It felt as though daggers where cutting deep into his side as he attempted to breath deeply. He lay on the ground, breathing painfully while he stared at the blue sky that floated above the treetops. The man wondered what just occurred. Large, white spots blurred his vision, and his head throbbed. Every time he blinked, his head exploded into a hot fury of pain. Slowly, his breaths started to become shallower and shorter, and his body tingled with shock attempting to push the intense waves of pain at bay. The man’s mind slowly started registering the events that took place.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv1qF5P65T
How many of them were there? He couldn't remember. Suddenly, an assault of pain jolted its way through his entire body. Starting to choke, he coughed up a thick, red substance. Was that blood? He rolled onto his side crying out in pain that took over every inch of his being. The man’s whole body was on fire, and a large wave of nausea flowed over him. His throat burned, and vile vomit splashed onto the ground. He groaned loudly, attempting to pull himself up. A rotten smell started to fill his nose, and he held back the urge to throw up again.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5IRepj4Ct
The man managed to sit up and he tried to assess his situation. He was kidnapped, beaten, thrown and discarded deep into a forest. He laughed softly to himself at the irony of it all, but he quickly regretted it feeling another wave of his torment engulf his body. Years ago he would have been the one doing these deeds. Not as sloppy though, he thought to himself.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGe2KOcJjm
“I am getting too old for this,” he rasped out, struggling to pull himself up against a tree. He froze when his gaze fell upon the source of the putrid smell. Just a few feet away from him, multiple dead bodies were rotting away in the hot, summer air. The burning sensation rose through his throat again, and he slumped against the tree, letting the fluid spill out of his body. The faces of the men were unrecognizable, but he had not doubt in his mind he once knew them. The man’s fate was to lie decaying away next to them if he did not get himself out this mess.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOquj9xH8sC
He quickly wiped his mouth and glanced around at the forest floor, trying to find a good stick to walk with. His body screamed and stiff muscles did not want to work properly. It had been a long time since he had been beaten to where everything hurt. Everything down to his big toe nail was beaten and bruised. Someone would pay for this. He pictured the face of the man who was the most probable suspect. How he would love to take his old, dark blade to his stomach, but that would have to wait. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88AgOA73T9
The man winced with each breath that he took. It had been a while since he felt the sting of breathing with broken ribs. Something deep down told him that he missed the excitement and enjoyment of this sort of life. The memory of the thrill that came from stalking his prey and pouncing made his heart slightly start to race. Something had been missing in his cheated, calm life. He missed the surge of accomplishment that came when he achieved a small victory in a world submerged in darkness and evil. Another chuckle escaped his lips just at the thought. “No man can run from his so called destiny, huh?” he asked the empty void that surrounded him. Concealed, dark emotions and thoughts quickly chased the lighter, justified ones. Rooted deep in his mind, lurked uncertainty, regret, rage, and bloodlust. The man grimaced and shook his head expelling the thoughts from this mind.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPlkPtzTfb
“Hell, where the am I?” he cursed into the forest; every word making the sharp pain dig deeper in his chest. His analytical mind quickly calculated what to do next. A list of things started to flood the imaginary paper before him. Another groan left his mouth as he took a small, staggering step south. Clenching his jaw hard, he held back the pain; he slowly made his way through the forest.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflqgPxPj8w
The man lay passed out, unconscious on the side of a dirt path. The path was overgrown with brush and weeds, indicating that few travelers passed this way through the forest. There wasn't much need for simple ground travel anymore. His body almost motionless, expect for the rise and fall of his chest from his labored breathing. Sweat glistened off his body and the cuts that marred his tanned skin were starting to pus and swell. Dried blood matted his hair, and tethered cloths. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp7hqQFiVI
Deep in his mind, he was cursing himself for being weak. Two decades ago, this would not have happened to him. He would have caught the signs that someone had been following him, and that someone was lurking in his safe house. Never in his long life was he ambushed, at least not when he did not let it happen. He was getting too rusty. He felt ashamed for not at the top of his game any longer.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyzUXyE30Y
He left that life, but it came charging back full force with horns bared. He would be thrown back into the world that he escaped from so many years ago. He was tired and not getting younger. His mind started to wonder as thoughts about surrendering to the darkness that surrounded him. The guilt and despair he was escaping from for too long started to suffocate him. The judgment he passed on his own soul was weighing down. To be lost in the great abyss seemed inviting. Never having to worry about taking another man’s life, or dealing with the regret. He would never have late, terrifying nights where nightmares haunted his sleep. The faces of innocent people he let die with his careless mistakes of youth would no longer be in every corner. If he let go, he could truly escape all the wrong he had to do to achieve something bigger. The ominous contemplations that were slowly devouring his soul, would simple disappear.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7pPk7QFAe
The man’s body slowly started to stop all movement. His skin started to pale, and lose all color as breaths came less frequent and shallower. Just as he was about to let his life slip into the deep shadows and he let the painful breathing finally come to an end, a jolt of pure, hot energy ran through his veins.
Fury filled every cell in his beginning. Who dare defy him death? Who would attempt to bring him back? Had he not dealt with enough in his tormented life? He came to the conclusion that one of the gods must hate him. They want him to stay tormented. His mind was racing and his body tensed the moment he felt himself starting to gain consciousness again. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBallJfGrhS
He waited; playing possum, until he knew his vision had also come back to him. Quickly, faster than he thought he could move at the moment, he grabbed the hand that was hovering above him and quickly slammed it to the ground. The man heard the familiar pop and crack that sent shivers up his spine in slight excitement. He jumped up and grabbed the woman’s dark hair and swiftly pinned her to the ground with all his strength, not caring if he broke anything or hurt her in any way. He smirked slightly liking that he had in fact hurt her.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQNhO8g6rB
“You should not have done that,” he said through gritted teeth. The woman did not cry out or beg for him to let go. She simply and calmly laid pinned to the ground breathing heavily from exhaustion and having the wind knocked out of her. He studied her carefully, surprised at her nonexistent reaction. Removing hair from the nape of her neck, a silver cylinder protruded from dark skin. Minute silver tendrils spread from the devise and embedded themselves into her skin where they would attach to her nerves between the cervical vertebrae. Suddenly he let go of her backing away, eyes large in confusion.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF3iRlbH08
He looked down at his hands no longer covered in blood and dirt. His wounds were gone, along with the constant agony of breathing. He took a very large breath of air and laughed loudly when no pain came and the motions of exhaling felt refreshing. His whole body felt more alive than it had in ages.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUHwsqEuCt
The mental sickness that was slowly eating away at his body was gone. All of the thoughts that dwelled in the corners of his mind were suddenly gone. The weight that he had the burden of carrying alone was lifted off him. He felt free. He bent down stretching and his mind soaked in the glory of his almost weightlessness. Forgotten was the discarded girl whom managed to sit up and was watching him blankly with her dark, black eyes. Her sea blue robes, the color that marked her as a member of the Convent, where now covered in dirt and mud. Hair was still tousled. She made no move to fix it. Her dull eyes just watched his every move.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhWCS3wsi6
An odd sensation started to rush over his body. His muscles tensed waiting to determine what type of injection it was that started to flow through him. The same warm, pure energy that saved his life coursed through his veins once again. There was a malevolent shadow hanging over the corner of his sight and it sent the hairs on his neck to stand on edge. The shadow quickly subsided as fast as it had appeared. He slowly turned his head and gazed into the young woman’s clouded over eyes. He kept his body still trying to analyze all possibilities that could come out of this.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELPgLYZfls
You did not want to die, but we have determined that it is not your time, Tarthe. He held his breath when he felt a small pinch in his mind and than a woman’s voice filled his head. He slightly frowned blinking. Tarthe was sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him. The woman’s lips had not moved to allow any sound to project. The sound was not coming from the area around Tarthe, but inside him. He slowly let out his breath, his mind finally realizing what was happening. He detested telepathic technology.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZKNEp5jfg
“You have some nerve interfering with death,” Tarthe said slightly bored. “Didn’t I already get rid of you guys? I saved your political party once, I will not lend my daggers to your cause ag-“ he was cut off by the sound of the woman laughing.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVHHswQDYL
Think of this as a gift from us, Metsu. A second chance so to speak. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASzlkQKhyh
He winced at the word metsu. “Do not call me that,” he said softer than he had meant to. He watched as the woman’s face still remained static, not changing.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY2SkOqgRg
We do not give… gifts like this out to just anyone. You will take your second chance and make a difference yes? Or not. Do whatever you please. We do not care. Just so long as you-387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb92nAplD8
“I knew there was a catch. There is always a catch with the Convent,” he said throwing his hands in the air. Tarthe paced, keeping his eyes on the ground, trying to think things through. His hand idly rubbed his chin and scratching his small beard he tried to think of a way out of this mess. “What will happen with the woman?” mumbled Tarthe, casting a slight nod in the woman’s direction but not looking at her.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2W8rhNIF0
She is just a vessel for us. You can do what you…want with her. Have your way with her. For pleasure or other things. The woman’s voice gave a haunting laugh. Tarthe frowned in disgust and he shook his head.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGtt14d00w
He paused his pacing and sighed softly. There was no way out of this mess. “What will you have me do?” he asked defeated.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1AuWq7tHE
Simply kill the men who did this to you. That is all we ask for. You managed to anger some powerful men, which is a good thing for us. You want revenge. We want them gone. If you really want to die, death will come later. Probably sooner than you think it will. We can arrange something?387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7HiSvXTBq
“Your persuasive abilities are lacking,” he muttered as he tried to weigh his options. “Fine, deal,” he said after a few minutes of listing the pros and cons. Pros were that he was alive and his body felt like it was fifteen years younger. He also has a chance to settle the score and his dark depression had dissipated. Cons were, well he would have died.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n0yW6TNZI
Then it is a deal, Metsu. We will find a way to contact you again, the woman’s voice said with a hint of warning. Tarthe grimaced as he felt the hot energy quickly disappear from his body and he watched as the young woman collapsed, and hit the ground with a loud smack.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrigRxy0ia
