The Devil's Temptation!

Frowning at the thought of it, she planned on giving him a scolding of his life but soon dropped the idea the moment a guard delivered the message which Sir Arlow had brought after hunting Anna down.

Reaching the first terrace which was just at the side of the upstairs corridor, she finally saw him, standing there with his back facing her but he wasn’t alone, he was having a private conversation with her father on something she suspected to be very important as they both stared at the clouds.

Standing unnoticed behind the both of them, her blue eyes widened after noticing the blue sky had grown a bit dark and it had turned unnaturally windy again as a wind blew past her, signifying a heavy rainstorm was about to befall on Euphrasia.

Composing herself immediately, she dismissed her maids with just the flick of her wrist before taking any further step towards the two men whose gazes were fixated on the sky.

“Father.” She called his name instead as her steps quickened, gaining his attention without sparing her brother a single glance, acting like she never noticed his presence in the first place.

Seeing the worried look genuinely carved on his daughter’s face, King Olis knew she must have heard the news already and had expected her to rush to him.

.....

“Father, is it true?” She asked after reaching his side, “Is Annalise really in some kind of trouble?”

“She ran into the dark woods which was clearly forbidden for humans to enter,” her father theoretically stated, “if she awakens whatever lays trapped and sealed in that forest, then a huge doom is to be expected, not just to the kingdom but the people too.”

He knew that much at least, it was a bloody battle between the humans and the night creatures but sealing the main leader equally meant keeping them hidden. If he ever breaks free, so will his people and that should probably signify why the clouds are getting unusually dark. Could it mean something?

“Well, what do we do?” Calista had heard of different tales of the dark woods by her parents, it holds a demon within it’s district and it’s a demon that must never be freed. She doesn’t know how true the saying or prophesy was but she only felt worse the more she thought of poor Anna, what if she gets hurt?

“Isn’t there something we can do?” She pushed on, turning to her brother this time around but his distant gaze remained locked on the dark sky, rubbing his chin lightly while equally going over the situation in his head.

“It’s about to rain, and it’s going to be a heavy one, I’d advise we all remain indoors tonight.”

“But Anna_”

“Callie!”

A gasp fell from her lips as she stifled like someone who had received an electric shock, knowing exactly how her father would react if she opened her mouth to utter anything else again.

“Annalise is guilty and she made the mistake of running off right from the beginning.” Her father reminded her with a look of seriousness flashing across his face.

“It’ll be best if you forget about her and think of your people’s wellbeing, that’s what matters more.”

Calista scoffed silently at that phrase, is it the people who chose not to show a little mercy to their own clan just because of some birthmark?

“Also don’t move around too much or breach any village outside Euphrasia, demons could be lurking so we need to be extra careful.”

Tapping her shoulders lightly, he walked out, leaving Calista to stand alone before her brother who had barely uttered a word.

“Aren’t you going to say anything as well?”

“Get some rest Callie.” He walked out but Calista was even more worried, Anna is extremely terrified of lightning and she’s all alone in the dark woods.

“Please be safe.”

~

“You’re coming with me.” He said it with such authority that she would think he was someone who came from a royal home. Based on his appearance, he looked more of a warrior and a noble. Something she plans to become if she escaped the fate of the mark, a true warrior.

“Wha_” Annalise finally blinked at him, discernibly caught off guard by his words and the next minute, she was being dragged by the hand across the dry bushy path.

“Hey!....Wait!....Stop!..” The insistence of his actions were not to her likings at all, she weirdly felt like a bull being dragged by the horn. Doesn’t he have any idea how to treat a lady?

“Mr! Slow down or you’ll cut my legs!”

Her last complaint finally reached his ears and he came to a halt, to Anna’s relief. He was taller and had long legs so it was difficult for her to keep up. The being finally turned around to look at the human who glared non-stop in his direction. Of course, she’s the one with the short legs and it’s his fault.

“What gave you the idea that I’d want to go anywhere with you?” His actions were making her grow extra cautious of him as she freed her wrist and took a few inches step back away from him.

Who is he? What was he doing in the temple and the strangest part was, why did he look and feel familiar? Most especially those eyes. She gets a feeling she’s seen them before despite it being her first time.

Averting her glaring gaze to the badge in his grasp, she snatched it back while meeting his gaze yet again, “you don’t know me.”

“But I know you’re an Euphrasia.” He started while taking a single step towards her.

“So?” She asked.

“And you were chased by Euphrasia guard.” He hinted. Seeing that badge and finding her at the temple, chased and shot by Euphrasia guards, he had jumped into a conclusion. Anna lost her resolve a bit as she met his twinkling gaze, but it looked mocking.

“Did you murder someone?”

“Mind your words!”

The sound of quick lightning erupted from the sky, startling Annalise and ruining the heated argument that was about to transcend between the two of them.

“It’s just lightning.” He flatly pointed out after noticing how her body shook at the sound, finding it silly that it scared her up to that extent.

“I’m not blind!” She immediately composed herself, reluctant to let her fears ruin her courageous moment but it finally made her realize that the once clear blue sky had darkened, alerting her that it’s about to rain heavily soon.

“Looks like a heavy rainstorm is coming.” She stared at the handsome being once more who equally looked up with folded arms.

He could stand the rain and from the looks of it, it’s going to be a heavy one but a tiny spark above caught his eyes, something which didn’t seem to relate to lightning at all and that made his already stoic expression turn dark.

“Find somewhere to hide until the storm is over.” He warned, but Annalise only found it strange that the same person who wanted to kill her, was informing her to hide. Regardless of it, she wasn’t going to trust him anyways.

“I don’t have to listen to you,” she snorted, “I’ll find myself a place to stay since there’s a village nearby.”

“You can’t make it there on time, find a place to hide and now, it’s a warning.”

She finally met his gaze due to the seriousness in his masculine tone, why was he being so serious? Did he know she was equally afraid of lightning? She shook the thought away, what is she thinking? How could he possibly have known since she never told him.

Before she got a chance to speak, he had turned around and walked away, tossing her sword back to her which she involuntarily caught without uttering anything else to her.

“He’s leaving?” She muttered with her face half contorted in surprise, watching him go until his back view was no longer in sight. The lightning above crackled softly, causing her heart to jump as she slowly hesitated.

“He can leave for all I care! I need to save myself first!”

With that, she hurried through the woods, following a different direction so the stranger wouldn’t think she was following him. Scampering her way through the woods, she could sight the village from up a hill, but she’d never make it on time and get to her horse before the rain started.

Pinning her lips together with her brow slightly narrowed, a thought came to her mind. If she plans on becoming a true warrior like her father, she’ll have to get rid of the fears in her heart first and by doing that, she has to be more positive.

Her eyes flashed with determination as she made up her mind to make it out of this forest and back to her horse so she could head to the village.

Agreeing with herself, she hurried through the woods once again, telling herself she wouldn’t get any rest along the way but the sight seeing of lightning made her startle at her feet as she froze again. The rain was already starting to drizzle as it touched her dress.

After what she experienced during her childhood, the sight of thunder and lightning frightened her till this day. Reasons why she never goes out when it’s raining but now, she was alone and trapped in the woods.

She could feel her hair getting wet already and finally chose to continue on her mission, she needs to find shelter and fast!