-Malia’s POV-

“Don’t!” I struggled to pull my wrist away. “Zeref!” I pulled my body back, trying to stop him but he was too enraged. “ZEREF STOP!”

Zeref finally turned to me, his eyes dark and his features scrunched into an angry frown. At that moment I knew what this crazy bastard was going to do.

“You will NOT beat them!” I said firmly but regretted it as soon as he bent down and his eyes met mine. I gulped stepping back into the wall. He stepped forwards and closed me in. My back pressed against the wall as I tried to step back, shuffling uncomfortably.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.” his voice was dangerously low and he searched my eyes.

“It’s wrong. We can’t just-” before I could finish, Zeref stepped away from me and turned around, clutching his hair and pulling it in frustration. I got off the wall and stood behind him. “Zeref-” I didn’t get far with what I was about to say.

He turned around quickly.

“Malia, how long are you going to defend them?!” his words boomed out thick and hot and it was a slap to the face to wake up. He held my shoulders and shook me roughly. “They’ve already broken you! How long until you realise they won’t stop until you do something!?“

He was right. “I’m scared,” I whispered, my tears threatening to fall.

“Why?” he rubbed my arm, comfortingly. “I’m right here. I’ll protect you.”

I shook my head. “No, not of my dad… Of myself. You don’t understand; I’m not who you perceive me to be. If I get angry, I’ll lose control. Like a savage animal…”

Zeref furrowed his eyebrows, “Go on..” he urged me to continue.

“My mum was a half were man and lived most of her life as a rogue in the woods. I didn’t inherit her wolf side but I did inherit the crazy animalistic instincts . That’s why I’m tamed like this. A girl wolf is always more crazy. I can’t get mad.”

I could feel Zeref sigh angrily. “They aren’t bloody taming you! They are beating you for no good reason.” his jaw clenched. “God, how can you be so brainwashed!?” he punched the wall next to me and I flinched out of his arms.

“Still, this is wrong.” I tried to stay firm on the right side but fighting against Zeref was so confusing and hard. It’s like you’re talking to a brick wall and all your words are just bouncing right back at you.

“I’m not letting them lay another hand on you.” he grabbed my hand and stood in front of my door.

T H U D !

With a straight kick, the door to my house smashed open. He pulled me into the house and I stumbled behind him.

“Who do you think you-” before Kenny could speak, his body seized to fall to the ground, under the gravity magic. I flinched as he reached out to grab my foot but Zeref crushed his hand under his foot, letting out a loud CRUNCH. I watched Kenny crumble under me and I realised, I’m not living like this anymore and a wave of vengeance seeped into my heart.

“Did he say you could speak?” I smirked, feeling safe. I lightly tapped Zeref’s shoulder telling him I wanted the lead. He dropped the gravity cloak pressurising my house and stepped back. Kenny quickly stood on his feet but before he could activate his mana, my fist collided with his nose. He screamed in pain and stumbled back a few steps, clutching his nose.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.” I chuckled, feeling no remorse, but I didn’t care. I was never the hero type; deep within, I was a villain chained into the depths of hell, waiting to be unleashed. My eyes flickered and I smirked. Kenny came running towards me and I stepped to the side, feeling a gush of air fan my face as he ran past me, but he didn’t get far. I gripped the back of his shirt and pulled him back from colliding into the door. He fell back from how hard I pulled him. I didn’t spare him a breath and kneed him where it hurts before picking him up into the air and slamming him down with one hand. His back was hurled into the floor, pieces of the tiles flew everywhere as Kenny laid, indented into the floor. Where he belonged.

“Don’t hold back. I got you.” I could practically hear Zeref’s big smirk.

“I’m waiting for my dad,” I turned to face him while keeping a foot on Kenny’s chest, slowly pushing more pressure and enjoying the sound of his ribs snapping… one… by… one.

“M-Malia, stop… I’m dying,” Kenny spurted out blood while gradually losing his conscience.

I turned back to Kenny under my foot. “Already?” I pouted in disappointment. “Don’t die on me yet Kenny. I haven’t even begun”.

Zeref pulled his lips into a side smile and cocked his head to the side, enjoying this side of me.

“Nah, I dibs on your dad.” He shook his head laughing and waved my comment off.

“You evil bitch…” Kenny said from behind me. I didn’t have to wait any longer, giving my foot an extra bit of pressure, the last rib broke and Kenny fell unconscious. I was about to end him when I felt someone’s hand grip my wrist. I snapped my head around and flung my arm out of Zeref’s.

“Malia, don’t.”

I hesitated until I felt my anger dissolve and all the guilt rushed in. I looked down at the half-dead Kenny and rolled my eyes. What was I thinking? I shook my head and stepped away from Kenny.

“Sorry… I was angry.” I said with no emotion hinting at my speech.

“Angry?!” Zeref gasped in disbelief. “You call that angry?”

“Yeah well did you see what you did to Jace’s bullies?” I tried to push the blame off me. I don’t get him. He brings me here, lights my rage and then pushes a sac of guilt on me. This jerk.

“I didn’t want to kill them.” he sighed.

“YEAH? WELL YOU HAVEN’T BEEN THROUGH HALF THE SHIT I HAVE!” I clenched my fists and turned my back on him.

Seconds of silence went by and all that could be heard was the quiet gagging of Kenny as he choked on his blood. A firm grip pulled me around by the arm and pulled me into a hug.

“I just don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret. I’ve never seen you like this.” he pulled my head into his chest and I could feel his chest vibrate at his deepened voice. I sighed but quickly pushed him off when I saw Mike staring at the scene from the stairs with his jaw on the floor.

“M-Mike! I-” I panicked.

“MALIA!!!!!” my brother’s voice echoed through the house. Zeref took this as a bad thing and sped towards Mike.

“NO! Zeref! He’s with me.”

Zeref paused in front of Mike with a predatory glare. Mike stepped up a step so he could tower over Zeref but I could see him shiver.

I do admit, Zeref is scary when you’re against him. His aura is like a wild beast; you don’t need to be smart to know he’s dangerous. But when you’re on his side, you feel safe and protected, like nothing can harm you.

“Mike get here now.” I ordered my brother. He didn’t hesitate and followed my command, he rushed over to my side. Then a shout came from the upper floors.

“Kenny!! What’s all that noise? Do I have to do everything around here? Has that useless Malia come back for another beating. HAhahaha!” Father laughed as he walked down and saw the state of his son before looking straight at Zeref who was at the bottom half of the stairs.

“Mr Stronghold,” Zeref gave him a fake smile before completely shutting off all his conscience. It happened so fast and I could see Mike flinch as my dad rolled down the stairs.

I watched as a single drop of sweat rolled down Zeref’s forehead. Today, I heard the beautiful cries of my dad’s begs. Zeref covered his fist in high voltage lightning and continuously punched him square in the face.

“AHHHHHHHH!” I turned towards the door of the kitchen to see my plastic step-mother holding a butcher knife and an uncooked chicken.

I folded my arms and smirked at her, “just in time”. Her eyes widened and I ran full speed at her like a bull. We both fell to the floor, me on top of her. I heated up my hand like a hot iron and smacked her face. Her cheek melted against my hand and I grimaced, but it was worth it, hearing her scream and seeing her white cheekbone and the inside of her mouth showing through the big hole of missing flesh. She tried slapping me off her but everytime she would manage to touch me, her fingers would burn off from the heat radiating off of me. I grabbed the knife and cut into her arm with a purpose. Her shrivelled screams soared through the halls but my dads screams were louder.

I stepped off of her and admired her arm as she laid limply on the floor, covered in burns. The cuts on her arm spelled out, “Evil witch”. I laughed and someone’s foot kicked into my step-mothers stomach. I looked at Mike in shock. He just used violence! I couldn’t contain my laugh.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he had a guilty, regretful look on his face.

I turned around and my eyes met the back Zeref’s head, looking up, and a grunt coming from the ceiling. My gaze followed upwards and saw my dad pinned to the ceiling, looking at the ground in fear. Ugh, I wish I had gravity magic. That’s a cool trick. My dad tried to beg but nothing came out. His skull was bashed in and the middle of his forehead had a dent in it. One of his eyebrows was completely gone and his lip was swollen 10 times bigger. Let’s not mention his body. His thumbs were ripped off and his other fingers were broken beyond repair. A pool of flesh gathered under him on the floor.

“Zeref,” I looked at him and he let go of my dad who face planted into the marble, tiled floor.

“Let’s go home,” he walked to me and admired the state my step-mother was in before holding my hand and pulling me back out the house.

“W-Wait for me!” Mike called out but stopped in front of my dad and step-brother, stealing their wallets. He ran and linked arms with me.

Zeref was walking in front of us but was still holding my hand and I stared at his back. My gaze switched to our hands entwined with each other. A foreign feeling hit my heart and my heart boomed loudly as I felt heat rush up my cheeks. I’m happy. I’m genuinely happy. With Zeref. But was this strange feeling ONLY happiness?

“Yo big guy, where are you taking us?” Mike spoke up.

“My house. In case you guys didn’t realise, you’re kinda homeless now.” Zeref laughed.

I snapped out of my magical trance. “Oh um, Zeref this is my brother Mike and Mike this is Zeref.” I said, introducing them to each other.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Mike sounded angry.

“What?” Zeref stopped and turned to look at Mike with an ‘are you stupid?’ face.

“N-Never mind then…” Mike put his hands up in a surrender position. I couldn’t help but feel a disappointment in my heart but I ignored it and walked ahead of both of them. They followed behind me.