Cursed Blood

The boss growled as I remained silent; cold and calculating. The crowd had closed around us, the soft splashing of the water hitting the fountain bowl echoing behind him. Warm sunlight scorched the skin of the bystanders, a shadow cast by my pack tied to the fountain falling across my face and allowing me to see clearly.

"Tell me," the boss said, "why you saved him? You explain that while you bleed, how does that sound?"

My feet glided over the pavement as I lunged, my knife hitting close to the base of his sword. His reflexes were faster than before, and I had to use my claws to hold the blade back from being able to swing at my head. He finally spotted the razor-sharp claws on my fingers, his eyes widening as I brought my foot up toward his side. The man easily took his blade back from my flimsy grip on it and swung toward my neck, but I had already prepared to block it with my sturdy knife. The clang of blade on blade made the crowd wince, but we were too focused on trying to kill each other. I snarled, shoving him off. He stumbled back toward the crowd, the citizens moving away until he hit the fountain with his knees. As I moved forward, the crowd closed around us so that the fountain made up one side of our ring, the pavement slick with water.

"It sounds like a shitty idea," I spat, resuming my defensive stance. My empty hand was curled into a tight fist, and I felt surprisingly lively as I faced off with the criminal. The tips of my fingers ached from having to try and hold back a sword blade, but other than that I felt alive and charged like a live wire.

The boss straightened, rolling out his shoulders. He looked like he was preparing for a show, and I began to realize that that was what this was. To him, this wasn't a real fight. It was a show for the crowd, to scare them into submission.

"What are you the boss of?" I asked, my voice carrying out over the marketplace. Many shopkeepers had begun watching as well, and a larger crowd was gathering. Maybe they've never seen someone fight this guy with this much cockiness before, I thought. They think I'm about to be killed.

Several whispers ran through the crowd. Now it looked like I was a clueless traveler trying to be heroic by saving two people while not knowing anything about who I was going up against. With the state of Lightblood magic as it was, they were all assuming I had no trump card or hidden strategy here. They wanted the show that a bloodbath would give them -- and then they'd probably wash it away with the fountain water behind them without a second thought.

"I am the boss of the Valley, sweet cheeks. More powerful than you'll ever know. After all, I set metal on fire."

His sword burst into flame, and several pieces of jewellery were thrown to the ground. I, however, didn't have any metal on me that he could see except for the knife, which had a cloth hilt.

My eyebrows raised as I took the flaming knife, carefully avoiding it, and tucked it behind my back. Not only did the fire only light up the metal -- the cloth hilt was untouched -- but the second it was out of the line of sight, the fire around my blade slowly died.

Not only do I see reminants of pain and new sources of it, I thought, my brain taken over by the malice I felt toward the man, but now, I see what everyone else senses. What they mean when they tell me my power is painfully overwhelming.

Because yours is as insignificant as a fly.

The Lightbloods watched with wide eyes as the blade of my dagger, clear of any burn marks and its flame completely put out, came into view of the man. Once his eyes spotted it, the flames reappeared, but all it took was me putting it behind my back to put it out. I snickered, dropping the knife back into the scabbard on my thigh. His own flaming sword was insanely bright, and probably hot as well, but I knew he was no match for me as I bared my fangs, lifting my hands so that my deadly claws were on display. At this point, I also realized the sun would be beating down on the scars on my back where the base of my wings would be.

I wonder what they see me as?

Surely someone more than this useless boss fly... Or maybe they see me as stupid.

Ironic, considering theoretically, I could crush them all.

The idea of putting on a real show tiptoed into my mind, but the morally correct side pushed the idea away, focusing on the man with the flaming sword instead.

"You're such a pest," I hissed, estimating his reaction time. The man lowered his guard for a split second every time he looked at my mouth, a flicker of fear crossing his face. He glanced down a few times a minute, and gradually, I began to predict when he would look down.

The next time he did, I took the opportunity. The tip of his sword dropped a bit as he stole a peek at the sharp fangs in my mouth, his guard dropped momentarily. I dove at him, feigning to his right before slipping in the water -- something I purposefully planned for -- and using the extra momentum to kick his legs out from underneath him. His sword's flame flickered as he fell, unable to keep up the concentration needed. My claws dug into his fingers as I ripped the sword from his hands, tossing it into the crowd before wrapping my hands around his neck, carefully avoiding piercing him.

For now.

"Give me one reason not to kill you," I snarled, my voice coming out raspy through the fangs. The man glared at me, his own hands trying to pry mine off, but I was much stronger.

"I'll kill your family if you don't, girlie. I am powerful, I will get them."

I rolled my eyes and slowly got to my feet, lifting him up into the air by his neck. The man began to claw at my hands, trying to get some air.

"I'd like to see you try."

With that, I threw him into the fountain and stepped onto the edge, watching him scramble in the water. Laughing, I leapt onto the peak of it once again and collected my pack, pulling my cloak over my shoulders.

Walking away with the sound of applause.

Hey, author here.

I just want to leave a quick note asking that if any readers have any comments whatsoever on the chapters, please leave them for me to see! I would love to interact with anyone taking the time to read my writing, and feedback is always important if I want to improve.

Another thing -- if it's possible, please leave a like on any chapters you can. It supports the book and me, and lets me know that readers are enjoying the story. So do reviews, so if you have any big ideas about Cursed Blood, write them out! :)

That's all for now, see you all in the next chapter <3