"Any last words."
327Please respect copyright.PENANALQSAnIFPnh
Cora was completely immobilized. There was nothing she could do. It couldn't end like this!
327Please respect copyright.PENANAk1KlIQhIP2
"No?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANAhCo6qm6mHB
The harder Cora tried to break free the tighter his grip became. The pain was becoming unbearable.
Cora kicked him in the shin causing him to let go.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA2cxM96uMQR
She picked her sword up off the ground. He attempted to punch her. Cora ducked out of the way.
He punched a hole in the wall and knocked a painting down in the process. Cora tried to use the painting as a shield but he sliced it in half.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAJjkmKqBBQo
Cora attacked again and again but, he deflected every attack. He was much too skilled with the sword. Cora could never beat him on her own.That's when her eyes drifted to a statue in the center of the room. She had an idea.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAA8fB2KaYDm
With every on of his attacks Cora took a step towards the statue. When she was close enough she pushed the statue as hard as she possibly could using all the strength left in her until she knocked it over on top of him crushing his metal leg. He tried desperately to get up but he couldn't. He tried to be strong but it was clear he was in pain. He was forced to remove his metal leg just for some relief.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAMHWWkjCJkf
Cora kicked his sword far away from his reach then she also collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. The pair sat in silence. There was something peaceful about it even though it was only a few minutes it felt much longer to them.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAd1aikLrWYR
Then the boy spoke. "Finish your mission."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAxtWfuSFGLo
Cora just stared at him in silence unsure of how to respond.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA1VKrKVpMtA
"This was your mission wasn't it? Didn't your guild send you on a mission to kill me?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANAH9nJqVN6pS
"I don't kill people," was the only response she could think of.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAamKanFVjmr
He laughed. "Don't worry I've done terrible things you'll be able to sleep at night knowing the world has one less murderer."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAe0Y4A78GvJ
Cora said nothing.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAMMliWR3HkU
"End me!" he yelled with something that resembled tears in his eyes. "I don't deserve to live."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAjkHZokHaQ6
Cora's knees wobbled as she stood up. she walked over to him and stretched out her hand. "Like I said I don't kill people and no one sent me here. I just want to talk to you."
327Please respect copyright.PENANA8YzTzf3fHv
Then there was a sound coming from the door. The guard was finally managing to break through the barricade. He quickly reattached his metal leg and she helped him stand. Cora opened the window and they climbed out together and left the sword behind.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA9vInpFszY9
The duo hid in the bushes outside until the security guards left. They walked back to Cora's house in complete silence. Cora escorted him into the guest house far behind her house. Her family never had guests so no one ever went in the guest house.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAhs8oU38BSo
Once they entered the house he dropped down on one knee and kissed her hand. "I must apologize for the trouble I've caused you, I thought you were hired to kill me so I defended myself. I hope one day you will forgive me."
327Please respect copyright.PENANANA0PPiViIr
"Don't worry about it," Cora responded slightly embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAYNuAT6v4kl
"How may I address you?" He asked.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA4IFCowvsOS
"My name is Coraline Bowman."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAm9LeJyms8u
"That's a beautiful name."
327Please respect copyright.PENANARgcIN6oVza
He rose to his feet and looked around the room for the first time. The room was fairly small. There was nothing in it besides a bed and a small grey sofa and there was a small bathroom attached to the house. It was enough for someone to live in but, he was probably expecting something much fancier.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAtOyuokJDmV
To Cora's surprise he smiled.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA6BbbGAgiin
There was a loud thud outside that made Cora yelp and jump backwards. A dead tree branch had fallen.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAAhMRmq2NdY
He laughed at her. "I would thought a warrior capable of taking me down wouldn't be such a coward."
327Please respect copyright.PENANA2XOyv2DxE4
Cora's blood boiled. She considered punching him in the face but decided against it. "If you knew what's been happening to me lately you'd know I have a right to be afraid!"
327Please respect copyright.PENANA8YagAo92Hp
"Then tell me."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAu0JsHftrIU
She didn't even know how to begin to explain. "A shadow attacked me a couple of days ago he said he was looking for you, I barely escaped and feel like it's been following me ever since."
327Please respect copyright.PENANA0oMjluupCJ
"It was looking for me?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANAM3RDkL20aM
"It wanted to know everything I knew about the Blood King."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAYmXJJdceep
He just nodded slowly. He took a seat on the bed. "Don't worry, I'm scarier than anything out there," he said with a grin that resembled the Cheshire Cat.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA4ygWWD2726
Cora wondered if that was true, she had no idea what she was getting herself into.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAms8059wmC6
"What should I call you?" she asked.
327Please respect copyright.PENANA0bJracC23m
"I don't know, everyone calls me your your majesty or your highness."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAYrZUKStUCb
Cora put her hands into her pockets. She felt a small piece of fabric, the handkerchief. She had completely forgotten about it. There it read Raymundo Eduardo Esteban Ricardo Castillo V.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAd7aUyNjUxO
She handed it to him. "Is that your name?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANAnOhYO46BbN
"Yes, but I always thought it was a bit too extravagant for me."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAl5iQc9bAjn
"What about Ray?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANA6fSoAJQPgL
"What?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANA3x6TWv5Kn7
"Can I call you Ray?"
327Please respect copyright.PENANApJpYSr3LGW
He mouthed out the name silently a few times. "You may call me Ray if you would like to."
327Please respect copyright.PENANATCw5QUC2XS
Cora's phone rang.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAFAfvLm4SQe
"Where are you?" Her mother said sounding horrified.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAXs2m643qti
"I'm hanging out with a friend." That wasn't a complete lie. "Don't worry I'll be home soon."
327Please respect copyright.PENANAj5ZHERHeVM
"Listen, your grandmother was stabbed." Cora's head started spinning. This was too much for her to handle.
327Please respect copyright.PENANAn8e3ULzRX8
"What happened?" Cora eventually managed to ask.
327Please respect copyright.PENANArtkbNNyl7P
"No one knows, we found her in her study with a knife in her chest. In the security footage there was nothing but a shadow."
ns 15.158.61.23da2