Vonn, Her Ex Husband, Her abuser, The man she spent two years trying to escape was now before her.
Yuki's breath caught in her throat as her hands Trembled. She felt like running away but her legs refused to obey her. Memories of abuse she has endured for years now resurfaced in her mind; his fists hitting her, his screams abusing her, the way he'd make her feel worthless, small, broken.
Vonn noticed her discomfort immediately, and a cruel smile spread across his face as he realized he still had an effect on her.
"There she is" he said, pushing off the wall. " The famous dragon Tamer, you've been making quite a name for yourself, Yuki"
"Wh-...what are you doing here?" Yuki's voice came out weaker than she intended, barely above a whisper.
Vonn walked towards her slowly like a Predator hunting a wounded prey. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded document.
"Delivering a message from my boss, Rogers Trump. You remember him right? vice guild master of the dark reaper's guild? Even I didn't get recruited personally by him when I became a B-Rank" he spat as he shot her a look of jealousy.
Yuki stared at the contract in his hand but didn't take it.
"I'm...I'm not joining any guild" she managed to say. Though her voice trembled. "I already decided, Owen and I are independent hunters—!"
"Owen? Huh? OWEN? who? Oh, wait!" Vonn laughed mockingly. "Don't tell me you named the dragon after that dead loser who used to live upstairs? God, you really are pathetic. Still clinging to a corpse's memory!"
Rage flared in Yuki's chest, but fear kept her rooted in place. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him to leave, to defend Owen's name, but the words died in her throat.
Vonn stepped closer, close enough that she could smell the alcohol in his breath.
"Look at you" he sneered. "Still the same weak little woman I married. You think having a dragon makes you strong? You're still NOTHING without it. Just a scared little woman playing hero."
Yuki's vision blurred as she burst into tears. She hated herself for letting him see her react to him this way. It proved him right about her patheticness.
"Hah~, take the contract, Yuki." Vonn said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Rogers doesn't ask twice, he's way more meaner than I am...and trust me, you don't want to refuse the dark reapers"
"I...said...No" Yuki whispered but it sounded more like a plea than a refusal.
Vonn's smile vanished. He immediately grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.
"Listen carefully you sniveling little bitc—!"
"GET. YOUR. HANDS. OFF. HER!."
Owen roared as he materialized out of the [beast space] in a burst of golden light, hovering between Yuki and Vonn. His golden eyes blazing with fury, smoke and curling from his nostrils. His [Dragon's Aura] activated instinctively, filling the air with a suffocating pressure that weighed down against Vonn.
Vonn stumbled backward as his face went pale for a second. For moment, genuine fear swept across his body.
Then he laughed. It was a forced and shaky chuckle from his throat.
"Oh yeah, your little pet, Owen~" Vonn released Yuki's wrist and backed away slowly, his hands raised in a surrender.
"Fine, I won't touch her. But you should teach your master some common sense, little Dragon."
Vonn smirked, though he still trembled under the pressure of Dragon's aura. He dropped the contract on the ground at Yuki's feet.
"You have two options..." He said coldly. "Swear loyalty to the dark reapers..." He paused as he smiled viciously.
"Or...hehehe...well, let's just say you won't be the first unaffiliated hunter to have an accident in a dungeon"
He turned and walked away. His footsteps echoing in the empty street.
"You have three days to decide" he yelled over his shoulder. "After that, Rogers will handle things the Dark Reaper's Way"
Vonn disappeared around the corner.
Yuki collapsed to her knees. Tears streaming down her face. Owen landed beside her, nuzzling against her cheek desperately.
"Yuki.... I'm sorry. I should have come out sooner. I should have—!"
"It's not your fault" Yuki whispered, hugging him tightly. "It's never been your fault"
But as she held her tears in and stared at the contract lying on the ground, one thought echoed in her mind.
What's going to happen to her in three days if she continues to refuse.