Chapter 27: The Rabbit Folk [Bonus]

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Rabbit Folk [Bonus]

Lyra’s hand shot out and grabbed Daniel’s arm. Her fingers dug into his sleeve, tight and desperate. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with something that looked like fear. Real fear.

"I don’t like him," she whispered. Her voice was shaking. "Please. Please don’t leave me."

Daniel looked at her. At her trembling hands. At the way she was pressing herself against his side, as if she was trying to disappear. He had never seen her like this. Scared. Vulnerable. Nothing like the confident girl who had pledged her life to him just last night.

He reached up and patted her head. Slow. Gentle.

"It’s alright," he said, his voice calm and steady. "You’re my first harem member. I would never leave you."

Lyra looked up at him. Her eyes were wet. But she nodded. She didn’t let go of his arm, but her grip loosened slightly.

The man on the rabbit folk had spotted them. He was about twenty-five years old, with slicked-back hair and a thin mustache that looked like it was trying too hard. He wore fine clothes. Expensive clothes. The kind of clothes that screamed "I have money and I want everyone to know it." A small gold pin gleamed on his collar. A family crest.

He climbed off the rabbit folk’s back. The girl collapsed onto the ground, her arms giving out, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She was thin. Too thin. Her clothes were torn and dirty, and her back was covered in scars. Old ones. New ones. A thick metal collar was locked around her neck.

The man walked toward them. The rabbit folk followed. She crawled on her hands and knees, her head down, her ears dragging in the dirt. She didn’t look up. She didn’t speak. She just followed.

The man stopped in front of Daniel. His eyes moved over him. The silk shirt. The leather pants. The fine wool jacket. Then they moved to Lyra, who was hiding behind Daniel’s back.

"Lyra," the man said. His voice was smooth. Oily. "My dear, sweet future wife."

Lyra flinched. She pressed herself closer to Daniel.

Daniel’s face went cold.

The man looked at Daniel. His eyes met Daniel’s. And for a moment, something flickered in his expression. Something that looked like fear. Daniel’s eyes were flat. Dead. The eyes of a man who had seen things. Done things. The eyes of a man who wouldn’t hesitate.

The man took a step back. His voice wavered when he spoke.

"Who... who the fuck are you, trash? Do you know who I am?" He puffed out his chest, trying to regain his composure. "Am sure you do, since you’re Lyra’s servant. How about I give you a few copper coins and you get out of my way?"

Daniel didn’t move. He didn’t blink. He just stared at the man with those cold, dead eyes.

"Fuck off," he said.

The man’s face went red. His hands curled into fists. His mustache twitched with rage.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" he spat. "I am Baron Prick! The heir to the Prick family! I could have you killed with a snap of my fingers!"

Daniel didn’t respond. He just kept staring.

The man’s rage boiled over. He turned to the rabbit folk, who was still on her hands and knees, trembling.

"You!" he barked. "Useless servant! Attack him! Beat him up!"

The rabbit folk looked up. Her eyes were wide. Scared. But she didn’t hesitate. She pushed herself to her feet and rushed at Daniel, her fist raised.

Daniel caught the punch.

His hand closed around her fist like it was nothing. The rabbit folk froze. Her eyes went wide. She tried to pull back, but Daniel’s grip was like iron.

"You’re stressed," he said, his voice soft. "You should rest."

The rabbit folk stared at him. Her lip trembled. Then her face crumpled, and she started to cry. Tears streamed down her cheeks, cutting through the dirt on her face.

"Useless servant can’t rest," she sobbed. "Useless servant can only follow orders. Or collar shock. Useless servant."

Daniel’s eyes moved to the collar around her neck. It was thick and heavy, made of dark metal. Small runes were etched into its surface.

The man laughed. A cruel, ugly sound. "You see? That’s what she is. A useless servant. Nothing more." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Electricity crackled from the collar. The rabbit folk screamed. Her body convulsed, her back arching, her eyes rolling back. She fell to the ground, twitching, smoke rising from the collar.

Daniel watched. His face didn’t change. But something inside him snapped.

He let go of the rabbit folk’s fist. He stepped forward. The man’s laughter faltered. He took a step back.

"What are you—"

Daniel reached down and grabbed the collar. His fingers closed around the metal. Then he squeezed.

The collar shattered. Pieces of metal flew in every direction, clattering against the ground. The runes flickered and died. The rabbit folk gasped, her body going limp. She lay there, breathing, alive. Free.

The man stared. His face was white. His mouth opened and closed.

Daniel straightened up. He looked at the man. His eyes were still cold. Still dead.

"You know," he said, his voice calm and quiet. "I was just going to embarrass you. Then beat you up a little. Nothing too serious. Just enough to teach you a lesson."

He took a step forward. The man stumbled back.

"But I’ve changed my mind."