and I felt weak. Struggling to sit up, I smiled weakly. Day 1 in prison. Well now I can tick that off my bucket list.