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For once in her life, Emerelda admitted she had made a major mistake.
The four men started advancing towards her as she kept walking back. She was trapped between a wall and the men staring hungrily at her. The closer they got the more she could smell the stench of cigar and alcohol off them. They all had wicked grins on their faces. One of the four held a small sharp knife that glared evilly under the moonlight, the only light which provided her the chance to see all her enemies.
She thought of speaking up and shouting for help even though she knew there was no point.
She kept on stepping back until her back touched the wall. Having no other means of escape, with a panicked heart she took in a deep breath trying her best to maintain a calm front.
Emerelda glared at her attackers. She watched on as each of their steps stride towards her like a hunter advancing its prey.
One of them couldn't wait any longer and began stretching his arm towards her, but it suddenly stopped.
The attacker possessed a startled look on his face as he looked down at his chest horrified. Emerelda saw something gleaming sharply while at that same second blood sprinkled on her face. The man fell onto the ground as more blood started to leak out from the body.
Emerelda blinked as a streak of silvery light flashed and the other two men fell dead to the ground with their unaware faces planted on the ground. Emerelda saw how something moved in the shadows, a long silver sword raised and swinging in the air. The third man who stood alive, closer to her had his throat slit open with blood gushing out from the severed split.
When it was the turn of the last man, who unlike the others didn't get a chance to register what had happened, spoke up with the questions that echoed in the air,
"Who? What do you-" but there was not enough time to finish, as he too fell dead joining the bodies of his fellow mates below.
Emerelda froze.
She silently stared at how the shadow revealed itself under the moonlight. The figure was tall, hooded and covered in a long dark cloak. She didn't dare to move as his arm appeared from inside the cloak, moving towards his hood while his other arm clenched tightly onto a long sword dripping with blood.
As his hood fell, his face was revealed.
His hair was as dark as the inky midnight sky, his eyes, they oddly shone with an unusual bright color. They were, Emerelda was not mistaken, gold. For a brief moment his eyes held hers, carefully studying her. When suddenly his lips turned up into a grin. She felt goosebumps rising up her arms and reality kicked in.
Who was this stranger?
'Is it really...?'
He didn't move but his grinning lips opened up and spoke the words she thought she won't be hearing anytime soon, "What on earth are you doing out here, Princess Emerelda?"
Emerelda concealed her surprise and composed herself as she raised her chin to answer him.
"I have no idea what you mean." she lied smoothly.
'She can't take me as an idiot.'
His grin didn't leave his lips, "Are you seriously going to try to make me look like a fool, Princess? Sadly it's not working."
'She looks scared. What the hell is she doing out here?'
"Stay away from me." Emerelda warned glaring at this newcomer.
'Pathetic'
He tilts his head and with a tone as if teasing a pitiful kitten, he asked, "Are you lost?"
"No."
With a raised eyebrow, "Then?"
"It is not, and I mean not, any of your concerns."
'Unbelievable. I wonder if she's sick in her head, it would make more sense then.'
"Well, if you aren't lost I suppose I'll just be on my way." he lifts his sword and sheaths it inside the scabbard, still dripping with blood.
"Goodnight. And remember, there won't be anyone else to save you from trouble." he turned around and started to walk away from the moonlight and back into the dark .
"I didn't ask for help!" she called out and then added bitterly, "But thank you anyways!"
"I hope to see you survive till 'morrow, Princess. The night is a dangerous world." he retorted, disappearing deeper into the shadows.
'I don't want to leave her though why is it any of my concerns?'
"Wait!" she called without hesitation.
She saw the figure halt to a stop.
Minutes went by as he slowly turned around, "Did I forget something?" he questioned darkly.
The more she listened to his voice, she realized that he had a strange thick accent. He was definitely not at all from here.
She hated herself for this, but it was the only way, "You are right. I am Princess Emerelda Garlin. Princess of Garlin Gold State. Daughter of Diem Garlin, heir to the throne. And right now...I am lost and in desperate need of help."
Even if she couldn't see his face anymore, she knew he had on a mischievous grin gracing his face.
'Just as I thought, I shouldn't, yet I can't simply stop myself.'
"Well then," he stretched out his arm out under the moonlight, "Shall we?"
She didn't take it, but started to part herself from the wall, "We shall."
"I am, still in shock, as to why the Princess of Garlin is out and about in the night." he said gently, his voice low and deep.
They were now walking in the forest that surrounded the whole city, the new stranger leading the way ahead.
'What am I doing?'
"That is not your concern." she replies.
She heard him scoff, "Is that all you could say?"
"No."
"I see."
"I'm afraid you don't." she ducked under a branch as he did. The trees started becoming thicker, the night becoming darker the more they proceeded ahead.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
'A place I myself have no idea why I am taking you.'
"You would see."
She smiled on which he couldn't see.
"Would I be safe?", she proposed.
'Has haven.'
"That is up to you to decide." He simply answers.
Her smile grew, "I already have."
By the time he turned around, her smile was wiped off her lips. They continued deeper into the forest in silence. The meandering forest hummed it's night song, as the clouds danced back and forth in front of the moon. Emerelda was panicking with fear yet still chose to stay composed, pretending to be strong.
Finally, after what felt like forever, they finally reached a clearing, it was a large spherical patch of grassland with a single small cottage at its center. The stranger moved towards it, as Emerelda slowly followed behind with caution.
Once they stood in front of the cottage, he reached for something inside his cloak. Something shone silver, and a small object appeared on his palms, probably a key. The lock clicked open and the door opened up in darkness.
'I would simply regret this.'
"Welcome, Princess." he said as he walked in, the darkness sucking him up.
Emerelda stood where she was. She didn't go in, her feet still at the threshold, curiously taking in her surroundings.
After a few moments the cottage lit up with life.
The stranger returned, leaning on the mahogany door frame with a smirk on his face, "There, now there is no need to be afraid."
She still didn't move.
'Oh how I would regret this a lot.'
His smirk didn't leave his face. She looked around the darkness outside, thought twice as she stepped into the light. He waves a hand and Emerelda looks around. A fire was crackling on the fireplace, something large covered with a white sheet sat near it. There was a velvet blue sofa and a Persian rug in front of it. A small kitchen was at one wall, and a table with only two chairs was set by a large wide window. Two closed wooden doors laid facing in front of her.
The door slammed shut, and Emerelda jumped with surprise. She turned around only to look into the very golden eyes of the stranger which were now a dark golden, hard and solid at present.
Behind his grin, his sharp canines peeked out with a nasty gleam.
"What a mistake you have made."