The Claws of Grendin
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The Avenues of the Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Darkling hours of Nightfall,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Amelia Luna-dynn softly made her way through the dark streets of the town of Crimsonton. It was cold and she needed get to the Village of Drift-Combe as fast as she could, for there would be a safer neighbourhood there than the open taverns and drunken men loitering the midnight avenues of the town.
Her mind was upon Jasper, for she knew he would scold her for going all the way to their Cottage alone, but more importantly, she could not have him stay home all alone by himself.
There seemed to be street lamps lit on every street and she did not know if they would keep her well led or reveal her presence to dangerous predators who may wish to kidnap her. The fall of footsteps sounded behind her and she turned around to see the shadow of a large man following from a distance.
Fear gripped her senses as she hurried her steps across the street, holding the novel tights against her chest, hoping to lengthen the distance betwixt them. But as she picked pace, the shadow behind her seemed to be striding faster as well.
Amelia's heart began plummeting in her chest, as her fears began to be more concrete.
She knew he was chasing her, but subtly.
The damsel felt tears coming to the rim of her eyes as she began walking as fast as she could. It felt like if she started running, he would, as well, and he would outrun her, for he seemed large and capable of long strides.
But soon, the chills of his nearing presence ran down her spine and she did not realise when she had started running aimlessly.
There was a tavern in a distance and she did not know if she could take shelter there or if there would be more scares that could overcome her in the place of wine and intoxication. The damsel ran senselessly, towards the direction of the open tavern, until she felt a cold hand grab her wrist from behind and her book fell to the floor of the street.
Just before she could scream, a large hand harness her mouth and she could not speak. Whimpering and growling as loud as she could she struggled until the large figure drew her mercilessly towards dark alleyway and arrested her against a wall nearby. She could feel the man draw close against her ear.
"What a wonderful night it is, Miss Amelia", Sir Grendin's icy voice crept up the side of her face and the stench of wine from his breath made her shudder.
"Now promise you will not scream, and I will release you", the man said, but the damsel continued struggling against his grips.
"Remember the promise? You need that job, Miss Amelia", he reminded, his voice darkening with more frustration than the merry flavour it bore earlier. And when that was said, the young maiden stilled.
She was cold and frightened, sickening feelings pouring into her stomach. She did not kick against his feet, nor tried to shake his hand of, but quietly fell silent. The fear of losing her job and having to repay the debt with their sole house and leaving Jasper and herself to have to live on the streets was terrifying.
She gulped quietly and stayed still, muted with fear as the man slowly loosened his grip on her mouth and wrist. The damsel stayed still, but her pulse was throbbing, betraying that she was terrified.
She turned around to see Sir Grendin's malicious gaze upon her. "No noise from you", the man said, grazing his cold fingers up her arm. She shuddered, but said no words. She could hear her own breathing as her chest rose and fell to the rhythm of her fright.
"Stay calm now", the man chuckled. "There is no harm I am doing to you. Simply exacting the repayment for a favour", he said, merrily.
Amelia despised every bit of happiness he had. She remembered flashes of the previous night, when she had been hardly dressed, but had not feared anything, for she had been in the company of gentlemen who had saved her.
In fact, she did not even know what sort of intentions Sir Grendin had regarding her or what he was about to do, but she knew they were terrifyingly impure.
The man in front of her drew the ribbon forming the bow of her cape and the material slid down to the floor. Amelia felt her head throbbing with a rising headache as tears began to stream down her face.
Once his hands tugged at her sleeves and slid them down her arms, and the sound of men outside the tavern laughing erupted in her ears, in a heartbeat, she screamed and threw her elbow against his face and wrenched away from her place between the large man and the wall.
Holding her arms across her chest and gathering her clothes against herself, the damsel ran witlessly towards the street. She realised that no one had heard her scream for the sound of men conversing loudly in the tavern only continued.
Amelia felt defeated and hopeless, for she had venged into what was most dangerous, but had still failed to get help.
Sir Grendin, having recovered from the sudden flash of shock, grabbed her wrist yet again much angrier and almost drew her back to the shadows of the alleyway. Amelia's tear flooded eyes caught the blurred sight of a horse galloping down the street and called for help, before she tried to wrench her wrist away from the man, in a struggle.
Sir Grendin did not seem to be ready to let her go, for he knew it was too late. "Remember you will not have anywhere to go! Lady Hildeth will strip you of your employment!" the large man taunted, discouraging her will to flee.
As she looked up at Sir Grendin hopelessly, a much taller shadow shaded over him and the man seemed to be looking up to someone behind her.
Just then, the large knock of a man's fist sent Grendin flying into the wall where he had had her arrested and a strong arm encircled Amelia from behind, drawing her close against the tall stranger's side.
"Never touch my lady again, you filthy pig", a cold and deep voice cut like a low growl.
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