I opened my eyes to see sharp pairs of eyes staring at me.
It scared the hell out of me and I screamed for a start, couldn't run because I was clearly surrounded so I wrapped my hands around my bowed head and whimpered.
"Oh God, please." I cried.
My eyes are closed and all I could feel was darkness and staring eyes.
I felt a cold touch and I jerked away still trembling and an audible sob rented the air.
"Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you." I heard a calm sonorous voice assured.
My spiking adrenaline plummet just a little and I slowly raised my head toward the path of the voice.
I was sure I heard a human voice, so soft and tender that I was convinced it was the voice of an angel and angels, though not all, are meant to be our guardian.
I met beautiful dark eyes peering into mine, beautiful brows, widow's peak hairline and a awesome mix of dark and gray hair. I was almost convinced he was an angel.
"Are you okay?" He sounded again and tried to help me up.
I wasn't okay at all but I replied, "I'm okay. Did you…did you rescue me? I thought I was about to get mauled by some beast earlier."
I was up on my feet now, then I realized the other pairs of eyes staring at me, four others, dressed funnily and wierd stood at considerable distance still sending cold stares at me.
Their leader, I presume was the handsome six feet something man who was near me, he checked me to examine my wounds.
"You have a deep cut here."
I know, because sharp and throbbing pains bits into my elbow.
"Derek." One of the females called.
She looked like she had sharp huge horns on her forehead, just that it was invisible. Duely imagined because of the fire in her eyes, she looked like the devil. Death stare, furrowed brow and a frown that almost told me she didn't like me.
"It's fine, she's not dangerous, in fact she's wounded"
The handsome leader, called Derek voiced out.
"Please, I'm lost, someone pushed me off the cliff but I don't know who. All I know is that I woke up to this forest." I glanced around frightened.
"Okay. You're safe. My name is Derek. This is Orion, Lucas, Aurora and Ondine. We're guardians of the forest and also on a mission to find the mystical bead."
I chuckled amidst my pain at his statement, then burst into a tongue rolling laughter while my eyes slid through Orion, the first huge male after Derek, Lucas, an average looking handsome young man and judging by his expression, he was pretty smart and humble.
Then Aurora, who looked a lot like my mother, I only saw her picture in a large frame sitting pretty in our basement at the mansion. Her lip was full and dainty, she also had blue eyes like mine but a straight evening coloured hair.
Ondine looked like angry Medusa, like she had been pissed off from the beginning and was waiting to strike.
They were all heavily armed and had furs and animal skins as coverings over their body, I thought they were shooting a movie or something.
"Mystical what? Is this some sort of welcome joke or wait, are you guys playing a game?" I pointed miserably at them.
I caught them shooting glances at each other with serious expression which meant they didn't take my comeback at their jokes funny. I stopped smiling and lowered my brow.
I'm sorry, I guess? Please can we be serious now? I need to get out of here, I'll pay you hugely. I'm an heiress so you gotta believe me."
A scoff from Ondine and I gazed at her wondering if what I said aggravated her.
"Ha, ha, ha. Now it's our turn to laugh. Given this strange clothing and wierd acts, you're not from around here, now I ask, where are you from?"
"I'm from Morthern Hampshire, I just need to find a way out of this forest and I'm home."
"What's that? Northern what?" Aurora spoke for the first time.
I didn't understand why they were confused, so I spelt it out again.
"Northern Hampshire." I shrugged.
"This intruder is speaking gibberish! Maybe she's a spy! Or a threat!" Ondine howled at me.
"Easy Ondine, she's injured and scared." Orion chirped in to my rescue.
"You know the rule Orion, kill any intruder and she appears to be one!"
"No, I'm not an intruder. Or maybe I am but I got her unintentionally, someone literally pushed me off a cliff." I said in self defense.
"There's no cliff around here. Our village is just at the outskirt." Orion added.
"I don't understand. I few walk back from where I started and there's the cliff."
"What do you take us for? A joke? Death to any threat! No mercy for an intruder! You are goin
g to die." Ondine drew her dagger at me and I fell abruptly back on the ground.