Chapter 1 |
Gasping for air, I glance over my shoulder. Jumping through the twigs and dodging trees was a figure I couldn’t quite see. My legs shook as I gripped my dress, yanking it up a tad and finally jumping back into a sprint.
Tree branches whipped my exposed legs and shoulders. Wincing as the stinging increased I lunged with all of my might, crying out in agony.
How did it turn out like this? Lost in the woods, running from a beast I couldn’t see in the darkness.
“Please!” I yelped. The end of the forest was in view, just a little more—
Stumbling over a log, I stagger into the clearing, the tree line directly behind me. The Princesses party was just nearby.
“Ah,” A voice echoed in the quiet night. I glanced up, hot tears streaming down my cold skin. “Are you all right?”
A man with gray eyes that seemed to glow white in the night stood hovering next to me. His brows were knitted together in a fake worry. I glanced over my shoulder at the dark forest and noticed the beast peering with a gleaming red gaze. Stalking its prey.
I jumped as the man's extended hand grazed my face. My lungs ached as the cold air paralyzed them.
“I-I’m sorry.” I huffed. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me to my feet. With shaky legs I leaned into him. Peering up at him, I was met with a smile so wicked and crooked it sent a chill down my spine. His white glowing eyes beamed with deception.
“Hmm, what an interesting sight.” He chuckled with a curled lip. A violent chill ran over my skin and I used my hands to push on his chest in an attempt to distance us. He grasped my wrist tightly and leaned his head down.
“What—“ I began. I struggled in his grasp as he stopped his face inches from mine.
“A little birdie flew right into a trap.” He whispered.
I shook my head and used my free hand to pound against his chest.
“Let. Go.” I demanded. I bit my quivering bottom lip and he smirked.
Slowly, he forced his lips against mine. Pulling me harder against him, I gasped into his mouth and bit down on his lip. The taste of metallic blood ran over my taste buds, but he didn’t react. His tongue swirled against mine with his grip tightening on my wrist.
Tears streamed down my face as I reached up. I grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his head back. His long neck but his lustful gaze didn’t waver as he peered down into mine.
He smiled and licked his lips. A stream of blood trickled down his chin, and nonetheless he smiled, pleased and amused.
“Oh? We’re playing rough, are we?” He asked.
He let go of his grasp on me and put his hands up in defeat with a sly grin.
I quickly let go and backed away, wiping my mouth in disgust.
How did it become like this? This whole night…what did I do to deserve this?
The man silently took a step forward, lowering his hands and studying me from head to toe. He titled his head and lowered his gaze to meet mine.
“Not running away?” He questioned excitedly.
I stepped back, glancing for a way out of this. Someone—anyone, why isn’t there anyone wandering tonight, of all nights?
“Would you let me?” I challenged. He raised a brow and shrugged.
“I like a good chase.” He claimed.
I put my hand over the necklace resting on my chest and took a deep breath. If tonight is my last night alive, I might as well take my chances here.
“Who are you?” I whimpered, “Why are you doing this to me?”
He licked his lips and tapped his finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. A twisted, smirk tugged the corners of his lips and he chuckled hysterically.
“You don’t seem to recognize me, Duke Soren.” His fingers trailed my clenched jaw. “And I’m doing this, because I want to.”
Duke Soren? No way… The man that my mother arranged for me to marry so many years ago. He was older—unrecognizable. This doesn’t make any sense.
“Duke Soren. What you are doing is unforgivable and extremely disgusting. If you want to keep face—“ I started.
“Hm?” He interrupted. He cocked his head to the side and stared through me. His hair trickled his brows but his blank gaze didn’t waver.
I slowly peered behind me, his knight stood in the distance.
“Leave, Duke.” I muttered.
He wasn’t my savior from that beast in the forest, he is the same as that beast.
“Duke Soren, We must attend—“ The knight began.
“All right. Goodnight, my dear Senna.”
He tapped my lips and smiled as he quickly brushed past me. I stood still, unable to look in his direction in case he was waiting for me. I don’t understand it, any of it.
The Duke has gone crazy?
The moon shone bright in the sky. The party, from what I could hear, was still going on. The princesses coming of age party.
I let out a sigh of relief and dropped to my knees. My hands trembled in the grass.
I woke up in the middle of the forest earlier , I had no idea where my knights were, or my father. No one noticed that I had gone missing but I couldn’t have been missing for long, since the party was still going.
Somehow, I have to get home in this state, without being seen by my knights or my family.
With trembling legs, I pull myself to my feet. I hold my necklace and sneak around the back of the building, right next to the tree line. Observing the forest I walked near it, afraid of something jumping out to eat me, I knew This was the only way home without being seen.
I forced myself to walk faster, in a hurry to get home before anyone else. I was determined to survive tonight, the state of my dress and my dirty skin, I would definitely be questioned.
“Lady Senna?” My heart dropped into my stomach as I heard the familiar voice.
“Sir Clive, w-what are you doing here?” I asked guiltily. In the moonlit night, I could see his eyes travel over me.
“What in the world—“ He stammered and quickly took his jacket off and slung it over my shoulders.
“You mustn’t tell anyone. I just got a bit lost.” I lied.
Sir Clive nodded and guided me back home. The house was dark, meaning we beat them home but I wasn’t going to take chances
“Can you boost me up to the window?” I asked. He nodded and took a deep breath.
He kneeled below my bedroom window, and extended his hand to me. Happily I took it and he hoisted me up. I clawed at the windowsill and finally had a hold of the window. I forced it open and glanced down at my knight. He was peering at the ground to avoid glancing up my dress, unfortunately for us both—he had to get me higher and angle me correctly.
“U-um, could you look up here so we don’t fall, and you have to get me higher.” I mumbled.
Doing as he’s told—he glances up; using his hands, he holds my thighs and pushes me up as much as he can. I could feel his fingers grazing the inside of my thigh as I used my strength to pull myself halfway through the window.
My hips and lower half hung outside of the window, dangling freely.
“Almost, are you able to push me up a bit more or go through the house and help me in?” I asked.
“It would be bad if someone were to come home while I’m inside and you’re in this state. My Lady, are you able to swing your legs to your advantage?” He explained.
I nodded to myself and swung my legs, flailing and pulling myself at the same time. Finally I budged, the dress tearing at the stomach from the force of pulling myself against the wooden window. I flopped inside of my room, hitting the floor with a smack.
“Are you all right, Lady Senna?” Sir Clive asked in a loud whisper.
With a groan, I picked myself off of the floor and gave a thumbs up through the window.
“I can only trust you right now, can I request your help? I can’t call the maids, they’ll definitely tell father.” I called down.
He nods hesitantly and raises his face.
“Okay, come to me and help me get cleaned up.” I murmured.
For a moment, he stood still, hesitant to overstep boundaries.
“Yes, my lady.” He replied before turning on his heel and stepped toward the house.
I leaned against the wall and heaved a sigh. What the hell is happening tonight.
I waited in silence for a few moments before the knock on my bedroom door startled me.
“Come in.” I insisted.
The door creaked open and Sir Clive stepped in. He flicked my lamp on and he slowly stepped toward me.
“May I ask what has happened to you?” He crouched in front of me and touched my legs. Lashes from the branches marked the exposed skin, red and bloody.
“I’m not sure myself. I woke up in the forest and was chased by a beast. I’m lucky that I escaped.” I admitted, purposely leaving out Duke Soren.
His eyes scanned the welted lashes, and he sighed.
“I’ll start a bath for you. I’ll grab a cloth and ointment while we wait for the water.” He spoke calmly.
His cheeks were a bit red, surely this isn’t what he was used to at all. He brushed his dark brown hair out of his face and made his way to my bathroom. I could hear the water run, and the drawers open.
I’m so thankful to have him as my knight, he’s never done wrong.
“Here we are.” He muttered under his breath as he brought the wet cloth to my skin. He started with my face, a single lash, thankfully. He trailed the cloth over my shoulders and the exposed part of my chest. I shivered and closed my eyes.
I could feel his eyes scanning my skin as he ran the cloth over it. Finally trailing down my arms and to my legs I breathed happily. Despite the soreness of my body, I felt much better.
“Mm, done?” I asked, peeling my eyes open. He nods and tosses the cloth onto the nightstand, and reaches out to me.
I took his hand and he lifted me to my feet. I quickly cover my belly and snag the blanket off of the bed.
“Thank you very much for your help tonight, Sir Clive. I will be sure to raise your salary.” I smile and wrap the blanket around my torso. I turn on my heel and wander to the bathroom in pain.
The bath tub had bubbles, and a sweet scent in it. One that my maids haven’t used yet. The aroma filled me with sweet joy, a calming scent washing my night off of my sore skin.
I have to get to the bottom of what exactly happened tonight. Too many strange occurrences—I’ll find out the truth, especially if I was potentially drugged, and the Duke suddenly becoming a madman.
