Sammi.
She’s naked and filthy, small cuts all over her breasts and stomach. The area between her legs is bloody and one of her eyes is swollen shut. Tears are running down her face and I see her cringe as Dick’s hold tightens on her hair.
“Let her go, Dick,” I say firmly, stepping into the room. My eyes keep glancing to Ax, wondering when he is going to step in here, but he looks completely absent. I don’t have the time to be worried, Ethan looks like he’s about to jump on Dick.
“You can’t win,” I continue, my arms out in a peaceful manner.
I never got to use my trick earlier. If I can get close enough, I should be able to get him away from Sammi. If I can get close enough. And if Ethan doesn’t fuck that up by charging the man.
“Ethan, stand the fuck down,” I warn him, holding a handout at both him and Dick, just trying to keep them calm while I get between them and another step closer to Sammi.
“No one has to die here.”
“This fucker is going to die slowly for touching her,” Ethan shouts and I see Sammi’s eyes widen as she watches him. Dick’s grip only tightens as he shifts them both a bit so she’s still in front of him.
I take one more step.
What the fuck is Ax doing?
“Let her go,” I say again, inching ever closer.
“Back the fuck up!” Dick shouts suddenly, “I will fucking slit her throat!”
My jaw ticks as I watch, just waiting for an opening.
“I’m going to—”
Before Ethan can finish his sentence, a flash of movement dashes across the room, nailing Dick from the side.
Sammi cries out and falls to the floor and Ethan rushes to her side, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her away. My eyes are wide as I watch Ax, now very much animated, wrap his huge hands around Dick’s throat.
Dick’s face turns dark and it only takes seconds before he goes limp, losing consciousness.
I’m not sure if Ax realizes that will only last for a few seconds but before I can say anything, or even register this, a blade shines in Ax’s hand, slamming down through one of Dick’s hands.
An ungodly howl is how Dick awakens, followed by another as Ax pulls it free. Sitting on his chest, Ax grabs Dick’s other hand and does the same, effectively ruining them both.
Dick sobs as Ax stands, pulling his ruined hands to his chest as he begins to pull himself away. Ax stands over him, looking down and watching him a moment before turning to Ethan.
Something unspoken passes between them and Ethan nods, leading Sammi out of the room before Ax turns in my direction.
“You should go,” he says, not meeting my eyes. My own gaze flashes down to Dick and I swallow deeply. Even if I could stop him from what he’s about to do, I wouldn’t.
“I’m not leaving,” I say firmly and Ax pauses only a minute, surprising me by not arguing. I don’t see the moment he decides to move, leaning down to grab Dicks shirt and slamming a fist into his nose. I cringe a bit despite how satisfying that crunch is, and I know his nose too is broken now.
My stomach churns as I watch, but I don’t interrupt and feel no pity for the man being ripped and beaten in front of me. It isn’t fast. But it’s not Dick I’m here for. It’s Ax. To bring him back from this darkness when he’s done.
My eyes never stray until the last bits of life leave Dick’s pathetic eyes and Axle stands, his chest heaving.
Turning to me he looks like a God dipped in blood, his eyes flashing darkly.
I know this feeling; the one-off being immersed in the violence. It’s hard to let the bloodlust go. Normally, I’d give him my body to ravage. Nothing satisfies quite like it, but we don’t have time, and this is hardly the place.
“Come on, my king,” I finally say, holding a handout, “Time to find our new kingdom.”
When his bloody hand grasps mine, a sense of rightness settles over me.
A dark king and queen, ready to take on the fucking world.