CHAPTER 11– THE CONFRONTATION
Dexter came to a halt, sword poised to strike. He had anticipated many things, but this sight had taken him by surprise. What was a wealthy, apparently unarmed man doing up here, holding Tabitha under his arm, and regarding him with mild surprise mixed with annoyance?
"What are you doing here, human?" His cold voice dripped with an arrogance that made Dexter itch to beat it out of him.
"Let her go, or you'll regret it!" Dexter growled threateningly, raising his sword to emphasize his words. It took every ounce of self-control he could muster not to rush the guy. As long as the kidnapper held Tabitha, he could use her as a living shield to fend off Dexter's attacks.
The man's eyebrows arched even higher. He glanced from Dexter to Tabitha in his arms and back to Dexter. Then a broad grin crept onto his face. "Aaah, I see now. You're the poor fellow who Molana took refuge with, aren't you?"
"Release her, damn it," Dexter snarled again and moved closer. If only he could catch the lunatic... The danger of further injuring Tabitha in a direct attack was too great. Dexter had to get closer to deliver a quick and precise blow.
The man regarded him calmly, but Dexter couldn't help but notice that he was keeping a close watch. Even though he didn't appear to carry a weapon, Dexter couldn't underestimate him. "I would advise against that. You should be on your knees, thanking me for freeing you from Molana. After all, she used you for years to regain her power."
"What nonsense! Her name is Tabitha, not Molana!" Dexter exclaimed. "She's my wife, we love each other!" Either the guy was completely insane, or there was a cruel mix-up going on here.
The man sighed. "Humans. Too dim to see the obvious." He took a step closer and regarded Dexter coldly.
Dexter's heart skipped a beat.
Blood-red eyes. Since when did he have blood-red eyes? He would have noticed immediately. Even his skin had suddenly turned as pale as ivory.
"She didn't love you," the man spoke calmly. "She's a monster. She raised you like a fattened pig to..."
That was too much! Dexter yelled, "Shut up, you damn spawn of the devil!" He wanted to pounce on the lunatic, but the man was faster. With a move Dexter could barely follow, he slit Tabitha's throat. He callously flung her body against the cave wall. Her blood splattered across the rock and the floor, staining everything, even drenching Dexter's face.
Dexter's eyes widened. "No! No! Tabitha!" Boundless despair washed over him, robbing him of breath. With a roar, he lunged at the murderer of his beloved wife, hacking wildly with his sword. Tears blurred his vision. No, no, no! This couldn't be true, never!
"Calm down, my friend," the man dodged Dexter's attacks seemingly effortlessly. Eventually, he disarmed Dexter just as easily, striking his wrist to the side and twisting it so that Dexter couldn't move without dislocating his arm.
Nevertheless, Dexter wanted to break free, strike, kick, bite, but a punch hit him in the face. The impact knocked him off his feet. His head felt like it was about to explode. Warm blood streamed from his nose. Dexter crashed hard on the rocky cave floor, and the impact on the back of his head momentarily blinded him. The air was forced from his lungs, and he lay there gasping.
No... He couldn't let himself be killed so easily. He had to fight. This swine had to die. After that, everything else didn't matter; he could bleed to death, but not a moment earlier. Dexter groaned as he fumbled across the floor. He had to find his sword again.
An iron grip seized him by the collar, pulling him upright. The man bent over him, his face inches from Dexter's. "One day, you will be grateful for this."
For a moment, he scrutinized Dexter, then abruptly released him. Dexter gasped as he hit the ground again. Darkness descended upon him. He struggled desperately to fight off the impending unconsciousness but was losing consciousness.
"One day, you'll understand," was the last thing he heard before finally losing consciousness.
Blinking, Dexter opened his eyes. His vision cleared slowly, forming into a wooden ceiling whose patterns and knots he didn't recognize. Groaning, he tried to sit up and look around, but his body was too weak. With a pain-twisted face, he sank back onto the feather pillow. Every bone in his body ached. Dexter felt drained and patched together.
"Oh, you're awake," he heard a female voice at his side. Despite the pain, he turned his head to the right, where the petite figure of Doctor Eldritch approached his bed. "How do you feel?" Concerned, she touched his forehead. "Still a slight fever, but it's improving," she murmured more to herself.
"Where am I?" he croaked.
"You're in Klennar, more precisely, in my house." She pulled a chair up to the bed and scrutinized him with furrowed brows. "I found you at the foot of the cliffs while I was out gathering herbs. You seem to have had a severe fall. Oh, Dexter, I'm so worried! It was so foolish of me to administer the painkiller right away. Please tell me you didn't go in the wrong direction because of it and fall." Suddenly, the otherwise composed Eldritch seemed much younger. She appeared more like a girl who had accidentally done something wrong out of good intentions than an adult woman. She had her shoulders hunched, and Dexter saw tears shimmering in her eyes.
"Not because of the painkillers," he gasped and closed his eyes as the memories overwhelmed him. "Tabitha," he uttered. "She was kidnapped... by some sick bastard with black hair... He..." His voice trembled and failed him. He couldn't help but vividly see Tabitha's lifeless body dangling in his arms and that filthy man cutting her throat. Dexter felt hot tears run down his cheeks, but he didn't care.