Indecent Folks

Tears trickled down my cheeks while the noise around me began to fade. I dropped the gun to the ground as I lost all my strength and dropped on my heels. What happened? What went wrong?

We had everything sorted out. So why would Julian do this? I bit my lower lip to keep myself from sobbing while some men walked up to the cadavers holding wicker mats.

I took a deep breath and clenched my trembling fist. It felt like someone stomped on my chest and crushed my heart to the ground. My eyes landed on a familiar object on the grass; it was a corsage made of black feathers. I shuddered in horror as I picked up the gun and stood to get the corsage. My jaw dropped at a hunch that crossed my mind. No. It can't be. She's not-she's not going to do this. We had an accord. We-I stared at Julian's corpse, and every vein in my body prickled like needles.

"You're with him, right?" someone asked behind me before snatching the gun out of my hands. "Who the hell are you, anyway?" he asked. "Did you know that he's a retard?" he asked.

"He's not a retard! He was compelled!" I yelled. "Someone else did this. Someone..." I trailed as my head spun. The man walked away while I clenched my fist and watched a pair of men carry Julian's corpse. "Where are you taking him?" I asked them.

"We will clean them in a basement and bury them in the cemetery first thing tomorrow."

I wiped my tears as I stared at the corsage in my hand. They waged war. Those vampires just waged war against me. I tossed the corsage on the ground and ran back to the pub. I quickly snatched my sword and took a pouch of shillings from Julian's compartment. Someone knocked on the door, so I turned to face it.

"Dani," whispered the person outside.

I gripped the gun in my hand. It was Sawyer. I sprinted towards the door but stayed a few steps away and pointed the gun in his direction. "Paige betrayed me! Do you know that?!" I yelled. "What did Paige do?"

"She ruined my plan! Did you ask him to do that?! Was this your plan all along?!" Tears trickled down my cheeks again as I placed my finger onto the trigger.

"Listen to me, Dani. I don't know what you're talking about. When I got here, all I found was the...situations," he whispered behind the door.

"Someone compelled Julian to kill his guys and kill himself! It was Paige! I know that it was her!"

"What? No, I don't know! Let's talk about this. Why would she "

I pursed my lips and fired the gun at the door. The shells rattled on the wooden floor as I used up all the bullets, the sound echoing in the room. My shoulders dropped as I tossed the gun on the floor and headed to the window by the sink. I sneaked out and ran as fast as I could towards the forest. The clear night sky gave way to the moon, providing enough light in the less dense part of the woods. I teared up again while my entire body trembled in fear. I can't trust anyone. Not Paige nor Sawyer. Not that fucking vampire guild. Fucking animals!

I heard footsteps from somewhere, so I stopped and hid from a tree. "Dani!" My hands trembled when I heard Rougan's voice. He's here, too. The three of them were here when Julian died. All possibilities point to them. I clenched my jaw as I screamed mentally. I feel so mad that I want to slash their throat with my sword.

"Dani! I know you're not far away! Please let's talk! Tell me what happened!" Rougan yelled.

I bit my lower lip as I cried in silence. They broke my trust, and I could no longer let them near me. No one could protect me right now, not even the Heavens that only brought me tragedy all my life.

I ran again, and the adrenaline rush made me go as far as the other edge of the forest. Finally, I ended up on a road that leads to a small neighbourhood from a nearby village. My ankles ached from all the running, so I took slow steps at the side of the road. Just a month ago, I was running away, and now I was back at it again. I've never found peace since my family's death, and I don't think I'll ever see one again.

"Dani," someone called behind me. I quickly turned around and drew my sword, directing the edge of the blade onto her neck.

Paige smirked at me and gently raised her hands. "It's me," she whispered.

My hands trembled as I glared at her. I am at my best with a sword, but I'm no match for a 400-year-old vampire. "Why did you kill them?" My voice cracked while tears filled my eyes.

She hid her hands behind her and smiled. "It's our first time to make a Sapper, and just like any other first inventions, we can't trust its results."

My shoulders dropped as the tip of my sword screech on the ground. "So you killed them to make sure?"

"I'm just protecting Dunfield, the Sunkens, our history and secrets. Who knows if the Sapper loses its effect after a few months, right?"

My chest cramped when she talked like she didn't do anything wrong. I shivered at the thought that I was once like her. When I killed six men that night, I've never regretted it since. So this is how it feels to look at a murderer with no regrets. "You're evil," I mumbled. "Are you talking to yourself?" she mocked.

"I will never forgive you, and you will pay for this."

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"What would you do, kill me with that sword?" she taunted. "I'm not even surprised if your betrothed's second death will just make you more of a murderer than you already are."

A smirk made its way onto my lips. "Don't be jealous now. You'll get what you deserve."

She chuckled and moved closer to me, but I didn't flinch. "Too bad, you will forget about me and the village tonight." She stared into my eyes, but I just gave her a stern gaze. Silence filled the road as she blinked in confusion. "What..." she whispered.

"I didn't drink the Sapper. How about that for a surprise?"

Her jaw dropped as she stepped back. "You, witch!" She raised her hand and tried to grab my neck, but she pulled away. "Be thankful that you're a kingmage."

"Keep an eye out, then. I'll see you again, Paige." I turned and began walking away. The sky roared, followed by a flash of lightning and heavy rain. My eyes burned as I gripped onto my sword and looked at the sky. Is this how my life will always be? To have someone and lose them? Meet people and be their enemy? Am I supposed to just be entirely evil so everything would finally stop hurting?

I sobbed in the rain as my feet took me into a house that still has its lamps on at this hour. After a few faint knocks, a woman opened the door for me. She froze in surprise before gripping the edge of the shawl over her shoulders. "Jesus, why are you strolling this late? There was a gunshot from Aurwen. Are you okay?" Her eyes landed on my hand holding the sword, so she pursed her lips and turned to me anxiously.

I slowly shook my head. "It's for defence," I explained. "Can I stay for the night? I will leave the sword outside," I said.

She sighed before staring into my eyes for a while. "You look exhausted. Come on in."

I tossed the sword onto the grassy lawn and walked in. The lady handed me her shawl, so I took it and wiped my face. Her living room was small, but I couldn't be more thankful. There's a fireplace to my left, a pair of small couches by the window, and two doors behind them.

"The bathroom is right here. I'll bring you something to wear." She led me to a small corridor and opened a door for me. The smell of jasmine filled my nose, calming me a bit. I took a bath and put on the simple nightgown and robe that she gave me.

In the living room, she poured tea on a cup as she waited for me. I hung the towel over my shoulder and sat on the couch across from her. Then I noticed something shining on the floor to my right. It's my sword.

"It's rare to see a woman holding one, so something terrible must have happened outside?" she asked.

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I sighed and leaned against the couch. My betrothed died twice, so terrible was an understatement. I trembled in pain again, so I sat straight and ran my fingers through my hair. "Terrible, yes."

"You're not from here. Where are you from?"

I shot a look at her. "I'm born and raised here. You should know me," I whispered.

She stared at me in confusion. "Well, Southplains is huge. I've never seen you before."

I sighed and licked my lower lip. Preparing to be shooed away. "I'm Adeline Jones."

Her jaw dropped as she pushed herself to the back of her seat. "The convicted swordswoman?" she whispered. "You killed six men in one night."

I pursed my lips and nodded gently, but silence filled the room, so I shot a look at her. She looks confused and scared, prompting me to put the towel onto the couch's armrest. "I didn't intend to make you uncomfortable. I'll just leave—" "It's okay. I brought your sword in, you see," she said. "Am I being stupid for trusting a stranger?"

I blinked and gently shook my head. "I've been in your place before, and believe me, you can trust the most trusty-looking person in the world, but if they want to betray you, they will. It's not your fault."

"Don't betray me, then," she said before gently pushing a cup of tea closer to me. "Make yourself comfortable here for as long as you need. I only have one bedroom, but I've prepared a mat on the floor." "Do you live alone?" I asked.

She sighed and looked around. "I do. Sounds lonely?"

"Sounds peaceful."

She smiled as she crossed her arms. It's already late, so she went to bed after a few minutes while I made sure that she locked the house properly. I forgot that Rougan and Sawyer could still be looking for me, and that's the part of me that I hate the most right now. I trust them unknowingly. I'm still yet to know if Rougan and Sawyer knew about what Paige did, but for the love of God, I hope that they don't.