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I didn’t give him a chance to use it.
He jabbed forward as I swept Lyani behind me with one hand, the other grabbing his wrists and pushing the blade to the side before pulling him forward all the way. His head slammed into the bar as I gripped the hilt of the blade, the slightest bit of pressure on his wrist releasing the rusted weapon into my hand. Another yank, and a leap and I was over the bar, the man twisted in front of me, his own blade held against his neck.
Lyani hadn’t even recovered from where I had pulled her when she looked up, eyes wide to see me standing on the other side of the bar with a knife to the man’s neck.
I couldn’t decipher if she was looking at me with awe, fear, disgust or a combination of the three. It didn’t matter, though, that burning look in her eyes plunged right into me, flooding me with that warmth and pushing me on.
“Do you still want to take the chance,” I hissed in his ear, grabbing his other hand and twisting it behind him until he winced. Although that wince may have been more from the pressure of the blade that was trying to slice through the grit and stubble that coated his neck.
Damn thing wasn’t sharp enough to do more than nick him.
What I wouldn’t give for my blades, to be able to slice and scent blood. That threat would linger much longer than whatever threat a dull blade could produce.
“No… no, sir,” he stuttered, and I pulled him tighter, the blade firmer against him lest he change his mind.
“Good. Now, say sorry to the lady and get her two bottles of Tak.” Keeping my grip on him tight, even as I let him grab for the bottles, I looked around the bar at the wide eyes and shocked stares. I was sure they had never seen a Lighten act like this.
They never would again, either.
Because I was not a Lighten. I never would be.
I continued to glare at each person in the bar, my warning clear as the bartender finally placed the second bottle on the grime covered bar top.
“Good. Now the apology.” I pressed the knife harder, looking from the barkeep to a man and a woman who were staring with wide eyed horror.
“So – sooo…” he stuttered before any words petered out in a sound near a sob.
“Come on now, you can do it.”
I gave the couple a wink as the bar man continued to stumble over his apology, the woman backing up a step before they both darted out the door.
That couldn’t be good.
“Sorry, lady.” He finally got the words out and I released him, the large man falling to his knees with a gasp.
“That’s better. Knew you had it in you,” I pat him twice on the back before vaulting back over the bar, Lyani giving me a look that was more that ‘don’t tear your wound’. I grinned at her, well aware the smile that dripped from my lips was one of malice and death.
She didn’t even flinch.
She glowered and grabbed the bottles, dropping the coin she had intended to pay with on the bar before storming out.
Well, that wasn’t the reaction I expected.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” I said, bowing to the bar man and then to the patrons before I followed her out at a run.
She was still storming away, leaving a plume of dust behind her as she kicked and ran along the old road.
“Lyani!” I called after her, she didn’t even turn. “Lyani!”
Only when I caught up to her did she slow, her eyes wide and full of tears as she faced me, her tiny frame not even coming to my chest but bowling me over all the same.
“Lyani, I–”
“Do you ever stop thinking of yourself?” She hissed, her voice low and threatening.
“What are you–”
“That’s all you do. You think only of yourself. You don’t even care about what you did. You are only proud that you won,” she snapped, stepping so close that I had to look down to see her. It didn’t matter how small she was, there was more power in that gaze than I could feel boil under my skin. “You never see what others need, or think of the consequences of your actions, Caspyn.”
