The night air clung to Elara's skin, damp with the cold mist that curled through the trees. Her legs pumped with an urgency she could barely control as she darted through the thick woods, chasing the fading shadow of Ravenor. The tall, skeletal trees stretched toward the sky like jagged claws, their branches weaving together into a dark, impenetrable canopy.
Her whole body sting with aches, but she couldn't stop, couldn't think about the pain that burned in her chest or the way the forest seemed to close in around her. All that mattered was catching up to him. He was her only hope to survive, no matter how terrifying he was.
Wait for me. The words had barely left her lips, and yet, he was already gone, swallowed by the woods as though he were never there to begin with.
Branches clawed at her arms, her cloak catching on the twisted roots that snaked across the ground. But Elara pushed forward, the weight of her fear and desperation driving her deeper into the darkness. The sound of her own footsteps pounded in her ears, mingling with the eerie whispers of the forest around her.
And then... silence.
Elara stopped, her breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts. The forest had stilled, as if holding its breath, waiting for something. She strained her ears, searching for any sign of movement, but all she could hear was the pounding of her heart.
Where did he go? She swallowed hard, her pulse racing as she spun around, searching the shadows for any hint of Ravenor's presence. The darkness seemed endless, swallowing her whole, leaving her feeling small and vulnerable.
A twig snapped behind her.
She froze, every muscle in her body locking in place as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Slowly, she turned, her eyes wide and unblinking as they searched the darkness. There, just beyond the edge of her vision, something moved, a flicker of shadow too fast to track.
No. Not again.
Elara took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. The darkness around her felt alive, shifting, twisting, as though it was watching her, waiting for the right moment to strike. She stumbled back another step, her legs trembling as fear wrapped its icy fingers around her throat.
"Are you there?" she called, her voice barely a whisper.
No response. Only the cold, deafening silence of the woods.
Her hand instinctively moved to the dagger she had hidden beneath her cloak, her fingers trembling as they curled around the hilt. She had picked it up from the fruit tray Lady Seraphine brought earlier. Now that she wasn't startled like before, she remembered its presence. It was a pitiful weapon against whatever lurked in these woods, but it was all she had. Her breath quickened, and she took another cautious step back, her eyes darting between the shadows.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw it. A figure, tall and pale, standing motionless in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized him.
Him.
Relief flooded her chest, but it was short-lived. He was not alone.
Behind him, the trees bent unnaturally, their branches curling downward as though pulled by some unseen force. And from the shadows, another figure emerged, slowly, deliberately. A man, tall and menacing, with eyes that gleamed in the darkness like molten gold.
It was the same man from earlier.
The pale man. The one who had attacked her before, his words still echoing in her mind: I'll be back for you, little bird.
A shiver ran down her spine as the two men stood facing each other, the tension between them palpable. She couldn't hear their words, but the air around them thrummed with danger, thick and oppressive.
Elara's fingers tightened around her dagger, her pulse quickening as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Why was he just standing there? Why wasn't he fighting?
Before she could fully process what was happening, the pale man's gaze shifted. His eyes, gleaming with a cruel amusement, locked onto hers. A slow, predatory smile spread across his lips.
"Ah," he murmured, his voice dripping with malice. "There you are, little bird."
Elara's breath caught in her throat as her heart raced. She took a step back, but it was too late. The man moved with lightning speed, crossing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. She barely had time to react before he was standing in front of her, his hand gripping her wrist with a strength that made her cry out in pain.
"You really should have stayed hidden," he whispered, his breath cold against her skin.
Elara struggled, her free hand reaching for her dagger, but he was too fast. In one swift motion, he disarmed her, tossing the blade to the ground with a disdainful smirk.
"Such a pretty thing," he mused, his eyes raking over her as though she were nothing more than prey. "It's a shame you've caught the attention of someone far more dangerous than me."
Her mind reeled, panic clawing at her as she glanced toward Ravenor. He hadn't moved, hadn't intervened. He just stood there, watching with those unreadable eyes.
"Please!" she gasped, desperation for life seeping into her voice. "Help me!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, Ravenor's lips curved into a dark, twisted smile.
"I think you didn't need saving." he said softly, his voice carrying across the clearing like a deadly whisper.
Elara's blood ran cold as his words sank in. She had been so foolish to think he would protect her.
The pale man's grip tightened, pulling her closer until his lips were inches from her ear. "Don't worry," he whispered, his voice sending a chill down her spine. "I'll be gentle with you."
In that moment, Elara's mind went blank, her body acting on pure instinct as the adrenaline flooded in. She lashed out, kicking with all the strength she could muster, her foot connecting with his shin. The man grunted, momentarily loosening his grip, and she wrenched free, stumbling back toward the trees.
But before she could make it far, Ravenor's voice stopped her cold.
"Run," he called, his tone both mocking and amused. "Run as fast as you can. Let's see how far you get this time."
Her heart pounded in her chest, her legs trembling beneath her as she turned and ran. The forest swallowed her once more, the trees closing in around her like the jaws of a beast.
But this time, there was no escaping the danger.
Because the real monster wasn't behind her.
It was ahead.