The Woman at The End of The World. (Daryl Dixon)

fiftyseven.

"Witch?" King Ezekiel questions. Amusement dances on the air from everyone standing around the room.

I peer over my shoulder, winking, "at your service." Daryl and Carol let out a laugh at the kings baffled expression.

"She ain't jokin'." Daryl offers, pointing to my protection jar resting around his neck. Ezekiel's eyes find the jars hanging out around everyone's neck. "Blue's our crazy ass witch, medic, fighter, runner, and protector."

"Don't forget, stylist." I add, "I'm a jack of all trades, but a master of none."

"I think you should add tiger tamer to that growing list." Rick smirks. "Maybe ninja, too, with how you maneuvered around Negan's company unnoticed."

"Don't forget, comedian, sis." Tori grins.

"Shiva is now my best friend." I chuckle, "sorry Kells."

"Vanessa, why did you take my spot? I know Negan wanted me." Carl suddenly inquires. We all spin, facing him. "You could've died if The Kingdom didn't show when they did." His innocent face twists in curiosity and worry. The air in the room grows thick with tension at the seriousness of his question.

Daryl's blue eyes zero in on me, crossing his arms. Right, he doesn't know I was sitting under Lucille. I wince, though, I knew it was only a matter of time before it was brought out into the light. "The hell is he talkin' about?" He snarls.

Rick glances at Daryl, "she almost took the bat. Negan was swinging when Shiva attacked."

"Ya what?!" Daryl spins around, concern dances on his handsome face.

Shrugging, "Negan and I talked when he saved my life, I told him he needs to leave you alone. You're still a kid, whether you like it, or not. If he feels like he has to punish any of us, that it should be me." I finish working on Rick, letting the shirt fall. I wipe my hands off on a towel sitting nearby. I stalk over to Carl, resting my hand on his shoulder, "I never told you this, kid, but you're like my own son. Yes, I'm barely fifteen years older than you, but I love you nonetheless and I have no problem dying for you so you can live to fight another day." My eyes find Daryl, "I didn't tell you because I knew you would stop me. But I couldn't let you guys do this without me. I knew coming into the fight that I might face his wrath. That's not even touching on Owen's little buddies gunning for me at every turn, just like Bundy warned would happen. I'm fine."

He rubs his face, "I'm mad, but I understand. Ya need to stop holdin' shit back, Blue. Ya are gonna be the death of me someday."

"Negan saved you?" Maggie questions, shock morphs her beautiful face.

"Owen attacked you?!" Carol crosses her arms. "I heard he was back." My head snaps at the older woman. "Daryl found me while he was at the kingdom. He brought me up to speed."

"Yeah, Dwight mentioned it before the fight." Rick states in a matter of fact, unsurprised I had found myself in yet another messy situation. I'm a magnet for bullshit.

"Yeah, about that." I begin to fill everyone in, retelling the night Owen had attacked me, leaving out when he decided it would be a fantastic idea to throw Daryl in my face. I can't look at him when the memory begins to fall over me. I recall how Owen's once beautiful face mirrors Dwight's. A punishment he faced for his crimes against me. "His outer shell matches his black, ugly soul." I mention how I had woken up at the sanctuary three days later, hitting the bullet points of my conversation with Negan. "So going on with this war, you all need to know that his friends will be coming for me, and just me. On the bright side, he seemed to jump Negan's ship." Another problem for another time. I know it's only a matter of time before he resurfaces. "He'll never stop coming for me until one of us is dead."