Thread: Desire to Live  Strmas and LingeringDesire

The words, furiously and quickly hit her ears, the words jumbled and mingled, leading Nefeli to horrified thoughts. Her brothers head taken after watching his young wife endure the torment of another man. Nefeli was certain she could withstand the battery and emotional aspect of it, but the children being raped and sold off was torment. She walked in stunned silence, wanting to avoid the reality of his words. It wasnt true, simply lies passed down to scare anyone into behaving. The climb was laborious, and even more so trying to hold it together under the distress of the situation. How has it come to this, she wondered repeating Atticus question to herself. His words left her in misery and praying that he was mistaken. However as their home came into view Atticus pulled her against and to him. Green eyes wide she stared at the man, what had possessed him, she opened her mouth to speak of his inappropriateness when the shouts of no reached her ears. Her eyes riveted on the actions, on each thing that was going on. A soft gasp leaving her as the man was injured. She knew the boy, hed often come to her assistance to give a letter in to a runner or take over an errand for a small token of appreciation. She turned her eyes to Atticus and hid her face in his neck as soft tears fell. The begging and the sound of the sword lopping the mans head off caused her to bite her knuckle to keep from joining his parents in their grief. The words of the man about the wife and daughters being their payment made her sick to her stomach. For something she thought she could handle, she wasnt able to see it now. Turning her head at the footfalls she glanced at the man and then the head he bent to pick up. The look of being pleased crossed his face and his eyes drug over her form. The scowl that then covered his face at them, at noticing the old man with her made her cringe. Lowering her head she allowed Atticus to pull her away. Once they were safe inside she drug him into a sitting room for a private conversation. Hed assured her brother they were safe for now and while the family bedded down for the night she, her brother and Atticus discussed. I cant let it happen and I dont want to just wait around until it does or doesnt, the suspense eating away at me at them. She pointed to her brother and in the direction of where her family slept. Dracius watching her in mild amusement, Certainly you exaggerate NO you werent there. I saw and heard it all with mine own eyes. Phineas pleading with them not to kill him and She shuddered, The sword slicing through his neck, Nebs head landing at our feet and the women and children. The men gaining pleasure from them, probably even still. The fire in her eyes blazed as she stood and got in his face. Is that what you want? It will kill her, them... me I worry less about but I am strong and determined. The rest are children... The last came out as a hiss. Dracius scrubbed at his beard with one large hand, What is there to be done? Nothing, we sit and we wait. Wait for death? Is that what youve decided is that the fate you have chosen for us? Your death and their breaking and torture possibly even their deaths brother? She fell to her knees in front of Atticus, Tell me you have heard of something, anything. I wish not to have them die and will not resign myself to such a fate. She looked up at him in earnest, What say you?