Johnson slowly approached the town riding on horseback. The left side of his face was still visably swollen from when Zael punched his face and a tight bandage was around his neck from the claw punctures also caused from Zael. A scowl could be seen on Johnson as he stopped his horse before the town.

The others would obviously know Brandon was taken and that Johnson went after them. He had come up with a good story, Zael's attack helped with that, but he didn't know if any of the others chased after the horsemen as well. If they did, they would have already suspected Johnson of turning down a different trail instead of following the horsmen. He cursed under his breath as he thought about Zael's orders to come back to these people. They were below him and none of them mattered. Why should he be forced to watch them?

A light kick was given to the horse's side and sent the horse walking towards the town. Johnson made sure to reenter the town from where he exited. It would look less suspicious that way.

It was later in the day when he arrived, a light orange hue filled the sky as the sun fell into the horizon. Johnson suspected most of the others were asleep somewhere, it was better that way. The less people confronting him will make it easier to convince his story. After entering the town quietly, he dismounted his horse and tied it with the rest of the horses next to one of the stables of the town.

Viggo casually figgeted with one of the bags near the carriage before loading into the back. It was late and everyone else had gone to their own sleeping areas, but Viggo wanted to make sure everything was ready for morning.

Everyone did all that they could for the town. They had been there for two days now and the long days were spent putting out the rest of the fires and moving the town resident's bodies within the ground. It was hard work, but someone had to respect the people here.

Viggo was going to make sure word reached General Draco about the town. But in order to do that, he would have to leave the town and find some kind of messenger. The general would send men to help the rest of the town. The few people here can only do so much.

They were all going to leave in the morning. There was another long journey ahead of them, so Viggo wanted everything ready. Everything that could be packed was placed onto the carriage. The horses would need to be prepped, but they will have to wait until morning.

Movement down the road caught Viggo's attention. He thought everyone was turning in for the night, but maybe someone needed him for something. Moving down the road, Viggo narrowed his eyes to try and focus with the dimming light. Realizing who it was, he quickened his pace. "Johnson?"

Johnson's walking pace quickly halted and scowled as he heard his name, quickly seeing Carvahall approach him. A scowl was on his face as he came closer. Now was the time to give your story, don't screw this up.

"Johnson..." Viggo said as he approached Johnson, who stood next to one of the burnt shops. "Where have you been? Did you find him?"

Johnson arched a brow. "Wh.." He cleared his throat quickly and straightened his back. "Brandon.. no." He swallowed. "I chased after them as far as I could, but they attacked." Johnson quickly stated after motioning toward his face and neck.

Viggo's brow lowered in frustration and inspected the wounds to his face and the bandage around his neck. "Do you have any idea where they went? Antonis and Tamil also went after the horsemen, but found no clues where they could have gone. Tamil said they could have used some kind of spell to hide their tracks and scent."

A low groan was given after hearing Viggo. He wanted to appear concerned for the situation, but he was more frustrated by the fact that Viggo said both Antonis and Tamil chased after the horsemen. "I found the same difficulty, but not before they attacked me."

"What happened?"

Johnson cleared his throat and frowned. All of these questions were starting to bother him. He just wanted to rest and avoid this all together. "...I... Managed to catch up with the riders, but they used one of their spells to throw me off my horse." he paused to see Viggo's reaction. From what he could tell, Viggo believed him. "..Before I knew it, one of the horsemen grappled me by the neck and knocked me unconscious."

"Did you see Antonis or Tamil at all?" Viggo asked. "I know they went after Brandon right after you did. You had to have seen them."

"No.." Johnson replied awkwardly. "I was unconscious, I couldn't have seen them."

"And they didn't see you." Viggo stated thoughtfully. "They never mentioned it, at least... How far were you thrown?"

Johnson groaned irritatedly. Viggo was digging too much into this. If this kept going, he knew he was going to slip. He had to end this now to give him some time to get his story straight. It will be harder in the morning when everyone wakes up. "I'm sorry... I don't know. I was thrown from my horse and knocked out. I dont know why they didn't see me, but they didn't. But, please... its late and I need rest. I can tell you more in the morning."

Viggo's ears folded back as he lowered his brow. He understood how tired Johnson must be, but something was odd with the way he spoke. It was almost as if he was avoiding the questions. It was still early evening, Johnson can answer a couple more questions. "Where did you get the clean bandage for your neck?" he asked with a quirked brow. "You were in the forest and there aren't any towns or villages nearby."

Johnson became increasingly irritated. "Cant we continue this in the morning?"

"Why don't you answer the question?"

A snarl quickly appeared. "I had it on my person. I always keep bandages with me in case something were to happen. And it did."

"Why did it take you so long to return?" Viggo continued. Normally, he wouldn't be so nosey and full of endless questions. But Viggo has never fully trusted Johnson. For the short time that he's known him, he's been edgy, irritable, nosey, and often times insubordinate. And now he's acting way to suspicious to let him pass. Viggo had to know what happened with him since Antonis didn't see him nor Tamil.

"I was knocked unconscious. I don't know how long I was out, I woke up with a swollen face and scratches on my neck." Johnson snapped.

"Really? I dont think.."

"Okay!" Johnson shouted before quickly forcing both arms forward and grabbing Viggo by his shirt. "Enough questions!" He growled and forced Viggo's back against the wall next to him; making sure his forearm was up and against Viggo's neck.

Viggo tried to fight back, but only managed to struggle under Johnson's weight as he pressed his forearm harder into his throat. "Johnson!"

Johnson growled, but sounded as if he gave a relieved sigh. "You know... You're sure a nosey person when you want to be." His face tensed up further when Viggo tried to struggle again. "It gets IRRITATING when I'm being questioned constantly by this so called 'Captain Carvahall" Johnson finished with a hard punch to Viggo's stomach.

Viggo groaned loudly as the punched was thrust into his side. It nearly knocked the air out of him, but Viggo tightened his abdomen as much as he could. "Let... me.. go! I order you...!"

Johnson growled and unsheathed Viggo's own dagger. Viggo tried to struggle further when he felt his dagger taken, but Johnson was quick to force the dagger into Viggo's side.

Viggo's teeth grit hard and clenched his eyes shut as the pain shot into his side. He refused to yell in pain, he wouldn't give this traitor any satisfaction. His entire body tensed up uncontrollably. As much as he wanted to hide his pain, it was unbareable. Viggo's features scrunched up as the pain worsened. "John..son..

Johnson took advantage of Viggo's handicap and pulled Viggo from the wall. He then quickly turned viggo's back toward himself and wrapped his arm around the cougar's neck. He sneered when Viggo gasped for breath. "You know... I've always hated that name." Johnson said a bit more calmly, trying to taunt Viggo. "And it's not Johnson, for your own person information. I never understood why that 'general' called everyone by their last names..." Johnson jerked Viggo's neck as if to get more of his attention. "Its Thomas... Get it right!" He growled.

Viggo released strained groans as he tried to fight against Thomas' hold. But the pain increased with each movement because Johnson made sure the dagger remained in his side. "You.... You let them take Brandon..." he weakly said as he tried to turn his head. "You could have saved him!"

Thomas chuckled and began to pull Viggo backwards toward the horses. He jerked his neck when Viggo's feet stumbled back. "You just now figured that out? You're not too bright, Carvahall..." he chuckled lowly. "If that's what you want everyone to call you."

Viggo snarled as he grunted in his struggles. He could have fought Thomas off by now, Thomas was clumsey and arrogant..., but the dagger in his side was excruciated him. "What are you... talking about?" he choked.

Thomas stopped near the horses and moved his face closer to Viggo from behind. "I know who you are..." he whispered. "These people may be fooled, but I see past your lie, your majesty..."

Viggo's struggles stopped as he panted heavily, looking around aimlessly. How could he have found out?! No one must know who he is, not now! Viggo began stuggling again when Thomas started pulled him back again toward the horses.

"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't asked so many questions, your majesty." Johnson said as he reached his horse.

"Shut up!"

"....Now you get to meet whom I serve." Johnson smirked. "And he's dying to meet you."

"What are you doing?"

The voice was from behind Thomas and Viggo was strangely calm, as though the one who asked knew the answer already. But as Aidan stood not two yards away, holding a long dagger in a hand, he wanted reassurance.

Murdoc wasn't near. They had parted ways before Aidan saw Johnson attack Carvahall. He wasn't going to lose sight of them.

He took a step forward, the handle of the dagger pressing tightly into his fist. "Let go of him!"

Thomas jumped to someone's voice and forced Viggo to turn toward the one who spoke to use him as a sheild. "Aidan?" Thomas questioned when he saw the feline infront of him. But when Aidan stepped forward, Thomas gripped the dagger in Viggo's side and removed the blade to point it toward Aidan threateningly.

Viggo's eyes tightened shut and emitted a loud, pained groan when the dagger was removed. Blood began to flow from the large wound in his side and dripped from the dagger now pointed at Aidan. "Aidan!" Viggo said as loud as he could while squinting his eyes open. "I don't want you hurt because my mistake..."

Aidan stopped short as Johnson turned Viggo around, watching as the man pulled the dagger out of the cougar's side, watching the blood pool down. It suddenly hit him. He was frightened. Another man's life was being threatened.

He took a deep breath slowly, eyes looking back up to Johnson who glared at him in question. Then he heard Viggo.

His brows lowered once more as his narrowed eyes stared at Johnson, allowing his fear shape itself into something he could use to fight.

"It seems we've all been mislead by a traitor." he growled, taking another step closer, challenging Johnson.

Thomas titled his head slightly with a sneer and tightened his grip around Viggo's neck as Aidan stepped closer. Hearing him choke for air, Thomas' eyes widened to Aidan. "Traitor? How can I be a traitor when I don't serve any of you?" he said as calmly as possible. "I'm not Faholgan nor am I apart of your rediculous rebellion." Thomas ended with pointing the bloodied dagger toward Viggo's cheek, hoping it would stop Aidan from moving closer. "If you want to know who a traitor is... he's right here."

Viggo's teeth grit and desperately tried to struggle against Thomas' hold. "Thomas..." he barely said to try to stop him from talking.

Thomas responded by shaking Viggo harshly. "This 'Captain' has been lying to you the entire time!" he shouted, his eyes widened. "This captain is really the beloved prince of Faholgal." he said with a taunting tone. "And if you want him to live, you will GET BACK!"

Just after the shout, Aidan stopped dead in his tracks, keeping one foot slightly lifted in case he could proceed again, eyeing Johnson the entire time. But when Viggo was mentioned to be the Faholgal prince, that did make him look at the cougar in surprise. The situation had become far more tense with that knowledge in mind.

Then the thought arose within his mind. Was he willing to harm someone he's known? The two muggers...the horseman...he didn't know them. But Johnson was playing them all for fools. He was lied to. And Viggo...the prince. Aidan still couldn't grasp that concept.

"Put the weapon down." Aidan said carefully, "This doesn't have to happen." he finished lowly.

"Like HELL, it doesn't!" Thomas shouted, becoming more riled. "YOU put YOUR weapon down!" He growled sharply and put more pressure onto Viggo's cheek with the dagger's point. "WE... will leave without anyone following. You can go back to your insignificant lives without your prince. He's coming with me!"

Viggo's features twitched as he grit his teeth. Viggo knew Thomas was panicing. The traitor held his throat tight and threatened him with the dagger... but Thomas had no control over Viggo's arms. Viggo grunted and groaned as the pain from the wound in his side increased, but Thomas had to be stopped now before anyone else gets hurt or he taken.

Thomas' feet adjusted anxiously as he shouted. "I said BACK UP and PUT YOUR WEAPON DOWN!" he yelled louder. "I swear I will drive this dagger through his skull if you don't do as I say!"

Viggo slowly shifted his hand back, but eyed Aidan. First he glared toward him, then looked down to his hand moving to give Aidan an idea what he was going to do. He knew Thomas couldn't see his hand, so he moved carefully. "Thom..mas!" He struggled to say.

"WHAT?!"

"I.." he moved his hand closer to Thomas' belt. "g..gave you an order!" he shouted and gripped onto Thomas' dagger on his belt. Once the dagger was unsheathed, Viggo suddenly raised the tip and stabbed the dagger into Thomas' thigh.

Aidan held his breath as he noticed Carvahall's movements. This was their chance. Just as Viggo thrust the dagger into Johnson's leg, Aidan bound from where he stood, running until he reached the two of them.

His left hand moved as he leapt, pushing Carvahall away from Johnson as Aidan fell onto the dog, holding his dagger vertical against Johnson's shoulder as they fell back.

Thomas shrieked out in agonizing pain as the dagger was thrust into his thigh, but it was short lived before he saw Aidan pounce toward him and slammed his back onto the ground.

Viggo's shoulder hit the ground harshly. He coughed heavily as air rushed into his lungs before the pain in his side caused his form to cringe. A hand cradled it protectively, but became quickly soaked as blood continued to flow from the wound.

Thomas' pained groans and struggles quickly forced Viggo to look over towards the two. A pained expression was on the dog's face as he tried to cope with the dagger in his leg along with Aidan on top of him.

"Get off of me! GAAHH!" He shouted as the dagger in his thigh was shifted in his leg with Aidan's movements.

The dagger in Aidan's hand tightened as he regained himself, sitting up on Johnson before he shouted, "Shut up!" thrusting the blade deep into the dog's chest.

"You let them take Brandon!" he yelled, twisting the blade deeper, his face contorted in rage. "You would have rather killed us all, you bastard!"

Thomas shouted as loud as his lungs could handle as the dagger was impaled. His body tensed up uncontrollably, but managed to weakly move his right hand to grab onto Aidan's wrist.

Viggo's eyes widened when saw Thomas shout in pain. Aidan's form was blocking where the dagger was stabbed. He could only imagine where Aidan had stabbed Thomas, especially with how much pain Thomas was echoing out to the world. "Aidan!"

Thomas' agonizing shouts of pain slowly stopped before he grit his teeth, trying to look up at Aidan. His right hand desperately tried to pull Aidan's hand away, but failed. After continued grunts and failed attempts to get Aidan off of him, Thomas cringed and allowed his head to fall back onto the ground. "Kill me." He gulped, fearfully looking up toward the night's sky. "I've failed... He'll find out and he'll kill me instead..." Thomas' voice trembled. "Kill me!"

Aidan stared down at Johnson as he begged for his own death. Someone was going to come after him, someone far worse. Something inside compelled him to thrust back the dagger, out of Johnson's collarbone, the point raising just above the man's heart. Brows drew together tightly, teeth crunching as he tried controlling himself, as though his body wasn't following his orders.

"You don't deserve to live if you're asking that." he heard himself say. The voice was cold.

He thought of the two muggers, remembered entering the cabin, recalled the feeling of fighting against one to survive. This was different...

His other hand gripped the dog's collar, pulling them face to face. "Fight me if you want it so badly." he growled before he reached back to the dagger in Johnson's leg, pulling it out. "If you don't, then whoever will find you will finish you off."

Thomas' face contorted and scrunched in fear as Aidan aimed the dagger toward his heart. He grunted and groaned as the pain in his leg and collarbone seemed to grow in intensity. Even after Aidan pulled him closer to himself, Thomas' face only scrunched in agony.

As the dagger was forced out of his leg, another horrific yell burst out as pain rush from his leg.

Aidan was only taunting him now, Fight him so he'll kill me?! Thomas thought to himself as an angered snarl appeared. "I can barely move and you want to fight me?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Thomas shouted and quickly grabbed Aidan's wrist again. "I will not fight you so you will kill me!! ...And I will not be tortured by him because I failed!" He shouted before desperately forcing Aidan's hand with the dagger toward his own throat.

Aidan's brows wrinkled as Johnson shouted in defiance, his wrist pulling back towards himself, fighting against the dog. His eyes fixed onto Johnson's face, watching the desperation he had of finishing himself off. And why? Was he so frightened by his "master"? He could have run away. But that would mean he would be another force against them. He might come back for Carvahall. He would kill them without hesitation.

The stern pull of his arm weakened slightly.

Aidan didn't want this. It would have felt differently if Johnson had made some effort of fighting to relieve him of this...this burden. That wasn't true. The two men...he killed them without any hesitation, driven by such a strong force, so certain that he would provide justice. Johnson was no different from them. He threatened Viggo and betrayed their trust. He tricked them, just like the man with the purple eyes.

His hand clutched the dagger's handle.

A wave of anger filled him as he saw the man's face smiling at him, eyes watching as though he knew everything, seeing right through Aidan as though to say 'I expected that'. From the very beginning, he knew all this would happen. That man knew Aidan would succumb to this. All it took...all it took was sending soldiers to torture and---the humiliation. A subtle push over the edge.

Aidan broke free of Johnson's hold, his other hand moving to take hold of the dagger as well, rising it high above the dog's head. Johnson would see the cat's eyes filled with madness before the point of the blade entered his throat. Spurts of blood shot out, covering Aidan's hands and arms, taking the dagger out and thrust it back into Johnson's neck, teeth bare as they clutched tightly.

How many men will he have to kill? This was forced inside him because of the man with purple eyes. This need to kill, knowing somehow that he had no choice. ...And he hated himself. So much. He had no control of himself, he couldn't stop each thrust of the dagger into the dog's throat. This self-hatred was going to tear him apart if he didn't stop because he finally understood. That man had changed him using Jonas and he couldn't go back. He had thought Jonas was the source, killing him would mean release. He was terribly wrong.

Aidan had been breathing heavily, sweat beading down his brow as his body finally stopped, staring down to a familiar scene of what was a man's throat. His hands clutched the dagger tightly, dark blood covering them as a reminder.

It was over.

When he moved again, his body trembled to the very core of himself as he slowly crawled off of Johnson, not making a sound as he sat a few feet away with a distant look in his eyes, aimed towards the ground.