"Running somewhere?"
His deep voice had her scrambling to her feet in a second. If she'd thought he was intimidating on stage, then up close she had no idea what to call it. Even standing now, she barely reached his chest. His long frame swallowed the space between them, making her feel unbearably small.
Her heart thump widely as she searched her blank mind for words . "I-I was told to—"
"You weren't told to do anything." He cut in, stepping closer. She moved back on instinct, but the moment her heel brushed the wall, she cursed silently. She had walked into a trap she set herself.
His black shoe slid into her view as he invaded her space, his scent whuch was like burnt ashes, closing in on her. She refused to look up, suddenly finding the patterns of the ground much more interesting, until his cold, slender fingers caught her chin and forced her face upward.
"I don't tolerate lies," he murmured. "You should remember that if you're going to come with me."
If? As if he ever gave her a choice.
"You're trying to escape," he said, flatly, not even offering her a chance to deny it.His gaze scanned her face, and his eyes glazed over as if he was thinking of something. "I'll give you a chance to do so."
"Uh?" Freya's eyes widened.Disbelief flooded her mind and she knew she had to thread carefully . There was no way he'll mean that without there being a catch to it. "How?" It was the only thing she could manage, despite the dozen questions crowding her er mind.
"I'll give you a two-hour head start," he said.
Her heart thudded as she waited for him to continue.
"Two hours before I come looking for you. If you can get away before morning, you're free." He paused, almost amused by the terror flickering in her eyes. "But if I find you before then…" His lips curved, just slightly.
"You'll be mine until I say otherwise."
She swallowed, her mind torn in between two places. She wanted to escape...that much was for sure but the dark glint in his eyes made her hesitate. But there was almost nothing to loose . After all, whether she ran or stayed, she was his possession now. So what was the harm in trying.
" Your time starts...now". He moved back a little, giving her the space to run. Her eyes moved hesitantly his face to the door adjacent to them, half expecting him to laugh at her and tell her it was all a joke.
But he didn't.
" Don't make me change my mind, little one".
He didn't need to say it twice.
She ran.
-------
Sweat trickled down Freya's spine as she scanned her environment. The air was damp and huge monstrous trees towered above her, making her feel buried between. The green scene would've been a beauty to behold but the longer she stayed, the more trapped she felt.
Her brow arched in confusion. She had been here before. It couldn't be a coincidence that she keep seeing the giant oak tree that towered above her everytime she took a path.
Or could there be more than one Oak tree in this forest? That could be the only reason but she suspect it wasn't to case. Something was wrong ..very wrong. Every path she took somehow led her back to this very place.
One would think that outside the Grand Hault will be a city...filled with beats or people.. but when she ran out of the magnificent gate of that hellish place, all she could see was an endless varse of greens
Thick, dense forest.
It was then she realized that the famous Grandhault was situated in the middle of a forest!!
Tears hit the back of her eyes as the distant orange glow of the sun setting reminded her of the little time she had left. There was no way she'll give up now. She cannot afford to.
Her eyes scanned the area desperately before it landed on a twig. A grin formed on on her lips as an idea suddenly popped in her head.
If she could just find a proper place to hide without giving out her scent till day break, then she would be free from him and she could find her way out of the forest tomorrow morning.
But she needed to find a way to deter him from her scent so there was only something left to do..
She grabbed the hem of her new gown and ripped it the tip off. Going off the small rocky path beside the oak tree, she marched forward with one thought in mind. Creating distraction.
She walked farther in the route, small jolt of pain hitting her bare foot legs with every steps she took. She had some minor cuts on it due to her running around without a shoe on but she was too occupied to even care about that.
Beasts have a perculiar sense of smell...or so was she told...by Mara. Her heart pang painfully at the thought of her and tears sting her eyes, threatening to spill out. The image of Mara dying body laying helplessly on the cold floor flashed in her head again and her first tightened around the piece of cloth she was holding.
Soon....soon, she'll lay her beneath the ground and give her the proper burial she deserves.
Hands wiping the tears that flowed down her cheeks harshly, she furrowed the material in between two trees that stood at an oddly corner of the back. The position made it look like the perfect hiding spot and he shouldn't find it suspicious that her scent was coming from there.
She dashed off back to where she was coming from before ripping off another pieces again and running off another path.
She continued this until four different path in the forest had a piece of her scent. Then she stood in front of her oak tree, eyeing it. Before she could chicken out of it, her hand moved, arching to the bark of tree.
However her legs remained glue to the ground with her heart beating loudly against her ribcage. Even though she was aware she had to this, her body remained rooted to the ground.
The fear of height was very valid but when a deep roar shook the forest, her legs swung up immediately.