Beneath Shadows and Secrets

♔ 𝕱𝔦𝔣𝔱𝔶 - 𝕺𝔫𝔢 ♔

So this chapter is another unedited one. Bare with any obvious spelling errors - i haven't even read oved this one.

♔ 𝔑𝔦𝔯𝔞 ♔

Libitina dives at me with enough force that if I were not prepared for her attack, we would have both crashed to the ground.

I dodge her, firing the Stygian at her left, letting it coil around her waist before pulling her backwards. She fights its hold, snatching for a dagger strapped against her thigh and throwing it at my head. I duck, hearing the ring of the metal as it slices through the air. Without looking, I manipulate the air, turning the stillness into a rush of wind that captures the dagger, spinning it back towards me. My hand snaps out and catches the weapon with ease amidst its diversion. Libitina's eyes widen at that – my lack of acknowledgement as I steal the dagger from the air, and when I grin ferally, she snarls.

"Don't show off." She snaps at me, writhing in the hold of the Stygian.

I spin the blade in the air, catching it once more. "Is that what that was?" I goad, laughing as she struggles. My wrist flicks, dagger firing back to Libitina, and she yells as she folds her body to avoid it. The blade glides across her cheek, blood spilling from the shallow wound.

"Don't think you can beat me without magic, Nira? Is that why you've got to restrain your targets?" I scoff, releasing her so quickly she drops to the ground with a yelp. Still, she manages to land on her feet, poised like a predator prepared to strike. "Weapons only, Queenie. Lets make it a fair fight."

I take the sword from its sheath on my back, twirling it before me. "I still think that gives me an advantage." Libitina flashes her fangs, pupils flashing to thin slits before she dives again. She claws and punches and kicks, each of her attacks I hardly avoid. I duck and weave and spin, bringing my sword down to her with all the force I can muster.

It feels good to fight like this. I missed it, especially after tirelessly training with Ezekiel and Cenred for so many weeks, to then go without for months. I have missed the feeling of a sword in my hands, of the adrenaline and breathlessness of being so close to danger. And with Libitina, there is no precision or skill, it is feral and animalistic, a desperation to draw blood.

And I like it. I like that I do not have to be meticulous, or think, or consider my next move as well as theirs. I like that I am bound to be wounded, bruised, or bloodied. I like that my attacks might not kill, but cause a long, drawn-out pain. It makes me feel... insane. As though everything that made me before is trickling away, and a new mind is taking its place within me. It is as though I am not the person I used to be anymore. Not like they all assured I would be.

"Cracuria is fine," Libitina tells me on a shallow breath. He dagger swipes at me, blade caressing my arm, and though I do not feel the pain it inflicts, I know I bleed from the wound she has given me. Her laugh is maniacal. "Your messenger died. Feasted on by the animals."

"How do you know?" I grab Libitina's wrist, forcing it back until she can do nothing else but drop her dagger. Its twin seeks me out, and I bring the width of my sword blade to stop it from sinking into my neck.

I push away, sweeping the ground for the fallen dagger, and with it in my hand, I toss aside the sword. Close contact. That is what I want. "Found him in the Woodlands. Still had the letter addressed to the Night Court. Was missing a leg. Unsuspicious."

"Good." I mutter, Libitina flashes her fangs again, moving to bite me, and I flex my claws and slash them towards her stomach. She jumps away, pulling free another dagger – this one which was strapped to her waist.