Scar's POV
When I entered the dungeon, her scent enveloped me.
I guess since she'd been down here it just decided to possess the room.
I found her awake and throwing a rock at the wall and catching it as it bounced back.
Her knees were bent in front of her and her thin gown was rucked up her shapely legs.
She kept throwing the rock, though I knew she knew I was there.
"You look...better." I said.
She didn't look at me as she spoke "You really think so?"
I sighed "Really. Look, I'm going to let you out in a few minutes, but you're not going out...like that?"
She stood and turned to me "Like what?"
The shadow that the torch cast on her made the dress nearly translucent. How did I miss those...
I tore my gaze from her chest and held up the pile of folded clothes in my arms. It was a skirt and shirt that Julie had procured for me. She glared at me while doing it, but she did it nonetheless.
"Get dressed, Vas." I said sternly.
She raised her brows and I should've known that she'd try to do something like what she did.
I watched in amazed horror as she untied the string around the neck of her dressing gown and pulled it over her head.
I fought hard to keep my eyes on her face, but damn it, this was my mate. Though I may feel like she betrayed me, and though she may be doing this to spite me, she was still a beautifully shaped woman.
Her legs were toned, her hips gently curving into her waist before winding into her narrow ribcage and showcasing her breasts. They were magnificent...
Damn. I must've been blind not to have seen her body before. Then again, those manly clothes had to have hid those shapely curves.
"Enjoying the view?" She asked innocently as she walked forward.
I met her piercing gaze once again, trying to overlook the patchwork skin at her throat "Very much. I hope you don't do this for every man you come across."
She rolled her eyes "Oh no, only the ones that tell me to change and stick around to watch the show."
I shoved the clothes through the bars "Just do it already."
She snorted and grabbed them from me before setting them on the ground and examining them.
I turned around "Oh, so now you turn around?" She taunted.
I growled "Just get dressed already, you harlot."
She scoffed "If you're going to call me names, you might as well make up something original. That one is so cliche. I've heard the churchgoers use it so many times it makes me gag."
I hissed "So you have a reputation?"
She laughed "Oh yeah. I'm a real hussy." She snorted "The boys were really attracted to that wet carcass smell and that way I'd always come into town covered in animal blood. Oh, don't forget to mention my god-given talent for cursing."
I turned around, scowling and found her dressed.
The skirt was a deep purple that came to the ground and tied around the waist where the beige shirt was tucked in. It hugged her body, but the sturdy material hid it much better than the dressing gown, and finally the leather jacket, rolled at the sleeves, that she'd worn when she was still V.
Her hair, though a lot shorter than it had been, still hung to her shoulders, curling. It was thick and remained uncovered by the cap. She looked like the female she was, finally.
"Are you ready?" She asked with a steely gaze.
I unlocked the door and she sauntered out. She seemed a lot smaller to me now that she was a woman. I didn't know if it was just my perception or if the clothes had made her appear bigger when she was V, but now, she definitely appeared to have shrunk.
Her scent was even stronger the closer I got to her.
"So, what's the deal?" She asked, walking with her hands stuffed into the pockets of her skirt.
I gave her a side-long glance "What  do you mean?"
She gave a mirthless laugh "I pissed you off enough for you to try and strangle me. And now, you're suddenly letting me out...after only two days. You either want something from me or..."
I cocked an eyebrow at her. She stopped right before she got to the door and turned around as I prompted her "Or?"
She sighed "Or...or...or...there are so many options here. Um, you want me to go with the most rational?"
I nodded "That would be best."
She took a breath and licked her lips "Right, right, well, option number one is public execution."
I snorted "How would that be rational?"
She waved her hand at her neck "Considering this."
I stiffened "And the other theories? Why don't you impress me?"
She rolled her eyes "Of course, well, there's always torture, you know; whipping, breaking fingers and other various bones, scalping, bathing..."
I stopped her "Bathing?"
She cringed "Ugh...I hate baths."
I fought not to smile as she went on "And then there's forcing me to eat live worms, or haggis* for that matter." She stuck her tongue out and made a gagging sound "Those would go under torture, wouldn't they?"
I sighed "To you they would, I suppose. Any more?"
Her lips pursed as she looked me in the eye "You could hurt the people who knew."
The urge to grin faded fast "As much as you upset me, Vasilisa, I would never harm them because of that. And for your information, none of your theories are correct."
She huffed "Okay, then it's your turn to impress me."
I closed the space between us and her breath caught. Her body visibly stiffened and I could hear her heart beginning to pound again. Another wave of guilt washed over me.
She was terrified of me, that I would hurt her again.
"I'm just opening the door." I said softly.
She stepped out of the way and looked away, her lips smashed together and her brows furrowed. She was upset now too.
I did open the door just a crack, and like a feline, she slipped out soundlessly.
I had to open it quite a bit wider for my frame to fit through. She was looking around, her nostrils flaring slightly as she took in the smell of the warm breeze in the light colors of the dawn.
"Come on." I said.
She turned back to me, her head cocking to the side "Where are we going?"
I said simply "To the river...that way." I pointed to the woods.
She frowned but didn't question me as she followed.
As we walked, the sun rose more and more until the soft purples and blues of the sky turned into the pinks and oranges. "Do you know why you were punished?" I asked, turning around.
Vasilisa's POV
As he asked the question, I felt my stomach knotting with suspicion.
"I have an idea." I muttered, looking around. We were in the middle of the forest, looking around.
I turned back to him "I'd much rather hear the whole story, though."
He nodded "Of course. I punished you because you are vulnerable. You are a woman."
I sighed "Yes, I believe we established that in the cells."
He scolded me "Being a woman, you, physically, are just not as strong as a man. Sure you can shoot, and your mother may have mentioned you can wield a knife, but chances are when you really need to get out of a tight situation, you won't have either of those weapons to help you. All you will have is your body and your will to live."
He took a step forward, closing the wide margin between us, even if just by a foot "If that is all you have, you are compromised. You seem to have no concern for your well being."
I placed my hands on my hips "And you've come to this conclusion how?"
He replied swiftly "Due to recent circumstances."
He took another step. We were still a few yards away, but I felt as if he were already close enough to breath on me, to kiss me...
Whoa!
Okay!
Reality check.
I fought the blush creeping up my neck and face.
"Unless you really are a harlot, I'd say you're quite adverse to the act of rape." He said.
I scowled "No one deserves to be forced, whether it's their work or not."
He raised a brow "I agree, but since you're claiming to be, if not a proper young lady, than at least not a loose one, you'd be even more against it, would you not?"
I barked "Okay! What the hell are you getting at, Scar?"
One foot went in front of the other until he came to be only a yard away "I'm getting at that, that is your weakness. Have you ever heard of a man being raped on the battlefield?"
I was outraged. How dare he! "Are you assuming that because I went to Dentrow with you to talk to the not-so-undead I'd be in more danger of having my legs opened forcefully?"
He growled "I am!"
I scoffed "Have you ever been through a war? Murder, rape, and pillaging is the name of the game."
His lips pulled back slightly to show his tips of his teeth "Why do you think I dressed as a man? I'm well aware of what happens during a war. I wouldn't be of much use to my family as a woman. I know well and good what my chances are, and I have the power to stop them. My will to live, as you so said, is great indeed." I fumed.
His lips pursed together "Oh really?"
I was pissed "Oh yes." I hissed.
His face smoothed of all emotion "Alright, then let's see how you deal with this."
He tackled me to the ground so suddenly. When I hit, the air was knocked from my lungs.
His body weight felt so massive as it crushed me.
When I regained my senses I grunted a battle cry. I lashed at his face. His hands wrestled for my arms so I moved to my legs next. Plan A and B were quickly foiled as I was held completely still.
My chest was heaving rapidly.
He looked triumphant, in an 'I told you so' manner "And now I'm free to take you. You see what I mean?"
I glared at him spitefully "Absolutely not."
And then I did something unthinkable. I glanced over and saw a big rock "Pungo."
It went flying towards his head. I heard a crack as it crashed into the side of Scar's head and he was knocked off me.
He fell unconscious to the ground and I crawled out from underneath him. I felt slightly guilty, but I might not even apologize. He really made me mad.
I frowned down at him. I knew I couldn't just leave him here, but I also knew I certainly couldn't lug him through the forest. It was bad enough doing it halfway across town when he was conscious. Now that he wasn't and I'd be covering twice the distance, it was definitely impossible.
I walked over to the river and pulled off my jacket. I cupped the water in my hands and splashed it on my face, then dried it with my sleeve.
I stood and looked around for things to keep me occupied as Scar remained asleep.
I saw red fish swimming in the stream and smiled. I'd go fishing!
*A traditional pudding made of the heart, liver, etc., of a sheep or calf, minced with suet and oatmeal, seasoned, and boiled in the stomach of an animal.
Can you imagine why someone would call eating that torture? I would.