“Relax. He’s alive. I said he deserved to die but it didn't mean I intended to kill him,” he voiced with simplicity and left the thief alone. Approaching, he flung the blood-streaked dagger away, the blade ringing out as it struck the ground.
“How are you finding ourlittle walk now?” His mouth twitched.
“Horrendous…” She bent her brows.
“Yeah, could be better.” He waved his head to the side and Violette's eyes fell onto his shoulder, widening. She got completely distracted, forgetting the man violently stabbed him, and Dante stayed so calm and firm, it was hard to believe he was just hit with a sharp weapon in his shoulder.
“God, you are bleeding!” she exclaimed.
His gaze lowered to the wound. His shirt soaked with blood from a deep cut into the skin. “Nothing scary,” he said and then looked at her again like nothing happened.
Violette was flabbergasted. Her mouth remained wide open and brows bent, completely dazed by his behavior.
“You need help immediately!”
“I am fine,” he drew coldly.
“No, you’re not!” Grabbing his hand, she dragged him in the direction they came from, wanting to leave the spot where they were fighting the thieves who also could wake up at any moment.
“Don't hurry like that,” Dante complained.
“Don't hurry? You are injured. Do you even have a tiny bit of self-preservation?” She dropped his hand.
“I care only about things that can kill me. This one won’t.”
“You’re literally bleeding,” she retorted, irritated by his carelessness.
“It happens.” He shrugged.
“You are unbearable to deal with,” she grumbled, starting to rummaging through her bag. “We are going back to the inn. We've had enough of late adventures.”
“Then what are you doing?” He bent one brow.
She ignored his question, and instead pulled out a little crystal bottle with clear liquid. “Here. We have to clean the wound first.”
He looked at her with sombreness in his eyes as she poked him with a little potion bottle. She did it again when he didn't accept it. Her eyes were saying,Take it or I will make you. Then she pulled out a handkerchief.
“I can help you with the cloak,” she said and reached for the clasp of his coat to make the way to the wound. Her fingers brushed the metallic clasp as her eyes darted to the injury. Her lashes fluttered. Something was weird about it. The wound stopped bleeding too fast; they walked only a block, maybe two.
What surprised her most was that the cut hadn't looked as deep as she'd imagined. She slid her hand to the place where the dagger was sticking out just a couple of minutes ago and without touching it she ran over the carve with her fingers. There was nothing. Not a sign of a wound except for the blood. It wasn't even dry yet, but there was no sign of an injury. Her hand numbed just above his flesh and she slowly raised her gaze to his. His eyes darkened as it seemed he was waiting for some words to come from her mouth.
She couldn't be mistaken, she clearly saw how one of the men stuck a dagger right into his shoulder up to the hilt and how Dante winced in pain and then pulled it out. The blood on the shoulder was completely fresh but there was nothing there.Nothing!
She froze in front of him, just inches away. His eyes stared at her still awaiting. Awaiting forrealization.And finally the puzzle she'd tried to solve for so long, started to align, putting every piece in place. The rhythm of her pulse began to grow, rushing in her ears.
His footsteps weren't on the snow as he was moving light as a feather, and he always moved very quietly. He could appear out of nowhere and she thought it was just dexterity of movements, but it didn't seem like that anymore. Not when he disappeared in her store, not when he appeared in front of her to protect her from the mad thief. Something dark in his eyes was not just a shade of his pupil, it was almost like shadows were dancing in his gaze. He avoided the sun all their trip here, he didn't want to stop the carriage for a break, and he admitted it himself, he didn't leave his room all day, preferring a late walk. She saw him for the first time in the night and all the time after their meetings occurred only under the moonlight. He had sensed her following him and he recognized the thief when she couldn't. It all wasn't just a coincidence, some little details she hadn't really thought about. And the mask on his face began to acquire new colors and details that she hadn't noticed before. It was not a mask. It was amuzzle.
Violette's hand still hung in the air. She couldn't say how long she was staring into his sinister eyes before her body started to show signs of awakening. Her fingers started to shake as she drew a very slow step back.
“Want to share your thoughts?” Dante exhaled in the air.
“I…I don't under–” she stuttered.
Her mind couldn't process a thing for a moment. She couldn't understand how it was even possible and how she could be that blind. But more than that, she still couldn't understand who was standing before her. What a creature, what a thing could possibly fit all these details she just found out. Because the one who came to her mind was complete nonsense. A mythical thing. Impossible to exist. Itshouldn'texist.
“I was curious when you'd finally get the clues.” He said and made a step closer as she started to back up. “To be fair, I am surprised you didn't come up with it earlier with such a curious mind of yours.”
Her eyes widened even more, stomach twisting, and her legs faltered just before she spun to run away.
