Chapter seven Sera I wake with a sharp pain in my torso, and a sudden realization that I'm no longer alone. “Ah, you're alive. I wasn’t sure if you would wake.” A gentle voice says. I shoot up, wincing softly as my eyes lock onto a figure in the distant shadow. A woman, tall and wiry with what seems to be a structured dress, layered and sweeping, ripped and bloodied. I attempt to scoot away with little avail, my side stretching, shooting pain up my torso. The woman stepped closer, her face now visible in what little light there is without a torch. Her eyes an icy blue, her skin the soft color of honey, and her hair warm brown, like a silky milk chocolate. “Please don’t be worried,” the woman said softly as her full figure appeared in front of me. “You were lying unconscious so I got scared so I carried you back here and-” I cut her off. “Out of the kindness of your heart, you saved me and brought me back to your pitiful camp, despite the fact that you are already starving. It’s always the same story with you, knight.” The last word is like poison in my mouth. “I saved you, you should be grateful at the least.” “I did not need help from some knight.” “You were going to bleed out, hell, you were actively bleeding out!” “Oh, so the princess does have teeth?” “I am not a princess.” “Your outfit says otherwise.” The woman looked as if she was about to lunge, but she just sighs instead, retreating back into the dark. “You don’t have to like me, just—stay, please.” I scoffed, my eyes narrowed onto her silhouette. She’s desperate… And she doesn’t know who or what I am. I can use that. “Sure.” Her head whips towards me, genuine shock on her face. “Wait- what?” “I said sure.” I say, my expression cooled yet neutral. “As you said, you… saved me.” The words feel so wrong on my tongue. “I suppose I do owe you a life debt, I would be… your shield of sorts. Basically in any situation with danger, I would go first and take most of the blows until the debt is repaid with an equal action.” “Oh, uhm, sure!” The woman says quickly, almost too quickly before speaking again, her eyes narrowing on me. “But first…” I freese, did she figure out what I am? Who I am? “What’s your name?” She finally says cheerfully, a stupid grin on her face. I have to suppress a smirk as I offer out my hand, the woman’s eyes immediately going towards the tattoos on my hands. “Seraphine.” She seems to be waiting for me to say something. “...Surname?” “That is info you’ll have to earn, princess.” The woman sighs before taking my hands, her grim firm and warm. “Croía, and I suppose you will have to earn my last name as well.” “Deal.” “Deal.” Her eyes narrow before letting go, exhaling with relief, her smile warm and friendly. “Well then, we can sleep here tonight, we shouldn’t get much trouble from the others yet, and in the morning we’ll continue to search for a water source, I’ll take first watch you need rest since-” I stop listening then as she continues to rant, I can use this, yes. And she’s too desperate to even notice.
Don't you just adore when (one of) your main character(s) is likely the most manipulative person you know??
