Throw the spear

Not really registering the fact that her mother was on her knees in front of the demon. Katarina stepped forward as she drew the spear back behind her. The music was getting louder behind her and pounded in her ears.

Confidence grew as she transferred all her weight from her back foot to the front. This set of a chain of movements in the rest of her body. Her hips turned towards the demon and her left shoulder was overtaken by her right shoulder as her arm finally came forward after the rest of her body.

She saw the spearhead out of the corner of her eye, almost in slow motion and her arm also came into view. Finally at the apex of her throw she released the spear, her index finger finishing the motion and pointing at the demon. She had never thrown a spear in her life but it felt good, and she knew it would strike home.

Everything sped up as she released and one moment the spear was just leaving her hand, the next it was embedded in the chest of the demon.

"Hah! you think this little stick wou-" He paused and looked down. "Elven metal!? Enchanted?"

His hands grabbed the shaft on the spear and it seemed as if he was going to pull it out before he burst into red flames. Katarina cried out to her mother, fearful that she would be burned but she didn't feel any heat and the flames quickly died out.

Her mother turned towards Katarina, her cheeks were flushed and she looked shocked to see Katarina. Her eyes darted past though and settled on Eobard.

Her mother's lust was clear and Katarina knew what she wanted. Slightly disgusted, she cleared her throat.

"Ahem, mother now isn't the time. Come downstairs with me. Eobard could you check the chest right there please and bring anything that seems important." She was still running on adrenaline and walked up to her mother, gently holding her shoulders and steering the woman out the door towards the stairs.

"Kat, unhand me! I really do need to talk to Master Gl-" she stopped talking when she got to the top of the stairs and saw her husband laying at the bottom. She ripped herself free of Katarina and almost fell down the stairs as she rushed down.

Katarina watched as her mother wept, laying across her fathers body.

The adrenaline left her and she shoulders sagged. Slumping down to sit at the top of the stairs Katarina felt the emotions coming back again. Anger and sadness all mixed up within her and her body couldn't stop shaking. She slammed her fist against the wall next to her and even the pain of almost breaking her hand was nothing compared to what she was already feeling.

The house was filled with the cries of anguish and Katarina wasn't really sure whether they came from herself or her mother. Logically she should have known it was both of them but that didn't register to her.

Eobard appeared next to her, sitting down on the steps. He was rather close and squished up against her on the narrow stairwell. She didn't mind though, taking comfort at the human contact. He breathed a heavy sigh.

"I think I'm too old to be running around fighting demons. I remember the days when i could keep up with the young ones. I guess those days are far gone. You'll need to rest a bit after tonight though, young as you may be you're more likely to neglect your rest even if you need it. Here; I found this."

A large box, about an arm's length across appeared on Katarina's lap. It was ornate with carvings around the edges, made from some sort of redwood, the craftsmanship of the box was immaculate. There was a small golden latch with matching hinges on the other side keeping the lid attached to the rest of the box.

Even with her brain as addled in that moment she would recognise the her father's work anywhere. Her hands fumbled at the latch and she struggled to open the box.

When she finally managed to unclasp it she lifted the lid. A pair of red ribbons attached to the box and the lid held the lid in place along with the hinges.