Page 88

You Can’t Keep a Champion Down

I don’t remember much after that, apart from when I find myself facing my cell, I am covered in blood and the side of my face feels funny.

Blinking, I am shoved into the cell and I spin instantly to see the two hesitant Berserkers there.

They quickly smash the door shut and retreat, keeping their eyes on me the whole way.

Hours pass, and I walk the tight confines of my cell. Evan tries to talk to me but I ignore him, instead I pace. I hear boots on the stairs and know it is time. Time they pay.

Nothing but pure instinct and hate fuel me now.

I move back into the middle of the cell and wait.

When the guard comes to do his check, he squints into the dark, clearly not seeing me.

When he steps close to the bars, I spring forward.

He doesn’t have a chance to get away, grabbing his neck with one hand, I search him for the keys.

When I find them belted to his hip, I snap the cord holding them and, with his face still smashed to the bars, hand them over.

He takes them slowly and I grab his sword from his other hip and hold it to his dick.

“Open the cell,” I growl. He swallows hard and fumbles with the keys, almost dropping them before he gets it open.

As soon as I hear the lock click, I let him go and yank open the door.

He stumbles back, wide-eyed as I grin at him.

Tossing the sword in my hand to get a feel for the weight I saunter towards him.

“You should have listened to my warning, I swore I would kill you all,” I say before throwing the sword.

It imbeds in his neck, pinning him to the wall behind him.

Stepping closer, I pull out the sword and he falls to the stone floor, his hands holding his neck as if he can stop the blood from flowing freely.

I hold his eyes as he dies and then I search his body for anything useful.

Evan’s face is pressed against the cell door and his mouth is moving but I turn and, ignoring him, slowly ascend the steps, listening for any more Berserkers.

When I don’t hear anyone, I peek out of the wooden door and check the corridor.

I check left and right before stepping out.

The bloody sword held in my left hand, I saunter down the corridor, not rushing, not caring if anyone finds me.

Let them come at me right now, with how I am feeling, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

I walk past a familiar door and hesitate.

With an evil smile, I turn back around and face it.

Ivar’s little pet torturer’s room, I forgot how close to the dungeon he was. It’s time for some payback.

I don’t knock and quietly slip inside. The room is dark, but I can hear water running in the attached bathroom.

Luckily, I know my way about the room and I tiptoe through silently until I stand at the doorway, watching him.

He is lounging back in the tub, the water mucky with blood and dirt, and I grin as I step inside.

He put me through hell and back and it seems only right I do the same.

I notice his weapons on the side, too far away for him to easily reach.

His eyes are closed, and I stop when I tower over the tub.

When he still doesn’t notice, I watch him for a moment.

He groans and when I see his hand moving on his tiny cock in the water I smirk.

Bored of waiting, using the tip of the sword I nudge his chin. He jerks upright, his eyes wide and his chest heaving as he faces me. When he gets a good look at me, he pales and I know I must look like a monster.

His eyes narrow with arrogance. “If you wanted to play, pet, all you had to do was ask.”

I grin at him, making him falter for a second.

“That’s not how it’s going to be, pet.” Then I flip the sword and smash the pommel into his face.

He falls back into the water and I grab his hair and force his head under.

His hands reach up and grip at me, smacking and fighting as he chokes on his own dirty bath water.

I look around the room as he chokes to death, and only when he starts to slow do I bring him back up.

He sputters and gasps as water flows from his lips.

I allow him a second to breathe before I dunk him back under again.

I do it again and again until he is begging, his voice raw and scraped as he pleads with me.

I thought it would make me feel good, to get back at the bastard who hurt me so much, but all I feel is empty.

I let go and he scrambles from the bath, slipping on the floor in front of it and ending up on his arse.

“You won’t get to him,” he says from the floor, looking at me, and I know he sees the death in my eyes. His eyes dart to his weapons and I laugh.

“Yes I will, and then I will kill him and wear his fucking skin as a coat.” Darting forward, I slip Dray’s knife from my boot, grinning at the fact the Berserker who searched me was more bothered about feeling me up than looking for actual weapons, he got the obvious ones but missed this little knife a fact I am grateful for right now.

Crouching before him I grin. “This might hurt, pet,” I mock.

His eyes widen, and he starts screaming as I hack through his flesh, cutting away the Berserker brand, dishonouring him.

He passes out halfway through, making it easier.

Ripping the skin away, I hold the brand as I hack off his hair and shove them both in my pocket.

“You are not a warrior, you are a sick son of bitch.” With that, I grab the decorative pot next to us on the counter and slam it down on his head, again and again until his face is bashed in and he isn’t breathing.

Standing, I drop the pot and let it shatter on the floor.

I leave him there, naked and dishonoured for all to see, and go in search of my next target.

I now have four Berserker brands and braids in my pocket.

I made true on my promise to myself to kill the bastards who cheered, sweeping my way through the castle and hunting them down.

I crouch next to the open doorway and poke my head around before rushing in.

I don’t wait as I leap at a Berserker and cut his throat before spinning and gutting the next.

Raising my sword, I go to kill the third before I notice it is the man from before, the one who told me about the rebellion.

I drop my sword and turn my back on him, ignoring his questioning look.

He doesn’t seem bothered I just slaughtered two of his friends.

When I crouch and start to cut off their brands, I hear him gag.

Eyeing my handiwork, Ismile. I am getting good at this.

“What are you doing?” he asks and I notice he looks a little pale. I glance back down before moving on to the next and then I stand and face him.

“You are part of the rebellion, correct?” When he nods I carry on. “Good, gather the others. Either you help or you get the fuck out of my way. Tonight is the night that Ivar dies.” With that, I walk away and I hear him scramble to keep up.

“Shit, okay.” I hear him pant and I speed up. “He’s in the throne room, so are some guards.” I nod my understanding and I hear him stop. “I will get the others and meet you there.” I wave my hand and his footsteps sound, going the other way. That’s fine, he can get the others, but I am not waiting.

I make my way to the throne room, only running into three patrols who now all decorate the hallways of the castle. I know I have been hurt, but I can’t feel it at the moment and I just can’t seem to care.

When I reach the double doors of the throne room, I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. Ready, I kick open the door and stride down the middle of the room. Ivar squints from where he sits on the throne with a woman’s head bobbing up and down on his cock as he holds her there.

When he spots me, he grins and purposely starts moaning loudly.

The guards in the room step forward but hesitate when Ivar doesn’t panic.

He will regret that. When I stop before him, he moans long and loud before pushing the woman away.

She scrambles to her feet, panting and wiping her mouth before covering her chest. She eyes me, and her eyes light up with knowing.

She nods before stepping away, and marching back down the room, leaving me with Ivar and his men.

Grinning, I grab my stash and throw all the bits of skin and hair at him.

He catches them automatically, and when he notices what they are, he pales and jumps to his feet.

His face turns beet red and he thunders towards me.

When he gets close, he raises his fist, but I dodge the punch and sweep my leg out, then kick back so he falls back down on his throne.

He eyes me slowly before climbing to his feet, more cautious this time.

It will be his weakness, he doesn’t want to die.

I don’t care, not in the darkness like I am.

“What do you think will happen here, pet?” He starts to circle me and I keep him in my eyesight. “That you will march in here and kill me?”

I shrug. “Pretty much.”

He throws back his head and laughs before stopping in front of me. “You forget one thing, pet.”

I tilt my head and eye him. “What’s that?”

He grins evilly. “I am King.” He snaps his fingers at his guards. “Take her weapon and bring her to my room.” He carries on grinning, but when no one moves, it’s my turn to smile. I eye the guards to watch as they nod at me and step back so their backs are to the wall.

He growls and turns on them. “Did you hear me? I said get her!” When no one moves he screams, throwing a tantrum. “You fucking traitors, I will kill you all…” he carries on, his back to me, and I use the opening.