Chapter Four Dog Days

 Theft Of Dragon

Strena was eight now. She knew that she not only possessed the education of someone who was perhaps fourteen or fifteen but the skills of one too. She could even hunt and fend for herself and word got out that she was not only the youngest bounty hunter but also the youngest assassin. This was all due to Zaryb's grilling training and schooling day in and day out. These things she had written all about in her journal at night before bed, as it was the only time she had to do so.

She was in the middle of writing when she heard a knock on the door.

"Decent?" Zaryb shouted

"Yeah!" She called back.

He walked in and looked at her journal and gave it back to her with a proud smile.

"It seems that your handwriting has become better by far." He complimented. "You have done well!"

"I have a good teacher." She said as she thought about all the lessons that he had given her over the years. 

The man, she would always remind herself, had killed her parents and it seemed to be trying to turn her into him. However, there was only one thing that seemed to elude her; why? She wanted to ask but was far too afraid to and had learnt a long time ago not to.

"Well, teacher, wants you to start packing your bags. We're leaving."

She nodded.

"Where are we going this time?"

"On a journey."

She nodded, though she was not satisfied by the answer.

She got out of the bed that she was using for the past year and gathered all her things. She packed as quickly as she possibly could. She then went onto double checking everything to see if she had left anything behind. She did not want another situation like that old sword, Orion she won ages ago. 

She knew that there might just be a possibility that she would never return here. Which was good. She was sick and tired waking up to that noise. Especially the cheering every time someone won a fight and the opponent would have been killed. No she would never miss the place, The Blood Pudding, maybe, but not here.

She joined Zaryb at the door. She could see his cruel face greet her. He opened the door for her and they went on their way without one goodbye. She carried both her and his bags, a feat that she had learnt to do a long time ago. They travelled on foot for the entire night.

"So, where are we going and what god or goddess will I have to pledge myself to now?" She asked, feeling slightly tired.

"None just yet. No, on this journey you will be like a dog. You will be helping me from time to time and that should be all."

She nodded as she bit her lip as she curled it. Although she did not like being compared to a dog, she did not want to get a beating over her pride. So she kept her mouth shut and just tried to mask her glaring at him.

"Alright, will I be ready for this role?"

"Yes, I have been preparing you all this time."

"Oh."

She wondered if she should dare to go on with this conversation. Seeing that it would be pointless she decided against it. They continued in nothing but silence. They soon came to a small hut with whitewashed walls and a blackwood thatched roof in the shape of a cone. Zaryb knocked on the blackwood door with a crimson crescent moon carved into the top.

The door opened to reveal a small bald man with white grey eyes with a mad look about them with a strange kind look that made them look even more strange and piercing. He was so thin that it was like the skin was clinging to his bones and he was so pale that one would think that he was looking at the bones themselves. He was hunched over and wore a black robe with silver chains around his hips and a purple pendant around his neck.

"Who are you?"

"The one you called." Zaryb replied, with a hint of contemptment in his voice.

He frowned and then looked at him in his eyes. He then took off his pendent and then brought it close to him. Seeing that it was glowing brightly he looked at him and seemed to recognise him.

"There you are! I heard the rumours but I never imagined them to be true!"

"Zip it old man! Tell me why have you called me here!? And I demand you tell me at once and do not dilly dally with your words."

"Oh. Oh!" He said, as if he remembered and ushered them in. "Come, come in! Shall I get something for your child?"

"I think you ought to cut to the chase before I kill you. And I hardly think that we will be staying long enough for us to have anything and she's not my child."

The old man looked for a moment afraid but quickly covered it up. However he could not mask his sweat.

"Right, but please, take a seat. I have a great deal to talk about."

"Tell me, what use is a speech when you can tell me within a few sentences?"

"Good point. There is a dragon that plagues this road that I live on and I want him gone."

"Why, can you not take him on your own? I can tell you that a dark lord of your calibre would be able to eliminate it or I would not have been compelled to come here." He said, with a tone of fearful ice and venom.

"The first thing that he took was my daughter. He also told me that should I try to kill him then he will kill her!"

"And you chose to summon something like me? You do know the price, do you not?"

He looked down in shame.

"Yes, yes I do. And I would pay it all over again if that meant my Penelé would live freely."

"Then when this job is over then you will pay up."

"Yes."

He smiled that chilling and twisted smile that always haunted her nightmares. He then burst out cackling a cackle that was filled with insanity and arrogance. It was always chilling to see him take joy out of this. Yet she was always far too afraid to stop him or do anything for that matter!

"Well, you are desperate! Alright, I will take this job of yours and I will return for my payment. Come Strena! We have a job to do."

"Wait, you are taking the child into that!"

That was when a small knife buried itself inside his shoulder. He looked at the old dark lord with a clear determination and a warning look in his eyes. He pointed at him.

"Never question my methods. Only my results."

"Just keep her safe."

"A dark lord who cares for children? How interesting!" He said as they left.

"What was that all about?"

"As he doesn't want you to know, I will not tell." He said as they left the hut behind.

'He'? Who's 'he'?

"Ah ha! Here." He said as they turned the small mouth of a cave that was in the far distance.

"Why would he be here?"

"Dragons love caves. I don't know why, but they do. And I can tell you that even though the cave looks small, it is a larger cave than you think." He explained. "Much like that wyvern you fought to rescue that old friend of yours!"

She nodded. Theythen went on the path that led to the cave. It was soon night again and they ate a quick meal and hour-long nap before they walked on. By the time the sun came up they were at the mouth of the cave. They had a fair few naps throughout the night so they were well rested.

"What's the plan?" She whispered.

"You get the girl and I will fight the dragon. If all goes well then father and daughter should be reunited before the sunsets."

She smiled and nodded.

"Then let's get this over and done with."

He smiled at her like she was a cute animal.

"Alright."

They walked in. Zaryb was right, it was bigger than it appeared to be. She looked around and saw the claw marks in the walls. This told her that there were sections of the cave that were dug out by the dragon to make the cave bigger. She also saw that even though they were barely in the cave and she already saw that there were a few coins of gold and silver.

"Will it be like the last one?"

"Probably, if it is a wyvern then yes." 

She tried to suppress the dread. 

She had often wondered if Zaryb thought about her age. Then again she knew deep down that he did not. He never seemed to whenever he trained her or educated her. The only thing that he would not talk to her about was how babies are made. He would always say she was too young for that.

She soon walked into a treasure room. She saw the great dragon in front of her. Her eyes met those of that of the dragon. He sniffed up as she backed away. She felt chills run down her spine. That was when the mouth opened and she saw the back of the mouth of the dragon right into his throat. She froze in place as the shock and fear sank in. She tried to move but she could not.

Move! Move! Please move! Just move! Why won't I move?

Soon her fear rose up within her and something else rose within her too. She felt the rose up and it released as the fire engulfed her and she closed her eyes. She waited for death but it did not come and all she felt was the heat. No pain, no burning, just heat. Death did not even come after the heatwave passed.

She opened her eyes in confusion. She looked around her and she saw the gold and silver had melted around her and the back of the cave was blackened in soot. She looked down to see that the gold and silver beneath her were all untouched and showed no melting at all. She looked at herself and noticed that she was untouched by the fire. 

She looked at Zaryb, who looked at her with that nasty smile.

"So you're the one they want me and all their servants and followers to kill." Spoke a creepy and growly voice.

She looked back and would have stepped back if the metal had not melted. She looked back at Zaryb but by the look on his face it was all too clear that he was not going to help her whatsoever. She then picked up some of the unmelted coins. She then looked at the dragon and waited. He opened his mouth, she then spotted the spark of fire and then she threw some of the coins into the throat. The dragon closed its mouth and started coughing. He then looked at her and growled. He looked very young and knew that this was not an adult dragon. He opened his mouth and she threw some more into his throat. This caused more metal melting and burning the back of the throat. He stepped back and flapped back the threw more at the fleshy arias of the wings however this did nothing. She then took out some small daggers and threw then at the wings, this tour holes in the wings. This caused the dragon to start to fall and then fell into the molten metal. He roared out in pain as he sank into the molten silver and gold. 

Seeing that this was her only chance, she jumped on the sinking head of the dragon and hat to jump again to the body and ran along the body. She jumped again over to Zaryb feeling greatly exhausted. 

"Where's the girl?" She asked feeling breathless and tried to focus on getting her out and not on the tiredness that she was feeling.

"When were you going to tell me that you have magic?"

Suddenly all her hair stood on end. She looked back as it suddenly made sense though it did nothing to dull her shock.

"Ohh! You didn't know!" He cooed.

She pushed through the shock.

"The girl, where is she?"

"Over there!"

She looked up at a child that looked only a year older that she was and just as pale as her father. She was in a glass cage. She walked up to her. She reached her hand out. She looked at her, her eyes exactly like her father's. 

Strena soon picked the lock and opened the door.

"Are you going to take me back to daddy?"

She nodded and smiled.

"Yes, yes we will." She said as she pulled her up.

They were soon back on the road and the journey was shorter and smoother so by sunset they had arrived back at the hut.

"There the girl has been returned."

He nodded as he somehow became paler.

"Relax. It was the girl that did all of this so the payment belongs to her."

"And what would the girl want?"

"Give her some books on self defence and killing magic."

He nodded and looked at her shocked.

"Oh, okay." He said as he rushed over to his trunk and took out a few black books. All with a crimson crescent moon on it. He then put them all in her arms. Yet it was all too clear that he was surprised that she could carry them. 

"Strena, I want you to read those books on the road."

"Alright." She said as she put them in her backpack. 

Then they left.

Striker

"Will we be going home now?" Strena asked, trying not to draw too much attention to her aching feet after walking all day.

"No. You don't have a home."

"Oh." She said at the realisation that he was right. This made her feel a sting of jealousy to those who did have a home.

Don't focus upon that.

"Do you have a home?"

"Once!"

"What happened?"

He opened his mouth to speak but he was soon interrupted with a par on the back.

"Yeah, tell her Zarry!" Said a man with a strange accent, it sounded like a drunk,but she could tell that the man was sober.

He let out a sigh as he looked at a strange man with red hair and gold eyes and a scar in the shape of an F under the right eye with disdain.

"Striker!" He said wryly.

He chuckled as he looked at her, with a strange arrogant look like a pet owner after their pet had done something cute.

"And who's the little sweetheart? She looks very much like you!"

"No I don't! And the name's Strena to you!" She snapped,disgusted at the idea of the man looking remotely like her. The whole concept made her cringe.

"Are you?" He cooed as he put a hand on her head. He then pulled her in close. "Or are the rumours right? That you really are Princess Arielsa Zuvé?"

Her eyes widened in shock. Suddenly she felt her heartbeat in her ear as her mind came up with multiple different scenarios of what was about to happen.

This man's going to die!

He looked at her satisfied with her reaction. He then bowed his head and let out a laugh as he patted her shoulder heatedly, which made it feel more like a slap.

"Oh, don't worry, little sweet! He's not going to kill me." He said as he stood up and looked him directly in the eye. "He can't kill me! That little thing inside of him won't let him. He enjoys my company far too much!"

She frowned at that response.

What does he mean by that?

"Who?"

That was when Striker burst out laughing even more as he hit her shoulder even more.

"Oh! You don't-"

Zaryb dug a blade into his shoulder. His eyes were filled with an ice cold fury. If looks could kill then this man would have been already in the grave. She looked at him as her heart was struck by fear as she had never seen him this livid. 

That's it, this man is dead, and I will know nothing!

Striker shrugged it off, showing that this was nothing. He did not even look like he was in pain.

"Oh, I get it! You're training her up! Bet you haven't told her about him yet, have you?" He said with a smile. 

Zaryb took out his blade as he looked more subdued and defeat was in his eyes. 

"Thought not. Are you going to tell her?"

He looked away.

"Who's he?" Strena snapped, suddenly feeling very angry and frustrated about being in the dark.

"Never mind." He said his voice sounded heavy. "Now we need to be off."

"Hold on! You know, I might as well cut you in on the deal."

He turned around to him, his anger turned to curiosity.

"What deal?"

"Well, there's a king that I'm off to assassinate and I could use your help old friend. You help me and you get half, third if the little princess chips in!" He sang.

He looked at her and nodded. 

"She'll be able to hold her own."

She sighed as she let out a small wave of dread pass over her. Despite this she shrugged, knowing that she would have no choice but to comply.

"I've been trained well." She said, trying to mask her fear as much as she could.

"Oh, have you?" He asked as he looked at her and then back to him. "I bet you have."

"Strena, if you feel like it, hit him to your heart's content." He said with a smile. Almost like he  wanted her to hit him. All she needed was the right excuse.

She looked down and nodded, biting her lip.

"Oh? How cold!"

"Where are we going?"

"West! Near the High Kingdom."

"Well, that should be a long way. How much are we getting?"

He let out a light chuckle.

"Well it's King Haicer." 

His eyes lit up and he smiled

"About time!" He said with that aggressive tone that she did not like.

This told her that it would be best to keep quiet. Striker looked at her with a smirk.

"About time indeed!"

They then traveled on. It was a week before they arrived. Strena had hit Striker over one hundred times by the time they did. When they did, she saw a woman scream as she was taken by some dak armoured men. One of them noticed the trio and pointed at her and the next moment they were surrounded by men.

"What are you assassins doing here?" Shouted one.

"Well I believe that they're here to assassinate the king!" He sang.

"Thank you, we will take them to the tower."

Then one went to look at Strena closer. He then looked down at her hands. He then looked back up at her and  smiled.

"Well not the kid. Nah! I think that she'll make for a good handmaiden!"

The others chuckled.

"Yeah 'n' if the king likes her-"

Zaryb looked at them all as if he wanted to do nothing more than to sink a blade or two into each of their throats. He then looked at Striker in a smoldering hatred.

"Take them away!" 

They were soon in the tower, with Strena being held tightly by Zaryb. The tower was high and the beds were completely uncomfortable with no position that would. There was a thin layer of hay on the floor and there was one single wooden bucket for relieving oneself. The bars were made of a strong steel that neither could break.

They waited for over an hour before King Haicer arrived. This gave Strena a good deal of time to complete her writing in her book. She put it away before he arrived. 

She looked up to see a well built man with long blue black hair and deep blue arrogant eyes with a hardened look. He wore a royal purple shirt and coat with black leather trousers and boots.

"So, is this the girl that you want?"

Striker came up beside him.

"Yes. Yes she is." The king said. "And is she definitely her?"

"No doubt!"

"Tell me, girl, do you know how much a girl like you is worth?"

She shrank back, trying to look as scared as she could.

"N-no!"

A lot.

King Haicer looked her up and down and bellowed a laugh.

"More than me!" He laughed. "Tell me, how old are you?"

"Eight."

"So, you are the right age. Now, after seeing you and those beautiful eyes of yours, there is no doubt. You really are Arielsa Zuvé. You know, you are quite a beautiful young lady. I wonder how beautiful you will be when you are of age?" He asked with a look in his eyes that she did not care for.

She looked aside as she did not like that question. After all, she did not like what this man was implying. Even though she did want to get married to a handsome prince when she was an adult, the last thing that she wanted was to be somebody's trophy. No, she wanted a husband that would truly love her, help her with all that she needed to do, cry in his arms and keep her safe.

"But then again that scar will spoil that."

This sent another shockwave in her heart as she knew that this dream was only just a fantasy.

"I know. I'm sure that we will be able to cover that up."

He then smiled as he pulled the gate open and then pulled her out. He looked at her closely as he then stroked it.

"Yes we can. I'm sure we can even get a few witches to make her look even more appealing."

He then pulled away and took a step back.

"No. You will no longer touch her! Strena! Kill them both!"

King Haicer bellowed out laughing as she ran to him. He lifted her by her hair and threw her to the wall and she landed with a thud. She did not let out a cry. She raced to her feet. She looked at him and then Striker. She then ran to him and he picked her up and drew and threw a blade at his throat before he could even blink. She pulled it out.

She then pulled off his blade with a black sheath with emeralds at the top with a crimson jewel in the centre with a black hilt decorated with purple stones. She put it around her waist. When she unsheathed it, she saw the beauty of the long crimson blade and fell in love with it. She stroked it and felt that the blade was smooth and was clean and well polished enough for her finger to be reflected perfectly in the crimson metal as the hilt sat well within her hand. She felt enchanted by the blade as she admired its beauty.

Yet when her attention returned to Striker he looked at her and he looked utterly terrified along with the guards. She used this to her advantage and she sliced their heads off. 

She then turned back to Striker, with a trembling hand he drew his blade. She pointed the blade at him and then she raced to him. Before he was able to react, she plunged her blade into his heart. He looked at her genuinely shocked as she fell from her blade. She then cut a strip from the king's cape and cleaned the blade before putting the blade back into the sheath.

She then heard Zaryb clapping behind her as he walked out.

"Well, I did not expect that!" He said as he looked at Striker's corpse. "You did better than I thought! Although, I really do wish to know how much you're worth."

"I don't and I'm keeping the blade." She said. "And I'm not taking no for an answer!"

"Then do take care to not lose this one!"

"I won't!"

Silent Tears

Strena and Zaryb had taken a break after receiving the reward for both Striker and King Haicer. They shared the payment equally. She had a quiet moment so took out her journal and started to chronicle her travels so far. Suddenly glad that her feet had the break. She then read what she had written and took the moment to reflect on her travels and all that she had been through with nothing but shock and horror.

By all the gods above! What is Zaryb turning me into? She thought and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying. She then swallowed to help her then let out a deep breath.

"Oh, I hope that you remember what I said about crying?"

She huffed as she looked up at him in anger. She just could not read this man. She had spent about three years with this man and she still could not understand this man. One moment he was like a father to her, then next he was her worst nightmare! It was far too confusing for her and she knew that she was still far too young to be doing all that he made her do.

"I do." She said as she had to bury her pride and greaf.

She may have had magic and he had trained her but she was still inexperienced as a magic user, as a bounty hunter and as an assassin she was far too experienced than she liked. However, she knew, he not only had more experience but he seemed to be able to move at inhuman speed and strength. Then there were the bracelets that had bound him to her and the necklace around her neck giving him access to control her. This she hated most of all. She wanted to be rid of it as soon as possible.

"Good."

She then put her book away and took out her new sword. Zaryb looked at it with a mocking smirk as she started to clean it.

"So you are serious about keeping that?"

"Yeah, I don't know why, but I feel like that this sword belongs to me now." She said as she started to look at the blade, to see if she had missed anything. 

"And it's so beautiful." She pointed out as she twisted the blade and started to clean the other side of the blade.

He smiled and nodded.

She ignored this as she finished cleaning and then started to polish the blade until it reflected her face perfectly. She looked at it smiling proudly. For a moment, she was tempted to push it deep into the man's heart. Just like how he had been stabbing a blade into her heart time and time again from killing her parents, forcing her to go by another name and pretend to not know her friend, then forcing her to become a bounty hunter and then assassin and turning her into his dog. And not once had he asked her what she felt about it. Her heart was filled with nothing but anger and rage that needed to be put out.

No! Stop it! That is what he wants! He wants me to behave that way!

She felt a chill run down her spine as she realised it. Then came another thought that seemed to creep into her mind. One icy and fearful thought.

What if it was already too late? What if he has already made me into what he wants me to become? She wiped a tear but did it in a way that disgusted her cry with something else.

"That better not be a tear girl!"

He's seen!

"No! I just had something in my eye. That's all! But still, so what if I did? I'm eight for Strena and Lok's sake! I should be allowed to cry now and again. I miss my parents, my home, by the Demon Realm! I miss having a home!"

"No you don't."

She looked at him stunned. She felt her shock ripple throughout her body as she started to feel cold despite it being a very hot day. She looked back at the past and realised that he was absolutely right! If she was brutally honest with herself, she would have to admit this. Zaryb never let or gave her any time to miss them. 

"How?"

He chuckled as he pointed to his temple.

Can he hear my thoughts? She thought fearfully.

"No, you're just easy to read."

"So, where are we going this time?"

"To a witch. She'll help us get to the bottom of the truth."

She frowned, confused. 

"What truth?"

"On why you have magic."

She looked up pleadingly.

"But...I don't…"

"You and I will. After all, there are only four ways that you would ever have it and I think that it would be quite interesting to see your reaction." He sang with a sly smile that always haunted her nightmares. 

She knew that by that look, whatever the answer was, she was not going to like it one bit! Nothing good ever came with that face. Nothing good at all. Well, nothing good for her but all seemed to be going according to Zaryb's plan, whatever that was. Which she did not like whatsoever.

After she was ready they were back on the road. They did not stop until they came to the sea. She had not seen a sight like this for a long time. She found that her mind turned to her kingdom. She wondered if they were alright there. Was it like the way that she remembered? Or had it devolved into chaos? Most likely.

She saw the sun set and sat down and opened her journal and sketched then coloured it in to capture all the colours in both the sky and the sea. She wanted to immortalise the image that caught her eyes. Once she finished she smiled and let her enjoy the gentle warmth of the sun.

"Good drawing!" Complemented Zaryb.

"Thank you!" 

"We will be sleeping here tonight and we will be travelling up the river." He explained.

She nodded.

She slept and woke at sunrise after having that dream. She wrote the dream down. She started to think about the dream. Why was she having that dream? Why was it always that dream? Was it some sort of prophecy? Or was it something that her magic was telling her something? Either way, there was a reason and she knew it.

"You're awake early!"

"Nightmare."

"Was I on it?"

"No. It took place in my kingdom. Here, read it!"

He read it and looked at her. He clearly knew what it was all about, yet he carried the look of someone trying to decide whether or not to tell her. He then shook his head. 

"I heard magic people can have prophetic dreams, do you think I do?"

He shook his head.

"Probably means nothing."

She would have questioned him further but she was far too scared. So she dropped it. She soon put away her journal and they both had their breakfast. They were soon on the road again. They walked up the river and soon they came to a forest. She noticed that the river became narrower and narrower. They walked deeper and deeper into the trees. The trees became taller and taller and the trunks became thicker and thicker.

They soon came to a large tree with a large cabin at the top of the trees.

"Dark Lady Marvé Locoal!" He shouted.

"Zarry!" An enthusiastic voice came. 

Soon a woman came out on the balcony. She had long cosmic blue hair and white eyes. She wore a silk black gown with purple lining. The woman looked down at her and smiled a smile that was pleasant and cold at the same time.

I don't think that I will like this woman.

"Who is this?" She asked with an icy tone to her voice.

"Strena Azlok!"

She let out an icy and annoying laugh. This did nothing to make the girl like her. In fact this made her not like her even more. Even though she did not know her enough to hate her just yet. 

She rested her hand on her new sword.

"You think that you can hide her true name from me? Of all people. Eh, Zarry?"

He let out a huff.

"Let us in first! Then I will tell you!"

"Alright!" She shouted. "Then I want you to give me a kiss as well!"

She simply clicked her fingers and they suddenly appeared on the balcony. She walked over to the door that had glass in the centre where there was a ripple in the centre. She then opened the door for them. 

"Come in then!"

They walked into a living room with a red sofa and books on all of the walls. The kitchen had a step above where there were steel tables and chairs. She soon saw a ladder that led to the most likely single room above them. There was a single fire near the widows at the back.

"Well, sit on the sofa and I will make you some tea."

They nodded.

"Tell me, would it be too much to ask to stay the night my Dark Lady?" He asked with the sly tone of a snake.

She smirked slyly.

"Only if you give me the name of the girl."

"Then come closer."

She walked up to her and leaned in close.

"I am listening."

"Arielsa Zuvé" He whispered as he kissed her on the cheek.

Suddenly Strena was struck by fear. She knew that he would not have revealed that unless he was planning to kill her! She bit her lip as she dreaded for the moment. She heard her heart in her ears and even though she did not like this woman, she did not want her to die either.

"Oh, you need not fear, little one. He will not kill me. I have something that that little demon wants and likes."

She frowned.

"What's that?"

She giggled as Zaryb looked away, to her surprise, he looked suddenly vulnerable and ashamed as he sat. He closed his eyes. He let out a sigh as he suddenly looked like he was about to cry. He bit his lip and closed his eyes and then let out a deep breath.

"Oh, you are far too young and innocent for that." She said as she sat on his lap. 

She then laid a strange kiss on his lips. It was long and she caressed his scarlet cheek. She stroked his cheekbone with her thumb. He soon gripped her arm and she pulled away and smiled. The other Zaryb was back.

"There you are."

He then pulled her in and kissed her again but this time there was a strange and frightful aggression behind it. It was less like a passionate kiss of lovers and more like two hungry wolves trying to devour each other. He then pulled away and she giggled as she licked her lips.

"Just get to what I am here for." He said as he pecked her cheek and she ran to the kitchen area.

"Alright. Arielsa! Get over here!"

She looked at her, feeling stunned. It was the first time anyone had called her that in a long time. It felt strange and almost alien to her now. It shocked and upset her to discover that even though it was her own name and yet it felt so alien to her. Almost like it did not belong to her anymore, yet it did. She was not even used to answering to that name either.

She looked at him for a moment with a questioning look.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She got to her feet and was about to go to her. She looked back almost afraid that he saw her tear. 

"Tell me, would it help if the girl cried?"

"Yes. In fact it will help greatly. The more I have of her the better."

"Then I will not punish you for it this time."

She walked over to her. As she arrived, she took out a small pot. She placed a hand on her head and nudged her head over the pot. She could feel her own breath move around the pot.

"I want you to cry." She said. "Take this moment to get all those tears out of you."

She then thought all that she had been through and all the tears that she had suppressed over the years fell and was let go. When they came, like a burst dam, they came down like a flood. Once she had started she could not stop. She soon found her legs started to give away and everything became so blurry that she did not know what was in front of her nor did she care. Her chest felt like it had a boa constrictor around it and her lungs found it difficult to get the air. She felt like something had been released yet she still could not stop. She had a pool at the bottom like it had been in heavy rain. She did not know how long that she was there, yet by the time she stopped she felt emotionally drained and her throat and mouth was dry.

"Now spit into it."

She spat whatever was left in her mouth. She took out a clean knife and then dug it into her small finger. She was far too drained to react as she looked at the blood dropped into the mixture. She then plucked a hair on her head and then put it in.

"Now could you will a small piece of your magic into it. When you do, do put your will into it, put all your will into it." She instructed.

She nodded. 

She looked at the mixture andut her will into it but nothing happened. She then huffed. Then she remembered what she had just said. She then pictured that the pot was Zaryb in her mind. She closed her eyes to concentrate harder on this. She then pushed all her will into killing him and aimed it at the pot. She drove it more and more into the mixture until it turned purple. She then continued even further until she could no longer hold it. She then flopped down feeling exhausted. 

"Good, good work girl!" She exclaimed as she looked into the mixture.

She then picked it up and then drank the mixture. When she finished she yelped and then giggled like she had learnt a dirty secret.

"Looks like your parents could not wait! They had to do it before their vows!" She laughed.

She looked at her feeling nothing but outrage. She felt like something had been pulled out from under her own feet. Yet she knew that her parents were anything but like that. She knew that they were good and virtuous people 

"That is a lie! They did not-I am not-I can not be!"

She giggled even more at that, almost like she had seen a treasure trove. She then looked at her and then at Zaryb. He looked on edge as he shook his head. She then looked back at her with a knowing look.

"Stop it! You liar! Just stop it! Stop laughing! Stop laughing now!" She snapped.

"Whyever not! I mean your father is-" 

She soon stopped. Her face became pale and started to choke. She soon became pale and started to cough. She did not stop, not even when she saw blood coming up. She fell to her knees. Soon blood and foam fell from her mouth and nose. She then started to pant as she fell to the floor. She then stopped coughing and moving. Yet both knew that she was dead before her head landed on the floor.

Strena knew that she should have been shocked and horrified about what she had just done but all she felt was the fire of magic. Her ice cold eyes were ablaze with fire. 

Zaryb saw this and smirked.

Obedient

They stayed in the tree house for a week. Even though Strena was glad to have a roof over her head, she could not enjoy it as much as she wanted as she was too busy reading her books. She then looked at the other books that the Dark Lady Marvé had and cooked all the food as they took their time enjoying the week.

They had burnt her body outside on the first day. 

Even though she was reluctant at first. Yet, when she started reading, she did not stop, she did not want to. She wanted all the knowledge that the cabin held. There was a strange hunger that grew in her. One that started out as simple curiosity but this slowly, over the week, it grew into that hunger.

"Did you even sleep last night? Or did you spend all night reading?"

"No. Although, I do have to admit, I want to stay here for a little longer. By the way, I finished the books I got from that guy."

"You have? Good!" He said and then shrugged. "And as you have killed the Dark Lady Marvé, this tree house belongs to you now."

"You're going to burn it. Aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then I need to stay here. Do you have anywhere you need to be?"

"Not yet. No. After all, there is nothing that I have to do, no. So enjoy this time off now. After all, you won't have many times like this."

So they stayed there for until Strena had finished all the books in the cabin, which was only a few more days. So that final night she wrote down everything and cleaned and polished her sword. Then she enjoyed a good full night's sleep. They then woke up in the morning. She cooked the meal and they ate and packed more things and they climbed down the tree and soon set it alight. 

They then trekked for a long time before coming to a tavern. With white painted walls and black brown timber and doo with a gold doorknob. It had uneven glass windows with emerald glass at the top.

She looked at him, trying to mask her worry. 

"This isn't-"

"No."

"Then what-"

"The slayers guild will be our next stop. After all, it is your next step and, as you were able to dispose of that teenage dragon, I think that you are more ready than I thought. However, I would like for you to do a few things first."

She suddenly felt dread sink in. She knew that she did not like the sound of that. She knew what those words meant and she squeezed her fist like she was about to punch him, but she did not dare. No, all she did was squeeze until her chipped and uneven fingernails into the palms of her hands.

"What?" She snapped.

He smirked.

"You will know." He said as his mouth twisted to that smile that she did not like. 

This confirmed to her that he would most likely make her kill again. She let out a deep breath to stop herself from crying.

He walked up to the door and knocked on the door. A man looked at him and his face became as white as a sheet of paper.

"Do not fear! I'm not here to kill you! I'm here to train someone." He said as he placed a hand on Strena's back.

"No, please no!" He said as he shook his head. "I have a wife and children!"

"Not anymore! After all, did you not sacrifice them for protection?" He purred.

His pleading eyes turned to anger. He then looked back at Strena. He soon rushed to her and gripped her by the back of her neck and put a blade to her throat. She felt her heart in her ears as she looked at Zaryb. She knew that he would kill her. After all, if he was willing to kill his wife and children then she knew that he would kill her. Yet she knew better than to expect that Zaryb would protect her either.

"Th-then I will sacrifice her then!"

"No. As I said, I'm not here to kill you! I'm here to train someone. She is that someone. Use your magic and kill him!" 

She looked at him and let out a huff. She knew better than to expect that he would save her. She knew that right from the start. She closed her eyes and forced her mindset to become like that when she killed Marvé and directed her will into killing this man. She continued to do this until he was on the floor.

"Y-you do realise that I c-could have used my sword!" She panted as she felt herself become weak. 

"Yes, but I need you to be able to kill using magic and use magic at an instant."

"I already did!"

"Yes, but that was when you were angry or in a heightened level of danger." He said as he checked her neck. "Next you will be going to take another and learn to obey me willingly when I order you to kill."

She felt her lip curl as she nodded.

"It seems like I don't have a choice do I!?"

He let out a chuckle.

"I guess not!"

He walked on. 

They came to a large village that was near the sea and the houses were spaced out like dots. The sun was high as they came to another door. He knocked on the door which was answered by a woman. She felt uneasy about looking at her. There was nothing about her that screamed evil. She had a kind face and she was covered with a thick cotton lace dress that kept her warm. Yet when she looked at him she nodded and looked at him with a sad look. She looked back and closed the door.

"Girl, time for you to work your magic."

She looked at her shocked.

"No. Not her! She's just a child! Why do you wish to do that to her?"

Zaryb chuckled.

"She is not just a girl. She has not been for a long time. Also you know what I am! So you should have expected something like this." He said with that smirk. "Now I order you now girl, do it!"

"Please! She's just a girl! She shouldn't have a drop on her!"

"But she does."

She felt her will rise up and she forced that will on her and killed her. This did not work at first. She then felt her will increase and she was soon on the ground. 

"Mummy!" Sang a boy.

She felt shock ripple throughout her as she realised what she had just done and what Zaryb had done to her. She could not believe it! He really was not only turning her into him but turning her into him exactly! She looked at him angrily and at this he smiled wider.

"Looks like you can no longer turn back now. So come. You better obey me after all you are just like me now!"

She felt her rage increase but she could not kill him.

"No I will not! I will be nothing like you!"

He laughed at that as they started to move away.

"No, you won't. After all, you have magic due to your conception, so you could become worse." He laughed.

He patted her on her head.

She felt her rage build to a point where she rant to him and threw a punch at him. He effortlessly caught the punch. He then pulled her up by the fist. The next moment she felt a painful knock to the cobble. He dug his knee into her ribs before she could react. He punched her in the face and did it again and again until she could see her blood on his fist. He laughed all the way through and stopped and got to his feet.

"Have you learnt your lesson?"

She nodded with a bloody drool flowing down the corner of her mouth.

"Now come. Next one."

She looked away as she tried not to cry. She tried to hide her pain as she silently followed him with part of her cheek barely able to be felt. 

They came to another door and saw another face. Her eyes slid to Zaryb. He nodded and she looked at the man. She looked down, not even wanting to look at the man. She closed her eyes as she willed the man to die and he fell down before he had the chance to say anything. He smiled a new smile that she had never seen before, a proud smile.

"Better! Now, let us have a look at that face of yours." He then led her to another door.

It was from a purple hut with a white door with a white thatched roof and a lilac chimney on the right side. 

"Don't worry, you don't have to kill this one!"

She nodded as another man opened the door. He was dressed in white robe and cruel amber eyes and shoulder length dark grey hair with a long fringe that opened out like curtains at either side of his wrinkled face with an oily tan after long exposure to the sun.

"Spender, could you take a look at her face."

He looked down and, with a poker face, nodded. He then placed a hand on her shoulder. Soon the pain went away. Her face felt tingly and soon her face showed no sign of the beating.

"There, just like new."

"Thank you sir."

"Could you teach me how to do that one day?!"

"Sure!"

Slayer

"So this is the slayer's guild. This will be our lodgings for over the next year. Here you are to become, as far as I am aware, the youngest slayer. So don't let it get to your head, girl." He declared.

They approached a small tavern building with exposed blackish purple timber and crimson paint coating the rest of the building. With a post of a purple dragon that was being ridden by a fairy dressed in darkness with a mermaid in the corner in a pool. With black writing above.

Slayer's Den

She curled her lip as she nodded. She hated what was happening but she knew that she was powerless to stop it. So she did nothing but look down and followed him. He smiled as he recognised her more submissive behaviour.

"Don't you wish to comment?"

"No."

"Good. Now once you take your first job and successfully complete it then you will become an official and qualified slayer."

She nodded as he led her inside. She looked around a light spacious room with pale lavender floorboards and lilac painted walls. She suddenly caught the scent of cinnamon and rose. She could see that there were plenty of chairs, however most of them were empty. Which, as it was in the middle of the day, hardly made sense.

"Where-"

He shrugged.

"Dead probably. The slayer profession is one of the most deadliest of jobs."

She nodded.

"And you think that I can do it at my age because?"

He smirked.

"You have magic. However I would not like for you to advertise how you obtained them. I do have a friend that likes to kill people like you."

"What? People with magic?"

"No." He purred as he leaned in close to her ear. "Royals born out of wedlock."

"But I'm not! That witch was lying!"

Is he trying to trick me? Yeah, that's it! He's just trying to get under my skin so that he has an excuse to beat me up.

He chuckled and patted her head.

"Just keep telling yourself that." He laughed, as he ruffled her hair.

She huffed as she shook her head to get him off. Yet she let his comment drop as he realised that he was just messing around with her. He then straightened his legs.

"Anyway, we will get you your first job tomorrow. I need a drink and I can tell you that you would like a bath." He said as he pinched his nose. "You are smelly!"

She rolled her eyes.

"You too!"

He looked away out of a playful spite.

"Want another beat down, child?"

Dart!

"No. But I want to have some food before I get my bath. I'm hungry!"

He smiled with a slight chuckle.

"Yes. That would be good. We will both sleep better after. Also you don't have to be as guarded here. The people here are not as bad as the ones in the bounty hunter's and assassin's tavern.'

She nodded as they both signed in. They were given simple rooms with simple beds and took a bath. When she was clean, she changed into some clean clothes then cleaned her dirty ones. She then joined Zaryb in the tavern bar. He was already sucking his second beer.

She then ordered a toad in the hole with lamb, carrots, broccoli and parsnips. She soon joined Zaryb and the food soon came.

"And what drink would the young lady want?"

"I think that I would like to try the wi-"

"Milk. It's good for your bones and you are under age." He said, quickly.

"But I-"

"Do you remember nothing from last time! Seriously! I really should have stopped them!"

She frowned.

"Not to mention, alcohol should not be served to minors your age anyway. So no alcohol until you are fourteen, at least!"

He was about to take another drink when a man grabbed him by his collar. He had wavy blond hair and peach skin and blue eyes. He carried the look of a stereotypical handsome prince.

"Zarry, are you mad?" He shouted. He carried a strong strong accent of the Southern High Kingdoms.

He rolled his eyes as he was pulled off his stool and was hit. He wiped the blood from his mouth as he looked at the guy annoyed.

"When I heard the rumours that you, not only had a new apprentice, but that your new apprentice was a little girl barely on the cusp of their tenth birthday! Although, I admit, that I did give you the benefit of the doubt. But after seeing her now, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt!" 

He then pointed at him as he put the other fist on his hip and leaned over to him.

"You Zaryb are the worst scum that I have ever met!"

He then flicked his finger and pointed at her.

"And you plan on making her into a slayer now do you? I mean how old is she anyway? Seven, eight, nine! Either way she is far too young to die!"

"Good to see you too Garpy!" He sang with sarcasm, as he climbed to his feet. "And yes, I do, and I am! But I will tell you this, that girl will not die. After all, I trained her myself! Which means that I know how good she is."

He looked at the man horrified. He then took hold of her wrist.

"Come on, clearly this man has no clue on how to look after you!"

She yanked her wrist out of his hand.

"I can't leave him!" She said, showing him her other wrist. 

He looked down at it with a fuming anger.

"What! Zaryb, you better have a good reason why that thing is on her wrist!"

"I do. But I am not ready to tell it. By the way, Strena could you take him down? Don't worry I don't want you to kill him."

She remembered the beat down that she took earlier. She soon readied herself.

"What! I am not fighting a child!"

She ran to him and jumped. She then thrust her fist down. He caught it. She then went to trust her leg into his ribs. He caught that too. She smirked, she knew that left a great opening and then hit him in the face with her free fist and at the same time hit his abdomen with her free foot. 

He let go and staggered back completely stunned and shocked. She then landed and bent her legs as she did. She soon straightened them as she looked at him, clearly ready for more.

"See? She is able of taking care of herself. Now come, your food will get cold if you continue."

She nodded and returned to eating.

"Zaryb, I do not know what hold you have over this child, but I will free her from you! You hear me! You will be free from this demonic man!" He bellowed as Zaryb rolled his eyes again.

"Don't try too hard." He muttered.

He then folded his arms and marched on.

"Who was that?" She asked, turning to her food.

"Garpy Stronghold. Don't worry or have any hope in him. He is like that unthinking hero type that is going to get himself killed due to his own foolishness. And gets far too easily distracted by any damsel in distress." He groaned. "Which is extremely dangerous in the profession. So keep vigilant in that department."

She nodded as she had a disapproving look on her face.

"Are there any hero types that you respect?"

"Yes. The ones that can talk the talk but only if they can back it up by walking the walk. After all, anyone who declares to be an agent of justice and is weak, then they are nothing but fools preaching to the void, without knowing that it's only a matter of time until the beast below grabs him and devours him."

She nodded as she finished her food. She got her milk and gulped it down. She then went to her bed. She soon woke up at an early hour. She packed away her clean clothes. She went over to Zaryb as they got their breakfast. He then handed her a piece of paper.

"You should try this one."

She nodded and started to read.

Pheopé  Lenumé The Fea

Pheopé has been taking the children

of the villages; Rash, Rog, Villag and

Agentain and has been using them in

her spells and enchantments.

Once taken they are not seen again

until they have either lost their 

eyeballs or dead.

We have located her to the Loralé

mountain. Where she lives in the 

old mines located there.

Please, we have tried to kill her but

we always get ourselves killed every

time, so send someone fast. We

would not ask you to do this if there

was no other way and we were not

so desperate.

Moreamore

She placed it down as she finished her breakfast. 

"Know anything about this Pheopé?"

"Yeah, she has been said to be the worst nightmare of many children. Yet this is not the first area that she has done this"

She nodded.

"I'll get my things and we will be off."

He smiled and soon they were back on the road. They soon caught a public carriage and were soon off. She looked around and soon saw what looked like a field of mountains. She had never seen so many in one place! They got off at the foot of a large lake.

"Come, we need to get to the docs before the boat takes off." He called.

They broke out into a light jog. They were soon at the docs just as the boat arrived. She had noticed that there was none there. She let out a sigh as they boarded it. They were about to pay for the ride but the man there waved a hand. He shook his head.

"You don't want it?" She asked.

He then looked at her surprised.

"No. You wouldn't want me to."

She nodded at this. Then again she came to the conclusion that if he took it then he would most likely leave as soon as he could. 

They both sat on the seats and gently set off. The water was calm and it was eerily quiet. Nothing could be heard, not even the buzzing of bugs. The only thing that she could hear was the rythmic sound of each stroke of the ore. Yet despite this, it worked in their favour as they were able to soon arrive. 

They soon walked on the misty gravel. She looked around the silent and misty island village. They walked up the eastern mountain. She soon spotted the mining cart. Then she soon followed the tracks and spotted the entrance. 

Shethen heard someone cry out a cry of help. She was about to run to help but was soon stopped by Zaryb. She then stopped herself realising that she was about to run in without knowing a thing. 

She looked back at the entrance that was when she saw the most beautiful woman that she had ever seen. She was in a white flower dress that made her look like a noble child. She had long blond hair and deep blue eyes and pale skin that was like milk which would make anyone feel like it would be a crime to mark. Yet, even though she was dressed in light there was something cold and dark about her. The woman looked at her.

"Ahh! A Destined Deathless one!" She said with a cold mature voice that hardly suited her at all! 

She looked at the girl directly in her eyes and smiled sweetly, yet there was something sick and twisted about it that Strena could not put her finger on. It made her feel vulnerable like she could see into her very soul and nothing was hidden from her eyes.

She walked forward and then her eyes slid to Zaryb her smile became slightly more devious. She let out a childish giggle.

"I hear your tears boy!" She sang.

Zaryb looked annoyed as he looked away.

"You shead them every night! Especially when you hear the Demon King's voice whispering his cruel sweet nothings in your ear." 

He rolled his eyes, yet there was something else in his eyes. Even though it was only there for a moment, she thought that she saw that vulnerability that she saw when he visited Marvé, but he quickly covered it up and smiled.

"What Demon King?"

"Exactly!" She giggled, putting a finger to her lips. She winked as she curtsied.

She then turned her attention back to Strena.

"You, Destined Deathless, you have forsaken your true name! And over a year after when you know the truth you will forsake this one too!"

She frowned and scoffed.

"Will I? And what is this truth that you speak of?" She snapped.

She let out a childish giggle.

"You have already started to see it, haven't you?" 

Suddenly she was reminded of what Marvé had said.

"You know the gods and goddesses want you dead before then."

She frowned in confusion and yet curiosity.

"So who am I to not do their bidding?" She said as she raised her hand.

She then threw a small dagger at her as a small ball of light formed and she hit the dagger causing a small explosion in the air. She willed herself not to get harmed. Zaryb covered his eyes and then looked back to see that Strena was unharmed. She then, as more light balls were coming at her, willed the ground to shake. Then the ground moved to a point that Pheopé was forced to into the air. 

She then threw a dagger at her. This missed, she threw another and another. She missed again and again. She then threw another knife and then closed her eyes and willed the blades in the air to flick backwards and fly back to the fairy and directly towards her wings. 

She let out a scream as she landed on the ground and the severed wings floated down behind her. She then got to her feet before the wings landed. She then threw more daggers at her again and again, getting closer and closer. Yet the fairy pulled out her small blade and blocked blade after blade. When she reached her she pulled out her sword and then the blades collided yet her crimson blade cut through and Pheopé's head fell from her shoulders. She then looked down and willed her body to become engulfed in flames. 

She fell and took a break. She could feel her body shaking and she knew that she needed a nap. She soon spotted that her vision was blurry and she closed her eyes. 

It seemed that the next moment the sun was in a different position in the sky. She almost pulled herself to her feet. She had to almost lean on Zaryb as she walked in. Later that day as the sun was almost touching the horizon all the children were restored to their parents. Strena collected her reward and they were back at the doc and had another free ride back. They only just caught the public carriage and paid for it. 

When they returned he led her to the bar. They rested the fairy's head on the table. When the bar man looked at it and then at Zaryb. He shook his head and pointed his thumb at her. His eyes widened as he pulled out a licence and passed it over to her.

"You mean the girl actually did it?" Garpy exclaimed, as his jaw completely dropped.

He looked at her completely pale.

"Told you she was well trained."