29. Meera

"This can't be how things end!" I run into the mansion, driven by a deep desire to do something that will help Kavian.

Come on, think! There must be something in here that will prove useful…

A memory jumps into my mind. Kavian once showed me his armory, proud of the many beautiful weapons stored in glass cabinets and displayed on the walls.

I rush to the armory, frustrated with my body which seems to move at a snail"s pace. I hurry down hallways and past rooms, running so fast that I'm barely breathing.

As I turn a corner, I nearly collide with someone. Narrowly avoiding knocking the person over, I bring myself to a stop.

"What is happening out there?" Korval looks concerned and scared.

"We're under attack. It's Gorran. Call for help and a healer. Kavian's been injured." I yell at him, already running off again in search of a weapon.

I finally reach the room I'm looking for and slam the door open, my eyes scanning it for a good weapon.

The walls are lined with huge swords and shields, nothing I could ever hope to wield. There's a giant crossbow mounted above a set of arrows and I sigh. There's no way I could even pick that one up.

My eyes fall on something dark green to my right. A deadly spear with a gleaming dagger tip.

"Ah! Just what I need!"

I grab the spear, finding it to be surprisingly light despite looking lethal. It's made of a shiny type of metal that doesn't weigh much.

I lightly toss it in the air with one hand, catching it again to test how it would feel as I wield it.

Not bad. It's clearly a good weapon but not too heavy for me. This thing can help me save Kavian's life.

I turn the spear so I can closely inspect the tip. I run a finger along its edge and quickly withdraw when it cuts through my skin.

"Ow! Fuck." I grin. "This is perfect."

Armed with a deadly weapon now, I rush back outside with renewed energy and hope.

I'll kill Gorran myself! I'll end that bastard's life today.

I exit the mansion to see Gorran on top of Kavian, beating him mercilessly. Forming a half-circle around him are his henchmen, all cheering him on.

Kavian is trying to fight back, but it looks like he's overpowered. Gorran is big and his attacks are laser-focused. He's clearly intent on beating Kavian to death.

I want to scream out Kavian's name, but something in me compels me to be quiet.

You need the element of surprise or you'll fail at catching Gorran off guard. Stay focused, Meera, no matter what happens.

I sneak towards the small trio of xaphan, who are so captivated by the fight that they don't even notice me.

Good. I can't afford to be distracted now.

Gorran is with his back to the mansion and can't see me. He's got Kavian pinned down, his fists connecting with the demon's face repeatedly and brutally.

My heart breaks to see Kavian like that, bloodied and near defeat.

No, you can't die! I won't let you!

I push through the small crowd, nimbly making my way to where Kavian lies, Gorran cackling triumphantly.

My love, please, hold on.

Slowly, carefully, I walk closer, turning the spear in my hand so the tip's pointed at my enemy's back.

Now that I'm closer, the sight before me is a horrifying one. Although Gorran is injured and bleeding, Kavian is in a worse state. His face is bruised and swollen, blood streaming out of his nose and down his mouth and neck.

Seeing him like that makes my blood boil. I've never hated anyone like I hate Gorran right now.

I pull the spear back and storm forward, a guttural scream erupting from my chest, my eyes blurry with tears.

With a satisfying but sickly sound, the spear enters his back.

Gorran screams in surprise and pain, arching his back in an effort to get away from my weapon.

I put my full body weight and the momentum of my run into my attack, driving the spear even further into his back.

"What the fuck?" Gorran tries to turn but I yank the spear out of him, my stomach turning when I see flesh and blood spraying from his wound.

It's not enough. This won't kill him. I need to attack him again.

I pull back and stab him again, and again, and again.

His blood spurts out on the ground and all over me but I don't stop. I can feel the wetness of his blood as it drips from my face onto the ground.

I notice that the crowd of xaphan has gone quiet and I look up at them, daring them to approach me and save their leader.

None of them step forward, their faces filled with a mixture of awe, fear, and anger.

"You want some of this?" I yell, pulling the spear from Gorran's back.

They collectively take a step back, giving each other looks of trepidation. Slowly, they start walking away, not interested in getting involved.

"Fucking cowards!"

I look down at Gorran, who has started stirring at my feet. He reaches for me as if he could do anything with his back, such a bloody mess of pierced skin and crushed bone.

"You. Don't even think of coming closer." I bend down, sitting on my haunches, looking into his pitiful eyes.

These same eyes looked on with pleasure when humans were tortured and killed. These eyes watched gleefully as he tried to kill Kavian just now.

"I ought to rip out your disgusting eyes and feed them to you. I should tear out your tongue and slice off your fingers one by one."

A sadistic desire to really hurt this creature washes over me. I want to make him pay.

Kavian lifts his head, looking in our direction. "Kill him, Meera. End our fight here and now." His voice is hoarse and cracks as he speaks.

I nod, understanding that I shouldn't draw out the fight more than necessary. I use the spear to push myself to my feet.

Looking down at Gorran with nothing but disdain, I raise the spear high above my head. "It ends tonight." I bring down the weapon with a loud cry, pushing it into his back as deep as I can.

Gorran screams out in pain, blood bursting from his mouth. "You… you bitch!" His words are punctuated by red bubbles and spit.

I rip the spear from his body and turn away. With the spear still in my hand, blood dripping from the blade, I walk over to Kavian.

I kneel down and put down the weapon. Ignoring the blood on my own hands, I caress his face. "Are you okay? Where does it hurt? I'm sure Korval's already arranged for a healer."

Kavian takes my hand in his, smiling. His face is colored with pain and I can see in his eyes that he's feeling the aftermath of Gorran's attack. "I'm going to be fine. Thank you. You're so brave."

I hear a rustling noise behind me but before I can turn around a big hand closes around my neck from behind.

"Did you really think I'd be that easy to kill? You can't be serious. I'm fucking Gorran! I don't just die like that at the hand of a fucking human!"

I try to reach behind me to free myself but it's in vain. Gorran has me in a deadly grip.

Kavian pushes himself off the ground, shakily standing up. "Let her go!" His voice is weak.

Gorran bursts into laughter, coughing in between breaths. "No fucking way. This bitch thought she could kill me. I will finish her off personally." He throws me to the ground and I hit the ground with a loud thud, the air knocked out of my lungs.

"You bastard!" Kavian screams—a horrifying sound that turns into a howl of anger.

He storms at Gorran and knocks him off his feet. I can hear the blows landing on Gorran's face and body, the demon on top of him punching anywhere he can get an opening.

With a grunt, Gorran pushes Kavian off, rolling on top of him.

I stumble to my feet, unsteady and woozy, but determined to help Kavian.

Gorran's claws wrap around Kavian's neck, dead set on snuffing out his life.

No! I can't let this happen!

I look around for anything that can help and my eyes fall on the bloody spear. I swoop it up and charge at Gorran once again.

This time I aim higher and impale his head with the tip of the spear. A sickening crunching sound can be heard as the blade pierces his skull. The trio of xaphans who accompanied him here hiss and mumble things under their breath. They begin their retreat, staring at the bloodied corpse that was once their leader.

Kavian rolls out from under Gorran, who is on his knees, his hands feebly trying to reach for the spear in his head.

I push down harder, driving the spear through his head and into the ground.

With a low grunt of pain, Gorran's arms go limp. He remains in a kneeling position, held up by the spear like a macabre xaphan tent.

I stand frozen, my hands still on the spear until I hear Kavian next to me.

"Meera…" I look up at him immediately.

"Kavian!" I let go of the spear and rush over to him. He embraces me, a big, bloody smile on his face.

Gently pushing me away, Kavian looks into my eyes. "That was amazing."

Although the realization that I killed someone is sinking in, I feel no regret. Gorran was a filthy bastard and deserved a worse death than I gave him.

I look into Kavian's eyes. "We don't have to fight anymore. It's over."

His eyes shine brightly. "It is. And our lives together are just beginning."