"Tell me why, Isadora?"
'Why?' She sucked in a breath, her gaze unable to move away from Bryndor's body, his whitish skin and lifeless eyes a shred of clear evidence that his soul had been given to Daudi and Lifara the goddess of life had abandoned him.
Why does this man ask her such a question? There was no reason for it and it doesn't make any sense.
"Did you enjoy watching him choke to death in his blood, is that why?"
His question shook her to the core and she pondered how he could think such a thing. She wasn't cruel to watch a man fight for his life and watch.
"Watching as the life slowly left his eyes"
The image played in her head, Bryndor struggling to breathe, choking, and his eyes staining with blood before he dropped to the floor—a silent plea in his action that he needed help.
She felt sick to the stomach at the thought. She shook her head.
'Do not fall for his tricks' her thoughts defended her. Her breath growing raspier by the second. She repeatedly shook her head to wave away his words, he's trying to get in her head and she won't let him.
It was satisfying for Kraven to watch her in such mental turmoil, he pondered why she would feel guilt for a man who bought her and would have done unspeakable things.
"You let him die because he deserved it," he leaned closer until his hot breath flushed against her ear causing chills to her spine and the smell of blood to fill her nose and senses. "And I know you enjoyed it, love"
Isadora took a sharp intake of breath, reaching for the table where his sword lay. She backed away from him abruptly and pointed his blade at him.
Kraven grew more amused, loving the blaze in her eyes. Tears staining her cheeks and her lips quivered but yet she stood with his weapon turned against him.
A fierce tattered mess.
"Do you want to kill me, Isadora?" he asked arrogantly, rising to his feet and intimidating her with his massive height, the edge of the blade barely at his throat.
The bloody sword suddenly felt too heavy for Isadora and her muscles were tempted to give out, she had yet to recover from her session.
But her anger was more extreme than her pain. 'Who does he think he is?! This man deserved such death as Bryndor did. They all did!' She paused, suddenly overcome by the thoughts in her head, mortified by them.
"That's better, Isadora, I love that look" he mused. "Your mind tells you peace, but give it a little taste of clutter and you see what it's truly capable of"
Isadora screamed and swung the blade to take his head.
"Kraven!" Rav panicked, hastening to his feet but halted his approach when Kraven stopped the blade with his bare hand.
Isadora stared shocked as blood ran down Kraven's arm. His actions were more shocking than his pain tolerance.
With a tug, her body moved effortlessly to him until she was hanging on her tiptoe in the balance between the sword and his hold.
"Are you angry at me, Isadora!" he bared his teeth like a beast and a helpless whimper escaped her in fear, she'd never known true terror until now.
She shook her head and broke into a feat of tears, letting all the stored anguish overwhelm her, her grip slipped from the sword and she dropped to her knees, crying like a child.
Kraven growled, angry by her pathetic cry. She had demons and it's a good thing one of them is right here.
He dropped the sword on the table and reached for his holster to grab a dagger. "Forgive me, Rav"
"Dare I ask why?" Rav asked, confused by what Kraven planned to do next. He did not understand why he behaved in such a manner. As far as letting a simple girl turn his own blade at him. It was unlike Kraven.
"I'm taking his tongue myself," Kraven declared, matching to retrieve his claim and Dashwell's screams filled the room.
Isadora covered her ears horrified, her body raking between sobs and tears. Hearing a body thump to the floor she jumped and found Dashwell's unmoving body.
He didn't survive the cut.
Her tormentor for many winters had gone to greet Daudi. All this time enduring what Dashwell had installed in her life was played in her memories until she could think of nothing. Her body and mind went numb.
Kraven flapped on his leather jacket and sheathed his sword, with a step he grabbed Isadora and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of nothing.
"What are you doing?!" Rav demanded.
Kraven smirked broadly and marched toward the door—kicking it open and stepping out of the building.
Rav cursed to the gods, and grabbed his things, before casting a stern look at Serena. "Remember you do not speak of what happened here, as far as you are concerned, robbers got to the Jarlas here. Trust me I'll know when you speak"
"O-Of course, I'll not dare to say a thing" She fell to her knees hoping he wouldn't hurt her.
Rav didn't like the idea of leaving an eye witness but he wouldn't dream of hurting a woman, that's where he drew his line.
"Isadora," Serena suddenly said. "She deserves to be free," she sobbed.
Rav did not reply to her and stepped out of the building.
The man's silence only broke Serena's heart, she could only pray to the olden gods to watch over her friend.