Katarina's POV
Looking around wildly, I saw his men scattering into the trees with projectiles raining down upon them from above.
Arrows, bolts and rocks flew into the kidnappers as more emerged wounded or dead from the undergrowth. A hail of missiles continued the unseen onslaught, felling one man after another.
Within moments only the man remained standing, swaying unsteadily as blood soaked his clothes. He met my wide eyes with a look of pure hatred through the slits of his mask of pain. "This...isn't over, bitch," he snarled through bloody teeth.
Then he too vanished into the forest, leaving me alone at last in the grisly clearing.
The bombardment ceased as abruptly as it began, leaving an unnatural stillness in its wake.
Barely daring to hope, I dragged myself to shaky feet, ears straining for any hint of approach. Only midnight birdsong broke the quiet, as if this grim incident had never occurred.
A rustling drew my eye to the treeline, stiffening in alarm.
"Who's there?!" I yelled as I grabbed one of the swords on the ground and pointed to the bushes with my heart pounding out of my chest. I looked around, expecting to be jumped by someone but no one showed up.
Just then, I heard a cackle behind me. I turned to see the leader of the kidnappers coming into the clearing with more people who had their pitchforks ready to take me down.
"You seem to have people out there with you," he laughed. "I'll take you down and then take them down."
I held the knife before me with fear in my eyes, "Stay back!" I yelled. I was ready to use the weapon if they came close to me.
But the men refused to retreat. Instead they laughed at me and called me crazy while heading for me.
"I'm not joking! Stay back!" I screamed even louder as the man waved his pitchfork in a dangerous manner, cutting the sword out of my hands while the hilt injured me.
It was now I noticed that in Jane's body, I was weaker than my normal self.
"Oh shit," I muttered.
The jagged prongs of a pitchfork pressed threateningly into my throat.
I opened my mouth to scream for help when the weapon pushed deeper into my throat.
"Scream and it's your last, wench," one snarled, calloused hands roaming in a violation worse than death.
Tears welled helplessly. All seemed lost, until a faint rustling sounded behind me which I heard but they didn't.
If only the rustling was that of a savior coming for my rescue, they would be great. But I was alone.
The man pointed the pitch fork at my neck as he proceeded to pierce it into my neck before someone caught his attention behind me.
"Didn't she say leave her alone?" A familiar voice said behind me as my face lit up while I looked back to see the prince in all his glory standing behind me.
"Unhand her at once, or taste steel," the strong male voice rang out, ringing with authority. My would-be kidnappers had startled faces, revealing the glorious figure brandishing a gleaming sword with ease.
Even in terror's clutches, I couldn't help but gaze upon the prince in open admiration.
He stood tall in a well-tailored outfit of midnight silk and fine leather hilts, polished boots rising to his knees. Golden embroidery glittered at his cuffs and collar in the sparse light.
A magnificent crimson cloak fluttered from his broad shoulders, clasped with a noble lion brooch bearing the royal crest.
Burnished armor peeked from beneath, gleaming like the sun on his proud, angular face. Hair the shade of rich mahogany danced in the breeze as keen eyes scowled dangerously.
Truly, a golden vision of valor and chivalry had emerged from legend itself to deliver me.
The men stumbled back in fear, drawing rusted blades with shaking hands against this avenging angel of wrath and honor.
"S-stay back lordship, we meant no 'arm!" one blubbered, though his flailing pitchfork threatened.
It was clear the men were scared of the man before them and they knew engaging with the prince could lead them to punishments worse than death. That was something they didn't want to deal with.
"If you mean no harm then be on your way," he smirked, following stepping forward as he waves his sword around. "I don't want to use this but if you force me to I won't hold back. I suggest you guys get the fuck out of here before I turn you all over to my guards who would make short work of you."
This had the men feeling cocky as they stepped forward with their weapons.
"Just because you're a prince does not mean you get to treat us like we aren't special ourselves. I will charge you out and make waste with your blood," the leader growled, which had me whimpering where I laid.
I knew this fight was going to lead to something more dangerous and I wondered if I could intervene to slow down the fight from going out of hand, but the men's egos were at stake and my inner self wanted to sit this one out and watch what the prince would do.
Was he going to go all out against the men? I didn't know. But whatever would happen, I was ready to find out.
After all, he was outnumbered seven to one. How was the prince going to win?
The kidnapper holding the pitchfork to my throat hesitated for a moment, his grip faltering while he looked to his men.
Sensing an opportunity, I mustered my strength and fought back, kicking him hard in the abdomen.
The man stumbled backward, releasing his hold on me. I scrambled to my feet, my eyes never leaving Prince Kirigan as he faced off against the remaining kidnappers.
The men, enraged by the prince's interference, lunged at him with their primitive weapons. But Prince Kirigan was a skilled swordsman, his training evident in every fluid movement.
Katarina's POV
The prince parried their attacks effortlessly, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The clash of metal against metal filled the forest, blending with the grunts and cries of the men as they were outmatched by the prince's superior skill.
I watched in awe as Prince Kirigan dispatched his opponents one by one, his sword gleaming with deadly lights.
His movements were swift and efficient, targeting vulnerable points on his adversaries' bodies.
Blood sprayed through the air, creating a swift spray of blood as the kidnappers fell to the forest floor, defeated.
But Prince Kirigan was not content with mere victory. He wanted to send a message, to ensure that these men would never threaten anyone again.
With a cold determination, he disarmed the final kidnapper, sending his weapon clattering to the ground. The man stumbled backward, fear etched across his face.
Prince Kirigan's voice, filled with a chilling resolve, cut through the silence. "You thought you could prey upon the innocent, but you underestimated the power of a prince," he said, his words dripping with scorn. "This forest will remember the day it witnessed your humiliation. This same forest that you go around preying against the innocent. Today you will see the end."
Now I was scared. What was going on? I had not seen his crazy eyes before and I took a few steps back to give him enough space to do whatever he wanted to do.
"Prince Kirigan!" Someone yelled behind me as I looked to see a man with a few guards standing behind him.
With a swift and brutal strike, Prince Kirigan plunged his sword into the kidnapper's chest.
The man's eyes widened in shock, blood gurgling in his throat as life drained from his body. The prince withdrew his weapon, and the man collapsed to the ground, his lifeless form joining the others in a twisted fate of violence.
I stood frozen, my breath caught in my throat, as the Prince wiped the blood from his blade with a detached calmness.
I had not seen anyone kill with such calmness before. I had seen so many dead bodies in my world due to gun violence and whatnot but in this primitive time, I had not expected to witness it first hand.
I was shocked beyond words and all I could do was gasp at how this was happening so fast.
His eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw a flicker of something primal—a darkness that lurked beneath the surface.
This man was more than he showed me.
"I hope they serve as a warning to those who would dare harm the innocent," he said to the men who had just joined him, his voice laced with a chilling satisfaction. "Let the forest bear witness to the consequences of crossing me and attacking my subjects. Clean up the mess and take the one still alive to the palace prison. I'm not yet done with them."
More of the prince's guards arrived, their faces a mix of shock and awe at the scene before them.
They quickly apprehended the remaining kidnappers, their hands bound tightly with ropes. The forest fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the crackling of a distant fire and the soft rustle of leaves in the wind.
He turned to me, his gaze softening as he approached. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. "Yes, thanks to you. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
A small, sad smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You owe me nothing. It is my duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
He said those words like I was a child in his care which had me smiling until he came forward with his hands going to my cheek.
I immediately retreated, still shaken from what I had just witnessed.
"You need not be afraid of me," he said with such calmness I found disturbing. "They were also out there torturing a young man which led me to be here with you."
"But… but you killed someone. Of course I'm afraid of you," I sighed. "It's not like you just walked to the park and found them dead. You literally just…"
He held my shoulders with his grip as I shuddered in his presence before he dragged me to him. I held onto his hilt with my hands going across his muscular frame.
He didn't care if there were people around as he was only focused on me.
We stayed in each others embrace for some time before I leaned back.
In that moment, I realized that beneath the prince's stoic exterior, there was a deep well of compassion.
He fought not only for the kingdom's sake but for the innocent souls who couldn't defend themselves. And as I looked at him, his sword stained with the blood of our enemies, I knew that I had witnessed a side of him that few others had seen.
Together, we walked away from the forest, leaving behind the remnants of the battle.
The moon watched over us, casting its ghostly glow upon the scene.
And as we made our way through the forest, I couldn't help but feel a newfound respect and admiration for the prince who had risked everything to rescue me.
"You knew where I was this whole time?" I asked as he shook his head.
"I had a hunch. How are you?"
"I think I'm okay. A little shaken that I was almost killed but I think I'm good."
I looked at his face which had a wound and I knew he had gotten hit by something.
"I didn't see you get hit, but somehow you've got a graze on your face. What happened?"
He shrugged. "I got into an altercation with the gang earlier on. I'm okay now. You should see the other guys."
That was meant as a joke and I laughed about it, happy he had saved me.