A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 50: Evening Siesta

Gabriel’s speed was crazy, his movements fluid. He graciously dodged an attack staged his way. Sidestepping a slice from another rogue, he ripped off an organ, his clothes suddenly painted in blood.

He halted in the middle of the circle, the rogues slowly closing on him. All his senses were alive now, catching the slightest of movements. His predatory eyes surveyed his surroundings as if daring the rogues to attack.

They simultaneously leapt on him, bringing him down with their numbers. Gabriel felt excruciating pain shoot from his back as they rained claws on him. His eyes grew a shade darker, a new surge of energy getting hold of his muscles. The veins popped on his biceps and with a loud growl, he shook off the rogues, sending several flying in different directions. Those who were unfortunate landed on a sharp branch and succumbed to death with fatal wounds.

Allicent gently parted a branch to get a clear view of what was happening below. Her eyes fell on Gabriel whose back faced her. Her hand flew to her mouth on impulse. His shirt was soaked in blood, his movements now unsteady. And judging from the numbers left, he was not going to make it alive in his condition. She had to do something!

One of the rogues managed to slice across Gabriel’s chest, a wound that run deep from his shoulder to his belly. He gritted his teeth, fighting hard the pain. His eyes were no longer golden but dark. So dark they were right now he looked like the devil’s incarnate.

Gabriel’s eyes fell on the rogues around him. The wounds inflicted on him were taking so long to heal. He caught his balance just before he could fall, avoiding a cut in the process. He yanked the fleeing vampire, catching him by the collar of his clothing and split his throat with his claws. But they were too many to defeat!

In his frenzied state, he didn’t notice the rogue leader approaching from behind, a scythe in his hand. The blade gleamed in the setting sun, as if sent to claim a life. The leader let out a yelp before striking.

Gabriel turned just in time to see the blade aimed for his stomach. His eyes reflected in the blade, realization hitting hard. He was late, too late to react. He waited, in baited breath he did. But a figure materialized in front of him and he scythe went home, materializing inches before Gabriel’s belly. The blood collected around the tip and fall in constant droplets.

His eyes traveled the length of this unfamiliar person settling on his dark hair. It looked so much like his! And he was a man!

The rogue’s leader’s eyes slowly lifted to meet with the eyes of the person who just stopped him from killing a bastard. The blood had formed on the corner of his lips but they were curved into a smirk! His eyes settled on the stranger’s dark ones, his heart skipping a beat!

"A Demon!" He whispered, letting go of the scythe’s handle like one who had seen an apparition. He took a step back, his eyes never leaving the stranger’s.

Getting hold of the scythe’s handle, the stranger removed the blade from his flesh, the wound healing as if it was not there in the first place. And in a split of seconds, he moved, too fast for even Gabriel to keep track of, splitting the rogue leader into two equal parts.

Gabriel’s eyes fell on his face. He had sharp features and a deadly aura emanated from him. Gabriel wasn’t scared of creatures but this one made him swallow the lump in his throat. Even the remaining rogues tensed upon sensing his aura.

He snapped his fingers, and just like that, all the remaining rogues fell, unconscious! He run his fingertips on the edge of the scythe while walking to where Gabriel stood in a complete daze.

"What... What did you do to them?" Gabriel asked, looking around in confusion. What he had tried to achieve in half a week, this stranger had achieved in a matter of seconds!

"I just put them in an evening siesta," he replied before he tossed the scythe to the ground. His eyes met with Gabriel’s, and for the briefest of seconds Gabriel looked at him, he felt as if the stranger knew everything about his life.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Does it matter now?" He asked back, tilting his head to one side. "Your kind call us succubus, but I prefer the human version."

Gabriel’s brows creased in confusion, and then it dawned on him. "You... You’re a demon!" The word felt so disgusting coming from his own mouth.

The stranger’s eyes settled on Gabriel, now laced in sarcasm. "I never knew you held so much malice for your own kind!" He started walking just when Gabriel frowned in confusion.

"I’m not a demon! I’m not one of your kind!" He yelled, trying to catch up with the stranger.

"If you say so," he replied as if bored by Gabriel’s conversation.

Gabriel halted, his hands dropping to the sides. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere far away from someone who is not disgusted by my presence." A smirk settled on his face.

"Why did you save me?" Gabriel asked, making the stranger halt in his tracks. "I’m not one of your kind. I’m not your family! I don’t know you. But you did it anyways! Why?"

"I was just passing by and I thought it was the honorable thing to do," he answered.

"No one risks his life for a random stranger," Gabriel pointed.

The stranger smirked. "I guess there’s a first time for everything." He stared at Gabriel for a fleeting couple of seconds before he continued walking.

Gabriel watched his retreating back, an idea suddenly lighting in his mind. "I’m a prince of Eldoria. I can offer you a place in my kingsguard as a token of gratitude for saving my life."

The stranger halted again without turning back. Was he considering the offer? Gabriel hoped for the best. The stranger turned again, his hair blowing in the wind.

"I’m honored," he replied, a smile curving up his face.