MIDNIGHT
Darkness filled the sky like a black sea, the light that shone from the blank was the crescent moon and star light silvery seen from the window open by the bed.
Perfect the day seemed from hanging out with Amber to seeing her sister and brother again they really were a support system she was going to miss them. Finally finishing her year as a 3rd year student, she had worked hard to excel in her studies a business degree, what lay ahead she had in her future, she had no idea but she was ready to live again.
In her child room which was aesthetic pink the explorer theme throughout the years had now transformed to an adult wonderland of plants in vases, interior design layout of a neat purple bed in the center of the room.
Few posters of her favorite band crush on the wall to the left- side, desk and chair to the right side and the closet hidden in wall built with the lined white door closed. The room was brought to life, beautified by personal items mirrors, make up kit's brushes, stationary, diaries and few books.
Changed into her night wear, from the comforter and getting into her cover shifting before finally setting on rest point and switching her phone to do not disturb returning it to the side night table. The tole of the day causing to stretch and yawn as she replayed every notion of her day into a carousel of thoughts that caused her eyes grew heavy after blinking a few moments she shut them out close and going off to venture in the starry of dream realms.
Pitch- black the recess of being lost, where was she? ...NO! ... not again! Goosebumps' appeared on her skin, tension in her body rocked a wave of stiffness, "l…. have to live" after the horror of the dream, blood soaked her dress, was dying in that dream years ago. A flash of light struck in the darkness, shining on the surface circular squinting her eyes to see clearly "A talisman ring?" it looked old, ancient it seemed like one of those rings King's ring in medieval times and floating in mid-air reaching out to touch it.
"He needs you! come quickly, he is in trouble" a voice said in urgency with a firm calming tone.
"Who that? Who is talking ….? needs who?" peering in the blank space there was no one surrounding her alone in the empty space.
The ring floated toward her to her middle finger and smugly fit as if made for her focusing down on her fingers, a smile breaking on her lips, looking back up. "Tree roots?" fallen leaves, a dirty soil path with minty grass shoots under her feet, glancing upwards "Trees?" the trees were ancient, timeless as they disappeared into the sky ,rough with age, yet their roughness was worn down by the soft green shoot, twisted roots on the ground, sound of birds chirping, trees surrounded the wood land, the harshness of the sun a source of brightness muted by the tree leaves into soft rays.
The soft crunch of leaves on the ground under her feet made her rub her temples, in confusion to where she was.
"Where l am ...? …it's so warm …. huh?" moving forward in no ultimate sense direction, with all the trees looking the same as she passed while walking past
"Clip-clop-clip-clop" was a distant sound and she heard going toward the noise, she saw a breaking from the forest to a dusty grovel highway road.
The neighing sound of the horses which trotted with majestic grace, in her vision of a two-wheeled drawn wooden carriage with coach man sitting driving in lead holding the reins. The carriage jostled over the trail of dusty clear road which had lined trees of the forest on its sides., the driver eyes widened as his eyes causing to slip his grip on the reins.
Therefore, resulting to loss of direction in the instant moment of distraction and immediately rectifying the situation, steering the horses back on the on the footpath. The carriage went past her in a hurry barely revealing its passengers in the carriage by the side paneled casement.
The dust pathway was empty walking in turmoil of where her destination was, a town emerged before her eyes. Wandering off in the direction of her frontal vision taking in her surroundings, men in suiting jackets, ruffled shirts under waist coats ,breeches, frock coats , surcoat robes with belts leather armor with swords strapped by the hip , and women's regalia flamboyant flared skirt gowns adorned by jewelry , simple long- sleeved tunics clothing, draped long dresses under long velvet ,rayon cloaks with ties on the neckline.
A woman holding a hand against her forehead shielding from the sun, other with decorated paper fans, beads of sweat glistened on foreheads with bright color in their cheeks near red mingled with other unfamiliar smells, spices, food in the street and the sweet smell of flowers by a florist stall as she moved forward.
Awe in her eyes darting from her sinister to right, receiving odd, bizarre unrelenting glances from them others sighted in the corner of their eyes, murmurs between the individuals around her passing her by gaps left around her as she roamed around the center square of the own.
Crowded noisy, narrow street …stone buildings … shops on the line route of pavements people, shopkeepers screaming out offers on the top of their voices to attract customers and trying to bargain for the best prices, a market of trade drowning with seas of citizens not an empty single place spotted between stalls ,horses carts , a butcher with his lumps of meat on display bloody and cooked , a green grocer selling oranges , apples pears and vegetables, second story houses ,food stalls in square of the town the haunting smell of garbage thrown in old wooden barrels.
Departing from a stone, opened four window arched pub with drunk patriots singing in cheer, merry with noisy drunk cursing heard from outside. A gap- toothed grin of an old man stumbling in afore of her, the only splash of color in the yellow grime on his teeth, ebony haired in cap, aluminum grey eyes ,scruffy elbow- folded sleeve shirt untucked in his brown breeches disheveled coarse worn out sandals.
"H-h-hheeey! Pretty lllllady.... Wheeeeere do you think yeeeer goin'?" his dusky voice slurred by his intoxicated state. Steering clear of the man in her way on the dusty street walking ahead the atmosphere of squalor of the eerie buildings around her, lost was now to where she was. 'This is a strange dream", she felt parched for water and even exhausted with walking along the path to nowhere. The people were dressed very strangely as if she steeped in a fairy tale book story.
"Well… Well Wwhat ..do we have here? All …. alone strange girl no identification tag or hand maiden?" a grating voice from a tall man in baggy, white vested shirt in breeches with a square shaped cap.
"She will fetch a good price…indeed?" will be worth good grub and a handsome reward a servant slave" crooked nosed man, cold desolate grin spread on his face, the man beside the first spoke out.
"Good fortune! For us ... l call it!" eyes gleaming in mischief, another inserted in an amused tone, forehead puckered short breeches and a rugged vest, well-built man. Unable to believe in their luck of this gift in front of them.
The fourth just silently glared and surveyed her form standing in the backdrop, conscious of the atmosphere that became precarious, in dread Chloe slowly retrogressed her steps backwards in attempt flee for her life.
Four domineering figures covering her path, deafening swift seconds which sounded blackening batter of her heart beats heavy in her chest ...….dragging her in an alley, wriggling in resistance screaming and kicking the shin of the man ,grunting in pain causing fabric rag to be placed mouth, sack over her head, mind was refusing to accept what her eyes were showing her tears streamed her eyes enclosed in the sack …..this was no longer a dream it was reality.
Moments later ...…...
Carried off on piggyback on the shoulder of one strange man, trying to get her bearings to where they were carrying her to, the sounds of birds and moist smell of grass hovered in the air ,coolness of my protection ?
The most accurate guess was she was in the trail pathway of the forest, covered by sack, tied hands and feet. Ramming against the kidnapper back her jerked with movement "where ...were they taking her to?" halting their steps for rest they sat her down trussed like a …. turkey.
Utterly helpless, ever since the dream began things seemed usual for a dream, she could smell, feel pain something was going on terror started to seep in her bones.
She couldn't breathe anymore as if someone was choking her , heart racing and all she wanted to do was to curl up into a ball and wait for someone to save her but that seemed unlikely, no one would and no one did. A chocked cry for help forced itself up her throat, drops running down her cheeks. It seemed as if this was the end of her.
The sound of a rough clopping pounding sharp hoofs pounding the dusty path raising dust on the trail in approach, hope of escape filled her mind and the trepidation among the men kidnapping as they rushed off to cast off her of the man whose shoulder was carrying her.
"Lll-ll-lord of Dux?" Open mouthed mentioned the man in a square cap.
"Quickly …throw her off behind the big tree off the track!" shrinking away in terror at the man riding a horse along the same path in approach.
"Hurry if he catches…. us!" the man carrying hurriedly removing her from his shoulder to hide her from dusty straight grovel path lined by trees of the wild forest. Grunting for being carelessly tossed off in panic of the man.
"Lord Dux won't catch just remain calm and he won't suspect anything!" the menacing confident man among the kidnappers.
"Your Grace "
"My Lord"
The man approached in variable speed with horse stopping in trot , on the sight of the men "Hail fellows!"
Powerfully tall well-built matured man dressed in exquisite long jodhpurs trousers, shirts underneath rich black overcoat beaded with a trail stone beads, enclosed two egged gleam sword by the hip ,his dark green eyes narrowed down at the four men before ,him who looked out of place when the citizens of the town were busy preparing for the festival of night light ,resuming his journey passing off took reins of his horse.
Resuming to his tracks riding off …. The hope she felt was short lived as, now bruised from being roughly thrown off on behind a large rooted tree ground surface behind a tree.
"What did l tell you?" Nudging the man beside him in confidence.
"Our luck, Bullocks it worked!"
"Let's use another route to avoid suspicion"
"Agree...…!"
Reassured of safe passage one of the men went off to grab her again, with no hope of anyone saving after grunting and shouting on top of her lungs to no one ears. Deciding to attempt the last ditch for her life limping off stumbling, hopping along the rooted forest trail, grunting if anyone would hear her. "She is getting away!"
"Catch that lass now"
"Where… you are running off too!"
"Got you, now we wouldn't get our reward wont we" grabbing her head by the sack roughly, leaning in to lift her up to carry off.
"We still need her price to intact be careful with the lass!" said another.
A firm voice inserted "Mm..mm and what price is that?" the appearance of the green-eyed man to the men who had escaped inspection resulted in the response of "LLL-II-Ord " eyes widening ,face blanched the square capped man facing the Lord noble , body going still. They didn't hear the soundless quiet approaching footsteps on the grass.
"What Lord ! he already left, ...aaaaand " turning around to face the voice the men's faces turned pale, the others stepping back in attempt to flee.
"He is not going to catch us!" the other asserted.
"Release her otherwise l won't be spare…." right -handed grip on whip of the steel blade sword gleaming in the sun brilliant rays, drawn out from its holster towards the men.
Off his stallion left concealed away to avoid detection of the horse hooves, by foot tracked the men before they went further in the route of the forest. The women hidden in a sack bag was untied, the mouth gag quickly removed showing and the ties on her hands and feet disentangled within an instant.
"S-SS--orry my Lord," stammering in fright at the presence of Lord Dux he was a well , known he wasn't someone to contend with in Xenia.
"She all yours" offering her up to the Lord Dux, choosing defeat their plan was not going to be successful selling the lass.
The wind, mild that it was, caught her hair and sage dress, blowing them in toward the trees behind. This was no game of hide and seek, she was rigid, statue-like.
The disordered sable hair ,as the forest floor untidy tumbling on the shoulders of lady , the glisten of a cold sweat on her forehead, in a strange dress. Her eyes were as wide as if someone had delivered a the fatal blow, briskly rushing across from where the men stood among her, to his side sheltering behind him.
"My ll-ll-llord we will be on our way" the capped man tugging the sleeve of man beside him, tripping, standing up again, in expeditious darting as if the hounds of hell were chasing them, disoriented heedless of direction in the forest the men bolted, not even waiting for a discharge to leave.
"T-t-thank you" facing her savior who restored his sword back in its sheath and strapped back by his hip as her kidnappers had departed.
"You're not really from here are you? Felix noticed the totally unusual appearance of the delicate girl as she smiled faintly at him, wiping her hands on the feathered corset shape white long frock dress feet in socks.
"Is it really that obvious? How can l return the favor?"
"Well your outfit is bizarre ... how can say ? puts you out of place, however you owe me no favors, those men a number of the gang from black silver gang, selling women has been banned death is what they deserved. Xenia will not allow such behavior. Your alone in with no hand- maiden , no wonder it dangerous in these parts to be alone"
" They have fled already ? "She looked around to convince herself it was over.
" Not to worry l have seen their faces catching them again won't be a problem"
"H-h-hand- maiden? What … is that for? , All l know is l thought, l was dreaming ended here in this strange place..."
"Your really don't know what l am saying? A lady in waiting is ....Dreaming ..?" lifting his eye brow , as he watched shake her head in denial .
Felix began to think this child was one of the flower ladies in the town, who were demented and spoke in deranged speeches.
"Yes! Dreaming but those men were proof..... l -l am not …. I don't even know how to get home"
"Dreaming? Okay ... certain to ask …" he closed his eyes in frustration, rubbing his nasal before studying her face never being stuck in such a situation previously.
"My name is Chloe and how… do l?" she nibbled her bottom lip in nervousness ,taking more sight of the man in front of her who seemed old enough to be her grandfather.
"Lord Dux address me as such, that's refreshingly ...fascinating.... how you did get here in the first place?" observing the forest floor behind her.
"The ring ? bloody ring won't come off…..aagh… please... will you …aagh, it's still not coming off! l tried to take it off … Wait the ring that could be why …." Pulling the ring in annoyance, aiming to detach the silver band on her index finger.
Remembering of the ring she saw at the start of the dream which was now on her.
Felix's eyes narrowed his gaze at what seemed blackened by ancient silver, glittering under the rays of the sun ,symbols on the talisman man ring is that .....
"CICERIO ...Where did you ???? how do you possess it….?His forehead creased, baffled fixing his gaze away from the ring, to her titled head to him, blinking her eyes.
"l don't knowwww.. it just… just…Appeared to me "scratching her chin in thought ,scrabbling her mind together to what just happen around her.
Felix body stilled, as he saw something queer beyond his knowledge insight her body became invisible slowing glimpses the tree lined background behind her, like a wispy shadow of light of the dead, brightness wholly encircling her body, dimming like dust sprayed stars in night sky.
"Wait!" reaching out to grab a hold of her form she was gone .....
...
The sky scrapper of the forest, was a grand poem of the landscape of the green grassy land, its branches spread heaven-bound and in the strong light of day, its sparkling lace of leaves moving a sign of the soft wind in the air and the glucose smell of amber.
However despite its appearance all, the thought stuck in her mind was how skin of the yellow circular delectable shape fruit on the pattern twig of the tree tasted like.
Hastily making her pace to the bottom end of the trunk of the tree, her eyes darting to check for any one insight taking opportunity…..moments later…..
Clinging to the logy branch of the peach tree reaching out for orange- reddish saturated fruit
"Got you …"descending down branch by branch on the knotted bark of the tree, until her feet landed on the ground in a "thump !" And a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. Chloe stretched wide her mouth biting into the flesh of the fruit, bursting in rich flavor, bright color and smell.
A delight seeking sheer on the bottom spot of the tree rotted ground.
After the first bite she went up the tree again to retrieve another and coming back sitting down to relax enjoying the thrill of such delicious produce better than in her world.
"Their more divine with pears too?"
"Maybe l should try that" thinking a loud ...….registering the voice was not hers glancing upward, her widening as she gaped at to the most attractive green piercing eyes as they glossed over her, thin lips in firm a curl, dark silver, curly cascading lustrous strands, slim full figured young men who seemed to be her age to her speculations.
"Your quite bold from the local burglars, l have come across!" tone of voice heated tone , eyes brows raised looking at the thief he witnessed from his chamber window pilfering from their family tree with none of the servants paying attention busy in their duties., causing him to succumb down the stairs of the house to seize the thief.
Rendered speechless, spoke out the first unsought words that came in her brain "What burglary? How is eating a fruit burglary, it looked delicious so l had to try it" in a defensive tone, arms crossed and shrugging off in bravado.
"Really? …..since it is such a case..." he observed her and without hesitance strapped from his hip unsheathing of his sword, sleek steel silver thin blade glittering under rays of daylight, its long sharp swipe end tip thrust underneath her nape, pressing skin to draw blood.
Except for chapter 8 and stay for chapter 9 updates
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