Weaving through the garden's grass and thorny bushes, I frantically dodge an assault of arrows and daggers. Barely surviving each one, while carrying Maya on my shoulders—a burden, but a burden I placed on myself. Damnit.
A white-clad figure following me from atop the destroyed manor launched three daggers. Spinning to my left, I evaded the first and deflected the others with my sword.
However, as if on cue. Four of them flanked me.
Fuck, were they waiting for me to deflect their attacks?
With their swords and daggers drawn inches from me, there is no escape.
Maya on my shoulders, could only see my back. Despair began to set in as she frantically shook.
Seeing the threat up close. "AHH I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" the princess screamed, covering her head, bracing for the inevitable.
"I don't want to….huh? We are inside," Maya said with a voice of confusion.
"We're," I replied.
With all the damage done to the manor, the building had wide gaping holes. Seeing one of them, I activated my ability and got us inside.
The white clads were as shocked as Maya. One moment, they had me trapped; the other, I'm gone and in my place, a vase.
I got lucky; I traded positions with the first object my eye could grab.
This is my chance. With a Heavy breath in, I ignited my chest in flames.
And then came a mighty roar, "Roar of the fire dragon." Fire erupted from my mouth and swallowed my view.
Hopefully, I hope that hit.
No time to waste, though, gotta run. The manor is big and dark, but with my eyes, it is clear as day.
"You…how is it you do that?" Maya muttered in awe.
"Later, right now, I need you to guide me towards the front so we can make our escape. Pick up your guard, too."
I can see fine, but this place is no different from a maze to me. I don't know where I am going; I can only run. That means we can run into something terrible at any moment.
"Anna, s-she's..still alive?" I could feel Maya begin to shake, as if my words dug up her guard's recent death, in front of her eyes.
"Don't worry, she will be, I know it."
"Ah, ahh," Maya began to break down. "I'm useless, I can't even see a thing," she said, whimpers.
Dammit, I didn't even consider her condition. I'm on my own with this one.
*****
After running for god knows how long, and not finding any safe route outside. I placed Maya down and decided to take a break. She had folded herself into her legs as she whimpered. She's a shell of her old self, can't blame her there.
I began to inspect the corridor we were in. At a glance, there were only two doors on this floor.
It seemed normal enough, but it was too quiet.
I couldn't help but feel something was off. No one had come for me; it makes no sense. The place was like a maze, with many holes to be exploited. Only god knows what happened here.
Is there something I'm missing? Something I can't see.
Still, I do not like this one bit. I'd better quickly inspect the rooms, maybe I'd find something.
"Papa..papa"
Maya spoke from behind me. Turning my head, she was face front at the door in front of her. Inches away from it.
"Papa, is that you?" she said as she grabbed the handle.
"Maya? What are you doing? There is no one there."
"This is Papa's room…he is calling me," she said like a ghost. She turned to me, her eyes white, "been looking for him... for long," barely audible, she spoke those words.
No, no, no. I knew something was wrong, but it wasn't me.
It was her.
I dashed at her, but I was too late. She thrust the door open, and it slammed with a BAM against the back wall.
The moonlight came shining through the door, covering Maya in blinding night light. But not for me, I could see clearly what was in front of us.
Where the window was supposed to be, there was no wall. The room was destroyed and wrecked, and all around it.
White-clad stood, weapons in arms, all over the room. In the center of them all stood a man wearing death's mask, wrapping his fingers together.
"Oh, my dear daughter," the man said.
"MAYA–!" I reached for her, but I was hit. Faster than I could perceive, daggers came flying at me. Stabbing my hands and my legs.
Immediately, my legs gave out, and I fell. Poison…
Maya walked slowly towards the man as he spoke, "Come to me."
Pant. Pant. Pant.
I can barely breathe. What is this venom–poison? It's so quick, I'm dying already.
I don't want to die. I will use my arms, yes, I still have strength.
I gripped my sword tighter, but as soon as I did. I lost all feeling in them. My arm gave out.
"HA-HA—oouu…"
I can't breathe. I can't—breathe.
My eyes blacked out.
I can feel my heart failing. This is it. With each beat, it grew louder and louder. Until it went hot, very hot.
What is that feeling…bella, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
My heart got quieter and quieter. Then louder and louder, and even louder. Wait, I can breathe, I can see. I can feel.
I can see. Who is that girl? And why is her long brown hair familiar?
"You will be fine from here," she said, letting go of me as she stood.
Without a care for the threat inside the room, she walked inside and said.
"So sorry, Princess Maya. We are late, but we will take care of everything," she said to Maya.
The white clads were confused. This small girl had walked right into this room without a care in the world.
As if waking up from a dream, mayas eyes snapped into life, and she shuddered as she realized she was in that man's embrace.
"We will–"
Two men dropped from the roof. Right by her side.
One, a silver-haired swordsman.
The other a spiky-haired man with a defined physique.
"Take care of everything."