LIFELESS BODY

Damien’s POV. 

Freda's little form was hardly moving as picked up her upper body and held her in my arms. Watching her fight to breathe, my heart twisted agonizingly in my chest; her once-bright eyes were now dull and terrible.
I tore my eyes away from Freda and looked at Veresstina, my hands shaking with hardly contained wrath. She stood a few steps away, her lips contorted into a nasty smile and her eyes shining with success. Red blinded me, a primitive, feral drive to defend what was mine consuming me.
"You've made a grave mistake, Veresstina," I said in a low tone but high enough for her to hear as I gently dropped Freda on the floor. “Your last mistake was touching Freda and you will pay  for touching what’s mine”
 
Veresstina's smile grew wider, her teeth shining under the moon. You're too late, Damien, she hissed. "I just helped you and the kingdom, Freda is out of the way now and you can be mine. Everybody in this kingdom wants that, both the king and queen will be powerful."
My teeth bared, claws poised to rip her apart, and a wild snarl tore from my throat as I sprang at her. As I concentrated on one thing which was ending Veresstina's menace once and for once the surroundings vanished.
She laughed sharply in response to my attack, sidestepped at the last minute, and cut at my side with her claws. My ribs started to hurt, but I hardly felt it; my anger numbing everything but my need to kill her.
“You believe you can become the queen? You dream too much” I cried, whirling around to grab her by the arm. With our faces inches apart I snarled, "You think you can take her from me?" I tugged her towards me.
Veresstina's eyes flicked with a trace of anxiety, then she swiftly covered it with conceit. "I don't just think it," she spat, venomous in her voice. "I know it.."
 
My body trembled with rage as I hurled her to the ground with a scream of wrath. Blood drizzled from her mouth, she jumped to her feet, but her confidence vanished. She understood she was slower and that I was stronger, and faster. Her eyes glowed with desperation as she searched around for a path out.
"Damien, wait!" She started crying quickly and raised a hand as though trying to stop my next onslaught. "Listen to me," said We do not need to do this.
 
"You mean I don't have to kill you?" I asked, incredulity and contempt pouring from my words. "You attack Freda so you can become the queen, and now you want to bargain?"
 
Veresstina nodded rapidly, eyes darting to Freda's lifeless form. "Absolutely! We can yet strike a bargain, indeed. Let me go; I'll leave Freda undamaged. I will vanish; you will be left with your throne. Blood spills tonight are not needed.
 
I shook my head and laughed bitterly. “You assume I would trust you? After everything you have done?”
 
"It's the only way, Damien!" she insisted, her voice suddenly hysterical. "My friends and my dad will never stop hunting you if you kill me. They will divide your empire and come for Freda! I will call them off though if you let me leave. I will leave you in peace.”
 
Her words hung in the air for a split second, she was right if anything happened to her I knew her dad would fight for his daughter but then she challenged me and tried to kill Freda, I gazed at Freda once more, at the almost slight rise and fall of her chest, and the decision was taken.
 
I answered coldly, "No," moving towards Veresstina. "You cannot walk away from this. Not after what you have done.
 
Veresstina realized I wasn't going to let her go and her eyes grew terrified. She said, "No, wait," but I was bored listening.
 
My claws cutting through the air, I pounced for her once more using a quick, merciless motion. Veresstina tried to block but she moved too slowly. Her feet dangling as she struggled, I grabbed her by the throat and raised her off the floor.
"You will never harm Freda again," I screamed my voice a thousand hurricanes' worth of rage.
Veresstina gasped, her hands wriggling at mine as she struggled to breathe, but I held tight. Her eyes were wild with dread now; all traces of conceit vanished. She spoke and begged for pity, but I lost interest in her words.
I snapped her neck with a last, sharp turn. Veresstina's life came to an end with the sound echoing in the night with a painful snap. Her eyes wide open, I let her lifeless soul drop to the ground and stare at nothing.
All at once, everything was silent. The fight was over the moment I knocked Veresstina down. Realizing their commander was dead, Some of her friends ran and the other fell to their knees  
I inhaled shakily as I turned to look at Freda, still lying where she had dropped. Her stillness and pallidity caused a tsunami of sadness to wash over me. Everything is my fault. Had I been faster, stronger and not let her go perhaps I could have shielded her better. Perhaps she would have suffered absolutely nothing.
I went over to her and crouched next to her, softly raising her into my arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at me, her face a mix of relief and anxiety.
"Damien," She said, her voice hardly audible.
I muttered, "I'm here," sweeping a strand of hair away from her face. "you're safe right now."
As Freda grabbed me, tears filled her eyes. She cried out: "It’s painful."  
As I embraced her tighter, my heart hurt and I yearned I could remove all the suffering and anxiety she had gone through. "I'm sorry, Freda," I said, my voice choking with feeling. "I'm so sorry I couldn't shield you better."
 
Her tears spilled on my shirt as she gently shook her head. “Damien, you saved me. You came at the right time. However,... I have no idea how I should feel. I'm thankful, but... Her voice stopped as she stared at Veresstina's dead body, “
 
I looked where she pointed with her eyes, the weight of what I had done resting firmly on my shoulders. Though the cost was still enormous, I had slain to save our kingdom and shield her. The gloom that had motivated me to such violence now hung in the air, a reminder of the extent I was ready to go to for love and power.
 
I murmured softly, not just to Freda but also to myself: "I did what I had to." But that does not mean it was simple. Or right.
 
Freda raised her head to meet me, her eyes searching mine for comfort and solutions. But I had nothing to offer. I could only embrace her and pray that she would eventually know why I had done what I had.
 
To reduce the pain I'll have to give you a little bit of my venom Freda. It might be painful but you’ll heal and tomorrow morning you won’t feel the pain, the scars will also not be there. Freda nodded her head and that was my sign that she was ready. I picked up her hand as my fangs came out. I gave a little venom and tried my best to not get drawn to her blood.
"Let's go," I replied gently, getting Freda upright. "We have to bring you back to the castle to rest."
As we started to leave the clearing, Freda nodded and rested my head on, my chest.