"tough choice ch 3" by Connie Jay Mentira

Walstrom punched the air, his pudgy face covered with triumph.

“Hah! Yes, we now have the king!”

Anita rolled her eyes and leaned against the cold stone wall, sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. Walstrom grew quiet, while his followers whispered to each-other, their voices hoarse with excitement. Anita scowled.

“What are we going to do with him?” she asked stiffly, her muscles tensed.

Walstrom’s face turned thoughtful, and he pinched one of his many chins between his index finger’s knuckle and his thumb, tapping his boot. Anita clenched her jaw. Walstrom snapped his fingers, smirking.

“Is anyone else thinking ransom?”

Anita slapped a hand to her forehead. Walstrom looked at her.

“How on earth could have Lord Irin have appointed you as Commanding Officer!?You’re a fool!”

She stormed away, bursting out into the halls and wandering heatedly, snarling under her breath. She entered her quarters and sat on her bed with a, “Humph!”, crossing her arms and her legs and scowling at the ground.

She hated this so much, having to work with that ridiculous fool and take his orders all for a pointless war! What were they fighting for anyway? Just for prejudiced reasons beyond reckoning!? Oh, why was her home so idiotic? She glanced down at the small dagger attached to her belt, lying solemnly against her hip.

She gently un-sheathed the blade and turned it over softly in her hands, staring sadly at the cold metal. Her gaze shifted down to her wrist, and she slowly turned her hand over, her blue eyes tracing the blue veins. She rested the edge of her blade against her skin and closed her eyes…

~ ~ ~

Damien glanced up, his eyes bright with horror. He jumped up out of the tangled sheets, pulling one with him and wrapping it around his shaking body.

Artemis sat up, rubbing his eyes and running his fingers through his tangled hair. He looked down at his sore, scratched body, then shifted his gaze to Damien, and his small smile melted to a mask of horror. He got up and hurried to Damien’s side, trying to put his arms around him.

But he jerked away and rushed out of the room, his feet slapping against the floor uncomfortably as he rushed through the empty halls. Artemis caught up to him, tripping over his feet and robe as he hastily tied it.

Damien shoved open Anita’s door, smashing his shoulder against the wood. The door burst open and Artemis let out a wail.

Anita sat against her bed, her wrists open and flowing with her life and sad soul.

She was still conscious, and she looked up weakly at her shocked brother and smiled slightly. Damien dropped to his knees and gently took her bleeding wrist in his large gentle hands. He put her wrist to his bared teeth and bit her. She gasped weakly and shook her head, trying to shuffle away. He took only a second, and already after Artemis blinked back his tears had he released her other hand.

Artemis could see the wound close and the remaining blood stiffen, changing from a liquid to a goo. Artemis let out another wail and dropped beside Damien and his wounded sister, taking her into his shaking arms, bawling into her hair.

Damien closed his eyes, tipping back his head and licking his lips.