Trigger Warnings: Strong Violence and Language

Chapter 4: She Went Snap!

With an emotionless expression, the strawberry blonde slowly reached up and took Dmitri's hand, rendering him speechless.

As he hoisted her up, his grin disturbingly only grew wider the closer she got to his face.

Despite him doing that, the detached look on her face didn't falter because she knew if it had, she and her son could kiss their lives goodbye.

All the cruel ways she could meet her untimely demise by Dmitri's hands haunted her every thought.

Would it be by sucking every last drop of her blood until there was nothing left, ripping her limbs off one by one, or a quick death by snapping her neck?

His blood-thirsty crimson predatory eyes creepily bore through her sage-green empty ones, trying his hardest to pick apart her brain since her reaction clearly intrigued him.

Huh, this chick must be fuckin outta her mind. Guess she must have a death wish or some shit. Or maybe she's into that? Dmitri thought to himself, burning with curiosity.

He couldn't figure her out.

No one in their right mind would have been willing to accept his offer to help them off the ground if their life meant anything to them.

When she finally got to her feet, a faint giggle escaped her lips before she asked him point blank, "You know what your problem is, you filthy bloodsucker?"

"I'm afraid I don't. Why don't you enlighten me, sweetheart?" he insisted, leaning in slightly, encouraging her to share her thoughts with him.

There were only two options left now: either do or die.

Even though things seemed hopeless, taking a risk was worth a shot since she was doomed either way.

She had no intention of finding out whatever twisted plan Dmitri had in store for her and her son.

At least if she were going to go down, she was determined not to go down without a fight.

Her demeanor shifted instantly, and she boldly took a step closer to him, their eyes fixated on one another face-to-face.

If looks could kill, the intensity of the death glare that the little boy's mother sent Dmitri's way would surely have slain him upon contact.

I almost pity you. You're so self-absorbed that you don't even realize I'm about to give you a taste of your own medicine. Better think fast! she thought as fury burned in her eyes like a raging wildfire tearing down a forest.

As a last resort, she pulled a stunt that not even Dmitri had expected.

"What the—" Dmitri managed to spill from his lips in shock as she closed in on him.

With quick reflexes, her hand slipped underneath her bra. Her fingers curled around the hilt of the blessed dagger, a gift from the goddess Eupherial. She kept it concealed for whenever she needed it for drastic measures.

It emitted a bright white light as soon as her fingertips touched the surface. A number of gold inscriptions carved themselves into the weapon, making their presence known.

"Screw you!" the strawberry blonde screamed out like a war cry.

Dmitri's eyes widened in surprise as she drew it out and attempted to drive it straight into his right eye socket. Before she was about to accomplish her goal, Dmitri grabbed a hold of her wrist.

She flung her arms out in the struggle, causing Dmitri's grip to loosen up. Taking the opportunity handed to her, she sliced upward.

The metal dug into his flesh as it whizzed by his right cheek, leaving him in shock that she was actually able to inflict an injury on him.

But, what she really wounded was his ego.

With a swift arm motion, she swung downward, forcing the dagger to dig further into his cheek, causing him to scream in agony compared to the little scratch she had given him five seconds ago.

She quickly looked over her shoulder back at her son. "Run and get out of here!"

"But, Mom, I don't think I can. It hurts too bad!" her son whined. But, despite his body shaking from pain from standing, he did his best to try to get away like his mother had asked him, even if he couldn't make it that far.

Smoke poured out from the spot where she had landed the blows on him as if she had lit a match and set him on fire. "Damn it, that fucking hurts like hell," Dmitri growled through gritted teeth.

"Damn, I like my women feisty," Dmitri remarked. He rubbed his thumb over the mark where she had slashed, and it healed instantly as if it was never there to begin with. He stuck his finger inside his mouth, sucking off the remainder of the blood.

Fuck, he heals a lot faster than I expected, she thought. Worry coursed through her body, but she refused to show him the concern welling up inside of her.

"Where the hell did ya get a thing like that? If ya tell me, I'll forget about what you did to my face," Dmitri claimed as his eyes tore through her soul. But, knowing Dmitri, he wasn't the type to keep his promises.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she sarcastically shot back.

"I can't remember the last time someone made me bleed. Why don't you come over here and show me what else you can do," Dmitri egged her on with a fanged grin. He curled his four fingers in and out repeatedly, encouraging her to come at him once more.

"Just to be clear. Ya caught me off guard that time, but there's not gonna be a next time. Beginners luck. Big damn deal. So, don't start celebrating yet. Trust me, that's the only hit you're gonna land," Dmitri declared as he cracked his neck from the left to the right before cracking his knuckles.

"Sweetie, you know I love you. I'll do my best to hold him off for as long as I can," she roared despite being uncertain of how long she would exactly be able to do that for. But, as long as her precious baby made it out alright, she didn't care if she died.

"Don't listen to your mommy, kid! With a broken leg like that, ya might as well stay put because it isn't like you're going to make it fucking far anyways. I promise this chat with your mommy won't take long, and then we can get to know each other real soon cause you're next," Dmitri said before giving her son a wink. He playfully leaned forward as if begging her to make the first move.

She swung the dagger with all her might and slashed from Dmitri's collarbone to the left side of his neck, causing him to hiss in pain. As soon as the blade came in contact with Dmitri's skin, smoke seeped out from the wound.

She held a hunger in her eyes, a desire to spill more of his blood and inflict as much damage as possible. Not wanting to give Dmitri any breathing room, she mercilessly swung the dagger around to tear it into his skin as much as she could.

"Not holding back, are ya? I like that," Dmitri teased with a fanged grin. He stepped back away from her and held the sides of his face as his wound sizzled.

A bit of blood trickled out from the cuts along Dmitri's skin. A look of entertainment and pure hatred danced in his glare.

"Is that really all ya got, sweetheart? I told ya to give me all you fuckin got. But, since you're not, it means I'll have to then, right?" he mocked while cocking his head to the side. His blood-red eyes fixed on her.

She flinched when Dmitri harshly gripped her wrist. He squeezed tighter and tighter until the magical sound he was waiting for reached his eardrums loudly.

Crack! Ahhhhh!

She howled in pain and stumbled backward. Tears pricked her eyes as she gingerly held her broken wrist. The dagger she was previously holding clattered to the ground.

"Aww, would ya look at that! You're matching now, isn't that damn touching, mother-like son," Dmitri claimed as he quickly strolled toward her.

Without hesitating, she reached for the dagger with her other hand, gripping the hilt tightly. With gritted teeth, she threw it, causing it to sink right into the center of Dmitri's chest.

"Shit, that hurts," Dmitri groaned as he tore it out of himself. "Ya gotta be fuckin kidding me, lady. If you're going to kill something, ya gotta put some heart into it. Believe it or not, I'm an expert with that," Dmitri darkly smirked.

She tried to move away from him, but Dmitri grabbed the sides of her head, preventing her from going anywhere.

Snap!

With a quick crack of her neck, she fell to the ground, lifeless.

Dmitri knelt down next to her and softly whispered in her ear. "Don't ya worry about your kid. I'll provide the best babysitting service that no amount of fuckin money can buy," he said before he rose back to his feet. He stepped onto her body as he headed toward her kid.