Victoria Tiger
When I regained consciousness, I was in a cell again. It didn't have bars, just a sealed door. I let myself get caught. I broke Killian's rules.
Is he going to save me?
No, he wouldn't. I broke the rules he put in place.
Would he leave me behind?
He wouldn't. Would he? I don't want him to. Please, Killian... save me.
As I spiraled in thought, I reached to where my arm used to be, only to be reminded of its absence. The door creaked open. Two soldiers in black walked in. They grabbed me, my body limp from blood loss. They chained my remaining hand above my head.
I was probably drugged—I couldn't manipulate my Hashi, and my body felt like lead.
Then he came in—the man with the sadistic smile.
"Rise and shine, Princess," he said, brushing his fingers across my face.
I glared at him.
"Don't be so scary. You'll ruin that pretty face," he said with mock sorrow.
"Where... is... Killian?" I panted.
"Huh? Who's that?" he mused. His eyes lit up as realization hit. "Oh… is that the War Demon Prince's name? Weird name."
"Who... is that?" I asked, confused.
His eyes widened. "You don't know? That's what people call your travel buddy. Around here, and around the world."
He laughed.
"The War Demon Prince. Monster of numerous wars. Successor to the War Demon King himself."
I was speechless.
"And you, Victoria Tiger, have been traveling with him. We were ordered to capture you… but when we found you were with him, well... we aimed to get both."
He stepped closer. "We were told to give you something. Make sure you survive, okay?"
His words were gentle, but not kind.
He took a red pill from his pocket. Forcing my mouth open, he shoved it in and clamped my jaw shut.
I struggled, but eventually swallowed. It tasted metallic, like blood.
"Sorry about the arm, by the way. But it's not like you'll need it," he said, smirking as he walked away.
Time passed.
Old memories resurfaced. My time with Killian. His blank expression. His patience. His kindness hidden under cold tones. He never judged me. He accepted me. Showed me a world beyond pain.
Now it felt gone.
I drifted off.
"Victoria."
"Victoria. Wake up."
A voice.
I opened my eyes. No one in front of me.
"Good. You're awake,"
I looked up. A hooded figure stood above me, cutting the chain with a black dagger.
I knew that voice.
He stopped cutting and then slammed his hand into the chain, breaking it. I dropped to the ground, and so did he, landing on his feet. Jewel-clear violet eyes peeked from under the hood.
"Killian?" I croaked.
"Shut it," he ordered coldly.
He scanned my body. His eyes froze on my missing arm. He clicked his tongue.
He turned his back. "Get on."
Huh?
Was I getting a piggyback ride?
I forced my weak body onto his back. As soon as I was settled, a faint white light pulsed around him.
He ran.
Corpses littered the corridor. We made turn after turn. Eventually, we reached a stairwell.
"There they are!!"
Four soldiers stood at the top of the stairs, descending.
My heart pounded.
"Hold on," Killian said.
He drew the obsidian dagger.
With one arm holding me, he launched himself upward.
A spear lunged forward. He twisted mid-air and slashed the soldier's throat. The dying man was kicked back by his comrade. Killian dodged the falling body and charged again.
A second spear thrust at us—he sidestepped it by hugging the wall, kicked the weapon up, and closed the distance. His dagger plunged into the second soldier's gut.
A third soldier appeared behind him, stabbing forward—Killian threw his dagger up slightly grabbed the blade of the spear barehanded and yanked it, pulling the soldier forward. Killian caught the dagger as it came down and he stabbed it between the man's eyes.
"You damn demon!" the last soldier screamed. He tossed his spear and drew a sword.
Killian adjusted my weight, secured me with his cloak, then ran.
The soldier raised his sword overhead.
Killian stomped down backstepping, dodging the blow, which embedded into the stairs. He sprang forward, slashing the soldier's throat cleanly.
The man gurgled and dropped.
Killian didn't even look back.
We reached the top of the stairs. And we ran.