Aurelia stood before the carriage, the crisp winter air biting at her exposed cheeks. Her gloved hand clutched the coarse fabric of her cloak, her gaze fixed on the snow-laden trees that stretched endlessly into the distance. A shiver ran down her spine, not entirely from the cold.
Three carriages stood in a clearing, ready to transport the royal hunting party. Aurelia couldn't help but scoff internally. Lady Cecilia, emerging from one of the carriages, looked more like a peacock attending a ball than a seasoned huntress. Her crimson gown, adorned with an obscene amount of lace and frills, seemed more suited to a courtly waltz than stalking prey through the woods.
"Lady Cecilia," Aurelia muttered under her breath, bitterness clinging to her tongue. The memory of the stinging slap still burned fresh on her cheek, a constant reminder of the woman's cruelty.
Their silent standoff was interrupted by the booming voice of Samael himself. He emerged from behind another carriage, a wickedly curved bow held confidently in his hand. His gaze fell upon Lady Cecilia, and a sardonic smile played on his lips.
"Need I remind you, Lady Cecilia," he drawled, his voice laced with amusement, "that this is a hunting expedition, not a fashion parade?" He gestured pointedly towards her overly elaborate attire.
A flush of crimson crept up Lady Cecilia's neck, matching the color of her ill-chosen gown. She clutched her bejeweled fan tighter, her perfectly rouged lips pursed in annoyance. With a graceless curtsy, she stammered, "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I… I was under the impression that…"
"That we were attending a delightful picnic in the woods?" Samael finished for her, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "A charming notion, to be sure. But alas, there will be no dainty pastries or gossiping amongst wildflowers today. We hunt."
Lady Cecilia bit her lip, her carefully constructed facade crumbling under the King's scrutiny. Aurelia, for one, found a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing the haughty Lady Cecilia squirm under the King's sardonic gaze.
Aurelia watched him disappear around a bend in the path, a sigh escaping her lips. Her gaze then shifted to another figure emerging from the clearing – Finn. It was the first time she'd seen him since her botched escape attempt. The King had promised to spare him, but for aiding her, Finn had still been punished... She didn't believe him. Yet, here he was, a confusing mix of emotions swirling on his face. Why was he even here? He worked in the stables, not as a hunting companion.
Their eyes met briefly. Aurelia opened her mouth to speak, perhaps to offer a hesitant apology, but Finn quickly averted his gaze, the burden of his punishment seeming to weigh heavily on him. He struggled with two cumbersome weapons – a heavy crossbow and a long, serrated hunting knife strapped to his belt. Both weapons looked far too sophisticated for anything she'd imagine roaming these woods.
Just then, a voice broke the tense silence. "Lost in thought, love?" Leviathan, sauntered towards them, his gaze flickering between Aurelia and Finn. "Would you prefer to stand guard by the carriage or join the hunt?"
Leviathan continued on without waiting for a reply, leaving Aurelia to trudge behind him on the snow-covered path. "Speaking of which," Leviathan chuckled, his gaze landing on Lady Cecilia struggling to keep up with the King's long strides. "Why no Lady Gabrielle today? Didn't I hear the two of you were practically inseparable?"
Lady Cecilia, her face flushed from exertion and annoyance, shrugged dismissively. "Gabrielle isn't feeling well," she muttered, "so she's decided to remain at the castle."
They emerged from the dense woods into a clearing, the crisp air carrying the distant barking of hounds. Ahead, Samael stood at the edge of a short cliff, his broad frame silhouetted against the snow-dusted horizon. Aurelia stopped beside Lord Leviathan, her gaze flicking towards the drop below. It wasn't a great distance, but enough to cause a nasty tumble and a few bruised egos, especially for someone like the King.
Cecilia, ever the picture of elegance ,or at least, what remained of it after her trek through the woods, approached Samael with a hesitant step. She cast a nervous glance towards Finn, who was wrestling with the cumbersome bundle of weapons, finally dropping it with a thud onto the snowy ground.
"Your Majesty," Cecilia began, her voice a touch breathless, "perhaps… perhaps it would be best if the… servant" – she shot a disdainful look at Finn – "had some assistance. Your slave here appears to be strong, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind lending a hand."
Aurelia shot Cecilia a withering glare, her temper simmering just beneath the surface. Was the woman joking ? Sure, Aurelia wouldn't mind assisting Finn but not if it gave Lady Cecilia satisfaction.
Samael remained motionless for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ground below. Then, a slow smile spread across his face, a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Bored, are we, Lady Cecilia?" he drawled, his voice laced with a dangerous amusement. "Perhaps you'd prefer to lend the servant a hand instead?"
Cecilia's face blanched, the color draining from her painted cheeks. The playful glint in the King's eyes did little to ease her obvious discomfort. She stammered out a denial, her voice barely a whisper.
Leviathan chuckled. "Oh, this promises to be an interesting hunt indeed," he murmured to Aurelia, his voice barely audible.
Aurelia wasn't sure what to expect next. The tension in the clearing was thick enough to cut with a knife.
As if on cue, Cecilia chimed in again, her voice laced with a spiteful sweetness. "Oh, and wouldn't it be darling," she cooed with a disdain that made Aurelia clench her fists, "if you fetched some firewood ? The wind has picked up quite a chill, and a warm fire would be simply divine."
Finn, who had just straightened up from dropping the weapons, met Aurelia's gaze for a fleeting moment. "Of course, milady" he replied politely. "I'll get to it right away." With a nod, he scrambled down the short cliff face, his movements surprisingly agile for someone who spent most of his time tending to horses.
Aurelia couldn't help but watch him go, a pang of concern twisting in her gut. Despite the snow cushioning the ground, a fall from even that small height could easily lead to a sprained ankle or worse.
Samael's voice, smooth as honey and laced with a hint of hidden danger, cut through the silence. "Sweetness," he drawled, his gaze fixed on Aurelia, "come here for a moment." He gestured for her to approach, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
Aurelia hesitated, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Every instinct in her screamed at her to stay put, to defy his command. But she knew defiance would only lead to punishment. Taking a deep breath, she forced her feet to move forward, each step a ascent into the unknown.
As she drew closer, the King's smile widened, his eyes glinting with a predatory gleam. No one knew what twisted thoughts lurked within his mind, no one except perhaps for the King himself. He had left her to drown once, a memory that sent a cold shiver down her spine.
Samael's golden eyes glinted as they met Aurelia's. To her surprise, he held out a bow towards her. It was a beautifully crafted weapon, the dark wood polished to a high shine, and surprisingly heavy in her hands. Her confusion must have shown on her face, because a flicker of amusement crossed his features.
"Here," he said, his voice a low murmur. "Use the arrows to… claim your prize. Birds, squirrels, anything that catches your fancy."
Aurelia stared at the bow, confusion clouding her features. What was he up to? Was he actually suggesting she participate in this bizarre hunt? With a frown, she reached out and gingerly accepted the weapon.
Cecilia, ever the opportunist, couldn't resist a jab. "Oh, how delightful!" she trilled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Will the little slave girl actually manage to hit anything?"
Aurelia gritted her teeth, her anger rising to the surface. "Unlike some of us, milady" she retorted, her voice laced with icy calm, "I at least know one end of a bow from the other."
Ignoring Cecilia's surprised gasp and Lord Leviathan's chuckle, Aurelia focused on the task at hand. She selected an arrow from the quiver, nocked it onto the bowstring, and sighted down the smooth shaft. A small bird flitted through the branches a few yards away, an easy target. She drew back the string, feeling the familiar tension, and aimed with practiced ease.
Suddenly, a warm gust of breath brushed against her ear. Samael had moved closer, impossibly close, his presence a looming shadow beside her. His voice, a husky whisper, sent shivers down her spine. He murmured, his words laced with a dangerous undercurrent. "Don't you want to aim a little higher?"
The unexpected movement startled Aurelia, causing her aim to falter just as she released the arrow. The arrow hissed through the air, missing the bird by a hair's breadth, before disappearing into the trees behind it. The bird cawed indignantly and took flight, leaving Aurelia fuming.
Cecilia let out a peal of laughter, high-pitched and grating. "See, Your Majesty? Even with a weapon in her hand, she's nothing but a clumsy little sparrow."
Samael's lips curved into a cold smile. "So it seems," he drawled, his gaze fixed on Aurelia.
Samael snatched the bow back from Aurelia's suddenly slack grip. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing in her ears. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the cliff's end, where Finn was now standing, a pile of firewood gathered in his arms. Oblivious to the danger, he began making his way back up the rocky incline.
Suddenly, the world seemed to slow down. Samael raised the bow, a single arrow nocked and aimed. And then, with a swiftness that stole Aurelia's breath, he lowered it. The arrow sang through the air, not towards the distant trees, but towards Finn.
Aurelia's entire body tensed. A strangled cry escaped her lips, "Your Majesty!"
A devilish smirk spread across Samael's face, his golden eyes gleaming with a cruel light. "Don't worry, sweetness," he drawled, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I never miss a shot."
Aurelia lunged forward, a desperate plea forming on her lips. "Y-Y...Your Majesty!" A gasp escaped Aurelia's lips.
'Thwack'