Golem of the Crimson Heart

"Nyx ,wake up." But nothing happens. No movement or sound.

Kara being Kara, she loses patience knowing her friend is just pretending. So she smacks him across the face.

"Ow! Ok ok please don't do that again!" 

Nyx, someone who would be 30 years in human lifespan, barely passes as a 20 year old. But not because Nyx is blessed or anything. It's his nature. A changeling. And in this place he'd be better off not being one.

His gray skin and pale eyes with a white hair are his original features. But those are rarely seen. Since he became a 'servant' all his features have changed to those of a human. Dark brown eyes and normal skintone but still has his white hair.

"What do we do today?" Kara asks Nyx.

"Not sure. We need to talk to the head maid. What's the time?"

"No problem, I got you up early."

"Thanks."

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Bella. Head of all the servants at the duke's court. She orders left and right every day. As well Kara and Nyx.

"Good morning guys." she greets with her usual firm demeanor.

"Hey Bella." Nyx greets with his plodding air.

"Hey." Just like every day, Kara waves.

"Today we have a delivery of vegetables, potatoes and onions. A third has to be unloaded in the pantries and the other needs to be shipped across town to vendors. Kara, you just unload and then go training. Consider this a warm-up. Now move to work."

Kara, 25 , as a young gladiator she was bought by the duke when she was left stranded, but no way is she free, more like his favorite action doll. A hard labor around his massive estate. The largest next to the king's. Strong and fast, and extremely beautiful for a gladiator, she made waves for the first two years of her career.

But eventually bad things happened. Her trainer died and she was tossed around until she was no longer fighting and eventually bought, unofficially, as a slave by the duke. He promised to allow her to fight again, but there are drawbacks.

Disgusting drawbacks she has to deal with.

Around the corner of the cone were two wagons filled with about 20 bags each. Potatoes and onions, just what they have to do.

"Hey, Sam./ What's up?" Nyx and Kara draw the attention of Sam, the wagon's sover. Hard worker in the eastern part of the region but frequently coming here for negotiations and various errands.

"Hey, guys. You're the only ones who work in this whole place? It's always just you when I come by."

"Bottom muck for little men, I suppose." Nyx says to both of them. Which makes Kara punch him in the shoulder. Pulling the potato wagon closer to a hatch, Nyx opens the doors to the cellar to stock the sacks ."So what are you doing Sam? Last I saw you, you came here three weeks ago but we didn't get a chance to talk."

"I talked to Bella about the prices. This season's been good, lots of rain and the new irrigation system got us through the hot summer."

"Yeah, I know what you're saying. Me and the rest of the staff spent about three weeks on the roof replacing the tiles. Thought I'd jump off and end that hell of a nightmare."

"HA!"

As they drag bag after bag into the basement, Kara tries to contribute to the conversation. "I've been sent to the south's woods to chop down some trees.The best vacation ever."

"Ohh was that when Nelson broke his arm? "

"Yeah. But what you don't know is that I broke his arm, not a log like he told everybody."

Both Nyx and Sam stopped in their tracks. Sam more curious than anyone asks first. "What did he do?"

"He had the nerve to lift up my shirt and said I should stay like this cause I was hot."

"Because 'it' was hot or 'you' were hot?" 

"And then you broke his arm?"

"Right then and there."

Sam couldn't hold back a hearty laugh. "Pfffff ahahah! Woe to you two, at least you guys work in a fancy place." 

'I'd rather not honestly'. Both Kara and Nyx had the same thought. "Yeah." followed by silence. Half an hour later both the onions and the potatoes have been stored.

Sam pulling his pants up asks. "Ok I guess now the rest of them are going through town. Who's coming with me?"

"Bella said I should go." Nyx ready for the next job just to get back to his bed, climbs on and sits down on the onion's wagon seat.

"Okay, follow me." Sam kicks the horse harness and it starts off.

Before he follows suit, Nyx turns to Kara and says his goodbyes. "Take care."

"No problems." with a blank look on her face.

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"Sam, David! It's so good to see you again." Leika, the daughter of the gentleman who owns one of the best food stalls on the main road in town. Cheerful as usual.

"What's up Lei~?" says Sam trying to sound somehow interesting. "Just leaving two bags for you and your dad."

"Yeah, I was expecting you. My dad's at the butcher shop. We want to make a stew, a big one. Only good for an afternoon meal after work. And with all these fresh veggies we're sure to make some money today."

Both delighted by a nice meal. "Maybe save us a small bowl on our way back?" says the so-called 'David', who was none other than Nyx, but with a different face.

"Half price if it's ready."

"Ahh you always do that but you're lucky I'm drooling just thinking about it." Sam countered as 'David' drops a bag of each at Leika's door.

"See you guys later." Waving, Leika walks inside the building and goes on with her day just like Sam and 'David'.

"Can you pay my half if I deliver the rest of the bags?"

"No trouble buddy," says Sam happily. "But seriously, you get nothing working at that estate?

"You know I don't. I'm an unpaid servant." exclaims 'David'. "I'm only allowed out of the yard with company or when I'm told to do a job."

"Still, at least some pocket money when you go out in town." The disappointment in both of them is visible. "You still haven't managed to snap that wristband?"

"It's more like imprinted in my hand than on my hand." A puff of the sleeve shows a bracelet-like band on the wrist. "They tattooed it when I broke off the real one."

"Shit man. Sorry" Sam spits on behalf of his friend's misfortune."And Kara?"

"Just got worse. She only had two fights this summer and Harry, the duke's son came home." 

--------------------------------------------

"...31, 32, 33, 34.... 35!"

Kara's pull-ups are done, all sweaty, taking a little breath and ready for the next exercise, her favorite. Swinging a heavy steel hammer and smashing a boulder. For release.

"You look good Kara, all sweaty and everything." A guy leaning on the doorway apparently has a death wish.

'Oh this motherfucker's back'. "Henry. What do you want?"

"It's Harry, you stupid cunt." he snaps back for two seconds before he regains his composure. He strolls through the door of the stable set up for her training. "I was just taking a walk before lunch and I saw you training. What a delight."

"The door was shut," Kara remarks impatiently.

"Ok ok you got me." Harry wobbles around a bit until he's leaning against a table and Kara somewhat starting to worry.

"Kneel."

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Kara with both hands on the big sledgehammer looks somewhat ready for whatever this boy wants.

"Oh please, not like you haven't heard this before. I know what you and dad do behind everyone's back. Including my mom's."

Shock and worry stop Kara from thinking anything but of running.

"You don't know shit, you good-for-nothing junk. Leave me alone." reproaches Kara at the boy's nasty comments.

"Oh yes I do. And guess what. I have permission to do the same. Whatever I wish. Dad got bored of you so you're now just as any other servant. No more fights, just being a whore and a maid." 

This time, Harry succeeds in corralling her. A heavy worry settles over Kara and as a last resort she tries to leave.

"Go to hell you fool" but as she walks out the door she comes face to face with two guards.

"You're not going anywhere." As soon as they hear their boss, the two men push the girl back into the stable and close the door behind them.

"Now where were we? Ah yes, how you secretly benn sleeping with my father and now you're going to offer yourself to me too." Getting just one step closer to her, trying to gain control. "Now my friends here are tough. Tougher than both of us. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Which do you want?"

As her thoughts speed up from the stress, Kara starts to crack. "Please... let me go.." She begs with tears in her eyes and small sobs in her voice.

"Naah.." a scary grin on Harry's face.

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"You're running a little late, aren't you, Nyx?" Bella says watching the waitresses and the cook to make sure dinner is ready but still noticing Nyx comming in.

"Yeah I just wanted to tell you I'm done and Sam is leaving for home tomorrow. If you need anything else just note him." Nyx enters casually in the manor's kitchen, beautifully built in white with various pots and stoves , two wide tables in the middle so the staff can grab the dishes. 

"Are you hungry? Lila made soup." Bella offers to her underling. "It's still warm."

"No, thanks. Listen, does the duke have any houseguests? We don't always have this much beef around." About 8 plates of mashed potatoes, steak, pork chop and sides like salad and muffins are present.

"His son Harry is here with his commanding officer. The duke ordered a proper dinner but something modest. The rest of the family is also attending." Bella breaks off the talk with Nyx as the staff comes in for the food trays. "I'll get back to work. If you don't have any just go to sleep. Good night." she says as she leaves following the staff to the dinning room.

"Did Kara get any food?" Nyx question is heard but still, Bella doesn't turn around.

"Didn't see her."

'So the duchess is back. Why would she go back to that pig of a man. Pfff, it's not like she knows what else to do with her life. But that's none of my job.' 

"Oi Lila how was your day?" Nyx moves to talk with the chef helper. She usually feeds the staff around the clock. A sweatie all day long.

"Full of shit. Mainly Harry. You remember how Connie quit a few weeks back?" Nyx nodes as a 'yes' to Lila's question. "Well mister 'big gun' stopped by looking for her. She was his side-girl. You believe that? Anyway, that asshole asked if someone would 'grind his meat'. I was like a move away to splash hot soup in his face but Bella scared him off."

"Did Kara came by at some point?" asks Nyx.

"Nope. I was here all day."

"Can I bring her a bowl of soup to her room?"

"Please do and tell her she can come later is we have some leftovers of meat. Gods her ass is really nice. Better not losing it by not eating all she can." winking at Nyx.

"Haha I will tell her. Thanks." With a slightly embarrassed look, Nyx leaves the kitchen.

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'Where is she? Her training should be over by now and she's not in her room.' Wandering around the estate, Nyx ends up Kara's old barn where she trains.

 "Eeeh...Hope she isn't overdoing it. It's been like 10 hours." A light in the barn suggests someone's still in there, either that or the lamp was left burning. 'Either way, I gotta go in'.

"Kara! you're not still here, are you?" I look around but everything looks the same as usual and no Kara. Reaching for the lamp hanging on the post, I almost put it out.

"Nyx...please leave it like that." a soft, weepy voice tells from where I guess it's an old horse stable.

Once I get closer, I see Kara, lying in the corner and wrapping her arms around her legs. She was a wreck, shaking a little. Her clothes were torn up and her hair a mess.

I rush next to her. Shocked by her state all I can do is hug her. "Dear God, who did this to you?"

Still staring into the void, she replies, "H-Harry and his damn guar-ds came by today." But as she wants to continue she just squeezes me tighter and buries her face in my shoulder "They've been here for hours!!! AAAH" as she continues to cry.

'What? Harry? Ohoho that bastard. You'll pay.'

A little time passes. Time in which Kara occasionally sobbing and sniffling drags on. "Okay let's get outta here." I get up and slowly pull Kara to do the same. "I'll bunk with you. I won't take my eyes off you all night. I promise."

But Kara still doesn't give any sign that she understands him. So Nyx does one last thing he thinks will work. With a single thought his entire facade disappears and his natural gray skin returns along with his bare white eyes.

"Come on Kara, look at me." As he says, Kara looks into his eyes. "How about I piggyback you?" 

Kara nodes. "Please."

In one smooth motion the poor girl is on Nyx's back. Slowly coming out and heading for their rooms.

"Nyx...c-can you sing to me?" 

"Sure sure. Ahhhhhmmg" I clear my throat and I begin. 'Oh boy'.

"Starry nights, sunny days I always thought that love should be that way ,then comes a time that you're ridden with doubt" walking further I get closer to the staff dorms.

"You've loved all you can and now you're all loved out ,oooh, oooh, baby, we've been a long, long way ,and who's to say where we'll be tomorrow? Well, my heart says, "No". But my mind says, "It's so" still singing I open the door and walk up the stairs to Kara's room.

"That we've got a love. Is it a love to stay? We've got a wham, bam, shang-a-lang. And a sha-la-la-la-la-la thing.Wham, bam, shang-a-lang. And a sha-la-la-la-la-la thing." I open the door ,taking off my shoes, and put her on the bed and cover her up while I lie on the floor.

"Looking at you I wanted to say, I think a little emotion goes a long, long way.Careful now don't get caught in your dreams. Look out baby this is not what it seems" but before I go further on with the song she is asleep. But I don't stop.

"We've got a wham, bam, shang-a-lang, and a sha-la-la-la-la-la thing.Wham, bam, shang-a-lang. And a sha-la....la....la...la...la." 

Ultimately I think that was enough and stop. Leaving myself to fall asleep as well.

------------------------------------------

It's dawn and Kara's still in bed. I'm awake, ready to execute the plan. I got few hours of sleep. But the lack of it made it simple thinking of something. A way out. For Kara.

Step one. This letter must reach Sam. 

Leaving the room, I recast my human disguise and go downstairs. Where I find Bella.

"Your room is not upstairs. What were you doing there?" A harsh tone in her voice questioning Nyx.

"I went to check on Kara. She didn't wake up like usual." Trying to drop the subject, I thought of an excuse. A brilliantly stupid one that would work."She says eeeh...it's that time of the month." saying this with a neutral face. 'She would have me killed if she was here.'

"Well, I don't care what happened to her." But as she answers I see the realization on her face. "Tell her to be down by noon." Then she leaves, no further demands or questions.

'Bella knows? Oh she does know! And she doesn't care? Screw you! You protect the rest of your girls except Kara! She's our boss, yes, but come on!! They're both girls!'

One more good reason to go through.

"Eeh Nyx.. It's Kara ok? Is something wrong?" Lila asks her friend. "Sorry, I heard what you were talking about outside my door."

The talented chef helper closes the door to her room and steps into the hallway, dressed and ready for the day.

"No, she's not. Lila, what I want to do something for Kara. I could have done this long ago but I gave up and abandoned hope for myself. But Kara's my friend. Listen, I'm gonna do something stupid." I take the letter out of my pocket and hand it to Lila. Without a doubt in her heart, she takes it. "Can you please take this to Sam? You can read it if you want, but please. If you don't want to help me, please don't get in my way. For Kara."

Lila worried about what's going on opens the letter and reads it. Disgust and fear go down her spine. "I'll do it. Anything to save her butt."

As Lila leaves, I walk through the door and out of the building. 'Ok I just have to wait now and do my business as usual.' 

Walking toward the wood shed I see a man chopping some logs. As I approach, I get in the picture trying to find something to do. "I'll help Tom" He's a handyman in his 50's, he's good with a lot of things but a job is a job and if it's paid it's better. Even chopping wood.

" Aah thanks, son. My back been aching since yesterday. Mind if I go to the bathroom and kitchen? You want anything?"

"Just an apple, please. And thanks."

"I'll be right back." And Tom leaves, leaving Nyx alone.

'This place is perfect. Direct view to the bedrooms and I have time to rethink the plan. If Sam's still in town, that's the easy part. If not, we go with plan two.'

----------------(Half an hour later)----------------

"I'm back, son. I brought your apple and sandwiches." Tom with a small bag he puts on the table pulls out one of the sandwiches, with some tomato and apparently lettuce. "Take some when you want, but when I've finished mine, I'll chop next." Looking at the remaining batch of logs. "I'll finish them quickly. Thanks for cutting most of them. Ah, youth."

With one last stroke, the last log is done. "Thanks, Tom. Hey is it okay if I take one to Kara? She's in bed today."

"Oh yeah, sure, sure, please." Still chewing but with nothing in his hand, Tom picks up one of the axes and continues where Nyx left off.

"Thanks a lot, see you later." I grab the bag and take a bite of the apple and head back towards the dorm. 

'Everyone already doing their thing, I'm the only one here.' As I walk into the room, Kara's still in bed.

"Kara, I brought you something to eat. Ham sandwich, your favorite."

As soon as she hears my voice, she's turns around to face me."Leave them on the nightstand." and turns back to face the wall.

Without saying a word, I look in the closet. A pair of pants and a long shirt. "What are you doing?" Kara asks.

"Nothing, nothing." With the clothes in hand I get out leaving no time for any another questions.

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On my way to the main house, I run into Bella. Waiting in the back hallway.

"Feeling better?" she asks but I don't answer, which annoys her. "Fine don't talk, just know I don't care. Now I want you to start mopping the first floor."

"Me? But I haven't done that ever since I've been here. "

"Well Kara, from today you'll be doing house work like everybody else, no more working outside with the men."

"The bucket and mops are under the stairs, along with the solutions. Fetch water from outside by the kitchen." Bella bossed me around and walked away.

'I usually do this around the house when we're short-handed but Kara's always working outside.' Pissed off I set to work.

Going out the back downstairs door, I head to the kitchen to pump some water.

"Kara, my goodness, what are you doing out here so soon?"

"Hey Lila" but before she says anything I turn my eyes white and back to brown so she can tell I'm not Kara. "'What ya doin'?"

Catching the signal, Lila starts playing along. "I was just in town to see a doctor. Gee I thought he wasn't around anymore but I found him."

"I'm glad." responding to her clever game.

"Oi Lila! Where've you been??" the cook yelling at her "You've been gone nearly two hours! Get back to work!"

"Sorry sir but I just came back from doctor. I'm pregnant!!" she says with a giant smile on her face. 'Fools!! HAHA.'

The cook, Lanny, not knowing what to say anymore just gives up. "Ehh sorry... and my congratulations, but please tell us where you go next time."

"Yeah, yeah ok I promise." with Lila walking in the kitchen, I look at Lanny and he looks back to me.

"Kara..hope you're ok." he says looking up and down on me with some worry.

"I'll be fine, thanks Lanny and thanks for the sandwiches." I smile and get back to my business , bucket of water full and walking back to the house.

------------------------------------

The day went by ok, now sundown, I finished the floors and eventually I had to also clean the windows. 

'Okay this bitch has a thing with Kara. There's no one else around. And I have to do all this work alone?'

"Kara. Go clean the guest room bathroom. Harry and his commanding officer are out riding horses and the commander will expect his bathroom clean.Third room." Bella orders 'Kara' from the middle of the stairs 

I get off the window's sill and talk to her.

"Sure. But where is everyone, anyway?" I ask with some slight look to show that I know what she's trying to do.

"The rest of the staff are in the grand ballroom preparing for tomorrow's party. Now shut up and get back to work." 

"Yes ma'am..." responding sarcastically.

---------------------------

The guest rooms are all on the same corridor. And the commander's booked in the third.

Opening the door and making sure no one's in the room, I enter the bathroom. The floor and walls are covered in blue and white tiles like a chess board. A white tub in the middle of the room and what appears to be a closet. Inside I find towels, different soaps and two bathrobes. A water stove and some stones used for the sauna.

'I'm not going to clean anything in here, but still, perhaps I should wipe the mirror, just to pass the time.'

With a rag and some alcohol solution I wipe the mirror above the sink in no time. 'Well, as long as I'm here, I can search the bathroom and the room.'

The towel closet is the first place to start. Under the shelf of soaps I find a small box. 'A pair of sharp scissors and some razor blades. 

"Maybe I'll shave Bella's hair when she's asleep. Hehe." with these I put them in my pocket and start to walk out the bathroom. "Maybe the commander has some money. I'll give it to Kara and Sam for his troubles."

But before I can take the last three steps to the door, it opens and through it comes Harry. "Hey pretty girl."

'He's blocking my exit!' I think. "What the fuck do you want?" I say in an aggressive way hoping to scare him before things turn bad. Not that I'd have a problem fighting a pussy like him.

"What else, carrying on yesterday's fun. Of course." 

Harry takes two steps inside and shuts the door. "Now I hope you've learned your lesson from yesterday and you'll behave yourself today." Another step closer to me. And he grabs me by the breast.

I grab him by his shoulders and I slam my knee hard in his stomach. "Blaaah." He drops to the floor and vomits his insides.

"Ohh....eeeh...you filthy bitch. I will whip you for this. And then... "

Looking at me I do the same trick I did with Lila using my eyes. "And then what Harry?" smiling I question his words.

"NYX!!?!?! Why are you here? Kara was supposed to clean this bathroom!"

"Yeah, lucky you." Followed by a jab to the face that makes him crawl into the bathroom's corner. I pull the scissors out of my pocket and press it to his throat. "You've done enough stupid things Harry, a sexually frustrated man like you can go to a brothel but somehow, in that stupid ,dry head of yours, you decide to harass the staff." as I finish talking I kick him in his nuts.

"AAh please Nyx don't do this! Ah my father will kill you for anything you do to me!" trying to threaten his way out of the mess.

But I kick him in the nuts again. "Shut up!" Harder. And I slam him on the floor on his stomach. "First it was Connie, then you tried something with Lila and then you went for Kara." Anger blinds me and again I find myself with the tip of the scissors at his throat. "You raped my friend.."

"Please wait.. eeeh I can get you outta here. You and Kara. I can take you with me when I go back to the capital!"

"Pass. What else you have?" I grunt at him and press harder on his throat.

"Eeeh! BELLA! Bella set this whole thing up!" he cries for mercy.

Surprise washes over me at the realization of what is happening. "WHY?!" demanding as I slam his head on the floor again.

"I don't know! She told me Kara was alone and it was my chance!!!

"Did she put this together yesterday!!?? When you and your goons attacked her?!" I yell at him.

"Yes, yes. Yesterday and today, when she sent you out with that farmer and now cleaning the bathroom! Now please let me go!

I get off his back and start to pant.

"Oh thank you, thank you" he starts crying softly from the stress and fear of dying. But before he can stand up, I stomp on his head. Again, and again.

--------------------------------

"Well that's all for today. We made some delicious stuff for the party tomorrow. In the morning we'll start making the pastries."

"Yes boss!" all the girls say in perfect timing. Lila, scrubbing the vat of food, goes out the door to dump the leftovers in the trench behind the kitchen.

"Lila." 

"AAAH!!!" she turns around and sees me against the wall. "Kara?"

I shake my head no. "Everything ok? You worked hard today. Good job." I say with a smile on my face. "Listen Lila, it's none of your business what I'm doing but can you please do something?"

"What you need me for?"

"I need you to go and pick up Kara. Take her to the spot explained in the letter. Do you remember where it is?"

"Yes. I just need to go around back to the stables and jump the fence. But why don't you? Why don't you run away with Kara?"

I pull my sleeve to show the tattooed stripe on my wrist. "Even if I did leave. This'll tell them where I am. As long as I live. Or as long as the duke lives."

"Oh Nyx... What are you going to do?"

"A foolishness." Before I leave, I take out of my pocket a heavy bag with some coins. "Please give this to Kara and Sam. You can have some if you want. There's plenty." 

"So tell me, what's your plan?" Lila asked somewhat worried that her friend was getting into trouble blindly.

"Let's just say tomorrow's party is canceled. The venue will need some renovations."

"In that case I'll pack some food for the road." walking back in the kitchen she takes one last look at Nyx. "Hope you'll be ok. See you around." 

"Oh yeah... I also need a little something from the kitchen."

"Get it when no one's around." Already knowing what he wants.

---------------------------------

"Ok ok, everything is ready for tomorrow, but we still need the floral arrangements and the desserts." Bella talks to herself as she walks down the hallway. "Maybe the duke will see how good of a job I did and I'll be compensated."

"I think not." 

A startled look shows itself and Bella turns around. "Kara? What you want you filth?" says with poison in her voice.

But I don't respond with anything but a punch in the throat. As I see Bella choking and trying to catch her breath I grab her by the hair and drag her into one of the rooms. A little office for the mapmakers.

I drag her over to the cushioned chair and pull out a cleaver and embed it in the desk, followed be a smack across the face.

Small breathing gestures show Bella is still trying to regain her composure. "We're gonna kill you and then drag you in the street bitch!!!" she says through her clenched teeth.

"Not until you talk. What did you want when you sent Harry after me." a serious face strikes fear deep in Bella along with Nyx's words.

"Pfff I guess you got away with it this time eh?PHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!" she starts to laugh but chokes on her own saliva and coughs in pain.

I pull the cleaver out of the table and force her hand between the blade and the desk.

"Talk! While you still have both hand!" 

"Bitch. HeheheAAAAAHHH !!"

She screams as I slowly cut over her fingers."Ohhohoh you wanna know!?Fine! You wretched girl. You took the duke away from me. One day he goes to watch the fights at the arena and comes back with a scum like you! His wife left because of me and you made him push me aside!

With a stroke of the cleaver, I cut two fingers off her hand.

"EHEHEHEAAAAAAAAH!"

'Her scream will attract attention if it hasn't already.' I slap her across the face again and pull her hair. "Is that it!? Don't you understand I was unwillingly taken and dragged here?"

"Fuck you, Kara."

"She's not here right now." 

Using the same trick as with Lila and Harry, I signal Bella who I am.

"Nyx, you bastard.." Bella replies after the realization. "I didn't think you had it in you. What did you do with Kara?"

"She should be out of here by now thanks to Sam. Hard to accept, huh?"

"What do you mean? You're gonna die in here! The guards definitely heard my yelling and are already searching." Followed by a spit on my shirt." You're done."

"That's not what I meant. Yeah, it looks hard to get away, but Kara's getting away. She gets the happy ending. And you get nothing."

Panting with rage and pain Bella gets up from the chair to escape but Nyx grabs her and slams her head against the table. Leaving her back in the chair.

"You know...Sam likes you. Maybe if you saw that you could have been a little happy." 

"I wouldn't give myself to anyone like him. A nobody with nothing to offer! The duke has money and power and servants! I would've had them all if Kara didn't interfere! And now his wife has come home." Tears of rage begin to well up in Bella's eyes. "I'll kill you, then her." she says in cold blood.

"Goodbye Bella." In one swift move, the cleaver hacks and shatters through Bella's face and skull. With her last moments of clarity she tries to escape but not even two steps over she falls face first to the floor, lying there and choking on her blood."Next."

----------------------------

"We've fires! The building is on fire!" shouts a guard.

"The duke is still in his bedroom with his wife. We must get to them, quickly!"

----------------------------

Far behind the walls, Sam, Kara and Lila watch as the mansion slowly ignites from the first floor.

"You said he was coming back!!! Does this look like he's going to make it out of there?" yells Kara to her friends. Fearless and with tears in her eyes she turns back to the burning building.

"Kara please, Nyx did all this for you. He's strong I know he'll make it through." Lila exclaims. "We can't stop you but if you go back, we'll come with you."

"Lila..he's my friend..my best friend..I think I can't live without him!"

"But we have to hope, and if we didn't hope enough we'll try to live with this" says Sam.

Both Kara and Lila start to cry, but continue on their way away from the mansion.

'See you buddy..' Sam thinks to himself and follows.

--------------------------

Nyx stands in the hallway igniting another curtain. 'That's the last one. The wood and the rest of the decorations should burn and spread out.'

"You Kara!!! What do you think you're doing?"

One of the house guards sees me and raises his spear at me ready to skewer me to death. More people show up and witness everything that's happening.

I dodge with ease and hit the man in the knee and pretend to want to hit him with the cleaver across the neck, but I'm blocked and pushed back. 'Come on just go away already!'

"You crazy woman.'" says the guard he's dueling with. 'The house is already on fire! We just want to get to the duke to save him."

"If I allow that, there'd be no point in torching the house, right?"

But before I make another move, an arrow flies and hits me in the shoulder.

"I got her!"

Trying to dodge the possible incoming arrows, I move out of the way but only so enough for the fire to lightly touch my leg. 

Wood creaking and fire crackling can be heard everywhere as the fire gets larger and louder.

'It's getting hard to breathe.'

"It's too late! All the stairs are engulfed in flames! We must get out!"

"Damn you girl!" Preparing to attack, he thrusts his spear at me and manages to get my leg.

AAAG! 

But it's already over.

"Die here for what you've done." says the man who has apparently ended my life as he leaves, running away for his life.

I stand down. On my knees. 'Well.. fuck this stupid dump.' Flames start burning my clothes and I just take it. A final act for myself, I undo my disguise and return to my natural form. Burning away.