Just then, his expression changed. “Get up, you mutt!” He yelled angrily at the beast.

The creature tried to stand up but to no avail. Eve crossed her arms, impossible the creature can continue after enduring that attack.

Count Jim snap his finger, and the guards pulled out a cage. Cries could be heard from that cage, 

Bliss and Eve are angered by the sight before them. Inside the cage is a mini size of the beast they just fought. Unlike its mother, it have snow white fur, the only black fur is the three stripes on its back that look a lot like lightning bolt, its eyes the colour of the golden sun, fangs small but sharp.

“You cold-blooded man!” Bliss screamed.

Eve glared at him, “I knew it was weird that a Fierecus hound will be this obedient towards you.” She cast a glance at the little beast that is imprisoned inside the cage.

Fierecus hound a strong magical beast, like its name a fierce creature, at the same time they are proud; hence to tame them will take tremendous effort. 

But, if a Fierecus hound recognize you as its master, its loyalty is not to be waiver. Hence, many know it is difficult to take one under their wing but they are still willing to take the risk and try. With the right training, a Fierecus hound can be very powerful.

Mages, spell casters, knights; all of these people eventually find themselves a mythical creature as their familiar. And Fierecus hound is one of the rare familiar but also one of the most popular choice.

Count Jim sent a menacing glare at the little beast, “Do it!”

The guard took a sizzling electric whip and beat the little hound. It cries in pain, hearing the sound of beating and the whimpering of its child, the creature growl in agony and anger. 

Bliss felt a throbbing pain in her heart, she saw the hurt in the creature’s eyes and the plead in the little hound’s gaze.

She shut her eyes, her brows furrowed; the sound of beating, cries and menacing laughter overwhelmed her mentally, her hands fly up to her ears as she kneel down trying to block out all the sound.

Eve noticed her discomfort, she went over to Bliss standing in front of her and asked in a soft voice, “Bliss, are you okay?”

Bliss open her eyes looking at Eve, tears in her eyes. Behind Eve, she saw the guard held the whip high and with a swift wave, the whip hit the little hound. Something snap inside Bliss when a drop of tear from the little hound drip on the ground.

Her eyes went wide, tears stream down her cheeks; a strong wind suddenly picks up as Bliss slowly stand up. The earth shake, as Bliss raised her hand, the trees behind her are all pull out, with a loud cry the trees flew towards the guards and Count Jim.

Count Jim calmly sidestep avoiding her attack but the guards are all wiped out. Eve’s jaw dropped at the sight before her. 

Hovering herself towards the cage; expressionless, Bliss suddenly turned towards Count Jim, her eyes glowing; looking at the hollowness in her blue eyes, Count Jim suddenly feel...scared.

Oddly, Bliss ignored him and continue towards the cage; Count Jim let out a breath of relief, he didn’t even notice that he had been holding his breath out from fear.

Bliss put her focus on the cage and in mere seconds, the metal cage turned to dust. She gently picks up the severely wounded hound, a flash of hurt appeared on her feature as her trembling hand stroke the little creature in her arms. It whimpers in pain and slowly open its eyes, the glow in Bliss’s eyes faded, replacing by pool of tears. Bliss blinks back her tears and flash a gentle smile at the creature in her arms.

The little hound look at the guards that was beating it moments ago, lying unconscious on the ground, then at Bliss’s gentle smile and warm hug. It was about to close its eyes when it saw Count Jim suddenly appear behind Bliss. And not too far from Count Jim, is its lifeless mother and Eve, fainted.

In mere seconds, Count Jim had sucked out all the powers left from the creature and knock out Eve. Count Jim knew he have to get rid of Bliss, Bliss is like an unpredictable threat.

It let out a warning howl, Bliss look over her shoulder and is shocked to see Eve lying on the ground, fainted and the little hound’s mother, dead. She tried to stand and run but she drops back to the ground.

I have no energy.

This realization hits Bliss like an aggressive tide. She shut her eyes, shielding the little beast. Count Jim’s attack hit Bliss and instantly Bliss felt like she is being run over by hundreds of horses.

Pain is the only thing she could feel. Bliss couldn’t her body, she bite her lips, with shaking hands, she loosened her grip.

Lips trembling, she look at the little hound, “Run…you ha-have...to es-escape.” She muttered, looking at the creature in her arms.

Count Jim is slowly walking towards them, every step filled with intensity, after sucking all the magic out from the Fierecus hound; Bliss could only see hunger in his eyes. He is hungry for more power.

Bliss turned back to the little hound in her arms, letting it go. “Ru-run.”

But, it won’t budge. Determination shine from its golden eyes as if it is saying that no matter what is the consequences, it will stay with her. Warmth engulfed her heart.

She won’t let it do that. Mustering all her energy, a magic bubble envelop the little hound, the little hound struggle to break free. Bliss try to control the bubble, she tries to send it away, far away from the danger that is approaching them.

Count Jim laughs at Bliss’s weak attempt; in a swift motion, he break the bubble, holding the little hound; with his other free hand, he grabs Bliss, reading to suck out both the hound’s and Bliss’s magic.

Then, he saw something in Bliss’s eyes and the light shaking of her head; following her gaze, he saw the previously unconscious Eve slowly standing up.

“Impressive…” He whispered, eyes brighten up.

“No..” Bliss muttered as Count Jim dropped her and the hound on the ground, walking towards Eve.

“Incredible, after that attack, you can still stand up. I am amaze, your magic must be strong. It will be delicious.” He said, craze in his eyes.

He reaches for Eve, then a faint orange glow start to emit from Eve’s body.

He is sucking Eve’s magic!

Eve groans in pain as her magic is being suck out by Count Jim.

Something screams inside Bliss,she have to do something! She cannot let him took Eve’s magic away!

Bliss suddenly remembered the blade her grandpa gave her before she leave for the capital. Her grandpa had told her one can never be too careful, she still remember how her grandpa showed her, he said to stab her enemy as hard as she can and took a head start escaping if the bad guy is too strong for her to take on.

I’m sorry, grandpa. But, I can’t just leave them and run away.

The little hound lie on the ground unable to move, it saw beads of sweat dripping from Bliss forehead as Bliss took out a small blade from her boots, with trembling hand, she stab it hard on her thigh.

“Ah!” Bliss cried in pain but the pain make her stands up. The little hound stares at Bliss as she stood up and charge towards Count Jim with the blade in her hand.

At that moment, something hit the little creature’s heart and it knew that it found its master.

“Let Eve go!” Bliss screamed.