CHAPTER FIVE: LOVE

"Here Miss, take this" Diane says handing me a red necklace.

"What's this Diane?" My face shifts into confusion.

Why is she giving me this?

"This was your mother's. I don't know the full details but your step-mother, miss Laurisa, almost burned this years ago when she was burning your mother's belongings after her death"

What!

"what do you mean!!," her breath becomes hasty "Why were you holding onto it all this while?"

She sighs

"If I start telling you, you wouldn't be able to escape your engagement tonight. Just promise me you won't come back here. I am going to pretend I don't know what happened," she takes a deep breath before she continues "Listen Aenyra, I don't where to begin but if I can see you again I will tell you everything I know."

"What do you mean by 'If I can see you again?' Are you going somewhere?

"I will be leaving you now, you have to get going. You wouldn't want to be here when he arrives." She leaves me entering back into the mansion.

I look back at the red necklace she gave me and put it inside my little pouch.

I walk briskly away from the building in the direction of the town. 'At least I will be able to spend the night in an inn' I think to myself.

After a few hours of walking, I come across an inn. Although it is a very old inn it is the only one around this area. I look at the sky. I probably won't see any other inn after this one.

I walk into the inn and a man comes to me asking me questions about my room preferences after my answers and payments he takes me to a room. It is a little bit manageable.

I look around the room and then the bathroom.

'A bath is already drawn for me!!' I exclaimed a little bit loudly that I covered my mouth with my hands.

'Whew,' I use my hands to fan my face. The sky is already watching over me! I smile.

I quickly take a quick bath and replace my old dirty clothes with a fresh one.

I lay on the side of the bed covering myself with the manageable quilt after styling my hair to the side.

*********

Plates, cups, and chairs are shattered on the floor. I tilt my head up to see a red-black eye staring at me with bloodlust in its eye.

"Ahhhhhhhh." I quickly scream.

"Oh please shut up and come with me!" He says in annoyance.

"What are you doing here? Who are you? How did you come in? And why should I follow you?" I ask all at once.

"Can you ask one question at a time?" He hisses.

"Why should I when I can at once?" I should be worried that someone is inside my room but I feel less bothered for some unknown reason.

"You can't keep your mouth shut. Can you?" He walks to the window, looking around for what I don't know.

" I can, if I choose to" I squeeze my arms under my chest, pouting my lips.

Taking a look at me he quickly averts his gaze.

"Don't do that again, if you still want your clothes to be intact."

I gasp when the realization dawns on me. "You shouldn't be looking in my direction if you can keep yourself in check." I retort.

His head turns slowly back to me as he walks to me. With each forwarding step he takes, I take a step backward until my back collides with the wall and he traps me with his body.

"What were you saying again?" He asks in a nonchalant tone. He lifts my chin with his fingers bringing my icy blue eyes to meet his red flaming hot eyes. I Could swear that it had a bit of black to it but now it's gone.

"Nothing," I say quickly trying to break free and hitting his chest.

"STOP!" His voice is cold yet has a little bit of sultry to it."Just stop, I wouldn't be able to stop myself if you keep hitting me, love." He smirks as he releases me.

''LOVE?" I ask but he just slouches on the bed with his legs crossed and his black robe sprawled on the bed.

Who the hell is this man and why aren't I scared of him despite his cold and scary demeanor? It's like they do not affect me except the way he looks and talks to me. That is what affects me, his tone and articulation is just perfect and I wish I could listen to his voice all day. But, that isn't something I should be wishing for, especially from a stranger who thinks he owns this place.

"I asked before what you are doing here but......" my words trail off as he wraps his hands around my waist pushing me closer to himself. "Cling onto me" His tone is stern and devoid of emotion.

I refuse to obey him but he does not care. He takes me to the window and jumps down to the cold floor.

I want to shout and complain at him but when at look up at my room window I see familiar red glowing eyes. They are similar to his.

"what are you?" I ask shifting myself away from him but he refuses to let me go. Instead, he carries me on his shoulder and starts running at an insane speed. The breeze slaps me across the face as he runs. I did not resist or try to free myself because I notice they are chasing us at the same speed.

"Aarghhhhhhhh!" I scream inwardly. Why the hell are these people chasing us?

Are they even human?

My thoughts come to a stop when I hear him groan. His steps are slowing down.

"No, no, no, no,!" Don't stop now, they are going to catch up with us.

He chuckles"Don't worry, I will keep you safe." He assures me and I know he will do just that. I don't know why I believe him but I just do. It's like I am hypnotized.

He stops dropping me on the floor as he falls. I look behind me and they are almost catching up with us.

"Hey!!!!!, what happened." I tap his cheek seeing his eyes closing.

I look behind him and see an arrow stuck to his back. "No, no, no. Don't do this now. I don't even one what you are or who you are."

"H-Here take this." He hands me a white knife that is strangely patterned and I take it from him.

He continues "You need to run away from here Aenyra."

"Wait what!!!!....... You know my name? How?"

"Again with the questions. Don't you want to survive? Staying here will bring you to your death."

"You said you will protect me. Are you going back on your words now?" I shrug a shoulder "In fact, what will this stupid knife do anyway? It is just a plain knife." Seeing his eyes closing.

"H-Hey." I slap his cheek. You are not dying on me. You hear that?" Tears I do not know had formed begin to drip from my eyes.

"How will just enter the room and say you will protect me than going back on your words? Why did you even make the promise if you are not going to keep it." My cheeks is now stained with my tears and I didn't care.

"They are here. I can hear the human heart. It's closer." I hear a voice speaking very close to me.

"Now!!!!!!," he screams. "Please just go. The knife will lead you away. Pleaseeeee" his eyes begin to swell up in tears.

"I am not leaving you behind." I retort.

Why do I feel a sense of familiarity with him and not wanting to let him go?

His red glowing eyes turn golden as he stops an arrow with his hands.

I look in the direction of the arrow and see five men in front of us. They look weird. Their body is ugly and their face is smeared with ugly scars that look really deep into their cheek.

"I.TOLD.YOU.TO.GO!!!!!!!!!!," he growls "Why don't you listen, love." He smiles at me.

"I said I am not going to leave you here alone. No matter how long you push me, I am staying by your side."

"Why? You don't even know me?" He turned to look at the ugly men.

"I-I just....." my voice trails off when he rips out the arrow from his back like it is nothing.

"What!?" I cover my mouth with my hands.

He grabs one of the men lifting him from the ground as he gasps for air. Swiftly, he uses his hands to break the man's neck and tosses him on the floor like a piece of garbage.

He does the same to another man and as the other three charge at him, he lifts his hand in the air and the three men instinctively use their hands for pressure to gasp for air and collapse on the floor to no avail in a matter of seconds.

I lay on the floor with my eyes wide open as I watched the horrifying scene display before my eyes.

He turns to look at me and the familiarity I felt towards him is gone. He is like a new person in front of me. I want nothing more than to escape away from him.

I stand up to my feet in an attempt to escape but a hand catches my wrist.

"Where are you going love?" I turn to look at him and catch a smirk display at the corner of his lips.

"You had your chance to leave. Why didn't you? I am afraid you can't leave now."

He curls a finger at the nape of my neck and his eyes switch back to red.