"I win." Vivian declared with a smile. A mischievous glint in her eyes. "I believe you value your own life. You should return to your master and tell him you couldn't get me. I am not one to be captured so easily. "
She put pressure on the blade, that it began to pierce his skin showing she was serious about killing him if he didn't retreat.
Laying down on the grass-filled ground, Thomas had nothing but an irritating smile on his face. He didn't even mind the blood that had begun trickling down his throat from the cut made by the blade that was still in place. He just lay there without a care in the world.
"Tell him I couldn't get you? That would be shameful to report back, don't you think ?" His voice was as calm as ever as he looked her in the eyes and suddenly grabbed hold of the arm that held the blade. His grip was strong, she couldn't move her hand any further.
Before she could do anything, he effortlessly flung her hand to the side and with his fist he hit her in the gut. She felt herself being thrown back. But rather than crashing, she bumped into someone or rather, was caught by someone stopping her from moving further.
"Olive?" She said realizing whom she had hit.
*******
**Some Minutes Earlier**
Back at the inn, Susan had been busy washing the many dishes with no help from Olive who just sat there staring into space lost in her own thoughts. She needed help but would rather ask Vivian for assistance than Olive who had been there but chose not to help.
It was a daunting task for Susan to get Olive to go look for Vivian, but eventually she decided to do as Susan had asked to be free from her pestering.
She stepped out to the back as she remembered seeing Vivian go there. She was stopped in her tracks by the voice of a man and Vivian and she could hear their conversation clearly due to her heightened senses.
'Things just got interesting.' She thought when she began to hear blades clanging. She began walking in their direction. A few feet from where she stood, she could see a man down on his knee and Vivian with a blade against his neck.
'So she's a skilled beauty. Did she have that blade on her or she took it from him ?' she wondered, but immediately brushed off the thought. It wasn't in the least her concern.
She decided she would just call Vivian and return to the inn. But then, she saw Vivian flying in her direction. She would have moved out of the way but decided against it. Instead, she held out her hands and grasped Vivian from behind as they both skid across the ground.
She was careful not to use much strength and seem normal.
"Do you go about flying at night? If you do, you're really bad at it." She spoke letting go of Vivian's arms, pretending she knows nothing of what was going on.
"Does it look like I was flying ?" Vivian replied with her hand placed over her abdomen as she crouched down. It was hurting from the hit she had received. Her gaze was fixed on the man who now slowly walked towards them and Olive backed away.
"You weren't really going to kill me, were you?" Thomas said to Vivian, wiping the blood off his neck with the back of his hand.
"I would if you left me with no choice." Vivian snapped.
"It seems you're busy, I'll just let Susan know. She had sent me to come get you." Olive whispered to Vivian while taking a step back. She did not want to get herself involved in whatever was happening.
All she understood so far was a certain 'master' had sent the man, who stood in front of them to get Vivian. All the while she stood there, he had completely ignored her and she decided to leave while she still could.
Hearing Olive's words, to Vivian, it seemed clear she didn't care much for what was happening.
'What a strange person you are.' She thought looking back at Olive.
"You should leave now!" Vivian said to her while backing away as Thomas moved forward.
"Don't worry, I didn't plan on staying." Olive replied and hastily returned to the inn.
'I hope you do care and find a way to help me.' Vivian sighed. She was already exhausted and not sure she would last any longer against the man in front of her.
"You are doing nothing but delaying what must happen. Just come with me peacefully." Thomas said reaching out to grab her but she swiftly moved back causing him to hold on to nothing.
"Tsk, so stubborn." He shook his head and knocked the blade off her hand as she went for the attack again.
*******
As soon as she stepped into the inn, Olive was met with a furious Susan.
"Where were you? I asked you to get help but you vanished. Now, I'm done with everything. You are very lucky Ms Wells didn't come looking for you." She screeched blocking Olive's path.
"Susan, I do not have the time for..." Olive spoke but was interrupted by Susan.
"Where is Vivian?" She asked realizing Olive had returned alone.
"About that, you need to..." Olive tried to give a reply but was interrupted again.
"D-did something happen to her? Is she missing? That must be the reason you took so long to return, isn't it? Tell me what happened?" Susan asked pulling on her hair, a weary look on her face. "You went to look for her right, why isn't she with you?"
"If you would just listen to me!" Olive placed a hand over Susan's mouth. "Nothing has happened to her, well not yet. I need you to get a watchman here as soon as possible. I need to speak to Mrs. Wells." Letting go of Susan, Olive walked past her.
"Wait!" Susan called out to her. "What exactly is going on? What do I tell them is wrong?"
"Harassment, tell them that." Olive thought for a while before giving her answer. "Now go."
"Through the front, now!" She yelled seeing Susan still hasn't moved. She was still trying to comprehend what was going on.
Susan ran out of the inn to do as she was asked, while Olive went to Mrs. Wells' office. Normally she wouldn't feel this anxious about anyone but there was something about Vivian that stirred up her feelings. She didn't want any harm to come upon her.
Mrs. Wells had an exhausted expression as she stood next to her office window. She scanned the office interior admiring its lavish design proud of all she had accomplished.
The cool evening breeze caressed her skin setting her at ease. It was tedious seeing to the inn by herself, at times like this she missed Jerald. If only...
"What is it now?" Caroline groaned as she heard the sound of someone knocking interrupting her train of thought.
"Come in." She huffed returning to her seat.
"Madam." Olive called out as she opened the door.
"Is there a problem?" Caroline asked noticing the look of urgency Olive had.
"Vivian's in trouble ma'am." Olive replied.
"Trouble, what do you mean?" Caroline stood abruptly almost spilling the ink on her parchments.
"There's a man, outside, at the back. He's trying to take Vivian forcefully." Olive explained.
"What?" She screeched with wide eyes and hastily left her office and Olive followed. "Is it just one man?" She asked as they descended the stairs, speaking softly to not disturb the people around.
"Yes ma'am. Susan has gone to get the watchmen." Olive replied.
"Okay, good. Let's just hope she's still there."
Olive led Ms Wells to where she had last seen Vivian. They got there, only to see Vivian on her knees and a man crouched down next to her.
Just before they arrived, the fight between Thomas and Vivian ended with Thomas being the victor. Vivian had given him a lot of cuts with her blade, while he had refrained from hurting her. He didn't want to upset his master. As the fight went on, he intercepted her weapons and her fists alone were not enough to overpower him.
She had worn herself out and struggled to maintain her stance. He moved in to capture her but she grabbed one of his blades and tried to stab him in the chest.
Noticing this, he took a step back. Furious, he yelled. "Stop attacking, it is of no use.
You're only succeeding in irritating me further!" With a quick flick of the wrist he slashed at her hand causing her to drop the blade and fall to her knees gripping her bleeding hand.
"Arghhhhh." She gritted her teeth.
"Look what you've made me do." He shook his head and picked up the blade she dropped. Wiping off the blood on it with his cloth, he placed it in its sheath by his waist.
Cutting part of his shirt, he pulled her hand towards him and tied the cut. He pulled out another cloth from his pocket and gagged her. She couldn't even think straight at the moment because of the stinging pain she felt in her arm.
"I told you, you were doing nothing but delay. If you had listened, you wouldn't have gotten hurt." He said and grabbed her hand. "It's time to go."
At that moment, Vivian could do nothing but hope that by some way she is saved. She was way too tired to fight anymore and based on his earlier reaction, she feared he would do something worse if she tried anything.
He made to pick her up, but stopped when a voice spoke,
"Stop right there!"
Hearing the familiar voice Vivian turned in the direction the voice spoke from.
'She came through.' Vivian thought with a smile. Mrs. Wells was the one who spoke and by her side were Olive, Jeffrey and James who also got worried when they saw Mrs. Wells hurry out with Olive.
Jeffrey had bumped into Susan on her way out of the inn and even she was in too much of a hurry to speak to him. He and James became curious to know what was going on. They just didn't expect what they saw.
"What do you think you are doing, you scoundrel?!" She moved closer. Jeffrey and James had run forward to help Vivian. While Olive stayed put.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I have to go." Thomas spoke. He held Vivian in his arms and ran in the direction of the woods.
The darkness of the night made it difficult for his face to be clearly seen. The only light source they had were dimly lit candles around the inn. Mrs. Wells had one thing on her mind, she had heard his voice before.
"Hey, stop!" Jeffrey called out chasing after him, James following behind. Vivian tried kicking and hitting, but it amounted to nothing as he kept moving.
"No, no, no." Mrs. Wells kept mumbling as Thomas got closer to the woods. They had little chance of finding him if he went through there.
As he stepped foot into the woods, he was sent back, almost immediately, crashing into Jeffrey. With Vivian in his arms, he fell. Seeing the opportunity, she rolled away. Jeffrey pushed him off and rushed over to Vivian.
"Who was that ?!" Thomas was frustrated for he was hit back by a person. "So many hindrances to this stupid task."
Getting up, he saw four figures emerge from the darkness. Three men and a woman. Susan had returned with the watchmen. She then rushed over to Vivian and Jeffrey. They both helped Vivian to where Mrs. Wells and Olive stood.
"You, how dare you commit such an..." One of the men spoke, but soon stopped when he saw the face of the man in front of him. The lamp in his hands shook due to his trembling hands. "S-S-Sir?" He stuttered.