Liora’s POV“You're getting transferred today.” A guard snapped at me, and I calmly opened my eyes.

“The trial is today, you mean.” I muttered, and he shrugged.

“That's what I just said.” He growled.

“If you believe that, who am I to argue?” I scoffed, shaking my head.

“You think you're one saviour, or one great human that the world can't do without, and in reality, you're just a piece of scum!” He hissed .

“And you're an impotent son of a bitch who protects the rights of those that trample upon him like his nothing.” I shot back at him. “Your wife left you because you can't provide despite working two jobs diligently, and you're about to be a father to a daughter you might not even get to see, and yet you protect the rights of those that have made your life so miserable!”

He went silent immediately, swallowing the words I had shot out.

“That maid could have been you, because Elder Caridul doesn't care about genitals. It could have been your wife. Heck, if you were old enough, it could have been your daughter or son.” I hissed, making myself comfortable on the floor of the prison.

I closed my eyes when he couldn't respond, contemplating my next move.

“She didn't leave me. Her father forced her to.” The guard growled. I chuckled as I had rightly guessed his whole existence.

“I'm pretty sure the girl who Elder Caridul raped and killed also had parents.” I said, leaving my eyes closed.

Not long after, I was defending myself in a court filled with people that wanted nothing more than my head.

“Care to defend yourself?” The Chief Magistrate asked like anything I said would have meaning to him.

“Well, I enjoyed killing him for one, as I enjoyed killing many of the rich bastards that think they can oppress anyone and get away with it.” I said, and the court drove into chaos. There was chatter all around, and people whispered to themselves.

“I fought for the poor, and killed their oppressors when I had to, and I'm not sorry for doing that.” I giggled, and I saw the look of disgust and terror on all their faces.

“Give us the whereabouts of your accomplices, and we'd give you a cleaner death.” He said, probably trying to bargain.

I laughed at his bullshut attempt to get me to cave in to his will.

“Stay inside boys! Keep up the good work, and don't waste your lives trying to save a lost cause like me.” I said, and the Chief Magistrate hit his hand on the desk.

“Who are you talking to?” He growled.

“Just give your sentence and let me leave the gathering of disgusting criminals.” I rolled my eyes.

“Elder Caridul had a family!” Someone in the crowd yelled.

“So did Mirabel.” I growled. “I bet you all didn't know that her name was Mirabel.”

“Mirabel had a family, and so did Caitlin before her, and Tina, and Jessica, and the countless ones before her that were raped and killed by this same bastard.” I growled, and the court went silent.

Elder Caridul’s wife was in a corner, watching the whole event unfold. Not a tear had dropped from her eyes. She even wore make-up.

“I'm pretty sure his wife is relieved.” I chuckled, and she glanced at me like I had just exposed her to everyone. “I mean, these girls were all blondes, and she's very far from being blonde.”

Murmurs rippled through the courtroom again, and everyone had something to say. The Chief Magistrate had to hit the gavel several times before everyone got calm again.

“I sentence you to death by hanging.” He ordered, hitting a gavel.

I scoffed, led out by two guards who looked like they enjoyed everything I had done in the courtroom. The content smirk on their faces was all I needed to feel better about whatever would happen to me.

I was hoping that the cult wouldn't try to save me, because it'd definitely not end well.

I was forced into a carriage, and we immediately hit the road to where I was going to be hanged. They decided to move so late at night for reasons well known to them.

I closed my eyes in the carriage, preparing my mind for every possible outcome which included escaping this madness.

The horse started moving slower, and I could sense the uneasiness that came with its movement. It was getting wary of the road, and it seemed scared.

The guards didn't listen to the horse, so they kept moving. I closed my eyes, tapping my feet against the ground as I hoped that the boys wouldn't fall into the trap that had been easily set for us.

I immediately heard the whistle of an arrow, and not long after, it hit the carriage.

“Fuck!” I snapped as we had fallen into the pit I so much tried to escape.

The carriage shook hard as it hit the ground, and I rolled across the floor.

“Fuck!” I hissed, trying to get up, but arrows were already flying. I saw soldiers storm out of nowhere like they had been waiting for this to happen.

“Move!” one of the guards yelled before an arrow hit his chest. I kicked the door open and jumped out, landing on the dirt. The night was filled with shouts, arrows and fire.

“Karl!” I screamed when I saw him and the others fighting their way through the soldiers.

“Get her out!” he shouted, slicing down a man in front of him.

I ran toward them, grabbing a fallen sword from the ground. “Fall back!” I yelled, blocking an attack and slashing back at the soldier.

There were too many of them. The air was polluted with the stench of blood and smoke. My people screamed, one by one, as the soldiers pushed forward.

“No! Stay together!” I yelled, killing another guard. I was trying to reach them, but they were already falling. I saw Tyla’s face before she was struck down, then Darek right after her.

Karl was bleeding badly, barely standing. I caught him before he fell, holding him up while swinging my sword at anyone that came near.

We were surrounded. The last few soldiers closed in with their eyes dark and cold.

“Haha…” one of them chuckled. “We finally got you!”

Karl dropped to his knees. “Liora... go, please…” he muttered weakly.

“Not without you,” I said, even as my body shook from pain and anger.

A soldier raised his sword to strike us both. I clenched my teeth, ready to die fighting

Then someone ran out of the darkness on a horse. A tall, frail looking guy. A pretty boy. He looked like he could barely lift a blade, but he moved fast, way too fast for someone that looked like he couldn't handle a sword.

He stabbed the first guard in the neck, then swung the sword into the next one’s chest. His hands were shaking, but he didn’t stop until they were all down.

The forest went quiet again, and he jumped off his horse.

He stood there, panting and staring at the hands he had just used to commit murder.

I stared at him, covered in blood, breathing like every drawn breath was my last.

Who are you?” I muttered, swallowing hard.

He didn’t answer. He just looked at me , and fell to his knees.