think had she seen my life before Lucius had stepped back into it and painted it blood red.
It had certainly been a far cry from the sight that surrounded us now, as each Harpy began to land with a resounding thud. As for the three biggest, they were now back at their high arched perch with the Queen in the middle. Another Harpy flew over to her and handed her something round, hairy, and dripping, and it only took me a second to figure out what it was. The Queen took it in her hand holding it out as far away from her as she could and listened to what the other Harpy had to say. Seconds later she was snarling and hissing down at me in her response to it. I grinned, gave her a two finger salute, then I lent my head slightly into Nero.
“I think she just got my message,” I said through gritted teeth that were still smiling at the winged bitch.
“Your message?” Nero asked in a tone that said she was almost afraid to.
I looked side on and leaning further into her this time said,
“I kinda, might of, just a little bit, painted a threat on my cell wall.”
“Wait, what did you use for paint…oh okay, never mind, don’t answer that.” She paused her question the second I gave her an ‘isn’t it obvious’ look. So, she asked me something else instead,
“What was the message?” This time she whispered this and I laughed through those same gritted teeth, whilst not taking my eyes from the Queen as I told her,
“That her head was next.” Then, the Queen threw the bloodied mass towards us, making Nero scream. Only after she had taken a step back and shivered in revulsion did she speak.
“Yep, you weren’t kiddin’, definitely bloodier,” she said in response to the severed head of the Harpy I had killed as it rolled to our feet. I nudged her shoulder and said,
“In my defence, this was done before I knew you were still alive.”
“Oh, that makes me feel so much better,” she said sarcastically making me play along,
“Really?”
“No, of course not, you pretty cute psycho!” she hissed making me giggle.
“Can I just ask at this point, because I feel like I need to, what with my life currently hanging in the balance and all…what were you planning exactly if I hadn’t been here?” I laughed once and said,
“That’s easy…To kill them all.” Then I stepped forward to the sound of Nero hissing behind me in a strained voice,
“Oh right, but of course, silly me…And exactly how were you planning on doing that…got more than a talon in your knickers, do you?” I chuckled again and looked back over my shoulder to tell her,
“Like I said, you haven’t seen what I can do with a pencil,” I joked making her sigh and say,
“Gods’ assholes, but you and the King really are made for each other.” I smirked at her and delivered the classic Hans Solo line before addressing the fact we were surrounded by snarling Harpies that wanted to tear us both limb from limb…
“I know.”
“You will die at my feet, mortal!” The Harpy Queen said, making me hold open my arms and say,
“Why not let the girl go and you and I can go one on one.” She snarled in response, morphing her features for a short time and flashing those Crimson Eyes I would never forget.
Then, I held up my weapon, pointing it at her and said,
“Time I take another head, and this time…
“It’s yours, Bitch!”
Chapter Thirteen
Story of the Blue Haired Damsel
“Well, this is nice,” Nero said making me grant her a wry look before holding up a finger and saying,
“It should be noted that this wasn’t part of the plan.” She shrugged, swatted a hand in front of her and said,
“Nah, don’t sweat it.” I raised a brow making her hold up her wrists before giving them a shake and adding,
“At least I am no longer impersonating a piece of meat in a butcher’s window…baby steps.” I laughed at this and replied,
“Glad I could be of assistance.”
“Hey, gold star for completing phase one of this rescue.” She smirked back at me and I think chatting like this was obviously keeping us both sane and able to ignore the fact we were now in a large cage that looked like a holding cell for those ready to be executed.
The cage was at the far wall of the bailey and against one that had been