Knight Read Free

weakness?” She muttered, her brows quirking. “I wonder if normal dogs are like that, too.”
    Wasting no time, she managed to finally get her hands on the weapon. She took advantage of the beast's current state and pulled herself to her feet.
    It took a few moments to realize that her left foot was bleeding—the one the wolf bit. There were holes on the soles of her shoes, not to mention her sneakers were officially destroyed.
    “These were my favorite shoes! Dumb dog!” She yelled at it.
    She limped, holding the pipe in front of her defensively. The wolf shook its big head and turned towards her, baring its teeth.
    “Oh yeah, come at me now, you mangy mutt. Let's see who's boss.” Her hair came loose from the ponytail, her bangs falling free and covering her line of vision. She absentmindedly blew them away, keeping her eyes trained on her assailant.
    The beast did not hesitance and leaped for her. Valeriana blocked its teeth with the pipe, letting it gnaw on the piece of metal as they both fell. The girl landed on her back, the wolf's heavy body on top of her.
    She could see the inside of its mouth and felt nothing more than revulsion as it salivated. “God, you have some breath.” She huffed, her face twisting in disgust.
    It swiped its paws at her, causing Valeriana to try and push it away from her as far as she could to prevent herself from being wounded, but its weight and strength proved to be hard to fight against.
    “Ow! Ouch!” Its sharp nails scratched her chin and tore the sleeves of her clothes.
    ' Wretched human.'
    She blinked and looked at the wolf with wide eyes. “What in the—”
    A soft thump echoed in her ear and a lady landed exactly behind the wolf, holding the hilt of a double-edged sword with her hands. “Demon!” Said the woman. “Your fight,” she began as she pointed her weapon at it. “Is with me!”
    The beast jumped and readdressed its gaze to the lady, growling threateningly at her. Valeriana practically sighed in relief when the demon faced the woman instead and got off her.
    She was dressed in a uniform of some sort—a knee-length, royal blue coat and a frilly cravat around her neck. The coat had intricate patterns of gold on the shoulder pads. It had a high lapel and golden buttons running down the front.
    She scrambled to stand up on her feet, but her quivering knees made the action harder than it usually was. She also had the wound on her foot and the mild injuries she got from the attacks.
    Her cerulean blue eyes were trained straight to Valeriana's, who looked back and forth between the beast and the woman in confusion.
    The strange woman seemed momentarily shocked seeing her. “You—” They stared at each other for a few seconds until the wolf growled, which made the both of them snap back to reality.
    “Stay back.” She narrowed her eyes as she said this.
    “You don't have to tell me that.” She replied, staring at the growling wolf as she backed off, limping as she did.
    She clutched the bracelet that her father had given her during her fifth birthday. It held a sentimental value to her and was one of the most treasured possessions she had. Unwittingly, she was twisting it around her wrist, a mannerism she developed over the years when she tried to find comfort while in a nerve-wracking situation.
    Valeriana attempted to back off and sneak away while the demon was busy, but the lady was apparently watching and stopped her before she could even do a disappearing act.
    “Stay where you are!” She commanded as the wolf lunged for her once more. “You are not going anywhere!”
    The lady's movements were a dangerous flurry of incessant attacks that appeared as a blur.
    “Are you really saying that? Usually they'll be saying run than stay !” She exclaimed. “Whatever, I'm out of here.”
    Valeriana continued to limp away when a dagger came flying towards her and landed inches away from where she stood.
    “Holy crap.” She gasped, seeing the tip buried on