Fallen Sparrow
Chapter 8

After 12 years, the house looked almost how I remembered it. A layer of moss had grown on the wooden exterior and the maroon paint colour had started to peel away. One of the downstairs windows was smashed, probably by a burglar or squatter. There was anything left for them in those rooms for them to take. Neither me nor Maddie had been back here since that night. I never wanted to come back.

Maddie’s parents had built their home as an American style farmhouse. Slowly, I ascended the three steps up onto the porch, that stretched across the front of the house and along the sides. It was gone now, but there used to be a white, oak swinging bench. Maddie’s mother use to sit there sewing and humming random tunes. When she died, the only thing that graced her seat was the wind, pushing it gently like a loving hand. My best friend would say that it was her mother’s way of showing she was still watching. The front door was ajar. Other than my own footsteps and the crickets in the fields surrounding the house, I hadn’t heard a single sound. I looked over my shoulder for a moment at the city lights in the distance, trying to stay calm.

“Thanks for joining me.” I snapped my head to the deep voice. He was wearing black, tailored trousers and a fitted grey shirt that highlighted his muscular body. He was wiping his hands with a cloth. My jaw clenched thinking of the possibility that it could be blood. He returned to the inside of the house. It was an indication to follow. I hesitated at the door. My chest was burning. I took a deep breath and stepped in. The floorboards made a familiar creak. The stairs, that were once decorated with family photos and fairy lights, were now lifeless and bare.

“Welcome back, my beautiful Sparrow,” he purred.

I turned and poked my finger forcefully into his chest, “don’t call me that!”

“You are so bitter with me. I’m here showing you my affections but you have rejected me and are being a brat.”

“I’m bitter because I don’t want to be here. I want to take Maddie and go home,” I insisted. He stepped close to me and instinctively stepped back away from his approaching figure.

“I wanted to take you home. To your real home.”

“I don’t want to ever go to that place again. I will not become your pet project. I will not be filled with anger again. I will not become like you.”

“You are like me that why I fell in love with you,” he stated confidently like that alone would make me submit and kiss his feet. There was no thought before my fist hit his face. He stumbled, cupping his swelling cheek.

“I will never be like you,” I snarled, “you kidnapped an innocent girl for your own personal game. You involved her in something she didn’t need to be a part of. Tell me where she is now!”

“It’s not that simple, my love.” He came close to me, down at me and smirked. I could feel his breath on my face. It smelt like tree sap. “I want the real you back. I’ve been watching you. The masquerade you are performing is boring me and I want it gone.” He lifted my chin with his finger, but affection was the last thing in my eyes. I snaked my arms around his neck and I saw the corners of his mouth twitch. I cupped his head with my hand by his ear. I felt him cringe as I dug my nails into his skin and dragged them down his neck. He tried to stare me down as wrapped my hand around his throat and pushed my thumb on his windpipe. He began to wheeze before he smacked my arm away and pushed me against the wall.

“You do realise I’m the one burdened with the ability to kill you,” I reminded him, making him even angrier. His fist hit the wall by my head after I flinched out of the way. Pushing my knee roughly into his stomach, I grabbed his arm and pulled him into my fist as I punched, making him fall to the ground. I straddled his waist and pulled the blade I carried in my ankle holster. I held it above my head ready to strike when a sound caught my attention. It was shuffling on the wooden floorboards upstairs. I focused on it. A muffled whimper made me jump up and dash for the stairs. Ascending two steps at a time, I reached her childhood bedroom to find the setting of the photo he had sent me. She struggled against the restraints and squealed against the tape. My knees skidded on the wood as I dropped down to her. I sliced the rope and Maddie collapsed onto me. I held her. She cried into my shirt, clenching the material in her fist.

“I’m here. I’m going to protect you,” I whispered into her shoulder.

Bright white lights pulled up and glowed blindingly through the window. “LEAVE THIS PLACE!” I heard Chaos below.

“Not without Cora.” A familiar voice answered. I held Maddie a little tighter against my chest.

If you get out of this alive, I’m going to kill you, Axel.

The old mattress in the treehouse, we’d built when we were kids with Maddie’s dad in the backyard, barely dipped as I placed Maddie down. It was old, dirty and the treehouse was cramped, but she’d be safe there. Grabbing the axe from the shed, I ran back to the house to find Chaos standing over Axel. He looked up from where he was laying on the ground. His face was bloody and bruised. My stomach clenched, a sick feeling rising in my throat. As if hell had set a fire to my insides, I charged at Chaos. When he flinched, I hit his shoulder instead of his head. I hear the bones crack and muscles split. A spray of blood landed on my face, forcing me to involuntarily taste the vile liquid. The rage filling Chaos’ eyes didn’t stop me as I struck again and again until I couldn’t possibly count them and my body felt ten times heavier with exhaustion. I hadn’t down enough to kill him, but I didn’t have enough energy to continue.

There aren’t many things that can kill a Blood Knight. Ver were created by Death, the youngest, to suppress his siblings from giving into their power-hungry nature. Despite his reputation, Death has a kind soul, which surprises most people.

I dropped down onto the grass and rolled Axel over, cradling him in my arms. He nuzzled his head into my stomach, “are you hurt?” His voice was weak.

I brushed his hair from his forehead and placed a gentle kiss there, “I’m fine. Worry about yourself.” He let out a short, husky laugh, that made him cough and wince in pain. I felt everything breaking, disintegrating into dust. I couldn’t hold him any tighter without crushing him.

A dark shadow grew over me. I tore my eyes away from Axel to look up. A silhouette with eyes like infernos glaring down at me. “Please. Please don’t,” I begged. Desperation pushed it out as a whisper through my tears. I felt his hand shoulder and before I could react, he threw me back. Hitting my back against the side of the house, pain shot through my spine. I quickly tried to get to him. Chaos stood holding Axel up by his throat with one hand. “You choose this pathetic piece of trash over me!” I was running and screaming for him to release Axel. Both men were face to face, one drooping in agony. When I heard to snap I collapsed.

I screamed louder, “you killed him!”

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