Leora took a few steps back and stared at the place where the man was supposed to have the cut.
But all she found was clear skin.
This is preposterous. She thought.
She shook her head to clear the thought. Surely the man had somehow tricked her.
"Get out." She breathed out.
The guy stared at her as if she was his food.
"GET OUT." She shouted this time.
The guy took his seat in the sofa.
Leora was shaking in anger. She had never been so frustrated. She could throw this man out with a flick of her hand but she couldn't.
Her father's words were loud and clear. If people knew she had abilities, they would hunt her down. She would be considered a witch and punished.
She might have to leave Ravenhill to save herself and Leora didn't want to leave this town. It was the only family she had.
So she kept her hands to her side.
She was standing there angry while the guy sat at the couch like he was king. His hands were draped around the head of the couch and his left knee was placed comfortably over the right knee.
"I am not helping someone like you." She said.
He got up from his seat and walked toward her.
"Would you rather let someone die."
Leora stayed quiet. Would she? Could she let someone die when she knew that she could save someone?
But was the guy worth saving?
No. She shook her head. Everyone is worth saving.
"You know, you are a big Fuck you to the spirits. Cancelling their curse..."
"Spirits?" Leora exclaimed. "You are one of them."
The guy looked interested. He looked her over.
"So you know." He walked around her in circles. "Hm. That makes it even better. Are you an Arian?" He questioned.
"I am none of your business." She yelled. "Just leave."
"Four hours." The guy said. "After that you are mine either by choice or by force. I don't care about anything but myself and you are keeping me alive. I will keep you chained and unconscious if I have to. So tread wisely." He said and walked out of the door.
Leora fell to the floor in exhaustion.
She won't let herself be used. She would run away.
With her mind made. She got up and packed a bag. She knew where she was going. She would stay with Gran for a few days. The guy will leave after not finding her there. He wouldn't know where Gran lived.
There was a knock on the door.
"I will see to it." Gran said. "You kids talk."
Charles and Leora looked at each other and chuckled. They knew what she was trying to do.
"When are you going to tell her?" Leora asked taking a piece of the pie.
"That I am not marrying you?" Charles joked. "I guess next month or so. Jace will come back from college by then."
Leora nodded her hand.
Both turned their heads towards the door when they could hear muffled voices. It was clear that Gran was angry with whoever it was.
They rushed towards the door to save whoever it was from Gran's wrath. She was a mean old woman sometimes.
However when they reached there, all air was knocked out of her lungs.
Leora's eyes widened.
The guy whom she had thrown out of her house was standing there with an evil glint in his eyes. His hands were wrapped around the neck of the old woman. There was a cut on her head which was bleeding.
"Gran." Charles yelled and rushed to free her from the attacker.
The guy was clearly stronger as he used his other hand to hit his chest. He then grabbed the shirt and pulled him close enought to grab his neck.
And just like that, Charles was thrown on the wall with his neck in a strong grip.
"Do you know how I like to kill the most?" The guy questioned. His head turned towards Leora.
Leora kept quiet.
Her eyes were trained on Gran and Charles whose faces were red and looked like they would pass out.
"I like to Choke them first." He answered anyway. "It is fun to see life leaving their eyes. And then just before they are about to die. I let them leave. I then beat them until they pass out. Their bones breaking, blood flowing out of noses, mouths and every body part..."
"STOP!" Leora begged. She didn't realise when the tears escaped to her cheeks.
He raised an interested eyebrow at her.
"Realise them and I will do whatever you want." She said. Her eyes drifting to see that the two people were still fighting to stay conscious.
"Are you doing me a favour? No. Then what's with the tone." He smirked. "Get down on your knees and beg."
Leora dug her nails in her hands. She didn't care if Gran and Charles saw. She raised her hand to...
"Ahh!" Charles screamed and a trail of blood fell down his mouth.
"My hands move faster than your brain. Don't try anything you might regret."
Leora was shocked. How could he know? How did he know she was going to use her power? There was no way possible.
"On your knees. Fast."
Leora closed her eyes as she dropped herself on her knees.
"Let them go please." She said with strained voice.
He threw a knife towards her.
"Slice your hands." He ordered.
She stared at him.
"Do you think I would leave for anything lesser than a Blood Pact?" He laughed sarcastically.
She breathed out to calm herself.
She remembered. A Blood Pact once made couldn't be broken unless one of the people died.
She sliced her hands open with her eyes on the man.
Her face contorted in pain and she hissed out.
The guy finally released the two and they slid down the wall, coughing.
He snatched the knife and sliced his own hand, kneeling down infront of her.
He placed his hand over her making their blood mix.
"Say that, you won't leave me." He said.
"I won't leave you." She said in a small voice.
She could feel the warmth in her hand. The promise sealing with their blood.
Neil took to pull his hand away but stopped when he felt a firm grip on it.
The girl infront of him looked at him with anger and hatred.
He didn't care.
"Your turn, say you will never hurt the people I love." She bargained.
Neil stared at her. No one before had tried to bargain with him. He had a weird itch to slap her into sense but then he looked at the two people he had just released.
"I won't hurt the people you love."
Neil really didn't care. He just promised because, well, why would he torture these two pathetic people again.
He got up and left the house leaving his hope to life behind tending to the old woman and the guy.
