Chapter 1
Madeline
I ran and ran. Faster and harder.
The outgrown roots and the fallen leaves crunched underneath my flat boot. It was scary even more when I thought about the fierce attacks of the wild snakes.
So, I alleviated my pace and breathed in the fresh fragrance of minty grass. Each breath was like water, fresh and cleansing, flowing freely into my lungs. But the fresh feeling didn’t last long,
Looking back, I noticed the two men around their mid-forties reaching toward me, fast through the lackluster forest.
“God save me, please!” I muttered and speeded my legs up more. Jeez, why didn’t put my stockings on?
While focusing backward and running forward, I unnoticedly tripped over a huge root of the oldest banian tree. I lost my balance and fell on the dirt mud. Of all days, I chose to wear my favorite black dress with the white apron today, on my eighteenth birthday. And yeah, both my dress and birthday were destroyed.
My mother was right. I should have listened to her. She warned me to return home from the party before it gets dark. Seriously! If I had listened to her and came back before the evening, I wouldn’t have met these men on my way and also, I wouldn’t have myself in this hell hole now.
Frustrated, when I was so busy in mourning for my dress, a pain crept me up. I realized my knees were bleeding already and the wounds that kept aching across the area made me whimper in pain.
I was so done! Yet, I found the courage to pull the white ribbons off the bunches in my hair. Stretching the pair, I wrapped my knees with them, and anyhow, I was able to stop the bleeding.
But I guess... it took me a long time.
The sounds of the shuffles had succeeded closer. I looked up and saw those men who had already reached my end. Anxiety cruised through me as smirks arose on those two ugly faces.
I was in danger.
Where is he? He was supposed to be here already.
Please... please, come already.
I felt so vulnerable whilst one of those men grabbed my hands behind my back and tied them together. “P-please let me go.” I begged but every time I did, he was laughing more evilly which gave me goosebumps.
Please... come!
I gasped when the other man crawled over me and stared down at my body lasciviously. He gripped onto my dress’s collar and started tearing the robe apart.
Though it was not the first time, I had encountered so many men like him but no one was able to even touch my body. Because before they could do so, he would always show up and protect me.
The disgusting alcoholic scent invaded my sense and I couldn’t help but hate it. I didn’t have any idea about what this nasty man was going to do with my body. No matter what, I knew it won’t be pleasant.
But for him, what was so pleasing about touching a girl who is three times younger than him? If I wouldn’t have lost my father before my birth and if he was alive until now, I was sure that he would have been around their ages.
“Please... Leave me.” Tears formed in my eyes and I just closed them as the dress was almost halfway torn.
He hasn’t come yet. Perhaps, he won’t. Maybe, my mother was right again. I have been living in fantasies that are filled with expectations. And it will hit me real hard on the face when I will get back to reality.
Tightening my hands into fists, I held my breath. He would be tearing the dress in a few seconds and my body would be his to taste. I almost vomited as I waited for the devastating moment of my life. I will be destroyed this time.
But none of my thoughts occurred. My dress remained half torn as I felt the grip from my cloth pulled away
Just then I heard a growl.
Flipping my eyes open, I gazed up at the familiar big dog and my lips immediately curled up in a smile. I was still unaware of the fact if he was really a dog or something else but I believed he was my hero.
The dog or whatever was nibbling the flesh of the man he had caged down between its long legs whilst the other man was trying hard to move him away.
Get up, Mady you have to run. My inner voice roared. Yes, I really need to run.
Jerking my hands off the ties, I stood up and started running toward the trees, deeper in the forest. A few errands ahead, my legs went numb and I fell. One thing I could remember was that I hit my head with the tree’s trunk. Then, all I could see was...
Darkness.
That was what I witnessed after having my eyes open, disturbed by the thunders’ distant lightning and loud glowing caused by the feral clouds.
Was I dreaming all this while? But why does my head hurts?
“Jeez!” Avoiding the twanging pain across my head, I pulled myself up from the bed I was lying on and shortly, became aware of the unfamiliar room in which I didn’t spend a second before, in my whole life.
The room was ten times bigger than my place with the king-sized bed beneath me, positioned in the middle of the area. Rolling my gaze, I discovered the tall shiny lamp tripping over in the darkness and the vintage chandelier dangling under the ceiling. Everything was blazing even in such darkness.
But...
Where am I now? What happened to me?
I tried to recall but all I could remember was running again and again through the forest across my house. However, not even in the chance in hell that I was in my house at this moment.
Curiosity flowed upon me when I scampered out of the luxury bed and stepped on my feet to approach the large door. But I immediately stopped in the midway as my gaze set on the mirror at a corner that cast my reflection. It got me solely spell-bounded.
An unexplainable glow was radiating my body, in such darkness, leaving me completely enthralled. I was looking the same, except for feeling distinct in that beautiful pastel vintage gown.
As I tried to look closely, a wintry wind swept through the windows, the trees creaked outside and the dust whipped up into the air, blinding me with dust. Deliberately, the rain started beating on the roof like some bizarre drummer. Inside me, there grew a mixture of curiosity and conflicts.
My hair romped, the gusts of rain almost started rinsing me in an invisible surf of exultation. Surveying the door that was locked from outside, I strode towards the window to find a way out.
“Ah!” A winch left my mouth as a thing like an awl prickled and intruded into the smooth skin of my bare feet. Before I could bend to pluck it out, the door swung open, making a creaking sound.
“Are you hurt?” A deep, manly voice arose from behind.
I gasped and in anticipation when I turned around, my skirt swiveled emphatically, making the tall vase beside me fall, tumble and break into pieces.
Jeez!
“Who the hell are you?” Resisting the growing pain created by the awl, I shouted, my voice echoed with the tumbling squeaks. But seconds later, I found myself stunned in place, recoiling in shock as the thunder buzzed and the earthbound light fell upon the face of the tall man who was standing in front of me in his sweat-suit.
He is a man of every girl’s dreams. He has tousled dark brown hair, which is thick, lustrous. And his eyes were mesmerizing deep green with flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout.
Those eyes were so familiar. They looked like the eyes of the dog I used to get protected by.
“Come on, I am not a dog.” The man stated, seemed in discontent but there was a visible playful smirk on his most charming face. “Not even a chance in hell. Anyway, I asked something. Are you hurt?” He inquired and started taking steps towards me, concerned.
Swaying myself out of the fascination, I bent and grabbed a piece of the broken vase from the floor. “How could you hear what I think just now? Why am I here?” I shouted, pointing the sharp glass edge at him. However, he didn’t bother and continued with his pace.
I shot him a murderous glare. “If you dare to come any closer, I swear I will kill you with it.” I kept warning him.
The man scoffed in disbelief as a sneer escaped with the smoke of his breath. “It won’t even create a wound, Miss.” He asserted, not impacted by her threats.
I attempted to move away. “Damn it.” I cursed and lunged back using one foot. Yet, I couldn’t continue it longer because of the awl that was infiltrated into my feet, making me unable to walk. So instead, I started yelling and compelling him defeatedly with the broken portion in my hand. “You pervert, I can do it. Don’t try to ruin my patience. You don’t...” My words were slowly drawn to waste when he stood a step away from me and squinted his stern eyes.
“Who is trying to ruin your patience? If you want to stab me with that silly thing, please do so. I don’t bite.” With that, he moved closer and grabbed my hand. My eyes widened in shock.
The broken thing was still in my hand, unused when he carried me up in his arms, shuffled to the bed. God, my heart was racing until he made me sit on the bedsheet. “You should pull this shit out as soon as possible. Otherwise, there will be an infection.” He muttered as he squatted down and placed my foot on his knee.
“Ouch!” My face twisted in pain as he pulled the awl out. The hardened lines disappeared and the pain slowly started lessening with those gentle touches of his hand.
He sighed. “I need to scold the servants. I clearly told them to clean this room.” He seemed more like talking to himself than talking to me.
I held my breath when he reached and opened the drawer next to him, taking out a piece of gauze, antiseptic cream, and a cleanser. Was he worried? I gulped. “Actually, who are you?” I finally forced my voice out when he was done washing the wound with the cleanser and had started applying the cream.
“I am Drake.” He replied in his soothing voice, quick and clear.
“What do you want from me?” Was my second question. I had calmed down, realizing this crazy man won’t really bite.
The man looked up at me, his face was a pool of blankness. “You have diamonds with you?”
I shook my head firmly. “No!” He was asking about expensive stuff. Perhaps, he is a robber?
“Golds?” Drake asked, wiping the wound carefully and placing my foot on the floor.
“No.” I was from a middle-class family, the family that was neither filled with wealth nor with poverty. And now, at this moment, I didn’t have anything except for this gown that I surely and absolutely got from this man’s abundance. Perhaps, he was rich?
“Or maybe a great treasure?” Drake had held his smile back. I could see that.
Ignoring the teases, I inhaled a deep breath and shook my head. “No. I don’t.”
“Then what do you think what do I want from you?” Drake slightly tilted his head, tossing me another question.
Confused as hell, I shrugged a shoulder and stared deep into his eyes. There was a caution and warmth in his eyes that made me want to learn about him, his goals, and his intentions.
“You.” He paused as his stare deepened.
“I want you.” said Drake, his intense gaze sparkled and the soft perception of the smile on his perfect surface made me suck in my own breath.
I bit my lower lip hard as the wild power of the storm exploded outside but I felt it echoed across me. At first, it was nothing but a deeper moan to my heart that swept over every organ of my body.
“For bestowing the dedication upon myself to protect you and be your Knight.”
I stiffened once again after straining to listen to what he said against the sound of ceaseless wind and crashing beats of the rain.
He wants to protect me?
Some gazes are the promise of protection, at that moment, his gaze was all and more.
