by J Chen
I felt the man's hands as they climbed up my thigh, his hot breath at my ear but my heart and body yearned only for Octavian. I pushed him away gently, intent on seeking my answers and finding out more about the woman that Genevieve had loved.
The two shared a look but remained quiet, but a moment later the one across from me got up from the booth and exited out of sight. I turned to watch him go, noticing that I had drawn more attention than I had intended, as each and every set of eyes in the tiny room were focused entirely on me.
Octavian.
My mind called to him in a moment of pure fear, but I knew he was fast asleep and would not be my salvation from this error of my own making. The twin who had remained next to me was regarding me strangely when I turned my attention back to him, until I felt the tip of the blade pressing against my side and the smirk that suddenly replaced his confusion.
I had fallen into a trap.
“I can't imagine why the heir of The Hammer would be rendered so ineffectual. A waste, really.”
Octavian's harsh words came flooding back to me, and I knew I had to prove him wrong. My father had indeed trained me, even though he had never told me the specifics as to why.
“Imagine you were trapped in a narrow pit with blades pressing into you on either side. How would you escape, Laszlo?”
I remember contemplating the question carefully, though every answer I had brought forth ended only in me accepting my death. I felt defeated, feeling that there would be no easy answer.
“Let yourself be defeated, Laszlo. Let yourself fall onto the blade at your back, if only to allow yourself enough room to bend the blades that are in front of you. One injury is better than a hundred. You would still have a chance to fight.”
I remembered how quickly the wound Octavian had rendered to my side had healed, and how my broken bones had mended even quicker still in the height of danger. I looked at the man who held me hostage against the wooden booth, plunging my body against the blade and effectively disarming him.
As his eyes grew wide with confusion, I removed the blade he had so carelessly discarded from my side, plunging it into his neck as he screamed out a choked cry. I swallowed and willed my heartbeat to slow; feeling panic and terror trying to take over my heart and weaken my escape. I had never taken a life before.
Pushing his now limp form from my side, I was on my feet just as the second twin returned to find his brother fallen; his scream of anguish propelling my feet forward as I dodged the Austrian guards he had fetched in order to detain me and escaped into the packed and busy streets.
Narrowly avoiding the feet of a stallion, and the wheels of it's following wagon, I knew I had to escape my pursuers as quickly as I could. The narrow streets hindered my escape, however and I could not move fast enough in order to evade their sights.
I cursed my luck, until I remembered another one of my father's lessons; one where high ground had been the only advantage. I looked around me, realizing that if I could only find an alleyway in order to move undetected for a moment to the roof I would be able to escape. Finally catching a break, I was seconds ahead of them as I ducked into the dead end street; realizing that there was no way that I would be able to climb the smooth, high walls. My heart sank, but I had no time to dwell on my fear.
I remembered being locked in a room by my father; a room without windows and doors. A room without light and air. I panicked and screamed then, begging him to release me, only to hear his voice on the outside.
“If you want to leave the room, you have to try. Screaming and begging and waiting for death is never an answer for a Varga. In the dark, your hands are your eyes. Let them be your tools as well.”
I had gotten to my feet in the dark chamber, hands in front of me and searching the walls for an exit; pushing and scratching at them until the wall in front of me suddenly opened. I had found a cleverly hidden release; one that I would not have been able to locate had I not simply tried.
In the empty alleyway I brought my hands against the walls; beating and striking them, but finding no way out. Scratching at the walls in frustration, I found the nails on my hands clung fast, pulling them back to see long, curved claws where my fingernails had been. Looking up at the high, smooth walls I knew it was the only answer.
I clawed my way up in the nick of time, disappearing over the rooftop just as the guards made their way into the empty alley, uncertain as to where I could have gone though I did not stick around long enough for them to find me. I knew Octavian and I were in danger, and though I did not know what the Austrians wanted with us, I also knew if had to concern Genevieve. If only I had been able to find Zsofia...
The sun was setting fast, and though it would be useful in our escape, I knew it would also cause difficulties if I couldn't find Octavian, as I did not know my way around the vast city. Rushing into the cabin on the ship, I yelled for Octavian to wake, only to find that he too had left the cabin some time after I did. Was he out there looking for me?
I reasoned that it was more likely that he had been looking for clues about Genevieve just as I had, cursing my luck and leaving the small room; grabbing what little belongings Octavian had left behind. His black satchel was surprisingly heavy, and I opened it to see that it held a variety of deadly weapons; some of which I had never seen the likes of before.
“Don't get on his bad side, Laszlo.”
I exited the ship to see that guards were already making their way on board, and I had no choice but to take to the other side and make my escape by water. I worried that the heaviness of Octavian's satchel would weigh me down, but something in me knew I could not leave it behind.
The water was a frigid cold that instantly weakened my limbs, and I found myself sinking below the surface, struggling to keep my head above the water, but I held tightly onto the satchel and stabilized myself with my free hand. I could hear a commotion above me, and as I looked up I saw Octavian, his eyes on me as another shape appeared behind him.
“Octavian! Behind you!”
I called out my warning too late, and Marius struck; his weapon running the Assassin through before he was pushed unceremoniously into the murky water below. I noticed that Marius too seemed to fall in unison, and I wondered if perhaps Octavian had gotten a blow in before he fell. I dove into the water quickly, the satchel still around my neck as I swam to where he began to sink below the surface, only to realize that he was bleeding profusely from a large gash in his head as well.
Unconscious, I worried that he would not heal himself fast enough, and I struggled to take him into my arms, the heavy bag making it impossible to do so. I had to make a choice; to drop the only weapons and money that we had, or to leave Octavian to his fate. I cursed him again; releasing the weighty bag against my every instinct and reaching for the injured man who had tried to kill me.
Marius was still out of sight, but I was certain we did not have much time, and I struggled to keep my head above water as I held onto his weight, determined to not lose him so soon. He moaned slightly as he began to regain consciousness, and I whispered harshly to him, begging him to wake up and help me.
“Octavian! Please! You have to move your arms! I can't hold onto us both for much longer, I've already had to drop your satchel!”
The sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon, and as the final rays of light left the sky; it became impossible for me to see my way in the unlit water. I did my best to steer us around the wide, wooden ships, trying to find anywhere we could hide or escape from those that pursued us. Eventually, I found a break between the ships, pulling Octavian's still unconscious form from the water and catching my breath as best as I could.
I knew I did not have long to rest, and so I gathered my strength and moved to lift Octavian over my shoulder, only to find him coming too and looking at me in confusion.
“What, what are you doing? Where are we?...where, where's my satchel? I need that satchel!”
I rolled my eyes, trying again to lift Octavian who w
as still dead weight and unable to use his limbs. The gash was healing in front of my eyes, however, and I stared at it agape without realizing it.
“What the hell are you looking at, Varga? Where is my satchel?”
I shook my head and tore my eyes away from the sight of his flesh repairing itself to let him know I didn't have much of a choice other than to let it go. I struggled with my exhaustion as my head sank further than I intended, leaving me sputtering and coughing as I tried to explain myself.
“It was you or the bag, so...”
He stared me down for an uncomfortable moment, almost daring me to open my mouth again.
“I'm going to kill Marius first, and then I'm going to kill you.”
He growled again, grabbing me roughly and pulling me to the dock before turning away in a huff and diving into the black water before I could stop him.
“What the hell?”
I had given up on trying to understand him, instead walking along the dock and peaking around the ship to see the Austrian guards still searching for us, though they were quickly making their way down the dock. We would be spotted if we did not get moving soon.
“Octavian!”
I whispered harshly to the rippling water, knowing he would not hear me but hoping that he would hurry if he could sense my fear and urgency.
“You there!”
Fuck.
I turned to smile sheepishly at the Guards who were now walking towards me on the very narrow dock, my back against the water and them between me and freedom.
And just where the hell was Octavian?
~~
Chapter 6
Just as I was certain I would have to return to the water in order to make my escape, the men in front of me dropped suddenly, struck down from behind by Octavian's sharp blade. Not wanting to know what the consequences were for murdering Royal guards, we didn't want to wait around for more to come or witnesses to appear.
“Let's move, Varga.”
He had his satchel, and as he took off running quickly through the streets, I glanced back to see if we were being followed, only to spot a fast moving shadow pursuing us from the rooftops. Moving faster to catch up to him, I drew his attention to what I had seen, and he gritted his teeth, taking a side street and zigzagging through the town, trying to shake our pursuer.
“Marius. Keep up, if I lose you in the crowds ahead, you'll likely die.”
I caught the words after as he whispered it under his breath, and I realized that the shape I could not seem to recognize was not that of a man, but of a wolf in full sprint; pursuing Octavian and myself with a singular obsession over the rooftops of the city. I was growing tired, falling behind Octavian's pace and worried as I began to lose sight of him through the growing crowds who had gathered to watch an early morning hanging.
“Octavian!”
I called to him, begging him to slow down but he continued on, his speed never falling until I could no longer spot him in the crowd. The faces around me seemed threatening, and I feared everyone who ventured too near as I tried to make my way through the now immovable grouping of bodies.
“Octavian, please! Wait for me!”
I knew I was lost, and had no hope of finding him if he did not return for me, but I pressed forward through the crowd nonetheless. I felt the weight of a heavy hand fall on my shoulder, before nails sunk into flesh and I was yanked backwards into an alleyway; my assailant nowhere to be seen.
A low growl rumbled from somewhere in the dark, menacing, but nowhere near as powerful as Octavian's. I scrambled to my feet and moved quickly back towards the road, only to have my path blocked by a large black wolf, it's silver eyes piercing in the dark. He slowly walked forward, backing me against the wall and cut off from any kind of help.
I was completely on my own.
The wolf shifted, and in its place a man stood; the same man who had stood over me in the road after Genevieve was taken. When he spoke, I quickly realized the voice also belonged to Marius, Octavian's right hand man.
“Laszlo Varga. You should have been dead days ago. At first I couldn't figure out why Octavian wanted you alive, but standing here looking at you; smelling you: it's all beginning to make sense.”
Smelling me?
As if to answer my unspoken question,he sniffed my neck; his stubble grazing over my left shoulder and I pressed myself further against the wall behind me. I willed my heartbeat to slow; fear creeping into every part of me as the older, stronger man made his threat clear.
“You have no idea what you are, Prince, but clearly Octavian does. His scent is already all over you.”
Suddenly he pressed himself against me, and I could feel the hardness of his cock pressing against my belly. I panicked and began to fight, but he held me fast; growling in my ear as he turned me around; pressing my face into the brick wall that was now in front of me.
“If I were to break you; mark you, first... you'd be under my command, Varga. You'd be my mate, my pet, for as long as you live. You're the last royal from that line, and you're still completely untouched. The last alliance to be made amongst our kind will be with you. I won't let that sentimental fool Octavian have it. The Hammer follows you, and they would also follow me.”
He began to tear at my clothes, and I held no doubts about what was about to happen. I cried out and fought all the harder, but he muzzled me with a strong hand across my mouth. I pushed against him with all my might, but he held me fast against the wall. In my mind, I begged for a savior; for some simple soul to happen by and stop this from happening.
“Please, don't do this.”
The fear in my voice was evident, and for a moment I looked back to see Marius hesitating, as if he had no desire to do what he was about to do. But it was Octavian who unexpectedly answered my call, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The weight against me was suddenly gone, and a snarling fight began between the two; both shifted somewhere between man and wolf as they tore at each other and battled for dominance.
I did my best to stay out of the way; realizing that Marius was still clawing for me; determined now to follow the Mar's order and kill me, and Octavian was the only person standing in his way. The older Dragos fought with a singular focus; easily defeating Marius; holding him under his feet with steady pressure as he looked to me carefully. He seemed to be making a choice in his mind, before lifting his chin in deference to me, something that surprised me to my core.
“What happens to him is your choice, Prince.”
Why the hell did everyone keep calling me Prince? I clung to what little remained of my clothing for modesty, but I was woefully unprepared for what Octavian was asking of me. I did not favor this part of being a leader; my father had always warned me there was never a right answer as to whether or not to take the life of a relentless enemy.
If I didn't, Marius would surely strike again, and there was no guarantee that Octavian would be there to save me a second time. If I did make the call to end his life, however, who knew how many would come after; bent of revenge and eager to take my head. Sensing my hesitation, Octavian spoke, his words guiding my choice.
“Whatever choice you make, I will protect you.”
There was a striking sincerity in his voice that confused me, but I believed his words and nodded, looking down at Marius where he lay and awaited his fate. I knew it was time to make a choice; to become the Varga my father had trained me to be.
“Don't kill him. I want him to tell you what he did with your sister. He's the man who took her Octavian. I'm sure of it.”
Marius glanced up at me and paled; certain I had not recognized him and panicking when Octavian removed his foot to lift him to his feet.
“Marius!”
The name was growled with such ferocity that I knew Octavian would relish this death, but I hoped he would be able to hold it together long enough to get the answers we needed first. I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, hoping to calm him, and immediately felt his body relax under my to
uch.
Octavian and I stood together against Marius, who steadfastly refused to tell us anything about Genevieve, angering us both to the point of despair. We balanced each other carefully, each gently pulling each other back from the edge when Marius' refusal to cooperate became almost too much to bear.
“I will never tell you a thing Octavian. You will die, and your mother will die, and the end of the weak Dragos empire will finally come to an end in Romania. We will be strong again.”
Marius moved forward, driving himself onto the blade Octavian held against his throat, nearly severing it completely from his body. I jumped back at the sudden spray of blood, though Octavian was hit with the full brunt of the fluid as Marius dropped at our feet.
“Damn it!”
Octavian was livid, wiping Marius' blood from his face as he stepped away from the body and led me up the narrow walls and onto the rooftop, where he collapsed in anger and I tried desperately to remain clothed.
“I don't know who I can trust anymore, but I have to find my way home and back to my mother's side. I don't know if Genevieve is still alive, but she would understand.”
Marius' threat to Mar Dragos came back to me, and I worried in the back of my mind that someone was trying very hard to wipe out both of our families, and was damn near succeeding.
“What are we going to do? The ship won't leave for another week, and the rebel clashes throughout the city means that we can't stay here.”
Octavian looked lost in thought, absentmindedly trying to clean Marius' blood from his very naked body, a body I tried hard to avoid openly staring at.
“We can just steal a boat. Not here, but further down river and well out of the city. We need to find some clothes first, of course. I'll take us to see Zsofia...”
“Zsofia?”
I couldn't believe the name that he was speaking with such familiarity, suddenly wondering if Genevieve's love had more to do with her disappearance than I thought as I recalled the trap at the cafe.
“How do you know Zsofia, Octavian?”