BRAND IN BLOOD

Her mind was hazy as she could smell the sickly sweet smell of blood envelope her in an odd sense of warmth and satisfaction.

It coated her lips and seeped into the spaces between her teeth, saturating every breath she took with the scent of copper, iron and something richer.

Her body trembled gently, still locked in the position where she had collapsed, her knees pressing against cold, unfeeling stone while the priestess lay motionless beneath her.

Crystal stared at the room that blurred and swayed before her eyes in confusion as she tried to process what she had just done.

Slowly, she sat up and blinked at the woman that was once underneath her and full of life,

Her mind screamed at her to look away, but her body refused to obey, like it always did.

She had fed.

Her stomach twisted and her hands were shaking and slick with red.

Her fingers dug into the earth as she trembled all over, trying to tear herself away from the truth of her horrible deed.

Saint was there.

He always there.

As a shadow standing above her, his presence was an overpowering weight, a force pressing down on her even though he hadn't even touched her.

At least, not yet.

The silver of his eyes glinted with an unblinking and unreadable quality while his mouth curled; not into a smirk, not quite.

Something softer.

Something worse.

Crystal willed herself to recoil, to move, to do anything, as long as she escaped from the clutches of his wickedness.

But when her gaze met his, everything inside her went silent and she calmed instantly as if she had not just taken the life of one of her own.

Saint's motions were fluid and predatory as he crouched before her, peering into her face curiously as if seeing her in a new light.

"Good girl." He whispered as a bloodstained tip of his golden jewelry traced her chin, tilting her face upward.

Two words.

A quiet murmur, almost affectionate.

She flinched as though he had struck her but it wasn't out of fear; she was only surprised at the tone of his voice.

She looked up at him as her eyes welled up with tears, although, she was unsure of why she was about to cry,

Was it because of the life she had taken or the resentment she had for herself even after he had put her through so much pain and she couldn't still find it in her to attack him?

His thumb brushed her cheek, smearing the blood there in slow, deliberate strokes.

The tender warmth he exuded at this moment threatened Crystal to fall into his arms and sob till she had no more tears left to cry,

"You're sad," he observed, tilting his head innocently.

His tone was not cruel. If anything, he sounded like a curious child. As if she were some puzzle he was enjoying piecing together.

Crystal wanted to spit in his face. To scream. To deny.

She wanted to tell him how much she hated him and how she would kill him the moment he turned his back.

But the warmth still coiled in her belly.

The power still thrummed through her veins.

Saint chuckled, the sound of his voice came out soft and perceptive as he whispered; "You'll be fine."

His fingers ghosted over the torn fabric of her robes, the movement of his hand was slow and unhurried as his eyes remained trained on hers.

Watching and waiting for her reaction,

When he was sure she didn't pull away, the cloth easily gave way beneath his grip.

The air struck the skin of her shoulder, cool and sharp. Crystal twisted, instinct demanding that she recoiled, but Saint was already moving, his hands steady as they pressed her down.

"I'm not going to hurt you, warrior." His voice, a whisper of silk over steel. "This is for your own good"

"Crystal" she whispered, her voice coming out as a breathy and choked gasp,

He raised a questioning eyebrow at her as his hand stilled, hovering over her soot stained skin.

"My name... Is Crystal" She whispered as she gazed into his silver eyes.

He stared at her pensively, his gaze unblinking as he seemed to process her words, trying to see if there was any ulterior motive hiding beneath her actions.

"I don't like that name" He grumbled as her eyes caught the metallic glint of a dagger in his palm, the impossibly sharp edge glittered in the ray of moonlight that streamed out from one of the windows in the imposing hall.

He dragged the tip along her collarbone, a slow, deliberate stroke, "Eve" he mumbled as she shivered.

"What?" She whispered, momentarily distracted from the sting of the blade in her skin.

"I prefer Eve... Do you like Eve?" He asked as he carved her flesh.

"Eve?" Crystal whispered as she flinched slightly when the blade pressed into her flesh again,

"Yes" he whispered as he concentrated on whatever he was imprinting into her skin.

"That's a cursed name, we're not allowed to bear that" she mumbled.

"Will you bear it for me?" He breathed as he took the sharp tip of the knife out of her skin,

Crystal gasped.

The feeling that shot through her was more than just pain, it felt as though her body was set on fire and her bones were slowly grinding to dust,

The sigil bloomed, inked in her own blood.

A brand of his claim on her,

And then,

It burned.

A wildfire of magic ignited beneath her skin, twisting into something unbearable.

Her pulse faltered, then staggered, her entire body convulsing as the invisible weight tossed her towards the floor,

Saint caught her in his arms easily as she sucked in a ragged breath, her hand grabbed onto the lapels of his coat as an anchor while her mind splintered beneath the unbearable sensation of belonging.

"What have you done to me?" She whispered in a faint voice as dark spots clouded her vision.

"Oh, my dear Eve."