"As tempting as a good meal sounds, I... I cannot come with you, I would endanger you with my mere presence," you stated with a sigh, rubbing your eyes as you did so. You were starting to feel uncertain over just how it worked for Pride's ability to sense the other Enlightened, for his ability to pick up on immortals. He had said before that he could generally only pick up immortals while they slept, that he could sense the other Enlightened at all times, though only in a limited capacity.
He had also outlined that he could sense you all the more strongly while you were asleep. It had never really struck you as a major issue until you had left the order, as you had never had reason to worry about how or why Pride would be able to keep track of you.
It had been how he had sensed the locations of those who had been captured, how he had been able to ensure that they were removed from captivity and brought back to the fold. He wasn't perfect however, sometimes more people were captured in their attempts to free those they sought to free. This fact alone was one that gave you some hope, as you knew it meant that those that came to your aid were not stuck fighting against some unstoppable horror.
Was this enough to jepordise Red and his wife though, if you were to have taken her up on the offer for this meal?
Even put in these terms, you were reluctant to risk this, knowing that you couldn't be entirely certain. With a nod, Red's wife rose to her feet, picking up her baskets as she did so. "Well, I'll make certain that the big oaf hears about this news, if anybody knows how to help, it'll be him."
You smiled slightly despite your doubts that the man who ran that pub was going to be more help than the Clockworkers and Technomancers. He knew petty thugs and the like at best, while the Clockworkers had heavy mechanical men, while the Technomancers had weapons. The two together would make for a much more effective means of offence, wouldn't it?
"If he can help, it will be greatly appreciated," you responded with a sigh, struggling to your feet as you did so. "I... I should get going. This reminder of how unsafe it is for me to be in the open makes me wonder how wise it was to come here for a change of scenery."
Red's wife nodded, before bidding you farewell, turning and vanishing into the crowd.
Part of you wanted to stay just a little longer, to look at a few more things, part of you screamed to leave immediately. You didn't know why you were so conflicted, why you were so suddenly becoming apprehensive, yet you knew that it was more prudent to follow your instincts and leave, than to long for things you couldn't afford right now.
You ducked into one of the back alleys, making your way quickly down it as you headed towards one of the main streets, knowing that you could follow it back to the Technomancers guild. A few startled cats and dogs scattered as you went by, a few homeless people cursed you. You didn't stop for any of them, at least that was, until a hand darted out from an alcove, as a figure pulled you in, one hand clamping over your mouth before you could scream.
"Now, what've we got 'ere?" came a gruff voice as you felt a blade being pressed to your throat, a blade that was pressed that little more noticably as you struggled, prompting you to hold still. You had a machete on your back, but you didn't dare reach for it just yet, as you knew that this man would slit your throat if you did so.
"A pretty young lady shouldn't be runnin' through such dark alleys, she could get robbed, or worse," The man continued, patting your body as he searched for any sign of a purse. You could hear him muttering beneath his breath, clearly displeased when he found that you were carrying no money. "Looks like it's goning to 'ave to be worse, then."
The man reached to pull your dress up, making his intent clear, prompting you to struggle once more to break his grasp, swinging your head back as you smashed it against his face. The man cried out in pain, drawing the knife across your throat as he retaliated, before pushing you forward and kicking you to the ground.
You clamped your one hand over your throat, doing your best to stem the flow of ichor that flowed from the open wound, your other hand reaching for the machete on your back as you rolled over and turned to face him. You could feel the open wound knitting, stinging as if it was no more than a bad cut as adrenaline kicked in.
The man was horrified, he could see ichor coming from what should have been a mortal wound, he could see you armed, standing. Moving your hand away from your throat, you flicked your wrist, the splatter of ichor against paving stones filling your ears as you stepped towards the man, watching as he backed into the corner of the alcove he was in.
"Stay away from me, you monster!"
"Monster. How rich from one who planned to rape me and leave me for dead in a back alley. I see but one monster here, and as the laws of the city state, monsters must be exterminated."
"Don't kill me, please!"
"It is too late to beg for your life, for you have already tried to take mine. Now, silence, whelp, accept your fate and pray that it redeems you in the eyes of your god."
You swung the machete overhead as the man huddled in the corner, still begging for mercy as he stared at you in horror. The sound of flesh and bone being cleaved as you struck beside his neck filled the air, then again as you rose the blade and swung it for his torso. The man was as good as dead already, yet you continued to swing the blade for him, every blow hacking deeply into the gurgling mass of flesh before you, before it shuddered and lay still.
And yet you giggled as you continued to hack away, your eyes alight with malicious glee.
When you finally stopped there was little recognisable left to tell you that this had once been a man. You couldn't help but shiver in delight as you gazed down at the remains of this man, your breathing heavy from the exertion of swinging this heavy blade. A blade that was coated with the crimson film of his blood.
You licked the blade clean as you caught your breath, the warmth of that blood and its metallic aftertaste prompting you to close your eyes as you savoured it, as you savoured the sensation of it on your skin, soaking through your dress. Then it hit you. It hit you that you had done this, that you were soaked with blood from this man, that you had delighted in this act of brutality as you had lost control.
That wasn't you, was it?
You weren't the type of person to delight in such an act, were you?
Your head span as horror and delight mingled. You were covered in blood, carrying an offensive weapon and confused, what were you going to do?