Anima di Nerezza Chapter 3, "The First Target" Options

[Sirin]

Anima di Nerezza

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3


The moon was high in the night sky, to be sure, but I could not identify my opponent. All I knew is that he was drenched in blood, and the guards had blood smeared all across their bodies. Two and two equals killer. I had my dagger at the ready, but he stood there carelessly, allowing me time to consider the situation.

My opponent was unarmed, which left me bewildered. How he could slaughter these men in such a fashion and remain unharmed himself was beyond me. As I mentioned, I could make out his form, but nothing of his features. I could describe his attitude though: bold. Foolish, at best. He still waited before me, awaiting my first attack. Judging by the massacred guards, my first move would have to be my last, for I didn’t wish to entertain this killer with a long fight. I had no doubt that, if given the time, things would go in his favor.

Numbly, I lunged at him. This was an odd feeling, for it seemed to not be my own. It was almost dreamlike. The bold man stood still, as if he accepted his fate and would have it no other way. My blade danced closer and closer to my foe, but time slowed, or so it seemed. I could perceive every individual drop of rain tumbling from the darkened sky. Closer I came to running the man through. Abruptly, he leaped at me to connect in a daring clash of steel and flesh.

The sound was peculiar, to say little. There was not the usual metallic noise as the blade slid into the body. Nor was there the barely audible clanking of steel on bone. In fact, the sight was unbelievable as well. The killer was gone. I landed from my lunge and stood alone in the cold rain. I saw no body, other than those previously there. But suddenly, a hard fist connected with my back, sending me flailing onto the soggy ground.

Rising again, I turned around to face my foe again. He stood in the same over-confident fashion as before, but this time he was crouched and held his hand out, clenched. As if he’d just punched someone. Well, at least I know it was him, and I didn’t just get dumped by some giant raindrop, I thought sarcastically.

“Now, how did you get back there?” I asked, not quite expecting an answer. I didn’t get one, either, but I could have sworn that the maniac smiled at me. He leapt at me this time, apparently impatient for his next kill. He wouldn’t get one, though. Just had to time my next stunt perfectly…

This post has been edited by Sirin: Mar 2 2006, 02:02 AM

[Sirin]

Part 2-Battle's End

Once again, time must have slowed, or so I thought. I watched as the clenched fist, which had previously knocked me off of my feet, closed in on my face. I tensed my muscles, ready to move at any moment. When I was ready to evade his punch, though, he vanished again. I had caught on to his little trick this time. Gripping my dagger a little bit tighter, I waited for a second and swung out, performing a complete circle cut. In the middle of my move, I saw my foe, not more than an inch in front of my face, about to lay me out again. I squeezed my eyes closed. Bracing myself for the pain, I heard myself scream.

Or maybe it was not me? In fact, I had not screamed. Easing my eyes open again, I realized that I was certainly not dead. That is, unless eternity takes place in front of Senator Gallias’ estate on a rainy night. With dead bodies surrounding oneself.

No, I was indeed not dead, but rather still rooted to this world. But the scream I had heard…? It must have been my foe, but it sounded much like my own voice. Or, perhaps, much like another woman. Regardless of gender, though, she had to be found first. She was not in front of me, but, due to the lack of proper lighting, I was not sure if she was even near me. Heavy breathing, fortunately, alerted me to her position: behind me and to the left.

When I was beside her, I knelt at the woman’s head. I was hoping to see her face, but the moon had been blocked by two inconvenient clouds. I could assess some of the situation though. It seemed that, whenever I had swung at her, I caught her straight across the chest, but right below the heart. It was certainly a deep wound, a well of blood, but she wouldn’t die soon. Nor would she die easily.

I had no wish to make her last moments peaceful, but out of a desire to finish what I had started, I made my way to the body of a guard and relieved him of his weapon. The long sword felt strangely heavy in my hands, but it would do the trick. I slowly crept towards her, raised the blade above my head, and plunged it into her stomach.

It is an odd coincidence, but as the steel plummeted through her midsection and into the soft dirt below, the moon rose from the darkening glance of the clouds. It was soon enough that, with great distress, I saw the whole of her face. And as the life slowly ebbed from those eyes, as if the lamp within was quenched, I realized that she was very familiar to me.

I almost cried out in fright as I watched the Thing die. Millions of thoughts swam through my mind. Was she with the Empire? Was she here to prevent my killing of Gallias? Perhaps Vercindelle had sent her in an attempt to kill me? This latter thought was very doubtful, but it always helped to keep my mind open. But among the disturbing thoughts was a more clear and dutiful one: I was here to end another’s life. I wasn’t sent to worry about secret plots or any sort of conspiracy. Business called; I must answer.

This post has been edited by Sirin: Mar 4 2006, 08:35 PM