A Slap To The Face

"No." Valda shook her head again, a clear rejection in her expression. She was suddenly glaring at him—a look that hinted at a connection to something unpleasant in her thoughts, and strangely, Eryx had a feeling he had something to do with it.

When was the last time he got feasted with a feisty glare? She looked like a cat about to pounce on him, it's like she doesn't even sense his powers, or perhaps she was immune to whatever intimidation he possessed? It shouldn't surprise him at all, yet it did.

"It was you, wasn't it? You're the reason I'm in this condition." Valda jabbed an accusatory finger at the man, jolting him from his reverie. "That fateful evening, when I was taken from the carriage, did you not dispatch those unfortunate guards? I stand accused of murder, all due to your actions!"

"Murder is a harsh accusation, and that's quite offensive, I must say." Eryx placed his palm to his chest, feigning innocence, "believe it or not, my hands remain untainted by such deed."

A sardonic smirk graced his lips, and he waved off the rest like it was unimportant. "As for the guards you speak of, let us simply say they were granted an early reprieve from the toils of mortal existence, more like a gentle slumber they can never awaken from. I suggest they ought to be grateful for such a respite."

He commented on the situation with an air of nonchalance, as though it were of little consequences. His tone suggested that she was the one being overly dramatic, making a fuss over a matter so mundane, and that left her staring at him in astonishment.

How can he say that when this false accusation could lead to her execution?

Valda felt the urge to offer a swift rebuttal, yet she found the strength to maintain her composure. Her tumultuous emotions were a blend of anger, confusion, sadness, and even a hint of relief swirled within her. However, with great effort, she drew a deep breath and spoke in a measured tone.

"How did you find yourself in this place?" She wanted to know. He had previously assured her of his reluctance to intrude upon her private affairs without the recommended invitation, a promise she had not extended. Perhaps, if she discerns the method of his arrival, she could facilitate his return back to his realm before he ensnares her within the confines of his bargain.

She wondered; what compels him so ardently on making her join, despite her several rejections? She barely knew.

Had he not mended her wounds with his voodoo, she would scarcely deign to linger, indulging in discourse with him—he owed her this much. However, the not-so-sure gentleman reclined nonchalantly and derisively dismissed their present circumstances, as though it were an unfamiliar tableau to him.

He seemed somewhat different from the man who tossed a knife at her head. Back then he had filled her with dread, he still does, but right now, she could not bring herself to trust his intention, seeing as he is two-faced with perhaps, another hidden agenda.

She would not fall into his cage.

"Listen…"

Before Valda could seize the opportunity to dispatch him from her midst, she heard the resonance of ponderous footfalls approaching the confines of where she was kept, and that made her go stiff as a rock.

Someone was coming!

"Ah… it appears we shall soon be graced with another caller." Eryx remarked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his attention shifting towards the door. Despite the impending intrusion, the young man made no inclination to leave. He displayed a nonchalant indifference to the possibility of being discovered, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of complicating matters for both himself and Valda.

However, the silver-haired woman, who was the main victim in all of this, couldn't believe he would dare to make himself at ease in such a precarious moment, and she spoke in haste.

"E–master Eryx, right? Thank you for your assistance, but you must leave now." she whispered urgently, crawling to his side. "If you stay, I'll face even worse consequences once you're caught, and… and if that happens, I won't be able to join you in your realm. So, please, you must leave now."

"If I depart as you request, will you accompany me?" He inquired as the approaching footsteps got louder. He wasn't missing his chances at all, and with no other recourse, Valda nodded her in acquiescence.

"Yes, I'll do whatever it is you want but—"

And the door was suddenly kicked open. Valda released a gasp when she raised her gaze to see the chief guard looming at the entrance. He bolted the door behind him, and it became apparent that he came alone.

What does he want this time?

"Hmm?" Eryx glanced at the middle-aged man clad in royal armor. He observed as the strange man made his way to Valda who was still in shock by his jarred intrusion. He could sense the ill-intention emitting from the guard as he roughly seized Valda by her delicate arm, compelling her to rise to her feet.

"Remove your filthy hands off me!" Valda didn't hesitate to resist his unwelcomed grasp. Although the pain in her back had dropped to a considerable alleviation, she was still frustratingly feeble, depleted of energy from her earlier ordeal.

Valda glanced nervously at Eryx who was watching the situation out of mere curiosity, and it didn't miss her notice that his presence was effortlessly ignored by the chief guard. He was right beside her, but due to how the chief guard was fixated solely on her, she couldn't help but suspect that maybe he couldn't see him?

Was that possible? At this point, seeing a man rise from the dead won't stun her anymore.

"This is your last chance, Valda." The chief guard said with little to no empathy, his hold on her arm tightening. "Admit to your mistakes, say you killed those guards!"

"I said let go of me you beast!" Ignoring his warning, Valda bit his hand and somehow managed to free herself from his grip. She wasn't giving enough time to regain her strength when he grabbed her hair harshly, but before he could fulfill his intention, which was to smack her face to a wall, he unexpectedly let her go.

Valda sank to the bare ground, and as she turned her gaze backward to see what had caused the interruption, a fresh surge of trepidation gripped her heart. Eryx's figure loomed behind the chief guard, and he was much taller… far more towering than a mere mortal ought to be, but he wasn't one.

He looked different—frighteningly different, and that made her back away from what she was seeing. The fox man merged seamlessly with the shadows, his violet eyes emitting a menacing glow as he whispered inscrutable words into the chief guard's ear.

Can the chief guard not see that there is someone behind him???

Before Valda could comprehend the situation, the chief guard had raised his own hands and was vigorously striking himself hard in the face. Her pupils dilated at his actions, and as if ensorcelled by some unseen force, he persisted in his relentless self-flagellation without a pause.

"HELP!" She heard the chief guard wail in panic, "I CAN'T STOP IT! SOMEONE HELP ME!!" He pleaded, but that didn't cease his strike.

Valda wouldn't lie, the sight spooked her immensely.

Eryx simply stepped aside and watched with detached interest as the guard exited the chamber, all the while engaged in the peculiar act of ceaselessly striking his own visage. Even when he fell to the ground from the impact of his own hit, he would rise and continue.

When he was gone, Valda used the strength she could muster to sit up, and when she struggled to rise, a hand was stretched forth for her to hold. Looking up, she met those mesmerizing violet eyes watching her, but they no longer bore the menace and malevolence she saw a minute ago.

"Do you require assistance, or do you fancy the dirty floor that much?" He tilted his head a little, mocking her with that honeyed voice he owned. But Valda couldn't bring herself to argue or retort, not after what she witnessed him do to the chief guard a few minutes ago.

She obediently accepted his hand, and he gently pulled her up to her feet. Her gaze was unconsciously transfixed between the door and the man who wore a plain smile on his lips, and she recoiled her hand from his own, her nerves alarmed and alert.

"What did you–"

"Intrusive thoughts." His smile grew wider as he turned to the door, "there are reasons why my hands remain unsullied, Valda darling, and that's because I need not employ them before consigning an individual to meet their maker."

He looked in her direction to see her shift back impulsively, "You've agreed to come with me, now tell me, what are your revenge tactics?"

✿

In the palace corridor, the working servants did their best to restrain the chief guard from hitting himself with immense brutality. His face was already inflamed, swollen from the relentless assault, and to their horror, there was no stopping it.