The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 55: Pleasurable Cuts

Chapter 55: Pleasurable Cuts

"What does it mean to be a warrior?" Isadora suddenly asked, breaking an hour of silence, her half-finished food still sitting in front of her.

She watched Kraven poking the fire with a stick, as then a smile found his lips at her question.

"What is a warrior to you, love?"

She scoffed. She asked the question and yet he threw it right back at her.

Typical of him.

"Path of blood," she replied.

"True."

"What do you think?" she asked, She couldn’t believe she was seeking answers from a madman but yet a madman thought differently.

Kraven was an unusual Fae and everything he did was chaotic. A tailored chaotic approach to things that unleashed many answers.

Just like how he taught courage through fear—by trying to kill her.

"Hmm..." he made a sound, bringing the end of the stick caught in flame, he blew on it and quench it.

"To be a warrior is fear as well as it is strength. Fear, because no one wants to be a weakling... The Spine for instance."

Isadora gulped at his words. The Spine was fear... "It was created to challenge fear," she murmured.

"To be a warrior is strength..."

"The Hunt," she replied. "Are you saying all these challenges are what it means to be a warrior?"

"Maybe"

Can’t he just give a straight answer?

"The answer to your question, love, is not my answer but yours" he said, rising to his feet. "Are you done?"

She stared at her half eaten meal, the rest of the appetite was gone even though she had a huge one for food, maybe it was the nerves working her.

"Yes," she replied, rising to her feet.

"Draw out your dagger."

"We’re not using wooden weapons?" she asked, tensed.

A novice uses those, right?

"No," he mused. His answer was short and simple.

He drew his dagger from his holster. "Come at me with an intent to kill."

Isadora stared at him like he had sprouted two heads. In this situation he might!

"Relax, love, I won’t attack just defend."

She shook her head and took a step back.

Kraven sighed, watching as she retreated with a frown on her face. "For this to work, you have to trust me"

"Never," she replied with a certainty, more than she ever had about anything.

"Fair enough, then trust my aura."

She gulped, glaring at him.

"Just like that day on the ship, read your enemy."

She did... sensing there was nothing hostile from him, it was neutral. A calming effect that caused her muscles to relax and her heartbeat followed.

"Good girl," he coaxed. "Now come at me... I want to feel your bloodlust sing"

Isadora charged toward him as expected. Swinging her blade with the intent to kill.

Yet, it felt like a futile attempt because Kraven blocked each of her attacks with ease, using just one hand.

Isadora growled, getting frustrated every minute, because not even a single progress in her movements.

"Come on, love, is this how much you desire to kill me?" he taunted.

"My blade is too small!"

"It is not the blade!"

She growled again and came at him faster this time, but he caught her arm before the blade could get to his eye. Her muscles strained because she had to stretch to get to that level.

"That is the most pathetic move I have ever seen... never throw yourself at your enemy with nothing."

Suddenly a smirk found Isadora’s lips, she released her dagger to fall and caught it with her right hand. Without hesitation she swung her blade and cut his cheek.

Her wide eyes fell on the damage she did, not believing it. In impulse, she backed away but kept her guard up.

Kraven used his thumb to wipe the blood off the cut and stared at it. He chuckled lightly. "I thought you were left handed."

She shrugged, holding her weapon on the ready. A smile found her lips as the desire to go again became addictive.

’Very interesting,’ he thought in fascination. ’I’m going to enjoy every bit of this.’

~♧~

It went on forever, Kraven insisting she kept attacking. It was never ending and each time it became addictive for her.

A thirst that needed a quench.

How long has it been? It had been days. Trying to kill him and when she got a cut, she could rest. One hour of rest and she was back at it again.

Kraven was covered with cuts now, from his cheeks, arm, hand and thigh. Even though they were small cuts, he should be dizzy from blood loss.

However, not even a sense of discomfort can be seen from his face, just his regular amusement that got on her nerves.

Right now he watched her eat with that look in his eyes like he had caught a special price. The dazed look in his eyes looked like he was daydreaming.

The same look Dashwell always gave her each time she came down from the tower but Kraven’s was different, his were a reminder that he wasn’t done with her... yet.

"It’s been days," Isadora began, finally breaking the silence. "Why won’t you let me heal you?"

"Are you worried about me, love?"

A deep frown took over her features. "Gods no," she replied and cleared her throat. "You’re making a mess everywhere."

"Don’t worry about me love, full-blooded Fae tend to heal faster from slight wounds like this... but of course I can’t because of how eager you’re to kill me."

"Only because you keep insisting I cut you."

"You enjoy it don’t you?" he teased.

Her pulse quickened and a warmth found her cheeks, causing her to look away.

He chuckled deeply. "The idea of inflicting pain on me must be satisfying."

"Yes!" she snapped. He was getting under her skin again but he was right.

She did enjoy it.

"Where is that innocent girl I took from that brothel and what have you done with her?"

"She’s still here."

"Not for long."