Gifts of Affection

“Move!”



Vaen grabbed her arm, attempting to pry her loose from the felhound.



“No!” She wrapped her arms around the beast tightly, letting it bury its muzzle under her. “I’m not letting you kill this poor animal!” She cried.



Vaen ripped her from the beast with great difficulty, violently throwing her aside into the scattered ruins. He turned his eyes to her, smoldering with anger.



“I’m the one in charge here, girl…”



His eyes returned to the cowering felhound, its tendrils lowered submissively as it whined. He spat on it as he raised his blade.



“Vile hell dog…”



“No!” Vaen felt something tugging on his leg. He looked down. Her small, dainty hands. She was starting to annoy him in earnest. He shook himself loose, kicking her arm away. His eyes were fixated on the demonspawn, his sword aimed for its soft, furry neck.



He swung the sword downward, only to stop in midswing. He nearly toppled over as he lost his balance, trying to catch his blade mid-fall.



“Damnit girl, now isn’t the time for games!” He roared. She dove in front of his blade, shielding the beast with her body. “Don’t defy me!”



The blood elf returned his gaze with defiant eyes. “I said I’m not letting you kill this defenseless animal.”



His cheeks burned red with rage as he recoiled his sword arm, knocking over the lantern as it toppled to the ground. “Move!” He boomed. There was no restraint in his voice now, his shout echoing through the halls.



“Kill me then!” She snapped back. She clutched the pup tightly to her chest as she stared defiantly back at him. “You’re a monster if you’re going to kill a helpless puppy! Kill me!” Her voice grew stronger by the second as she stood up to him, growing more and more defiant.



“I will!” His face contorted in rage as he slammed the blade into the ground where she had been only a split second before. Her split second reaction saved her as she rolled to the side, coughing as the powerful strike sent years of dust flying into the air. “I try to protect you and this is the thanks I get?!”



“Look at yourself!” She cried through the dust. She could barely make out his silhouette through the dust. The outline of his shadow shone through the white light illuminating the clouds of dust. “Do you really think you’re doing me a favor??”



Dazed, the blood elf slowly climbed to her feet, clutching the whining pup in her arms, its maw buried against her neck. She looked around, but could only see the thick clouds of dust. He was quiet. She slowly stepped backwards, trying to distance herself from the mad human.



His words started slow, seeping with vehemence. “Don’t test me, you ungrateful, worthless, wretch of a woman!” His mailed gauntlet appeared out of the mist, the metal glove aimed for her face. He struck her squarely across the cheek, a sickening sound as his fist met tender flesh.



The girl collapsed like a house of cards, dropping the floor as the felhound flew out of her hands. A cord snapped across the felhound’s collar, her hand clutching the strange doll tightly as she crumpled against the broken marble altar. A deafening flash of red illuminated the chamber for a brief moment, before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Silence followed as she lay on the floor, coughing blood. She raised her hand, caressing her bruised cheek, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She could hear his footsteps through the mist.



“Where’s the demon?” His voice was lower now, but still held a deadly edge. Her head jerked to a side as she felt his gloved hand wrapped around her golden hair, pulling her head up. “Where’s the damn demon?!” He demanded, the tip of his blade aimed at her body. His eyes flickered down to her hand.



“What’s that?”



She followed his gaze, looking down to her tightly clutched hand. The small demonic figurine was in her hand, the cord snapped loose. The smooth figurine was carved in an otherworldly rock to resemble a felhunter, the eyes on the sculpture seemed alive, swirling with a blood-red mist.



She yelped in agony as he painfully pried it out of her hands, his strength nearly crushing her small fingers. She watched in defeat as he threw the figurine against the ground, stomping on it with his boot.



He lifted his foot, her eyes shocked to find it completely intact. Vaen lifted his blade, before sending a crashing blow down across the stone figurine. Sparks flew as it impacted the demonic figurine, sending the doll torquing in circles into the air with not a single dent or nick.



“...What sorcery is this?” His eyes turned back to the blood elf. “Summon it out, woman! This is your doing!” He waved his weapon menacingly at her.



“Why?” She shot back at him, her emerald eyes crossed in rebellion as she looked down the shaft of his sword. “So you can kill it? Haven’t you done en—“



[i]“Shgla'yos…”[/i]



She blinked. He blinked.



[i]“ …plahf mh'naus…”[/i]



They stared at each other, Vaen’s sword arm going limp as he raised his eyebrow. She watched his lips. They weren’t moving.



[i]“…fhssh za.”[/i]



A whisper was carried like a wave upon the deathly silence. It was a dark, ominous sound that belonged to no mortal creature.



They felt a ringing in their ears; it felt as if their conscience was speaking to them, delivering a message in their minds.



[i]“They who dine on lost souls know only hunger.”[/i]



The small white lantern flickered once, flickered twice, before it was snuffed of light.