Four

VESPER GREY LYSAN POV 

"Is it really okay to play with him?" I asked.

Ana nodded. "It should be fine. Master doesn't mind it when Master Zevran gets in his way"

I glanced at Zevran, who was still standing at the door.  

"Will you come with me?" I asked as a sense of dread washed over me. There was something sinister in his gaze that didn't sit right with me... First off, the creepy smile that was usually on his face was gone, and in its place was a scowl that made him look even scarier than he normally did. It was as if he were planning something vile and was barely holding himself back from doing it.

"Only to watch, as my duty is to be by your side everywhere you go," she said, and I smiled, feeling relieved.

"Okay then. I'll play with him then" I said, even though I hated the idea. But this was better than waiting for Ilvane... The man was unpredictable and I was sure whatever he planned to do with me wasn't going to be good at all.

Ana turned to Zevran, her head bowed. "She has agreed to play with you, Master."

Zevran's gaze cut to me, and then he smiled, his lips stretching wide, but just like before, it didn't reach his eyes. A cold chill went up my spine, my heart increasing its rhythm. Why the hell did he look so evil?

"How about we go to the archery grounds. You don't know how to shoot arrows, right? Don't worry, I'll teach you," he said, and I nodded, my spine locking rigidly as he reached to take my hand.

I stood up, my gaze dropping to his outstretched hand. They were trembling. 

He clenched them once he noticed my stare, then let them drop when he realized I wasn't going to take it.

My gaze moved to his face. The creepy smile was gone, but the corner of his mouth was quivering, and there was an unnatural constant twitching at the side of his eyes.

"Let's go Ves, or we won't get to play at all."

*****

I could feel Zevran's gaze burning into me as I held up the arrow. It was unnerving.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" I asked, turning to face him.

Color rushed up his cheek, making him look almost adorable.

"It's just that you're so pretty. Also, your skin is normally so pale, but out here in the sun, it's like you're shining"

"Is that so?" I asked, turning to face him. He blushed even harder, his eyes darting away from mine.

"Yes. I also like the color of your eyes very much. Every time you look at me, I get these awful feelings that make me sick to my stomach, but don't worry, I quite like them a lot"

I stared at him, then tilted my head as I realized something. "Do you like me, Zevran"

His gaze whipped to mine, his eyes wide as saucers. "Wow, you finally called me by my name"

I blinked, then raised a brow.

"Yes. I like you a lot. I want us to be together forever, Ves," he got out with enthusiasm, his icy black eyes shining.

"Did you mean it when you said you were going to help me get out of here," I asked, holding his gaze.

He nodded, his eyes locked on mine in fascination. "Master would be very angry, and he might hurt me, but I can take it." His gaze dropped, his eyes fixed on my hand as he started to reach for it. Again. "For you... I can do anything," he declared, his eyes darting to my face as his hands closed around mine. "See, even our hand fits so perfectly together"

I jerked my hand from his hold, my teeth grinding as my heart stuttered in my chest, the wave of nausea from his cold touch lingering.

"It's too bad, Zevran, but I'll never like someone like you. You're just like your father. You both kill without a thought and laugh about it. You think you're God and that everyone should worship you. You think you can get away with whatever you do..."

"You're wrong Vesper! I'm not like Master at all"

"You're not?" I scoffed, pointing to his hands. "Look at your hands; no matter how much you wash them, they still have blood all over them, so don't you dare lie to my face that you're any different from your father."

His gaze dropped to his hand and then he moved them out of my sight, his face crumbling. 

"That hurts... A lot," he muttered, then glanced up at me, his eyes red and glossy with tears, but then he shook his head, his expression shifting to neutral, his lips stretching into the weird, strained smile. "But I know you don't really mean it. You're only trying to hurt me because you care about me—I've seen the way you look at me—"

"I only look at you because you keep smiling and looking at me like a creep!" I yelled, then sucked in a breath and let it out. "Look, I only agreed to play with you, so it's either we do that or I go back to the room."

He nodded, his teeth biting down on his quivering lips. "Alright. Let's just play," he said, then glanced at Ana, who stood at the edge of the field, just quietly watching our heated exchange. "Bring the bows over" he ordered, his fingers trembling as he pointed to them.

Ana turned, her pale face glistening. 

I guess our argument had caused her alarm even though she'd just watched us quietly without interfering.

Gosh, I was exhausted. All I wanted was to escape this shitty reality even for just a few minutes, but I couldn't.

I sucked in a breath, my fingers dragging through my hair.

A sharp yelp made me flinch and then my eyes widened as I noticed Ana had fallen to the ground.

With my heart in my throat, I rushed toward her, crouching beside her and taking her bleeding hand in mine.

"Are you alright, what happened?" I asked, looking over her wound that didn't look all too deep or life-threatening.

I could hear my heart pounding in my ear. "Let me tie this up, okay?" I got out and ripped off a part of my dress, my hands shaky as I gripped her hand and started to tie the material over the cut.

I was almost done when Zevran's cry of pain reached my ears.

My gaze whipped in his direction, my eyes widening when I noticed his bleeding hand, but then an involuntary movement from him caused my gaze to shift to his other hand.

He was holding a bloody knife.

Darkness crept up the edge of my vision, my stomach tightening into knots as I realized that he'd hurt himself deliberately. For what? My attention.

"I'm hurt" he informed, his black gaze digging into my soul as his blood dripped to the floor. 

What the fucking hell. Zevran was out of his mind.

I broke eye contact, my gaze moving to Ana's hand that was still clasped in mine, and without thinking, I continued what I'd been doing.

I wasn't going to indulge Zevran. He could slit his own throat for all I care.

Footsteps approached. Shivers trailed down my spine, a warning that something was not quite right. 

My gaze jerked up, then widened, my eyes almost bursting out of their sockets as I saw Zevran standing behind Ana, his dead eyes locked on mine.

"What are you— NO!" It was the only word I managed to gasp out as he grabbed Ana's hair, yanked her head to the side, and slit her throat.

Blood splashed onto my face, warm and sticky.

I stared, eyes wide as Ana's face contorted in shocked horror. A sharp gasp escaped her lips and then silence.

Zevran let go of her hair. 

The sickening thud of her body hitting the ground had bile burning at the back of my throat.

My eyes refused to leave her body.

Cold, bloody fingers gently cupped my chin, his hand tilting my head back so I was looking into his dark, cruel eyes.

"There. Just focus on me from now on okay?"