He needed to leave and hide! The men will soon find out that he was missing, but as Elias stood up, he realized he had nowhere to go. His mistress knew where he lived before, the small house in the dark alley would be searched first! If he went, he would jeopardize many lives with him. Now, he was a prey hunted by predators.
"I can turn you into a predator." Elias frowned and looked around. It was not his delusion.
His body screamed for rest, for death even, but that cold voice carried him forward. That pale, burning hatred that had kept his heart beating when his ribs cracked and his skin tore. He made it only a few steps from the garbage pile before his legs gave out.
He collapsed, but his eyes did not stop searching for that voice. Could he be a predator? How!
The alley was silent, save for the slow drip of his blood mixing with filth. His vision darkened at the edges.
Was it an illusion…a wishful thinking that someone had come here to rescue him? To give him hope to survive? Yes, it sounded like wishful thinking.
He knew he could not survive the pain. But he could do anything to save himself, even if it only meant revenge. Once he would kill all of them, he would accept his defeat. But until then, he could not even die.
"Do you promise that?" The voice carried the fragrance of moonflowers this time.
Elias heard a soft footstep and then another. Then she was there again. The woman from the prison. This time, he could see her better.
The silver-haired woman with eyes darker than blood.
She knelt beside him, her pale face luminous in the moonlight. Sitting among the filth, but it did not touch her as if she were something ethereal, as if she was there but not at the same time. Her gaze swept over his broken body, and her lips curled into something between a smirk and a sneer.
"You're dying, little boy," she said, voice soothing to ears, but it held something far more sinister. "And yet… You crawl like a hero from some peasant tale. How poetic! Should I applaud you?"
Elias coughed. Blood sprayed his lips. "You... again…"
She tilted her head, amused. "No gratitude? I should be offended. I came here to get your bow and thank you. Or perhaps your devotion to the way you have been devoted to her?" He noticed the mirth in her eyes. It looked almost taunting.
Something in him seethed. Despite knowing that the woman had the power to kill him, he sneered. "What have you done for me to demand such a thing? I would never give my loyalty and trust to anyone ever." He spat with hatred. But he ended up coughing up more blood.
She raised a brow, amused and disdainful. "Do you really think you escaped on your own?"
He frowned, confused. His mind was fogged with pain, but her words struck like lightning.
"I…" he began. "I killed that man. I broke the chains. I—"
Her laughter cut him off. It was cold and sharp as she shook her head.
"Oh, you hit him, yes," she said, reaching to brush blood-dried hair from his face. "But do you truly think a starving, half-dead wretch could shatter a grown man's skull with shackled hands? That you could walk past a dozen guards without a single one noticing the trail of blood you left behind?"
She leaned close, crimson eyes locking onto him. "You moved because I lent you strength. I knew you would never accept my offer otherwise. What happened? Do you like it? Do you want more of it? It was nothing more than a whisper of what I could offer."
Elias froze. "You… helped me?"
"Helped?" she echoed, as if savoring the word. "No. I tested you. I showed you a glimpse of what power feels like." She leaned in, her lips brushing the shell of his ear. "And you liked it."
He didn't answer. She drew back, and this time there was no jest in her eyes. Only hunger, as if he were a piece of meat, she wanted to eat. But the question was… why did she not take it and wait for his permission? He was already dying. Even if he was strong and healthy, he doubted he could ever stop her from taking what she wanted. This woman held such power that he could feel how the air bent around her as if it did not even dare to face her.
"You are dying, Elias," she said, bringing him back from his thoughts. "But you don't have to. I can heal you. I can give you strength, vengeance, and purpose." Her voice dropped to a whisper that rang louder than thunder. "All I ask… is your blood. Your submission to me and your loyalty."
He stared up at her, his heart thundering, vision swimming.
"I can not offer my loyalty anymore. It belongs to none!" he rasped.
"No?" she whispered. "You already gave that to her, though!"
He froze when her hand hovered above his chest, pale fingers inches from his heart.
"I want what is left. Did you not promise that you would even give your life for revenge?" she smirked, "or now you are afraid?"
Elias trembled. Somewhere in the hollow of his chest, a last flicker of fear clung to life. But it was small now.
"I can offer my blood," he whispered at last. "And in exchange, I want revenge!"
Something was growing inside him, a monstrous want that wanted to destroy the world.
He wanted to stand again. To strike back, to make them scream like they had made him scream. His jaw tightened.
"…What do I have to do?"
Her smile bloomed like a moonflower, beautiful and dangerous.
"Say yes."
"That is all?" He did not believe it.
She licked her lips. "And I will take your blood by biting you, of course. But do not worry, I will feed you mine in exchange. Trust me, you would gain more than you could ever lose."
Elias closed his eyes. Though he was not sure of her intentions, the last line made him nod.
He had nothing to lose except this rotting life, but he had so much again. There was no way he would lose in this transaction.
"Alright, then take as much as you want. I am ready for the pact."