Murder Before the Ball

Silver steadied himself against the wall, he wiped blood from his face.

"The earlier statement still applies Violet, you should have killed me, that was your only opportunity. You're as good as dead now."

Violet took a step back, "you no longer have the prerequisites required to kill me. I'm here for a different reason." She seemed calm, but the tension had not left her posture. Silver was only pretending to be wounded, he was cornered and that usually led to his best performances.

"I've got answers, not that I'll give them to you. I hear you killed your way out... pity, you left all those bodies behind, even his."

Violet glared at him, "Speaking of bodies left behind, my only question for you, where is the facility located?"

Silver grinned, "never would have pegged you for the sentimental type, you want their bodies returned? For who? More importantly why show your face? This means we can find you."

The crazed look in his eyes grew, "I can still hear your screams darling, echoing all around, tortuously slow. I've killed hundreds and nothing has ever given me the pleasure your pain did. I remember the day you stopped screaming. I relive that moment when I need a particularly satisfying release. The day I handed his body to you... You were always the kind to need incentives."

She ached to react, blood pounding murderously in her head, the pull from the sword screaming incessantly, threatening to blur her vision. She mustn't.

Taking a steadying breath she stepped forward, "you've had it hidden, perhaps it's always been hidden, where is the facility?"

"Hmm, you have grown, no matter. Even a pompous healer from yourself can't escape me." He moved in a flash, Violet gasped as he landed atop of her and her elbow made contact with the floor at an awkward angle. Definitely fractured. A vicious blow darkened her vision, but she countered nonetheless taking his hand in between hers and breaking two fingers. He cursed, grabbed her waist and threw her backwards, Violet groaned as she crashed into the edge of the fireplace.

She blinked blood out of her eye facing him, body riddled with stress. He grinned as a Ka-Bar combat knife appeared in his hand. "I bet, I can still make you scream!"

He lunged again, Violet grimaced as the knife nearly plowed into her chest, missing by a few centimeters plunging into the wall behind her. He yanked the knife out as Violet rammed her knee into his gut, she dodged another slash of the knife and kicked him haphazardly, succeeding In knocking out a tooth.

"Too slow little Violet, you're still much too slow." Shards of ice began streaking in her direction as he launched yet another attack, Violet broke the legs off a chair and blocked feeling tiny cuts appearing everywhere. She gritted her teeth, he was very much a threat. Their bodies collided for the second time and Violet felt the knife lodge Itself in her thigh, he twisted it as he laughed. "Scream Violet."

Violet chuckled, his face distorted with rage and he pulled the knife out only to sink in into her stomach as Violet used a broken icicle to permanently disfigure his face.

She felt the air leave her chest when Silver threw her sideways, she tumbled onto the floor and moments later felt a chair smash into her back. She coughed rolling over when his hands connected to her throat. "You should know when you're beaten, but I'll give you parting wisdom."

Violet looked to his face, his left eyes was partially gouged out and his blood was dripping onto her face. She scratched at his hands and he laughed, "you should have never come here, the facility you'll never be able to find, it's in Scandinavia. You don't need to know the rest."

Violet croaked out hoarsely, "you always gave it away when you thought you were winning. Pathetic."

Violet's knees came up and with too much force she straightened her legs and kicked him up into the air. He looked surprised for a moment, Violet rolled up, sprung into a crouch and reached for his body. Her left hand flipped him and wrapped around his neck, his back landed on her knee and in that moment panic clung to his face. He understood, she had played him.

Violet's eyes had changed, a dark red hue shone eerily and a sword appeared. He didn't have a moment to react as the sword in her right hand plummeted through him. Violet leaned over, "Take a secret of mine to the grave Silver," she pulled out the sword and showed it to him, "after a couple of years, it has finally picked a new partner." He choked on his blood, "that... t. Is... not.." he stretched out a hand.

"Oh don't worry, I'll show them impossible."

She sliced off his head in a swift movement and looked around, she needed the scene to be found. The club below her, through the glass remained the same, bodies pressed together, swaying with the music, unaware.

Violet took the camera from the vent, procured a grenade and set it directly above the crack baldy had created, time to ruin the fun.

The loud explosion caused confusion, add to it the mix of the slain mutilated bodies, and the streams of blood that came pouring down, and you can see how the entire club descended into absolute chaos. Violet watched from the edge of the torn floor above, several people below would soon he added to the corpses as the stampede progressed. She pulled a large piece of glass from her arm and healed the rest of her injuries. She jumped down and blended into the screaming crowing pushing to escape the blood.

At exactly four A.M. Violet crawled into her bed and let sleep take her.

It was ten in the morning, tomorrow, Saturday, the Ball would occur. Yet for the first time in a week the halls were filled with talk of something else. In a small mountain town, a couple of hours away, a set of vicious murders had occurred. Classes had been cancelled since the headmaster and several others had been requested at the scene of the crime. Violet yawned into the couch of the lounge as she flipped the page of her book. Kieren and his gang had disappeared a couple of hours ago with the headmaster, and for once Violet had been left on her own. Alex had pulled her aside and whispered that she wasn't required, there was nobody left alive to heal.

Aiko nudged her, phone in her hand, "someone leaked pictures, god it's just nauseating, have you seen the corpses?"

Violet shook her head, "not interested."

James pulled the phone toward him, "I am, Vail is only six hours away, I wonder if this was the Nightmare Walkers. I heard a Ruenen Captain was murdered."

"All the people except Silver were nightmare walkers." It was Tom who had spoken, the rest of the crew walked in and all eyes turned to them.

"You're back! What happened?"

Zen shrugged, "none of your business, although nothing, no tracks. Silver was there undercover and somebody killed him, they must have mistaken him. He died a hero."

Several people nodded, "will we hold a vigil?" The rest of the people, flowers, and dragons alike, chimed in expressing their gratitude and sorrow for the dead captain.

Violet felt that unmistakable gaze land on her, she looked up, the blue in his eyes seemed to ask, "was he undercover?"

Violet smiled at him, he truly was incredibly intelligent. She was really starting to count on him.

He took a seat next to her and muttered, "It just doesn't add up Violet."

Violet turned the page in her book, "if it smells rotten, it usually is."

He looked over at her book, 'Aquatic Magical Snakes.'

"I suggested we bring you along, I was outvoted, they said Healers are too frail for something so gruesome.

I wanted a clear mind, have you heard of Avery Silver?"

Violet nodded, "There is talk of him being... well scum, uses his position too take what he wants and destroys what he can't have. The Ruenen however, always protects their own."

He sighed softly, "This is why I wanted you there, they clearly don't know you."

Violet looked Into his eyes, "they just want me away from you."

Kieren leaned closer, nobody was paying them any attention, they were all so absorbed with the murders. He pulled the book from her hands and interlaced their fingers, "They won't succeed. Nobody will ever take you from me."