Chapter Eleven

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The wind dragged the trees surrounding the small village, curious eyes scanned the gray and dark colors that mixed within the blue sky. Cotton clouds began to scatter as the hushing of the wind kept bringing the coldness and abnormal notice to the villagers. The first in command walked towards the stage with no doubt, feeling like if the sky heard his prayers and he was about to win the jackpot. –"Ladies and Gentlemen, please come and listen to the most spectacular news that has been given to me" He announced, distracting the villagers from their normal routines and errands on the market.

The plaza began to crowd itself with different faces of the villagers, sensing something extraordinary come out of the commanders mouth. –"As we all know, the beast has been threatening our village and fearing us underneath his bloody claws! But, good news have fallen upon me and tonight! We will slaughter the monster after he suffers the pain of what we had lost!" He pronounces proudly. Radiating the confidence to others and hope as the news had fallen upon their ears.

The beast killed, tonight?

The beast will fall?

The beast. . . Oh good lord, we pray for your glorifying miracle that has fallen upon our hands.

The beast will finally fall!

The thoughts and rumbling ideas that came from the villages minds kept flowing as the commander kept giving his speech about the miracle that he thinks is a blessing. –"But. . . But. . . He has one of us on his side" He spoke with anger. Peoples gasps filled the plaza and questions fell on each other's ears as they overthought about the person that could be the traitor. –"and in fact, it's a woman. . . naïve and stupid that fell for the claws of that . . . THAT MONSTER!" People stepped back at the horrendous words that came off the commanders mouth. Sudden fear and insecurity developed on them.

-"She! SHE AND HIM! Both inhuman creatures sharing something us humans do, but there is a abomination of human kinds traditions. She will pay for being the sinner, the black sheep, the company of that monster and ignoring our warnings!" A babies cry was heard in the distance, then woman's gasps and crying filled the plaza.

Who could it be?

Why her?

Can't she have a chance?

Why not just him instead of her?

Their thoughts began to overwhelm their minds, the commander shouted, -"Silence!" He pointed behind him at the second in command, making people feel the shock and betrayal. –"His daughter is our traitor! Your daughter will pay every single of her sins after she receives her punishment" He snapped. The second in command astonished glared at the first in command, his insides compressing at the thought of his daughter going through that pain.

-"NO! My daughter would have never done such evil. She is innocent! She is nothing of what you're saying at this moment, all you can do it lie to us and make us fear even more what's out there!" The mother of the young woman shouts her rage towards the first in command. Her face showing danger as her hands turn into first, numbing her knuckles and fingers as they turn white. –"Honey, don't" Her husband says, and stares at her reassuring her that everything will be fine.

The first in command bursts in laughter, feeling like if the most entertaining show was taking over in front of his eyes. –"Innocent? That girl isn't like us, quiet, distant, a total outcast that we all envied. Her beauty could bring any man to her knees as well abominations like the beast! She's no other but a cheap whore that took us for dumb fools, that's what she is and she is paying the consequences like it. . . or not!" The first in command felt his irritation rise as the first in command was about to speak his thoughts. –"Take them both away!" He ordered the guards, the screams and cries of women and men filled the plaza.

The mother and the father forcedly were taken away toward the dungeons. The first in command didn't want any distraction and, the individual standing behind him tried to hide the wicked smirk that was about to plaster on his features. –"Sorry for that unnecessary drama, but, for my last announcement we have our savior, the man that informed me about this disgusting scandal of those two abominations. Please give him an applause" The first in commander announced, clapping as the young handsome man stood up front. The strands of his hair making some women take a glance of the handsome Greek god that stood in the stage.

-"No need to thank me, I'm glad to help" He half – lied. The smile splattered on his face tried to contain itself from the smirk that wanted to appear. This is what I wanted, he thought sinisterly. People clapped and women cheered at the man in the stage, yelling their thank you's and gratitude to the man.

-"Now that you have done this grand favor people, you may ask for anything you want as a reward. Richness? Title? A mansion at the outsides of the village?" The commander whispered upon his ear, making the man smirk in his mind at the word anything. . . anything. –"Anything?" He said, trying to reassure the commanders words. –"Anything, just tell me and it's done" The commander answered trustworthy. He smirked, catching the eyes of the people scattered which were intrigued at the conversation that was going on between the gentlemen.

-"I only want the girl"

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-"Sweetie? It's almost evening wake-up" Grandmother called from beside me. Her hands caressed the strands of my hair as my eyes adjusted to the weak light that came from the window. –"Morning, honey" Grandmother smiled and placed a tray with food and warm honey buns on my lap. –"Oh grandma. . . You didn't have to. . . –" She said, feeling guilty that her grandmother had to prepare this meal alone. –"Oh no, it's fine for me honey. You're leaving today so I wanted to give you something to eat before you retire to your parents" Grandmother smiled once again, making me feel happy at her worrying for me.

-"Thanks, I'll sure –" I stopped and glanced at the empty cold spot beside me. . . He's gone? My chest felt itself contract at the feeling of him not waking up with me. His warmth. . . His lips. . . Those eyes which haunted me at the beginning of all of this. . . –"He was here wasn't he?" Grandmother mumbled, making me gaze at her with shock. I nodded and she smiled, holding against my hand. –"He sure had to attend somethings. Winter is coming soon than we all expected it to come" She informed me, letting me breath calmly once again. She knows a lot about them which leaves me doubting my knowledge. –"He will come back when he can honey, now, you need to eat" She bossed and raised the spoon with warm milk with oat. My lips feel the texture of the aromatic breakfasts and my mouth melts at the delicious combination of sweets. Oh god. . . Mmm. . . –"This is so delicious" I moaned, continuing to enjoy the food in my mouth.

Grandmother chuckled at my reaction. I smiled at her and thanked her for the delicious food. –"No need honey, it's a pleasure to spoil you once in a while" She said. –"I'll prepare your clothes and save up some food for your walk back home" She stood up and retreated out of my bedroom. I was left alone on the silent room, listening to a sudden loud thunder roar in the distance. My eyes scanned out of the window, sensing the cold wind fill the room as the dark shades of gray began to fade into the sky and the clouds.

Today, it was the day to go back home. . . Retreating to the old cabin with my parents and socializing with the people at the village. No friends to wait for me back there, neither important people to receive me. The only ones will be my parents and my cozy bed which I miss deeply. But, there is also worry when it comes to going back home.

The beast . . . It will be hard for us to reunite or meet somewhere on the village, the only place we can rely on meeting is the river and the woods, where there is no bounds and eyes won't be able to reach us. My hands tense at the shivers that ran down my spine, awakening my body at the memory of his warmth, presence and safety that he provided me.

Always

Always

Always

Those words couldn't calm my mind neither my beating heart. He loves me. . . But, what does he mean by always? Have we met before? Question make me overthink over to what I already know. He loves me. . . I love him. . . He is mine as I am his. This bond took us way to fast for this, but, this might be a normal thing with a bond. –"Love" I mumble breathless as my thoughts overwhelm my mind.

***

-"I wished I didn't have to go, abuela" I whispered against her shoulder while her arms held me against her warm embrace. Tears began to swell my eyes, the thought of leaving grandmother alone made me fear her being alone in such wild place. –"I'll visit you when I can, honey" She mumbled. The sadness on her voice made it even harder for me to let go and leave her behind. –"You can come with me now" I persuaded, trying to drag her along with me so she could surprise father and mother with her visit.

-"No. . . um. . . I couldn't honey, not yet. I-I have things to do back here, but once everything is set I can visit you with no problem and worries at all. . ." She said unsure of her words. My chest felt tight and I hugged her once again, feeling the scent of my grandmother wrap me calmly. –"Be careful okay, the sun is about to set. . . Go" She hurried, pulling away from our hug and looking into my eyes with emotions I couldn't figure myself. . . –"You're such a beautiful woman darling, I'll see you soon" She smiled and kissed my forehead. –"Heredity grandmother. . ." I whispered weakly, my words about to break at any second at the last goodbye.

-"Bye grandmother, I'll see you soon"

-"See you soon darling, tell him I said hi" She winked and turned her heel towards her house, making me turn around and walk through the path I once came running from. The dark clouds kept the sky neutral, the sun was setting as I proceeded to walk into the tall trees woods. My tears cascading down my face as I kept my head forward, trying to keep myself strong for this trip and not go back to grandmothers, which I wish so much.

The darkness of the woods made me hold tightly against my basket, my red hood covering me from anything that thought I was a threaten. My feet try and make cautious steps through the path, the moon letting me see my way back home. Where is he? I ask myself many times already. I keep myself walking, trying to see if he'll notice my presence in the woods and alone. . . As much as I'm afraid of the darkness I can still be able to make it through the small path back to the gravel road towards my village.

The moon rises above, letting me relax at some point and continue my journey through the magnificent woods. Old trees and fallen trunks make the woods even more captivating for my eyes, in ways I never saw it before. If it's the woods became alive once the moon touched each dark corner of it. A smile forms on my face, feeling myself spinning around as the wind begins to make some leaves jump of the floor and fly around me like a small tornado. I laugh cheerfully at the feeling, as if the woods was welcoming me to its nature and hidden existent beauty.

-"So beautiful" A voice said in the near distance. My body froze at the voice and my head gazes towards penetrating silver eyes. . . The numbness that covered every corner of my body was a reaction I wasn't used of having, coldness. Monster, I wanted to scream. Devil, I wanted to state. Murderer, I wanted to pronounce him as. But, he hasn't done anything. . . yet. –"W-Who are you?" I stumbled within my words, trying to calm myself as he kept his eyes on me. My body feeling disgusted and exposed at his eyes marveling down my body as if I was a show with no ending.

-"Who am I?" He said, amused by my question. He is human. . . But, inside he is the real monster. He moves out of the darkness and his eyes glow as the moon touches them. His attire made me fear the worst. A high class attire. . . The first in command. . . My father. . . No. . . Oh god please no. . . –"I'm your future" He mumbled and I notice his body pressed against mine. My basket falls off my hands as he replaces it for his. I scream fearing for his next upcoming action. The burning sensation in my wrist makes me whimper at his next horrific move. . . No. . .

-"Hands off her!" Oh god. . . My body feels the radiation of his anger and possessiveness. His eyes land on mine, seeing the tears and fear that formed in them. His eyes changed into a unnatural black, a transformation I never seen. . . The silver eyed beast laughs sinisterly, feeling the vibration of his chest against mine. Get off me. . . Get off me. . . –"Or what? You're going to kill me as you killed that man that tried to help her?" He snapped. My eyes turn to the silver eyed man and back to the beast. . . He did what?

-"Oh you didn't know, princess? This beast right here kills whoever touches you, and I'm here to prove it" He whispered against my ear, his mouth launching into my earlobe and tasting it with his tongue. The sensation that runs through my body makes me shiver in disgust. –"No!" I scream, feeling the most horrific feeling inside my chest. Don't let him. . . Make him stop! Tears formed in my eyes as he kept going.

-"I said, get your damn hands off her" The beast growled, his hands reaching for the silver eyed collar and throwing him against a tree. My body collapses into the floor, feeling my body recovering from the abnormal feeling that consumed my chest. No. . . No. . . The nightmare. . . No. . .

A low chuckle echoes through the woods, my body shivering in fear of the sound of it touching my ears. . . No. . . –"Is big black wolf mad? Did you like how she responded to me enjoying tasting her?" He provoked, making the beast growl. Claws erupting, bones breaking and readjusting and deep growls echoing in the woods made me see him transform full into his wolf. The black fur covered his tall frame of a wolf, the hybrid. Oh no. . . No. . . –"Ready to see him kill someone princess? You better see the real form of this monster!" No. . . He is not a monster. . .

-"Get him!"

-"BEAST!"

-"Get the chains! Prepare the cage!"

-"Surround him! Prepare yourselves"

The voices came from the distance, making everything go slow motion before my eyes. The beast. . . People. . . No. . . The sound of horses neighing in the distance, their steps approaching us. The yellow color that came from the darkness of the woods. Oh no. . . Safe him. . . Safe him. . . –"RUN!" I shouted, the beasts eyes turning to mine. Tears released themselves from my eyes as my chest felt the bolt run through my system. –"RUN! SAFE YOURSELF!" I cried loudly, he watched them come to us. The growls that erupted from him, made me know he wasn't leaving.

I'll never leave you even if my life is in danger.

Never leave you.

Never.

-"PLEASE. . ." I begged, feeling my insides compress themselves at the unbearable pain. This is to much. . . No. . . The nightmares. . . The nightmare. . . He can't die. . . –"It's time for a nap, princess" A voice said behind me, my head felt the vibrating hit and then I collapsed on the floor, my eyes trying to adjust at the black tall wolf that was held down by the chains. . . No. . . It's too late. . .

It's too late. . . –"beast. . ."