Chapter 6.

"Don't be afraid." He said, putting his sword away. He began taking steps towards me. I was coated with an armor of cold sweat, I tried very hard to gather my warrior self together and do something.

Could that woman be right?

I raised my hand forward in stop motion. I did it quickly, and my words left my mouth with such a power.

It didn't resemble my voice, it took all in me to say it.

His body was sent flying backward. He landed on his back, and so did I. I fell off the camel. As my world blended into the darkness present in the sky, I recalled looking into the mirror as a kid and not seeing my shadow, screams of terror had escaped my lips. Papa told me I was dreaming, only I knew deep down that it wasn't true. I gave into his lies for the sake of keeping my sanity. I was young and afraid of what was waiting for me on the other side... In the world of darkness. Papa had tried his best to keep that part of me away from people, when he left it became my job. I had to protect who I was from everybody. I tried hard telling someone but I was too afraid that they would be afraid of who I was just as much as I was scared.

* * *

"Can I at least know your name?" I said with my eyes half-opened. It was a bright morning, rays of sunshine threatened to burn my eyes as I opened them.

"Ade." He said.

"I haven't eaten for two days now. Can we please come to a stop?" My body was overpowered with an unusual force of hunger that I couldn't explain.

"Hmmm, I thought you'd last longer." I couldn't find it in me to argue with him. I kept quiet throughout the whole journey. I remembered every detail of the places we rode past. The dried big trees and long dried blades of grass were replaced by deep brown tress which held their green leaves with pride. The grass was shorter. There was a divine bloom of flowers, their scent filled the air with sweetness. I knew we were approaching a settlement.

We came to a stop around a small pond. This time we didn't ride a camel but a horse.

"Don't bother running princess. I know we are both tired." He tied the halter to a tree bark and went off to who knew where. I sat against the same tree bark planning my escape. He emerged from the trees with a cluster of berries.

"You listened. I thought you'd run for your life.“ He took a seat next to me.

"Is this what you do? Feed your prey and then kill them.” I stared at the cluster of the pink berries presented to me in a big leaf.

"Normally I wouldn’t feed them but you have proven yourself of being special.” A mischievous smirk was plastered on his face.

"And now I have to eat what you brought me, is it poisoned?" I tilted my head to the side to be looking at him.

"You know I have no problems. You don't eat... You die. At least I won't have to kill you myself." He shrugged.

"Who told you that I was going to die without food? I'm a warrior, I know how to control my hunger."

"I also thought so until I heard the way your stomach was growling." I rolled my eyes as he spoke. He thought this was funny.

"This isn't physical hunger, Kamaria." He knew my name. He knew who I was.

"If this isn't creepy, I don't know what else is. You seem to have been watching me."

"I know everything about the spirits I have stabbed."

“Good then… Then you should know that I have important business to take care of.” I said while trying to stand up. His hand touched my shoulder, gently he pulled me back. Well, I had to find another opportunity to go away.

"What do you want?"

"Eat, already. If it was me, I wouldn't have to be told twice. Don't you think I'm also hungry?"

"I won’t!"

"Then you die, and you might as well kiss your dad goodbye." He sure did know everything. I took a berry, slowly placing it in my mouth.

The berry sat in between my top and bottom teeth. I was hesitating to cut through the round fruit. It was like taking a poison willingly. I allowed my teeth to cut through the berry, the bitter juice filled my mouth with every bite.

"It's bitter at first but it gets better." He said. The sour taste had almost disappeared and was replaced by a honeyed taste.

" The bitter taste prevents people and animals from feeding on this." He pointed at the berries on my lap. I threw in one berry after the other, before I knew it there was nothing left on the leaf.

"What's this?"

"Honestly, I don't know but I know you needed to be fed this." I was overwhelmed with a strange energy, it was almost inhuman. It was time to make my escape.

“You are not going to let me go?”

“I can’t until your soul is in this sword, you are bind to me. I can smell you from far. I’ll have visions of you… I can’t let you go.” He was one dramatic guy but there was a stern expression on his face that told me that this was no joke.

“You won’t stop until I’m dead, you mean?”

"I think dead is a bit harsh. Let's go with asleep." He nodded slightly. I stood up, dusting myself off. I still had my warrior attire on. I touched my boots to feel if my knife was still placed there… It wasn’t. I smiled slightly, straightening up.

"Who are you? Besides this spirit hunter slash witch hunter nonsense." He looked at me with a gentle smile for the first time.

“I ask myself the same question."He sighed before continuing.

"But I know a lot about you.” He winked at me making me frowned, I kicked the leaf with what was left of what I was eating. It was a playful kick. He was still sitting down with his hands against his bare chest.

" Don't stare too hard, your eyes may burst." He opened his eyes. I tried not looking but the sword attached to his belt caught my eyes from time to time… Maybe I should have this.

“So when are you going to kill me? Plus isn’t that sword heavy?”

“Do you remember what you said yesterday?” He was back at it again. He knew how fast that question would shut me up. I didn't want to think about yesterday night... It wasn't me. It was all a dream.

“Didn’t say anything,” I said sharply.

“Yeah you did, you flew me across the sand, and yes you did.”

“I didn’t! “This time I kicked him in his jaw. His head hit the trees with a thud, he seemed to have a thick skull, he tried standing up but I saw that coming as well. I swept him off his feet, he grabbed mine and pulled it so that I would fall. I came falling with a punch aimed at his bony cheek. He recovered faster than I expected and pinned me against the ground. Another kick between his legs did the trick. He coiled up with a powerful groan. I picked up his sword that had fallen.

"Maybe your soul should be in here." I took it out of the scabbard, drove it through the air to cut through his back. His last scream jarred on my ears.

He was silenced forever. I took the sword and the horse. I was back at business again.