What Hunts in the Dark
1682 Words
The footsteps were getting closer.
Fast.
Not the impulsive steps of guards carrying out rounds. These were controlled. Purposeful.
Those who were coming had already established their position.'
With a sword in his hand, Kael stood motionless before Arielle and gazed into the darkness beneath the stairs.
Arielle's pulse started climbing again.
The corridor appeared too narrow, with stone walls encircling it. This was unexpected.
“How many?” she whispered.
Looking, Kael leaned his head back.
“Three,” he said quietly.
"Are you able to tell from the sound of their footsteps?" Arielle asked.
“Yes.”.
Of course he could.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence followed. Not normal silence.
Waiting silence.
Arielle hated it immediately.
With his gaze fixed on the bottom passageway, Kael made eye contact with her as he slowly moved back inward.
“Stay behind me.”.
“I'm not helpless.”.
“I know.”.
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
A voice echoed through the darkness before she could say what her feelings were.
The man sarcastically responded with "this isn't good.".
Arielle stiffened.
The voice sounded calm. Almost amused.
Confused, unlike the royal soldiers on top..
A tall figure was spotted beneath the staircase. The stairs were level. Lean. Rather than wearing armor, dressed in dark clothing. A hood against the back of his neck revealed sharp features and pale eyes that immediately fell upon Kael.
Then on Arielle.
His face emitted a slow smile.
“There she is.”.
Arielle's stomach tightened.
Kael and the man had a distinct dangerous demarcated line.
Kael was controlled.
The man appeared to be enjoying it.
Two other individuals, both equally armed, appeared behind him.
None wore royal colors.
Mercenaries. Or worse.
The sword of Kael became a little tighter.
"Luiz bianca you are miles away from the southern frontier.".
The man, Lucien— laughed softly.
And you are far from your usual self these days.".
Arielle glanced between them.
“You know him?”.
“Unfortunately,” Kael muttered.
Suddenly, Lucien placed a hand over his chest. "That hurts.".
“You should leave,” Kael said.
"And why?" Lucien keep his gaze fixed on Arielle.
He looked at her with such intensity that she crawled inside.
Then Arielle wrapped her arms around herself.
“What does he want?”.
Lucien answered before Kael could.
“You.”.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
She responded with a wide smile from the man.
He casually suggested that it was best to take a breath and calmly follow him.
"This isn't difficult to do." Lucien said.
Lucien shrugged. "How difficult is determined by the night's complexity.".
Kael took one step forward.
A warning.
After noticing, Lucien sighed with relief.
“Here he is,” he said, “the alarming commander to everyone.”.
You talk too much,’ said Kael.
“And you brood too much."
"We all have flaws.”.
Despite herself, Arielle blinked.
This man was either extremely brave or completely insane.
Possibly both.
Lucien's demeanor shifted, turning more and more serious. What happened?
“You've caused problems, Kael.”
“I'm aware.”
“The court is furious.”
“I'm aware of that too.”
"Despite your presence, Lucien lowered his head slightly. Protecting a condemned defector."
The word made Arielle feel uncomfortable.
Traitor.
She was already weary of hearing it.
Kael said in a steady tone. "You won't take her."
Lucien sighed again.
“That's unfortunate".
"I hoped that bloodshed would not occur tonight."
One of the men behind him snorted quietly, which was the most comical thing he had heard all night.
Arielle looked at Kael carefully.
He'd gone completely still.
Not relaxed. Ready.
As if the storm had already broken out.
The air suddenly felt colder.
Kael stated for a final time that it was necessary to go.
Lucien smiled.
“No.”.
A man quickly ran up to the stairs with his sword flashing, causing an explosion of reaction.
Kael met him halfway.
Inside the narrow corridor, steel clashes were violent....
The fight broke out so close that Arielle leaned against the wall. She was in shock.
The assassin was fast.
Kael was faster.
One strike.
Two.
By running his sword through the man's shoulder, Kael caused him to fall down the stairs and that throw him back.
The man screamed.
Lucien barely reacted.
Interesting.
Kael was approached by the second killer who then attempted to swoop around him towards Arielle.
It was too late for her to see him.
He slapped her on the wrist.
“Got her—”.
Arielle reacted on instinct.
Her elbow forcefully collided with his nose.
For half a second, he let out screams of anger.
Enough.
She freed herself and stowed backwards as Kael approached them.
The commander's sword pierced the assassin' chest in one swift action.
Blood hit the stone floor.
Arielle froze.
The man collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Her stomach twisted sharply.
She didn't know death until that point. It wasn't
But the speed at which it occurred.
The way it appeared to Kael was quite ordinary.
Lucien clicked his tongue softly.
“You've become unpleasant lately.”.
Kael refrained from answering, but his breathing was getting worse. However, he did not reply.
Lucien eventually drew his own blade.
But unlike everyone else, his feet never shook.
Almost lazy.
That scared Arielle more.
Lucien said, "You know what? I didn't expect this," as he slowly made his way up the stairs.
Kael's gaze remained fixed on him. "I am unconcerned.".
“Me too.” Lucien grimaced a little.
"Binding yourself to her? That surprised everyone.”
Arielle noticed something then.
It's not that Lucien was speaking in accordance with commands.
He was studying them.
Watching.
Interested.
Without hesitation, she inquired, "Who sent you?".
Lucien appeared pleased with her speech....
“Ah."
So she does talk.”
“Answer the question.”
His smile widened slightly.
The court didn't give you the recognition you deserve for your intelligence.
“That isn't an answer either.”.
“No,” he admitted. “It isn't.”.
Kael shifted his position in front of her.
Subtle. Protective.
Arielle noticed immediately.
So did Lucien.
His expression was altered for the first time.
Just slightly.
“Well now,” he murmured.
Kael's voice turned dangerous. “Don't.”.
“Oh, this just became interesting.”.
Arielle frowned. “What did?”.
Lucien looked directly at her.
“He already feels it.”.
The corridor went still.
Arielle looked at Kael.
Kael looked furious. Not confused.
Not surprised.
Furious.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Lucien softly stated, "The oath."
Dangerous too.”.
Arielle asked, "What is this?".
Kael was the focal point of Lucien's attention.
“You should've told her sooner.”.
Even in the dim torchlight, Kael's jaw remained so firm that it made eye contact.
“That's enough.”.
Lucien laughed quietly.
“So she really doesn't know.”.
Arielle came forward before she could halt.
“Know what?”.
Kael grabbed her wrist immediately.
“Don't.”.
She looked at his hand in a downward direction around hers.
Warm. Firm.
Then back up at him.
The first time I've laid eyes on him since seeing Lucien, he looked uneasy.
Not by the assassins.
By this conversation.
Lucien noticed too.
"You're hiding things, buddy," he said with a smile. He continued: "This is not good news.".
Kael released Arielle's wrist slowly.
“We're done talking.”.
Lucien sighed dramatically again.
“A shame."
I was enjoying this.”.
Then he attacked.
Unlike the others, his movement was flawless.
Arielle hardly caught up with the pace.
Their swords collided hard.
Kael was stronger.
Lucien was faster.
The corridor was once again filled with steel.
With a quick dash back, Arielle left quickly as the two men brawled through the tight stairwell, with Lucien's face flapping and smile on his face.
That terrified her.
Kael's approach to the fight was based on his desire to kill him.
That terrified her too.
Sharp echoes of blades scraping stone were heard.
Then suddenly, pain exploded through Arielle's chest.
She gasped frantically, grasping the wall.
Not her pain.
Kael's.
Her emotions were evident this time.
A sharp blaze burning down his side.
Kael's stumble occurred at the exact same moment.
Blood ran dark down his shirt.
Lucien had cut him.
Arielle stared.
Due to the oath's nature, the pain persisted and caused her to lose her breath.
Lucien noticed immediately.
And smiled.
He whispered, "Oh, that relationship is more substantial than I expected.".
Kael attacked harder after that.
Brutal. Relentless.
Lucien's smile faded as he was made to slide backward down the stairs.
He didn't seem as entertained for the first time.
There were faint reverberating voices above the corridor.
More guards coming closer.
Lucien heard them too.
His face was filled with a faint sense of irritation.
“This has been fun,” he sighed, looking away into the darkness.
Kael didn't lower his sword.
Lucien gestured towards Arielle with a calmness. "You should ask him what happens when one side of the oath becomes too much."
Arielle frowned sharply.
“What does that mean?”.
Lucien only smiled again.
He went missing into the night with the remaining injured assassin..
Gone just like that.
Silence returned slowly.
Heavy. Uneasy.
Kael finally put down his sword..
He had blood streaming down from his side from the wound.
Arielle looked at him.
Then at the blood.
Then back at him again.
“You're hurt.”.
“I'll live.”.
“That's not what he meant.”.
Kael said nothing.
Which was satisfactory at this stage.'"
The loudspeakers grew in size as they approached.
Kael washed blood from his blade.
“We need to move.”.
This time, Arielle remained motionless.
She maintained a fixed gaze on him.
“What aren't you telling me?”.
For the first time since the execution square, Kael hesitated....
- Writer
