The Light of My Hearts

A/N: Apologies for the delay. Writer’s block struck and action is a bear to write anyway. Hope I didn’t frustrate you my readers! Anyway, here’s a longer chapter!

ALSO: More naughty words...just a warning...

Once his archers were ready with their dipped bolts, Farley withdrew his sword and doused it in giantsbane and dust to make the liquid adhere better to the metal. This was what he’d been waiting for close to two years. Fame and riches beyond his dreams stood outside. He would need all of his skills and nerve to pull off this kill. He took a big breath and let it go, psyching himself up.

“All right. This is it boys. I’ll go outside and get his attention. You assholes keep ready and when I whistle come out and fill that bastard with all the bolts you can fire. You got me?” he ordered.

His men nodded, eyes admiring the bold courage of their leader or dreading what would happen in the next few minutes. Farley turned to the door, gripped his massive sword tightly, nodded, and the door was thrown open. He jogged forward, almost a sneaky run outside into the street, eyes scanning up for his adversary. He turned this way and that, sword at the ready. But...he didn’t see anything. He didn’t lessen his defensive posture.

“The fuck...?” he hissed.

He dared to look down and in the street dirt he could see the edges of a massive boot print. It had to be at least twelve feet from heel to toe...possibly bigger. No question: that had to be the Gray Shadow’s. Why Helia decided to go outside like that didn’t make much sense. Farley thought she was smarter than that. He didn’t see any blood or pieces of her laying around. Beast probably swallowed her whole.

What a waste.

He flexed his fingers around the hilt of his sword and shouted loudly, “GRAY SHADOW! Come out and FACE ME!”

The street remained silent.

Farley paced up and down the street, trying to keep himself within firing distance of his archers.

“Where are you...?” he whispered.

And that’s when a couple shrill screams cut the air in the next block. Farley whipped around, realizing his target was a street over. He dashed back into the bar to go out the back.

...

Helia and Gillam were poised on the other side of the roof where Farley couldn’t see them. They watched the slayer pace the street, issuing his challenge to Kendrick. They could see the giant crouched down a couple streets over, being very casual about the whole situation. But what they noticed was Farley didn’t have the canister with him.

“Damn. He must’ve left it in the bar.” Helia swore.

Out of nowhere a horrible scream rang out behind them. Helia and Gillam couldn’t help but turn around. Apparently, someone had seen Kendrick as they came out onto the street and let him know about it. Kendrick had a look on his face that was two parts annoyed and one part startled. The scream of course signaled Farley and the burly slayer rushed back into the bar.

“He’s going through and out the back!” Gillam gestured at Kendrick in warning.

The giant sighed, stood up again, and slid through a couple alleys until he was yet another street over. For Helia that seemed a bit out of character. Kendrick was too big to take down easily and he knew it. That near invulnerability had made him unafraid to face any threat presented to him. So, seeing him actively staying away from Farley like a child playing hide and seek was...odd.

It wasn’t long before Farley appeared behind the tavern, alert and ready for action. Just from his fast turns and head jerks, Helia could tell he was getting frustrated and unnerved that he couldn’t find a giant. It was almost amusing.

But then he seemed to let the hunter in him take over as he assessed the obvious tracks Kendrick had left in the street. He made a gesture and soon a group of a dozen men snuck out of the tavern, looking way more nervous than Farley. He gave some instructions and the group split up, moving down opposite sides of the street. Farley sheathed his sword and rushed over to a building where he ran inside. It wasn’t long before he was climbing out a window and was standing on the roof. He ascended the peak of it to gaze out over the town.

Helia, meanwhile, had moved out of sight to gain the ground and enter the tavern in search of the canister of giantsbane. Per her instruction, Gillam stayed out of sight on the other side of the roof so Farley wouldn’t see him. Should the situation turn against Kendrick, he would aid him.

From the roof Farley didn’t have to look far when he spotted the giant crouched down a couple streets over.

“HEY! OVER HERE!” Farley shouted waving his sword in the air.

He expected his boisterous noise to gain the Gray Shadow’s attention and it did briefly. Kendrick glanced over at the slayer as he slowly stood to his full height.

“Yeah, that’s right. Bring your gray ass over here.” Farley muttered, still waving his sword, and then shouted, “COME HERE, YA BASTARD! COME GET YOURSELF A SNACK!”

But much to Farley’s shock the giant merely gave an unimpressed expression and moved on down the street. Farley lowered his sword, baffled.

“DON’T IGNORE ME YOU MOTHERFUCKER!” the slayer bellowed with outrage.

He whistled a couple quick signals to alert his archers to the direction of their quarry. Led by Horace, the group began running through the alleys and down the streets.

The buildings in Gerrymin were all very close, clustered in long rows behind a stone wall. Some of the streets were wider than others. The one in front of Farley was one of the narrow ones. With a quick backward start, he rushed down the incline of the roof, jumped over the street, and landed on the next roof. The Gray Shadow was still two streets away and moving away from him and his men. Farley ran down the second roof and made it over that street as well. The next street, however, was wider than he could jump so he began running with the street along the rooftops.

He couldn’t figure out what the Gray Shadow was doing. Every story he’d ever heard depicted this beast as utterly ruthless and extremely dangerous. He expected the giant to come at him like a ravenous dog to a chunk of meat, but he didn’t. If his plan was to succeed, he needed to gain the Gray Shadow’s attention and lead him to just the right spot for his ballistae to do their job.

It took some effort but finally, Farley caught up to the Gray Shadow, albeit he was still a street over. Reaching down he took out a loaded crossbow, took aim, and shot a dipped bolt into the giant’s shoulder blade. Though the reaction was little more than a muscle twitch, it still made the behemoth stop and turn around very slowly. Now he looked irritated. The glint that flashed across the amber eyes in the dark made Farley shiver. Regardless, he drew his sword again and squared up to his towering quarry. He wasn’t sure if that dipped bolt would be enough to affect the Gray Shadow but it got his attention anyway.

“That’s right you big, gray fucker...come get me.” Farley muttered.

...

“That’s right, Farley. Follow the bounty.” Kendrick thought to himself as he walked away from the ballsy slayer who dared to challenge him.

Part of him felt odd just walking away from a slayer who intended to kill him. He was starting to regret not stomping that tavern flat and sorting through it later. Would’ve been much easier. BUT...he knew it wouldn’t help his bid for peace if he rampaged through a city, destroying everything, and killing a bunch of bystanders along with the slayers. Then again...it might not matter anyway.

Suddenly, the sharp prick of an arrow hitting his shoulder blade made Kendrick stop. He always hated that. He turned around, making sure his mood was conveyed potently in his eyes. Normally arrows only stung like splinters, but this one was starting to make his skin itch. Then he realized the arrow must be coated with giantsbane. With a direct movement he pulled the tiny bolt out of his shoulder and threw it aside. A street over he could see Farley standing on a rooftop. He was still holding the crossbow but putting it away to draw his sword.

Kendrick tipped his head slightly, “Did you want something?”

As he anticipated, his speaking surprised the man. The slayer’s stance seemed to falter slightly.

“The fuck?!...”

Kendrick made a sarcastic noise, “Yes. Shocking I know. The Gray Shadow can speak.” He narrowed his eyes, “Now... what do you want?”

“What kind of question is that?” Farley shot back after he stopped mentally reeling from hearing the notorious giant speak.

A brief chuckle left Kendrick, “Well, I’m pretty sure you just asked me to come over there and kill you. But perhaps I misinterpreted the meaning of getting shot with an arrow?”

Farley kept his sword stance, flexing his fingers against the hilt. He wasn’t accustomed to conversing with a monster he intended to slay. Kendrick meanwhile was feeling the arrow mark itching worse and growing hot under his shirt. He cleared his throat which was also starting to prickle.

“You’re Farley the Wereslayer.”

The burly man was taken aback again, almost flattered he was known, “How the fuck do you know my name?”

Kendrick gave a smile that wasn’t friendly, “I suggest you do as your name implies and stick to slaying werebeasts. You’ll live longer.”

Farley huffed indignantly, “And I suggest you don’t underestimate me you oversized wanker!”

“Just like Slayer...” Kendrick mused in his head.

The man pointed his broadsword at Kendrick, “You’ll pay for eating Helia of Tegath!”

Kendrick snorted a laugh at the idea, “You’re making a lot of assumptions, Farley.”

“Oh, they’re promises, monster! I’ll spill your guts across the rooftops and your blood will flood these streets!” the slayer shouted fiercely.

“Vicious. Well, let me give you one last warning...” he raised his voice so he would be heard across Gerrymin, “I had intended to leave this place peacefully. BUT if you decide to shoot me again, I...”

Quite suddenly, Kendrick was hit with several crossbow bolts in his chest, neck, and a couple embedded in his cheek. His head flinched automatically feeling the pain so close to his eye. His arm came up automatically to shield his eyes. If there was one thing that triggered his vengeful nature it was getting shot in the face. The arrows had hit his left and right. Farley’s men had circled around in the back alleys to flank him.

“...I will not be merciful.” He finished his earlier statement with murder in his eyes.

He quickly pulled the arrows out of his neck and face but didn’t have much time before a second volley hit him. His raised arm took the brunt of it but a few slipped through to his body. Already he could feel a horrible, hot itchiness prickle across his skin where the arrows stuck and now his sinuses starting to constrict. Kendrick backed up automatically and put his boot through a building like it was made of cardboard. Kendrick snarled and ripped the wooden shingled roof off of the damaged building and held it out in front of him just as a third volley flew at him. When he felt the tiny impacts in the wood, he flung the roof in the directions of the assailants. The roof exploded into thousands of wooden pieces as it hit the ground and other buildings.

Kendrick growled deeply as he felt his reaction to the giantsbane began to intensify. Helia had hit him across the nose with a branch of it and that sent him into a sneezing fit and swelled his eyes shut. A direct “injection” into his skin was starting to make breathing and smelling difficult and his skin itched like fire.

Though it pained his pride, Kendrick knew he had to get away. He tried not to show any urgency as he retreated over to the next street and briskly moved toward the outer wall. A few arrows hit him in the back but he had to ignore them. As he walked, he pulled the offending bolts from his body but it did little to alleviate the reaction they were starting in him. He exhaled and inhaled deeply but his breath felt uncomfortably lacking.

“Slayer had better have found the rest of that giantsbane and destroyed it.” He thought to himself.

He kept moving, feeling worse by the second, until he made it to the outer wall of Gerrymin. The stone wall only came up to his thighs so a short jump was all he needed to get himself on top of it. He was just about ready to hop over when all of a sudden, he heard a sharp whistling noise and something substantial pierced his abdomen just at his stomach. A white light blew up in his vision as the wind knocked out of his lungs. He hunched over, breathing hard but finding it even more difficult. A hot wetness soaked the front of his shirt and he could feel the shaft of a ballista bolt protruding out of his middle.

Faintly, he heard another whistling noise. A second bolt had been fired and it was targeting Kendrick’s head and neck. Just as he looked up a green blur passed before his eyes. The next millisecond there was a bright spark, a [Clang!], and the ballista bolt clattered against the wall several yards from Kendrick rather than striking him. He winced, trying to focus on his breathing which was growing more strained. His ears were starting to ring.

“Kendrick! Kendrick?” Gillam’s voice barely broke through the white noise.

He stumbled off of the wall and slumped down to the ground just outside Gerrymin.

...

Earlier...

Gillam had been watching the exchange between Kendrick and Farley from the roof of the tavern whilst Helia searched for the giantsbane inside. It wasn’t long before Helia came out with the canister over her shoulder.

“You got it?” he asked, feeling that had been anticlimactic given all the trouble they had faced earlier.

She shook the canister and dumped the small amount left into the street dirt, “Practically empty. Bastard must’ve used it all.” She kicked some dirt over the wet spot, “What’s going on? Where’s Kendrick and Farley?”

Gillam pointed to the west, “He led him over there.”

“Well signal him or something so we can get out of here.” Helia went for her horse.

Gillam was about ready to do that when he noticed a lot of movement through one of the alleyways behind the tavern and his keen ears heard men clamoring and shouting in lower voices. Curious, he flew up so he could see what was going on. Even in the darkened torchlight of the next street, he could see several men in a flurry of activity around two large ballistae mounted on wagons. It looked like they had pulled them out of a stable and were positioning them strategically in the streets. Gillam looked over at Kendrick who was in range but the buildings shielded him from view. He was about ready to warn him when Kendrick started speaking loudly and then the attack started.

“Helia! Two streets over! They have ballistae!” he warned the woman.

Helia had mounted her horse and turned sharply, “Son of a bitch...do they have a shot?”

“No! Not now.” he shouted back.

A cacophony of crashing noise erupted through the night as Gillam witnessed Kendrick throwing what looked like a roof. He heard screams. Then, Kendrick seemed to retreat toward the outer wall to their left. The silvery flash of crossbow bolts followed him.

“Kendrick’s heading for the wall!” Gillam pointed for Helia.

“Good! Let’s get out of here!” she concluded, urging Hershel down the street toward the gate.

The horse galloped away and Gillam flew high above to keep an eye on the scene. From his vantage the two ballistae were parallel to his flight and Kendrick was at least two streets over, not offering a clear shot. At least, at first. Gillam’s strategic mind calculated the angles and very quickly he realized when Kendrick reached the wall, he’d present a clear shot for the slayers if he stood on the wall. He tried to shout out a warning to Kendrick but he was too far to be heard.

In short order, the giant came to the wall, hopped up on top of it, and paused briefly when the first bolt was fired, striking Kendrick right in the gut. He reacted painfully, staggering, and curling in on himself in agony. Gillam’s wings thrummed powerfully as he summoned all the speed he was capable of. There was a second bolt coming and he knew it. Gerrymin blurred beneath him as he angled into the path. He spotted the bolt flying, almost in slow motion. This one had a more fatal trajectory, aiming for Kendrick’s neck area. Faster than any mortal, he flew at the bolt, drew his sword, and swung. Sparks flew as the fae blade met the iron shaft. Path thwarted, the vicious bolt spun away and struck the wall.

Gillam wheeled around and shouted, “Kendrick! Kendrick?”

Now that he was close, Gillam could see several injuries marking the giant’s skin as puffy lesions. The first bolt was embedded in his lower middle and was making an ever-widening blood stain on his shirt. He looked in pain and his breathing sounded strained.

“Get off the wall! They might fire again!” Gillam urged.

Kendrick acted as if he heard him but not clearly. He haphazardly stumbled from the wall and very soon was laying down on his back in the field outside Gerrymin. Gillam flew down to him immediately and began to assess his injuries.

“Kendrick? Kendrick, can you hear me?” he asked with urgency in his voice.

The giant’s amber eyes directed at him but his breathing sounded constricted as he rasped, “Giants...[gasp!] ...bane...arrows.”

Gillam flew over his face to his neck and arm. There were many wounds and each was swelling into ugly blisters. Arrows dipped in giantsbane no doubt.

“Ok. Ok. Just hold still, big guy. I’ll help these.” Gillam assured him.

He hoped he had the power. The iron burn from earlier was still very painful despite Helia’s care of it. Such exposure to iron could affect his magic’s stamina. He landed on the giant’s upper chest, placed his hands on him, and focused. His hands glowed. Much like his sister had done, he healed the effects of the giantsbane. Very slowly Kendrick’s breathing sounded and felt less strained, albeit still painful from the intrusion of the large bolt in his middle. Gillam abruptly felt woozy; magic drained. His iron burn had unfortunately affected his stamina.

Kendrick’s hand rose over him and with a gentle finger he patted his back, “Thanks, Gillam. You saved my life there.”

The fae nodded, looking fatigued, “You’re…welcome.” He glanced behind him to look at the protruding bolt piercing Kendrick’s middle, “I-I don’t know if I can heal that just now. This iron burn is affecting me. Are you in a lot of pain?”

Kendrick winced, “Doesn’t tickle.”

His left hand reached out and grasped a tree. Then his right hand traveled over the fae and grasped the bolt shaft. He took a preparatory breath.

“No wait!” Gillam protested.

But with a forcible yank, Kendrick extracted the bloody ballista bolt. An earthquake of a growl rumbled through the massive chest as his other hand crushed the tree trunk in response to his pain. Buckets of blood seeped out from the puncture. Gillam almost felt ill seeing it. He rose up and down with Kendrick’s pained breaths until they slowed to something more relieved.

“Damn it!” Kendrick swore painfully through his teeth, “I should’ve just flattened that tavern.”

“No. No.” Gillam shook his head, “There were some innocents in there.”

Kendrick snarled to himself, “This ‘peaceful action’ shit is going to get me killed.”

The sound of an approaching horse made Kendrick sit up just slightly. But his cleared nose told him it was Helia.

“Did you find the giantsbane?” he asked, blood all over his shirt.

“Shit! What the Hell happened to you?”

He held up the bolt, “Your fellow slayers are using stronger weapons. Did you find it?”

“Yeah. But they used most of it so there wasn’t much to get rid of.”

“I noticed.” He winced again, his abdomen shocking with pain as he laid back down.

Helia gestured, “Come on. Let’s get out of here before Farley and his goons catch up. They’re probably on their way to…”

“I know.” Kendrick proclaimed. “I’m counting on it.”

Both Gillam and Helia looked at him.

“Are you insane? We need to get out of here, not fight off Farley’s mob!” Helia protested. “Get your gray ass up and let’s go!”

Kendrick lightly plucked up the exhausted Gillam from his chest and deposited him on the back of Helia’s saddle. Then he picked Helia up right off her saddle.

“Hey! Stop it! Damn it, Kendrick! We don’t have time for this bullshit!” she kicked her legs furiously.

He held her where he could see her, “I’ve got a plan, Slayer. Since I’m paying you for this job, I might as well get my money’s worth.”

“Plan? What plan?”

…

Soon…

Deep down, Farley wanted nothing more than to jump the rooftops, hurl himself at the Gray Shadow, impale him with his blade, and rip the biggest longest gash down him. But much to his surprise the giant seemed keener on retreat than standing and fighting. (Despite the threats he had issued.) Farley almost thought his bounty was slipping away when the Gray Shadow started heading for the wall around Gerrymin. He yelled for his ballistae men, hoping the bastards could pull of a shot, any shot that would bring down their valuable quarry. It almost looked like it wouldn’t happen when the giant made a mistake and paused when he hopped up on the stone wall. The mechanical [CLACK!] of one ballista followed by the satisfying [THUMP!] of a body shot was music in Farley’s ears. From the rooftops he could see the Gray Shadow bend over in pain and knew it had made his mark. A second bolt was fired but somehow missed. Then the Gray Shadow disappeared over the wall.

“We got him! Get to the horses! HURRY!” Farley bellowed, all but jumping from the roof into the street.

It seemed to take forever for Farley to find his horse and lead the charge out of Gerrymin when in reality it only took a few minutes. He hoped the Gray Shadow hadn’t gotten away. His heart was pounding as adrenaline for his success seemed just within his grasp.

The night was dark but once outside the gates of Gerrymin they didn’t have to look far to see the massive form sprawled out across the road to the west.

“Fuck me sideways!” Farley proclaimed, “We got him!”

Excitement and disbelief rushed through the group of men assembled as they rode toward their downed quarry. When they were within several hundred yards Farley halted his party. Though down and not appearing to move, Farley was cautious when it came to proving a monster’s death. Fighting a monster wasn’t always the most dangerous part. Werewolves were notorious for seeming dead only to leap up and show him otherwise. Caution was smarter.

“Is it dead?” Horace asked.

Farley frowned, even though he was elated inside, “I dunno. Gonna make sure. Someone give me a torch.”

Once he had the torch in hand and sword out, Farley crept up the road like a hunter, his eyes and ears entuned to his surroundings. The slayer raised his blade, not coming much closer. The Gray Shadow appeared to be on his back and wasn’t moving but Farley could hear the faint hiss of breathing.

The Gray Shadow wasn’t dead. At least…not fully.

Farley was about ready to plan his next move when a familiar voice called out from above, “Back off, Farley.”

The bearded slayer couldn’t believe what he heard, “H-Helia?!”

He looked up and standing on the giant’s massive chest, covered in blood, and holding her sword was Helia of Tegath.

“H-How? Where the fuck did you come from?” Farley shouted.

Farley was flabbergasted. He saw the Gray Shadow grab her and there was no sign of her afterward. He…he ate her…didn’t he?

Helia tapped the tip of her sword on the prone giant’s chest, “Where do you think?”

Did…did she cut her way out of the Gray Shadow’s stomach after he fell? Impossible! She’d have to be some sort of deity to pull that off. But…there she was covered in blood standing on the beast’s chest.

“This kill is mine, Farley. You’re too late.” She announced sternly.

He looked behind him at his men who looked like a herd of cattle watching, “And what makes you think this is YOUR kill now? My ballistae shot him!”

Helia lifted her sword slightly and made a step toward the Gray Shadow’s neck, “Because I’m here in prime position to end this and you’re not.” She sneered at him, “Sucks, doesn’t it? Having someone ride your coattails and claim your kill.”

“That’ll be the LAST thing you do, bitch! I’ll be damned if I let you steal this from me!” Farley snarled lividly. He made a signal with his arm and torch which told his bowmen to ready their weapons, “You make one move with that blade I’ll see you turned into a pincushion.”

“I wouldn’t…” Helia warned.

And suddenly an entire tree flew a few feet over Farley’s head.

The men several yards behind him didn’t even have time to react as the huge projectile plowed them all under like wheat before the scythe. The terrible sound of screaming men and horses, coupled with the snapping of branches and bones echoed off the Gerrymin wall. Farley staggered, reeling from what just happened.

Before he knew it a huge gray hand slammed down near him and in a terrifying instant the Gray Shadow was looming over him with his blood-stained shirt. The dangerous amber eyes flashed before his torchlight.

“You sly fucker…” the slayer rasped, rearing his sword back to strike the huge forearm.

He hit nothing but air when the Gray Shadow lifted his hand out of the way. As Farley followed through, he was set to recoil and reposition his blade to defend himself when something heavy slammed down on his back and compressed his arms to his sides. He left the ground, still clutching his sword but unable to swing it in any manner. Farley was a strong, powerful man, but he was but a squirming mouse between the Gray Shadow’s fingers.

“Whose ballistae shot me?” the giant rumbled, looking none too happy.

Farley spit at him, “You bastard!”

“Oh! I’m the bastard, hmm? What did I say would happen if you chose to shoot me? Hmm, Farley…” he gave the slayer a squeeze, eyes turning sadistic.

The bearded slayer groaned and felt his ribs and sword wrist bending too far. They were nearly broke when the Gray Shadow inexplicably relented. He had to drop the blade. The slayer kicked his legs, lashing out to try and loosen the powerful grip when unexpectedly it did.

He was dropped.

Farley wasn’t ready and slammed to the ground from a twenty-foot drop. All air left him as the road met his body. He’d barely had a moment to process the pain of the fall when he was lifted again. A firm tug saw his characteristic werewolf pelt removed and another removed his belt.

…

Helia thought Kendrick’s idea was crazy…and yet plausible. She didn’t want to go along with it because she felt retreat would be better. But the fact remained: she was hired by him and she wasn’t one to see a job unfinished. So, she smeared some of his blood on her from the wound in his stomach and went along with the theatrics.

It was sweet to throw the coattail riding back in Farley’s face.

The moment she felt Kendrick’s chest tense beneath her feet she ducked down, slid across his chest, and slipped down into his shirt pocket just as he chucked a huge tree trunk at Farley’s men. It had the grisly desired effect, squishing and maiming most of them. Only a couple men and a few horses managed to limp out of the mess of bodies and branches. That left Farley alone to bear the brunt of Kendrick’s wrath.

At first it was pretty typical and Helia would be remiss if she didn’t like seeing Farley get knocked down a peg. However, it got a bit too familiar when Kendrick removed Farley’s cloak and belt. She knew what was coming.

“No…Kendrick!” she hissed loudly, kicking his chest from inside his pocket.

He didn’t acknowledge her protest. His eyes were fixated on his prey. Despite Farley’s fight and protests, there was nothing he could do. Kendrick finished his weapons search and tipped his head a bit.

“You should’ve taken the gold, Farley.” Kendrick stated point blank.

The slayer looked perplexed as he struggled, “Gold?”

“You were offered gold for the giantsbane…are you regretting not taking it now?” he smirked.

“How-how do you know about that?”

“Because it was my gold.”

Farley blinked, “It was YOU?! You hired Helia of Tegath?”

Kendrick nodded.

“But you ate her! And she…she…”

“No. You only assumed I did.” He corrected then added with a pensive tone, “Which… I can’t say the same for you.”

Farley swore repetitively and kicked with all his might when Kendrick’s open mouth came at him, teeth flashing. Helia gasped and looked away, not wanting to watch. She expected to hear bones crunching or a grisly swallow… but nothing happened. When she dared to look again, she saw Farley being held between Kendrick’s teeth like a kitten in its mother’s mouth. His sharper canines were exposed as he held the slayer by his back. Farley was shaking, eyes closed as his back was soaked.

Kendrick’s eyes wandered down to Helia in his pocket when she kicked him again.

“The fuck?!” she mouthed, throwing up her hands in disbelief.

His eyebrows flicked up with a brief grin.

Helia continued to mouth her words and gesture so Farley wouldn’t hear, “Don’t you dare! I will tell Twillow if you do!”

As much as she hated Farley, she didn’t wish that fate for him. Though…it didn’t look like Kendrick was fully committed to eating him. But she wasn’t going to chance it and played the “Twillow card” on him.

Kendrick rolled his eyes in a look that said “FINE” and forcibly spit Farley out like an unwanted fruit seed. The slayer hit the ground and came to an unceremonious stop in the road. Kendrick was still in a crouched position and scooted over to the man again. He flipped him onto his back with his finger and pinned him. Farley’s eyes were confused but terrified now.

“You don’t bathe enough.” He commented, leaning down more, “Here’s some advice…”

His finger pressed fast and hard into Farley’s upper arm and shoulder. The horrible crunching snap signaled its devastating breakage. The man swore loudly, writhing in pain.

“…retire and live a quiet life.”