Chapter 11 A Taste Of Blood
A Taste Of Blood
Ibarely registered the carriage rolling away as it creaked back down the dirt path and back toward Veranda. I only had eyes for the looming mountain towering before me.
The sun blinded me as my gaze rose toward the onyx peak, but two happy hisses anchored me back to the task at hand.
My snakes’ weight against my arms and shoulders reminded me of why I was here, while they enjoyed basking in Ashivire’s stifling heat. Even though I was eager to slay some rebels, I allowed Ember and Dante to enjoy the sun for a few more moments.
Considering they were going to help me kill some traitors, it was the least I could reward them with.
“You are certain the rebels will make their ascent to Morotis today?” I glanced sideways at Landon while stroking a finger along Ember’s scales.
He gave me an irritated look, the one he reserved for whenever I doubted him.
For Serpent’s Sake, what was wrong with me?
My bodyguard’s voice brought me back to scanning the trails instead of reveling in his minute quirks. “That is what I gathered from my trip—they are around here somewhere.”
There were only two pathways leading to Morotis: one was an easier trek, but it took double the amount of time to ascend its winding curves.
Although the other pathway was faster, the climb was extremely steep and much more difficult.
My gaze drew toward the fresh coat of dirt lingering along that trail.
I moved closer, and knelt down, examining it.
It made sense that the rebels would take the harder route, for they wanted to speak to the Serpent King as soon as possible.
“They went this way,” I said, showing my bodyguard what I’d found.
Landon nodded his clear agreement. “Your tracking skills are impressive.”
I smirked at him. “Of course they are. Now, let’s go.”
I took off down the path, the dirt trail swiftly turning to stone with each grueling step up the mountain. My bodyguard quickly caught up with me, moving to flank my right side. Our footsteps were light and in sync as we ascended the path, bracing ourselves for the battle ahead.
This was not the first time Landon and I would fight together, just the two of us, nor would it be the last.
Up and up we went, blisters forming as the steep climb carried us further away from the clear blue skies and into a sheet of grey. Although my immortal healing quickly stitched my torn skin back together, the vicious cycle repeated itself with every daunting step.
I silently cursed myself for my unwavering love to kill in heels.
Landon’s voice broke the silence, offering a distraction from my bothersome feet.
“Did you enjoy last night?” He glanced out of the corner of his eye at me.
“Hm?”
He gave me that look again. “Last night, under the stars? You truly have nothing to say about it?”
“What is there to say? I drank a ton of liquor. Quite frankly, I don’t even remember how I got back to my tent.”
There was a heavy pause before Landon let out a strained whisper.
“I carried you.”
My steps nearly faltered, but I caught myself and continued onward.
“You fell asleep in my arms after . . .” His eyes shot to the gloomy sky. “After you rode me.” Letting out an exasperated sigh, he fully turned to face me. “You honestly don’t remember?”
I hummed while I searched through the drunken fog clouding my brain from remembering the events of last night.
Glimpses of stars and soft kisses that turned wild.
Soft lips upon my cheeks . . .
Did Landon really kiss away my tears?
I swallowed the discomfort knotting in my throat at how vulnerable I allowed myself to be around my bodyguard in my drunken stupor.
However, one night of vulnerability couldn’t undo the years of brutality I presided over as the Serpent Queen.
There was no way I would admit my feelings in the light of the day, let alone sober, so I stopped and stared at him with a bored look of indifference.
“No, I don’t remember,” I offered, but my lie didn’t roll off my tongue as easily as all others did. Instead, it left a rather sour taste in my mouth.
His brows knitted as his eyes fell, never returning to meet mine for the rest of our trek. We shared no more words either. Instead, I was forced to inhale Landon’s annoyance the entire time, and something else, something I couldn’t easily decipher . . .
It was better this way, to keep a divide between us.
I was not meant to live a life of stolen kisses underneath the stars.
I was meant to live a life of bloodshed and destruction.
Boots crunching against gravel sounded ahead, and I slammed my hand against Landon’s chest, halting him. My bodyguard may have years of training in combat, but my immortal senses would always surpass his abilities.
Landon eyed me as I closed my eyes to zone in on the footsteps—one, two, three, four, five. I raised a hand at Landon, and he nodded in understanding. The final thing to do was send a command through the bond to my snakes, who were still clinging to my arms like a second skin.
Five around the bend. Ready to have some fun?
Excited hisses rang through my head, making me smirk at my snakes.
Before we rounded the last bend separating us from the rebels, Dante lunged off my arm and slithered along the onyx stone mountain.
His dark body blended in seamlessly with the landscape, and I steadied my hand onto the hilts of my daggers, allowing a sense of calm to wash over me.
We had the upper hand, for I was most likely the only one to ever ascend this mountain.
With Landon and my serpents beside me, I was unstoppable.
I smelt the rebels' sweat a moment before I saw them, their exhausted bodies trudging slowly as they panted for air.
For Serpent’s Sake, was it too hard to wish for somewhat of a challenge?
Landon’s hand drifted to the hilt of his sword, his tell he was ready for the fight to come.
It was showtime.
“What do we have here?” I purred, making the group jump.
The men quickly whirled toward us, simultaneously drawing their weapons. Only a few feet separated my bodyguard and I from the traitors permeating in a cloud of hate. The shortest of the group lifted his battle axe, pointing it directly at me.
I tsked while wagging a finger at him like a bad dog. “Is that any way to greet your Queen?”
The man spat on the ground, then zoned in on me with his beady eyes. “You are not my Queen.”
I pouted as I looked down at the spitball on the ground, then back at him. “Well, that was rude.”
He puffed his chest, clearly satisfied with his foul actions, and his pathetic companions raised their weapons in solidarity. Ember’s hiss filled the tense silence crackling between us, but I continued to assess the rebels who stared at us like the villains we were.
I smelt each one, quickly noting the smoke and ash radiating off them—their pure hatred suffocating my lungs while they glared at me like I was a monster with two heads.
Well, then. I suppose it was time to show them how much of a monster I truly was.
I did not hide my deep inhale, allowing their hatred to seep into the void in my chest. Their potent emotions rejuvenated me for the bloody dance that was about to commence.
“Since I am a fair queen, I will ask the rest of you if you, too, share the same sentiment as this dunce.” I pointed a sharp nail at the short man, making him growl in response to my insult.
The men scoffed at the fact I even had to ask, but they all muttered their agreement.
“What a pity. Looks like I will have to execute every last one of you then for breaking commandments one and three.” I glanced between the traitors. “Who wants to die first?”
A man with greasy hair standing in the middle of the bunch began to quake, his sword quivering in the air. At last, I caught a whiff of fear drifting from the pathetic group.
I devoured the scent, savoring the bitter taste dancing across my tastebuds. However, my feasting on their emotions was halted when the tallest of the men looked down his nose at me with disgust.
“We didn’t break your commandments, for those two lines state do not disrespect nor cross your Queen. Yet, you forgot that we do not consider you to be our Queen.” He spat on the stone, and I felt a bit of his putrid bodily liquid spray against my ankle.
I swallowed my anger, instead covering it up with an insidious laugh that echoed off the mountain. “If you are born in the mortal lands, I am your Queen.” I pouted my lip, giving him a once over glance. “Or are you too dense to understand such simple concepts?”
The man’s jaw slackened briefly before he snapped it closed, lifting his sword as a fresh wave of anger speared into my chest.
Looks like we were done talking then.
A wicked smile plastered upon my lips, and I had no need to reach for my daggers because I had a far more deadly weapon.
I watched with delight as Dante leapt off the sharp rock right beside the traitor, landing atop his shoulders.
The man’s surprised yelp was short-lived as my snake tightly wrapped himself around the peasant’s neck.
Once I saw that his face turned purple from lack of oxygen, I moved my attention to his fellow companions.
Finally, the entire group reeked of fear, and I breathed in their emotions like a starving prisoner, letting each gulp fuel me as I grabbed the dagger attached to my right hip.
With a swift flick of my wrist, it whipped through the air, landing directly in the neck of the rebel who was reaching to tear my snake off his friend.
The traitor’s knees crashed into the stone as he clutched his throat, gasping for breath.
“Who’s next?” I raised my hands in a grand gesture, adrenaline pounding through my veins.
Another man ran toward me with unnerving speed, but Landon moved quicker. My bodyguard flew in front of me, blocking the rebel’s killing blow. Their swords tangled together like two lovers. I let the sounds of battle float through me, the melody beautiful and enchanting.