The sun burned bright as Tyson, Malric, and Oriana slipped through the alleyways.
"We should have a little time before they discover him." Tyson said as he ducked into the shadows.
"Why are we running? I can just kill them all." Oriana stated.
"No." He said firmly. "No more killing. Let's just get out of here."
Malric kept quiet while the two went back and forth.
His face was pale, and his eyes darted around as they moved. They could see the gate looking over the final building. They rounded the corner, and froze.
Caption Kareem stood casually near the gate talking to two guards. He glanced their way and gave an awkward smile.
"Tyson!" He yelled, "Malric too, excellent. And who is your.. friend?" He asked as his gaze fell on Oriana.
She tensed, her movement inviting unease.
Tyson's heart skipped. It's over. He was just a guard and now he would be in jail, probably facing execution. Why did he buy that cursed sword.
"She new?" He asked. "I don't recall ever seeing her."
His voice was casual but Tyson could hear the edge in it.
"We were just heading out to do some individual training. Oriana here is from out of town and she offered to give us some pointers." Malric finally spoke.
Oriana looked at him and gave a hesitant nod.
"Has the training been cancelled? And where is Henderson? I was told he went looking for Tyson." Kareem asked.
Tyson's heart rate picked up. If he made it through this, he was sure his heart wouldn't.
Orianas hand twitched at her side.
Before another word could be said, footsteps made their way toward them. Coming from the residential district for the guards.
Doom filled Tyson's entire being.
'Shit. shit. shit. shit.'
He was full blown panicking.
A guard stoped right before Kareem. He bent over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.
"Captain," he took a deep breath. "One of the houses… there's blood. Everywhere. We think it's Henderson."
Kareem looked at Tyson, "what exactly is going on here?"
"They did it. That woman is insane and a murderer." Malric stepped forward.
Tyson was shocked. How could he betray them like that? He looked to Oriana her expression was unreadable, but her hand rested on her hilt.
"Guards, arrest them and take them to the guard house for questioning."
Tyson stiffened, maybe he could get out of this. He thought of a story he could tell, but as soon as the shackles were produced, he felt it.
***Oriana***
The sight of the chains and shackles sent her into a spiral. Images of a marble room. Judges. A king. The chants of being exiled. It all hit her. She let go. Her essence. Her power. It exploded from her.
Death and decay consumed the air around her. The aura she let off guts tree death. Every body by her collapsed.
Her eyes blazed. They would all die before she became a prisoner again.
The sound of vomiting and moans filled her head. She looked around, the guard closed ringer no longer held the shackles.
Now on all fours, blood drilling from their nose, the guard had given up.
Weak. Worthless.
She unsheathed her blade, it pulsed with life, ready to feast.
She was before the guard in a blink, he swore slashing down fast.
She didn't need abilities for this fight. They may as well have been training dummies.
He blade cut clean through the neck of the guard, before they collapsed, she was on to the next one. There was only three within reach, and all three would die.
Two swipes of her sword and two bodies hit the ground. Blood pooling. She focused Kareem.
He was stronger than anyone she had seen yet, but he was still an opal user.
"Pathetic." She spat.
Kareem summoned a spear, lightning traveling up the shaft and dancing around the tip. The brilliant yellow was blinding. He didn't hesitate.
She watched as Kareem launched himself toward her. He was slow.
She waited, and just before he reached her, she pinched him. Her fist coated in death essence, sent Kareem flying. He didn't stop until the wall of the gate house caught him.
She turned her attention to Malric, who had already started sneaking away.
"I don't think so." She vanished.
She popped up in front of Malric, a powerful kick to his stomach sent him sprawling.
***Tyson***
He watched Oriana as she approached Malric.
"Don't kill him." Tyson commanded.
"And why not? He betrayed us." She responded.
Tyson looked at Malric. He saw nothing. Malric just stared into nothing.
Was he scared? The last three days, he saw a side of Malric he had never seen.
"He's more valuable to us alive than dead. He's from a royal family. We can make our way there." Tyson suggested.
Malric just stared at the ground. Oriana kicked his head, He slumped.
"Fine. He lives. But as soon as we don't need him, he's dead."
"Let's go to the lowlands and make our way from there." Tyson said.
They gathered themselves and prepared to leave the city for food. Tyson was going to miss this place. He grew up here, he never thought he would have to leave for good.
"Where are you going?" A familiar voice cut through his self pity thoughts.
He saw Kareem making his way to his feet, trying to stand sturdy.
"Don't stop us. I don't want to see you dead too." Tyson pleaded.
Oriana was already prepared to strikes. Tyson hoped she would hold back. To his surprise she did.
Kareem hesitated. He was torn; Tyson could tell. "Don't come after us." He looked Kareem in the eyes. Kareem nodded.
They made their way out do the gate and toward the woods.
***Three days Later***
The essence was dense. He had never seen such power. He couldn't be around to long, the feeling of decay and death unsettled him.
"Forbidden runes." He muttered.
A breeze settled in the room, the soul fire lamp flickering, still showing off the remnants of Henderson.
He turned around.
A figure stood in the doorway.
"This is an active investigation, please state your-." The figures eyes shined a piercing white, then black flames ignited.
"What the hell."
At least that's what he wanted to say. Instead a loud gurgle was all that came out. A red pulsing blade lodged in his throat. Blood splattering.
The figure released his blade. A thud followed. His crystal mask shined dimly in the light of the soul fire. He looked around. The essence reeked of death.
His grip tightened around the hilt of his weapon, Red Fang, named in honor of his people.
The people she killed.
He crouched over the dead investigator, whiling his blade on his armors. He grabbed the opal around the man's bloody neck.
"Opal.." he muttered. "They had no chance."
He crushed the gem.
He hungered for vengeance. He would make her suffer, like she made his people suffer.
His parents. His wife. His kids.
His burning eyes blinked out. A dark void behind the slits in his crystal mask.
"Your mine now, Oriana."