Chapter 397: Cornered
I dangled helplessly in Victor’s grip, limp and powerless from pain and the suppressing force of the Light of Justice. He held me by one horn at about eye level, but he was tall and well-built, and I was small and delicate. The difference in our heights meant my feet hung a foot in the air, and my tail dragged on the ground. My head ached where my horn attached to my head, though it was nothing compared to the agony of the sunpurge.
"Why did you do it?" Victor asked softly. "Why did you kill him?"
Our faces were mere inches apart. There was no mistaking the fiery intensity in his voice, or the anger in his flashing eyes. A semi-healed cut on his cheek still oozed blood, no doubt a gift from the blade demon he had been fighting.
I briefly wondered what had happened to it, which led me to think about Fable. My soul was in too much pain for me to even find the soul bond, much less focus on it and locate him, but he had to be nearby, right? Any hope that he might save me fled my mind as Levin’s grip tightened, and a fresh spike of pain shot through my skull.
"Answer me!" His voice lost its reservation, growing so loud it rang in my ears. "Why did you kill Levin? Why?"
Refusing to answer would only provoke him further, but what else could I do? My body shook and trembled, suppressed by the judgment of the Light of Justice. It was all I could do to take short, shallow breaths, much less speak.
When all I did was whimper, Levin frowned. After a second, the Light of Justice faded away. I nearly broke down and started crying again as the terrible pressure abated, finally allowing me to breathe again. Levin watched expressionlessly as I gulped mouthfuls of air and struggled to regain my composure.
"I...I didn’t...mean to..." I finally stammered.
My tail quivered as his eyes narrowed, and traces of aura leaked out again, stifling my heart.
"Didn’t mean to? He was a seventh-level hero, not someone that can be accidentally killed!" he practically shouted—then added in a softer voice, "Especially not someone as weak and pathetic as you. I don’t know what kind of curse you used to influence Korra or the other humans, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m taking you to the Divine Throne, where you will be judged for your crimes. I sincerely hope the law allows you to suffer in penance before executing you. If permitted, I’ll personally oversee it and–"
A burst of mana erupted at our side, and I flinched as something hot and heavy splashed across my face. The force on my horn vanished, and I fell to the ground, collapsing like a discarded doll. I landed on my side hard and was greeted by a fresh explosion of pain from my scars. Everything went black for a second, but a sharp impact on my face brought me back.