Aleister Khalifa (2)

A hush fell over the town as the confrontation between Sebastian and Aleister escalated. People whispered among themselves, uncertain but intrigued. The two men faced each other, their aura clashing like fire and ice.

One of Aleister's men suddenly drew his weapon, ready to strike, but before anything could happen, Sebastian turned to his sister.

"Run home!" he commanded. "Get what we came for and go straight back. Do not stop for anything."

Petrova hesitated for only a moment, her heart racing. She had seen her brother fight before, but this was different.

Aleister's deep, commanding voice cut through the air. "She's not leaving until I say so."

Sebastian stepped forward, his voice sharp like a blade. "She is not your servant. She does not answer to you. Let her go, and we will settle this as men should."

Petrova took a step back, preparing to run, but one of Aleister's men grabbed her wrist.

That was his biggest mistake.

Before anyone could react, Sebastian lunged forward, punching the man with the strength of a lion. Blood splattered from the man's nose as he staggered backward, releasing Petrova in the process.

The crowd gasped.

Angry and humiliated, the man reached for his pistol, but Sebastian was faster. In a blink, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it violently, and slammed him to the ground. The man let out a strangled cry before collapsing unconscious.

Aleister watched in silent amazement.

For a moment, he simply stared at Sebastian, as if reevaluating him. Then, without warning, he ordered his men, "Seize him!"

Sebastian smirked. He knew that fighting all of them at once in the open streets would be foolish. So instead, he did the one thing they wouldn't expect—

He ran.

With lightning-fast speed, he sprinted through the streets, his coat billowing behind him. He could hear Aleister's furious voice shouting, "Bring him back alive! His death should be public!"

The pounding footsteps of armed men followed him, chasing him through the winding paths of Blackwood. But Sebastian had a plan. He wasn't running out of fear—he was leading them into his domain.

The moment his boots hit the forest floor, Sebastian felt at home. The trees whispered their welcome, the shadows embraced him.

He stopped running and turned, a chilling smile on his lips.

Perfect.

Aleister's men slowed, laughing mockingly.

"Tired already, boy?" one sneered. "Come with us. Aleister is waiting."

Sebastian tilted his head. "Aleister? Who is this man you speak of? Is he a god?"

The men bristled at his mockery. One of them raised his pistol, aiming for Sebastian's leg.

"Enough talking. Let's take him back—"

Before the man could pull the trigger, Sebastian moved like a ghost.

In one swift motion, he dodged the shot, drew his own pistol, and fired.

A loud bang echoed through the forest. The man fell dead on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

The remaining men were stunned. For a moment, no one moved. Then, rage took over.

"Kill him!"

Bullets tore through the air, but Sebastian was a hunter before he was a warrior. He ducked behind trees, moving with calculated precision. Each shot he fired met its mark.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Four skilled gunmen fell one after the other. The last one standing was just a boy, barely a man, his hands shaking as he looked around at the bodies of his fallen comrades.

Sebastian stepped forward, his gun lowered. "What's your name?"

The boy swallowed hard, his lips trembling. "G-George."

Sebastian nodded. "Nice name." Then, his voice hardened. "Who is Aleister?"

George hesitated before whispering, "Aleister is the son of Khalifa."

Sebastian felt his blood turn cold.

Khalifa. The man who stole his father's mansion. The man who caused his family to live in hiding.

Sebastian's fingers tightened around his pistol. He wanted blood.

But he wasn't foolish. Not yet.

He stared down at George. "Run back to Aleister. Tell him this—he should always watch his back."

George nodded frantically, stumbling as he turned and ran.

Sebastian watched him disappear into the darkness before gathering the weapons of the fallen men. He had no intention of wasting them.

By the time Sebastian returned home, Petrova had already told their father everything.

Sir Frederick sat by the fire, listening as his son laid the pistols before him.

Sebastian met his father's gaze, his voice filled with determination. "I have finally killed a man."

Sir Frederick chuckled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "That is part of the journey, my son."

Sebastian gave a brave smile, his heart hardening. He knew this was only the beginning.

Meanwhile, back in Blackwood, Aleister sat in silence as George told him everything.

The room was deadly quiet.

Aleister clenched his fists. "So... Sir Frederick truly has a son."

That night, Khalifa couldn't sleep. He had ruled for years without fear, but now—

Now, the storm was coming.

And Sebastian was leading it.

Carolina sat by the fireplace in their small cottage, gently brushing Petrova's hair. The warm glow of the fire flickered across their faces, filling the room with a sense of comfort.

"So, tell me," Carolina said softly. "What did you see today?"

Petrova hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Mother, the town was... different from what I imagined. People moved about, busy with their lives, buying and selling as if nothing else mattered." She looked down at her hands. "At first, I was excited, but then… things changed."

She recounted the terrifying encounter with Aleister and his men, her voice trembling slightly. "I was so afraid. I thought we wouldn't make it home."

Carolina's grip on her daughter's hand tightened reassuringly. "You're safe now," she whispered. "That's what matters."

Meanwhile, in the next room, Sabastin lay on his small bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. His mind replayed the events of the day—his confrontation with Aleister, the fight, the chase, and the first life he had taken.

He knew one thing for certain—there was no turning back now. The battle between him and Aleister had begun. The line had been drawn.