The devil’s embrace

My ears were left numb after Cerebrius's thunderous laugh shook the ground once more.

"Did you hear that my prey? Your beloved Varkish does not care for your life. You do know what it means to wager your life for a member of the vulture clan?"

I did. It was an unspoken rule throughout the whole Animaliari Kingdom. If a member of the vulture clan were to wager their life it meant that they had acknowledged their death. Cerebrius's vice grip tightened around me. I exhaled. It felt like I was a mouse being coiled by a snake. My body slightly shook in fear. I looked at Varkish with confidence. I have placed my faith in Varkish a long time ago. I do not resent him for his decision.

An alliance with vulture clan meant the end of the other party in the agreement. This same event had occurred with the Blue moth clan which had been wiped out a decade ago.

A light whiz noise filled the air followed by pain in my abdomen. I looked down to see red drip down my pastel blue silk dress. In Varkish's hand was the hilt of a projecting dagger. A weapon only used by the royal family of the elephant clan. It soundlessly flies through the air in seconds releasing a very thin and small dagger which pierces the victim.

Despite all of this I still held on to hope that Varkish would not kill me but the look on his face said otherwise.

Or so I thought.

My captor looked to my dress and gasped.

"Cherura!"

This was the first time that Cerebrius had said my name. It sounded nice. Ugh. The room around me started to blur. Cerebrius Laos me on the ground and tested off some silk from his blouse using his teeth. This was the first time that I had seen an expression of worry and concern on his face. I looked back at Varkish only to see a smile on his face.

I smirked. I deserve to die this way for all of the countless lives that I had taken on the battlefield after all.

"No please Cherura, stay with me, don't close your eyes!"

I closed my eyes as the pain in my abdomen started to spread. I coughed as a trickle of crimson leaked out of my mouth. Cerebrius's voice laced in concern continued to fill my ears. This was the end.

As if.

Who do you think that I am? An idiot?

I started to laugh as more blood leaked out of my mouth. Cerebrius looked at me with concern before his features slowly changed to anger.

Varkish's melodic laugh filled the room as well. Did Cerebrius think that Varkish would really betray me? Did he think that I would actually wager my life without having a plan in mind?

Ah! It felt good to be free! My phase of craziness began once more. The smell of my own blood excited me and filled me with deep anticipation. I looked to Cerebrius as he began to back away from me. A halfhearted smirk forming his lips.

He then turned to Varkish and laughed bitterly.

"You bastard. I should've known that you would trick me from the second that you wagered her life."

In this phase my wounds would usually heal faster and my movements would be at the optimal level of precision and speed. I looked at Cerebrius, my newfound prey and almost salivated at the thought of consuming him.

I pulled the dagger from my abdomen and jumped on Cerebrius. I pinned him down to the ground with the dagger on his sleeve. I then leaned in to his face and licked the trickle of crimson on his forehead.

His golden eyes hid both fear and excitement. This man was excited about the fact that I was going to kill him.

Other people's strength is hereditary or talent inspires. My strength is from all of the pain which I have endured. The stronger my pain the stronger I am in this "craziness phase" of mine.

When I nodded at Varkish I gave him permission to hurt me in turn it would trick Cerebrius into thinking he had the upper hand. It would also give me the opportunity to go crazy like this. The more fear or blood my prey shed the stronger and more excited I would become.

Varkish is the only person who knew my secret. The first time he witnessed this was ten years ago. It was when him and I were out in the bazaar only to be encountered by some assasins sent to kill me by my father. When one of the assasins pushed Varkish to the ground blood leaked from a scratch on his face. I couldn't control it anymore. The next second I saw Varkish on the ground staring at me in shock with all of the assasins's bloody corpses littering the ground.

At that time I broke out in tears and ran away from Varkish. He must've thought that I was a monster. But it was the opposite. Varkish at the time took my hand and wiped my tears. He then gave me his usual smile and called me "strong". Ever since that moment he was the closest friend I had.

I pulled back the dagger and aimed for Cerebrius's heart. It's mine! My prey's fresh bearing heart is mine to conquer and devour!

Cerebrius then held my arm and smiled to me. He easily flipped me over and pinned my arms to the ground. I was shocked. No one can manage my strength during my craziness. In his pupils I saw my red eyes and white hair reflected. Shit. My headdress fell off allowing Cerebrius to see my transformation once more.

He then leaned in and lightly pushed his feather-like lips on my cheek. His mouth ticked my ear as he whispered,

"My queen you have enamored me in ways more than one today. Do not fail to surprise me."

My white hair slowly returned to black and my eyes turned to their usual violet color as I felt myself calm down. Cerebrius loosened his grasp on my arms and backed away. I touched my cheek and blushed.

Did Cerebrius just kiss my cheek? Is that what had calmed me down. I looked to his smug smile. Replaying the memory now, it was the first time that Cerebrius has called me his queen. For some reason it felt good. I touched my lips as I wondered. Would I ever get to kiss his cheek?

........

Thank you all for reading!! Please stay at home everyone and stay safe❤️

Btw, should I do a chapter from Cerebrius's perspective of this scene?