The Stolen Bride

15 - Gone Hunting

"Derri," she corrected him.

He narrowed his eyes at her, turning sideways and aiming the knife at Drev's throat.

"No! Please don't."

"Ah, but imagine how lucky I was to find this one, plus his devil-dog here, of all places? It was like something heaven-sent."

"Sylar, I'll do anything you want," she blurted quickly, desperately. "Just don't hurt them."

"You're right. You will do anything I want, because now, you've finally learnt respect. I always said I would teach you a lesson, didn't I?" He smiled cruelly before grabbing Drev's hair and getting ready to slit his throat.

"No!"

At that moment, something sailed right by Kira, clipping her ear with a painful sting.

"Argh!" Sylar cried out, crumpling and dropping the knife all of a sudden.

Kira reached up and touched her ear, her fingers coming away with blood. She snapped her head up, seeing an arrow sticking out of Sylar's arm.

What the...? No, I don't have time to figure out what's going on! I need to cut them down!

Kira ran up, grabbing the knife from where it lay. But Sylar wasn't about to give up so easily. With a snarl, he lunged at her, grabbing her ankle with his good hand.

"Let her go!" a voice boomed, just as someone kicked out, getting him right on the jaw.

Marko?!

Kira scrambled away, leaving them to deal with one another. She hurried over to Drev, using the knife to cut the bonds around his hands first. Then, they worked together to untie his ankles, and he dropped hard, half-landing on top of her.

Drev yanked the gag from his mouth, checking to make sure Sylar was still occupied before cutting down his dog.

"Stay out of this!" Sylar yelled. He broke off the arrow's shaft, using it to pierce Marko's right eye.

Both Drev and Kira froze at his howl of pain. "No! Marko!" She started forward but Drev grabbed her waist, pulling her back.

"Lobo!"

The dog lunged, moving to clamp down on Sylar's leg. But he was quicker, breaking off a tree limb and shoving it into the dog's mouth. He kicked out at Lobo, sending him rolling into the tree and leaving him dazed.

Drev stepped in front of Lobo, knife in hand. "You've gone too far, Sylar," Drev whispered, eyes wide, shoulders tense.

"Hmph. You're the one who turned his back on his own people and family. You were always a disgrace to the tribe, Drev. You could never find a good woman for a wife, you had that filthy dog causing trouble for people and oh, let's not forget the business with Hesel and his woman."

Drev said nothing, his jaw clenching.

Sylar eyed Kira as she went over and clung to Marko, trying to calm him down and help stop the bleeding. "Say what you want about me, Kira. But I would've made sure to appreciate you fully had you been my wife. I certainly wouldn't have gone sniffing around after other men's wives."

"I've forgiven him for it," she shot back. "Not that it's any of your business."

Sylar scoffed at her words. His eyes that night were even wilder than usual, filled with hate and adrenalin. She'd never seen him fight this fiercely before either, and she was sure Drev had noticed the change in him too.

"Come on, then," Sylar taunted him. "You have the knife, so what are you afraid of?"

"I've never been afraid of you, Sylar."

"But are you afraid of what you'll lose?" he wondered, glancing towards Kira. "Or... have you lost her already to this yellowhead?"

Drev looked him over carefully, like he was trying to figure out the best way to attack him.

"You're testing my patience, Drev," Sylar growled, moving towards her and Marko.

"No!" Drev rushed at Sylar, who turned at the last minute, revealing his bluff. He caught Drev on the jaw with a surprise punch, smacking the knife out of his hand. Then, he shoved him down, freely raining punches on him.

"Drev!" Kira cried, leaping to her feet. She had to do something!

She looked around, seeing Marko's bow lying on the ground. She grabbed it, running up and looping it around Sylar's neck, choking him as she yanked backwards.

Enraged, Marko twisted his body, making a grab for her. He managed to get a hold of her skirt and pulled hard, causing her to lose her balance and hit the ground. The world swam, stars dancing overhead while warm blood continued to trickle down her ear. No...

She wanted to pass out, she felt so dizzy and sick right then. But then, she was surprised to feel something cold against her fingers.

The knife.

Fighting against nausea, she wrapped her fingers around the grip and forced herself to sit up. A few feet away, Sylar kneeled over a bloody-faced Drev, one hand gripping his hair as he whispered something in his ear. "... finally know who is the better fighter..."

With all the strength and energy she had left, Kira darted forward, aiming the blade at Sylar's throat. She felt the tip pierce flesh, blood shooting everywhere.

She backed away, watching as Sylar staggered, clutching at his own neck. His lungs and his throat filled up, that he couldn't speak but merely gurgled. His gaze went everywhere in those moments, from a semi-conscious Drev to her in her terrified state to Marko, watching grimly with his left eye.

At last, Sylar collapsed upon the steps of her old home, where he stopped moving, his eyes looking up forever in unseeing sleep.