You storm down the hallway to the lowblood's respite block and throw open the door. The mongrel you are looking for sits in the center of the room with a heavy book in his lap. He looks up at you.
"What the fuck are you doing? Haven't you ever heard of knocking you-"
You cut him off by marching over to him and grabbing the front of his shirt and lifting him off of the ground. The tiny troll squeaks in surprise and kicks his feet, which are at least a foot above the floor.
"Equius let go of—"
You silence the scum by thrusting him into a wall. He yelps in pain as the plaster cracks behind him. You press your palm into his face, hearing a satisfying crack. Putrid red blood seeps out beneath your hand. You snarl in disgust, wiping your hand off on the wall.
"Please." He whimpers, his face covered in bright red blood.
"Silence." You throw him across the room. His head hits the leg of his desk with a sharp crack. His crumpled body goes limp.
You crack your knuckles as you approach him. You take a fistful of hair and lift his limp body into the air. His limbs dangle lifelessly. His face is obscured by blood. You throw him against the wall and watch as he lands in a crumpled heap on the ground. You place your foot on his side.
"Equius stop!"
In the doorway stands your moirail. Her face displays an expression of disgust and fear.
"Go away Nepeta. This does not concern you."
You press your cleat into his side causing spots of red blood to soak through his shirt.
You feel two small hands grab your arm, trying to pull you off of him.
"No! Stop hurting him!"
You dig your cleat deeper into his soft flesh.
"Please!" She sobs.
You turn to your moirail to see tears streaming down her face. You slowly remove your blood-stained shoe from the lowblood's unmoving body.
"Nepeta, I…"
"Why would you do this?" She says through her tears.
"I thought this is what you wanted." You say.
She pulls away from you, stepping back.
"Why would I ever want this?" She shakes her head, inching further away from you.
You reach out and try to take her arm but she flinches back.
"Don't touch me."
Your anger returns. Why is she being so difficult? You did exactly what a good moirail should do.
"Why won't you let me help you?"
She glares at you, making fists with her small hands.
"I don't always need your help." She says. She kneels down beside Karkat and takes his head in her lap. She brushes a blood-soaked clump of hair out of his face. She glares at you.
"Now leave. You've already done enough."
"But I…"
"I said go!"
You grit your teeth in frustration. How dare she order you around like some lowblood scum. You are higher than her, better than her. She should know her place.
And yet, as you turn away from her and walk away, you can't help but feel a tiny surge of pride.
John, help the mayor build cantown.
Such dramas. Much intense.
I don't really know what to say in this chapter except that we are closer now to the climax than we ever will be. That's right. Next chapter peoples. It's time for things to get messy.