Chapter 33: Euphoria

Anel didn't answer but he felt the pull of her Arkana, controlled, sharper, Stronger.

His vision blurred but he could still see Peter struggling in the grasp of the players, his screams were dull, Rylan could focus on nothing as the pain inflicted by the dagger burned through him. His gaze swept over the crowd frantically till it landed on Jakob.

“Fuckkkk.” He cursed weakly, he'd realized too late to do anything about it. With a palm on his shoulder, Anel guided his weakend form to his knees as Jakob walked to his front and squatted to his level.

“For what it's worth.” Jakob said quietly as he placed a palm on Rylan's head and recreated the action he'd done earlier on Peter. “I really did hope you could be one of my people…” his voice dropped deathly low as he said the next word. “....Willingly.” He rose and turned to the players. “Take the kid!” The order sounded through the settlement and the players reacted, lifting Peter up and dragging him towards a cluster of tents at the far corner. Rylan could feel his knees getting soaked by his own blood as he prayed for someone to act, someone to do something to stop Jakob from laying a finger on the boy, someone to save them, but not a soul moved from their place, No one was going to save them.

A powerful wave of dread washed over Rylan as He remembered the promise he'd made to Peter, to get him somewhere safe, to protect him, he'd failed, All he could do was watch as he got dragged away, his screams getting farther and farther away just as Rylan's body was giving out, this wasn't normal, he'd been stabbed before and although the pain was just as unbearable, he'd never felt this weak this fast before which meant that Anel had probably coated the blade with poison as an insurance.

“Peter has nothing to do with this—let him go.” Rylan said weakly.

“Is that really what you think?” Jakob said, a tone like he'd just been insulted, he leaned in, close enough for Rylan to feel his breath. “His existence will forever be a stain on your progress. He needs to be culled.”

“Pussy move.” Rylan spat, a grin making it's way onto his features, an effort at portraying strength, but the perspiration that had formed on his forehead and shallow depth of each breath he took gave away his actual condition.

“Wow. That woulda put a donkey down, but here you are, hanging on.” Jakob flashed a grin that made Rylan's stomach sink. “I knew I ain't make a mistake.”

“I'll never…be….one of your men.” Rylan said in between pointless breaths.

“Let me tell you somethin. Once upon a time Dogs were savage creatures, but after selective breeding, training, taming, feeding and care they became domesticated, Now we call em man's best friend, Pets.” His voice dropped. “Everything I want, I get and right now, I want a new pet.”

“Rot in hell…. Prick.” Rylan cussed weakly as blood poured out through the corners of his mouth. Jakob didn't respond, all he did was turn his gaze to Anel and stand to his feet. A devilish smile curved her small lips as she twisted the blade inside him.

A tortured scream tore throug Rylan, Anel pulled an inch of the blade out, forced it back in and twisted again. The scream stopped in his throat as he choked on his own blood, Anel was about to repeat the action but Jakob stopped her, she sulked, like he had stopped her from playing with her favorite toy.

“How long do you think you can last Rylan?”

He didn't respond, she twisted again, his body shook wildly but there was no scream, just a choked sound that escaped him.

“Permission to—” She didn't get a chance to ask the question before she was interrupted by mumbling sounds coming from Rylan. She paused and shifted for Jakob who leaned down so he could hear him clearer.

“Touch a hair on the boy's body and….I'll kill you.”

A chuckle escaped Jakob as he heard the words.

“Threats wont—” grating pain erupted from his left ear as Rylan's teeth dug roughly into the cartilage, he grinded and tore Jakob's ear off his head, Jakob's scream was deafening as he fell backwards, Anel moved immediately, catching him before he fell. She placed a hand over the actively bleeding tear as Jakob's writhed on the ground. She shot Rylan a glare that promised retaliation but as if fate was on his side, Peter burst through the tents running, one player hot on his tail while the other limped behind them, He'd managed to get away, an opportunity and Rylan wasn't one to miss opportunities.

\[Mothlight Activated\]

In a flash of bright yellow light he'd covered the distance between he and Peter, picked him up and layed out the players chasing him. His skin sizzled, the burning sensation of the mothlight spreading through him with every passing second but he gritted his teeth and took the pain.

Anel turned to them but before she could even leave her position, Rylan had already left their sights. She hesitated for a second until…..

“FOLLOW THEM!!!!?” Jakob screamed an order, Every player still on the walls leaped down and ran after Rylan with Jakob and Anel leading the charge. Rylan had underestimated how effective the mothlight would be, which meant his body was now basically a wrecking ball smashing through the walls and bursting into the forest.

“Shit—” he cursed, protecting Peter with his body as they crashed into the floor. “Are you good?” He asked, but before Peter could nod a confirmation Anel jumped through the opening they had created.

“Fuck.” Rylan jumped to his feet, pushing Peter behind him. “Stay as close to me as possible.”

She didn't move, she stood at the opening, cold unforgiven eyes fixed on him, She took a step forward just as Jakob came out, fresh blood streaking down the side of his face and staining his cloth, a bow and arrow in hand but the thing that stood out most was the expression he held, one word came to Rylan's mind as he stared at the bloody man, Euphoria.