🪻《The Dark Forest》🪻

A big fire had engulfed the whole village, I could hear the screaming! Men with black hoods rode their horses and continued to burn the houses. While the others were slaughtering the people! Blood and dirt mixed together, the foul smell carried by the wind. I looked around the chaos and saw children left on the corner crying and helplessly stood amongst the chaotic environment. I reached out my hand and took them by the arm, telling them to run to the forest. I saw their retreating backs disappeared in the night.

The huts were burning and dark smoke began to form. The village was surrounded by ashes and smoke, I coughed uncomfortably as I inhaled it! The helpless villagers were running for their lives, I squinted my eyes because of the smoke when I got a glimpse of a hooded man riding his white horse sprinting toward me!

I ran as fast as I could but a black horse blocked my way, I turned around and ran on the opposite side but the hooded man followed me. I cannot outrun a horse! I thought. While I was running away my foot got caught on a piece of wood and I fell facedown.

My face hit the muddy ground and I heard heavy footsteps coming toward me, I spun my head around to see the hooded man behind me with his hands outstretched. He grabbed me by the neck and began to strangle me. I fought back, I scratched and kicked but he was too strong. My eyes were popping, I could hear a ringing sound in my head as the air in my body started to fade. I grasped! Pushed and kicked but the man wouldn't move an inch! I struggled and fought as hard as I could.

I grabbed his hood and revealed his face.. his face.. her face... Clodette!

Claude woke up drenched with cold sweat dripping down his face. He tried to even his breathing as he muttered. "It was a dream, a dream, It was a dream!"

He looked around the dark room and saw the candelabra, the flame flickered as it gave a dim light on the desk next to him. It was just a dream.. just a dream he thought, he reached for his neck.

It felt too real.

That morning, Clodette requested to see him. Claude stood at the corner of her room, Clodette's room was painted in light blue with elaborate rose vines painted on the walls. In the middle of her room was her enormous bed with a satin silk drapes falling down from the ceiling and by the window was her sitting area, a small table adorned with porcelain vase filled with yellow roses in the center and two wooden chairs. Claude glanced at Clodette, who was sitting on a wooden chair near the window. She was cutting the dead leaves of a rose, She looked up and motioned him to sit next to her.

"I heard you screaming last night." she said, unamused.

"I had a nightmare." he replied.

Her hands ceased cutting the leaves and gazed at him.

"What did you dream about?"

He stared at her and blinked. "It was a village many people were dying and it was—was." He tried to remember his dream but Clodette interrupted him.

"Was it on fire?"

"Huh?!" he looked at her with curious eyes.

"The village! Was it on fire?"

"Uh yes, yes it was." How did she know?

Clodette didn't say anything after that but kept on cutting the leaves. The deafening silence was so awkward and Claude didn't know what to do so he reached out for a pair of scissors when she suddenly spoke:

"You shouldn't go back to the library."

"Why?" Claude's hand retreated from reaching the scissors.

"There are some things that you weren't meant to find."

Why is she talking about the book? he pondered.

"What is that book?"

"You don't need to know that" she spurned away from him and placed the scissors on the table.

"I want to know! Julius said I am the only one who could read it. I want to know more about it, If you can just let me read it one more time."

As he spoke Clodette hit the vase furiously that cut her hand. "Ah!" she exclaimed.

Claude took her hand in his and placed a handkerchief on it to stop the bleeding. "You don't need to do that," she told him. Claude furrowed his forehead trying to understand what she meant by that statement.

He raised the handkerchief from her wound and as he did, his eyes widened with surprise and–fear. He stood up so quickly that he made the wooden chair fell down behind him with a loud bang! His eyes quickly darted at Clodette.

"Your wound it —" he didn't finish his sentence because his voice was trembling.

"Are you afraid?" she asked him, carefully.

"I-I am n-not" he managed to speak, trying to act brave. She stood up and walked toward him but he instinctively stepped back.

"I am not easily fooled, Claude."

She kept on walking closer to him and he moved back simultaneously. As he stepped back further Claude felt the wall behind him. I have nowhere to run.

Her beautiful face was too close to his now, her eyes were dancing in amusement. She was teasing him!

Clodette arched an eyebrow and laughed. "Such a scaredy-cat!" 

"You're afraid of me! I can smell it!" She whispered.

Claude's eyes darted at the doorknob and back to her, Clodette gave a shrug.

"Go ahead." she urged him.

His trembling feet began to move toward the door, he quickly turned the knob and ran as fast as he could!

He could hear Clodette laughing behind him. He ran and ran as far as his feet could take him. He found himself in the garden, he was frantically looking around for anyone–anyone who can explain what just happened. He searched for Evangeline, who was sitting on the bench near the magnolias.

"Evangeline!" He ran and fell on his knees right in front of her. She looked at him, alarmed! "My goodness!" she exclaimed.

"What happened to you?" She placed her hand on his cheeks, he could feel his cold sweat streaming down my face.

"Clodette isn't human!" he blurted out. Evangeline's face said it all. She knew! Her eyes were filled with pity and perplexity, she breathed deeply before she spoke:

"What happened?"

"The wound on her hand it healed by its own."

"You need to calm down and I will explain everything" She touched his head and began to stroke it. He looked at her with surprise. She knew! I slapped her hand away.

"You know?!" he said in an accusing tone.

"Claude, calm down and let me explain it to you." Evangeline tried to reach for his hand but he smacked it away and ran.

He ran and ran deeper into the forest. Just as he calmed down, he realized he was already lost. It was getting dark and he didn't know which way to go back to.

He tried to follow the path back but he couldn't remember, he could hear the trees shaking because of the wind and the sound of crickets. This is bad! I might be eaten by wolves.

It was evening and he found himself in the middle of the forest alone and afraid.

"Which way! Which way!" he began to panic, it was getting dark. He moved back and forth when he heard a rattling sound from the bushes, he stepped back and a group of birds flitting away frantically. He turned to where the sound was and saw a pair of yellow eyes!

wolves!

The big wolf stalked slowly toward him as he instantly backed away. The wolf growled low and bared his canines, it barked aggressively while it was drooling.

He must be hungry and I am his food.  Claude looked around to find something to protect himself with and found a branch. He slowly reached for it but the wolf sensing his movements barked loudly making him cease his actions.

It began to walk slowly toward him and Claude backed away, instinctively! Two more wolves appeared from the bushes and slowly surrounded him. They growled loudly and barked, angrily.

The big black wolf must be the leader of the pack, he was bigger and fiercer! The wolf on his right was brown with white stripes on its head, a female. While the other one had brown fur it looked smaller and younger than the others, a young male.

Claude planted his heel firmly on the ground and turned rapidly as he began to ran! The wolves picked up their pace and ran after him!

I need to run! Faster!

Out of fear and anxiety his feet gave up and he found himself curled into a ball with his arms protectively covering his head, waiting for the wolves to lunged into him.

This is it! The end! I should have let Clodette sucked my blood!

He was waiting for the wolves to devour him when he heard a loud yelp followed by an aggressive bark but it quickly died down. A hissed sound was heard and when he opened his eyes, he saw a woman dressed in a white satin gown with a messy golden hair.

The big wolf laying on the ground with a big scar on its face while the two wolves protecting it against the opponent. When Clodette growled low the wolves shrank trembling like they were up against a more powerful being. They gave a high-pitched yap, and started to tuck their tails behind their legs and ran away, leaving Clodette. 

The hem of her dress was torn and her hands were soaked with blood. She turned to Claude and said, "Are you alright?" Her eyes filled with concern. He nodded, She moved closer to him and bent her knees so she could take a closer look at him.

"Are you still afraid?" she asked him.

"A little, I thought I was dog food!"

"You were if I came a little late." she teased him.

"I think your canines are useful."

She laughed at his remark and stood up. "Come on!"

Under the moonlight, she looked pale with her crimson eyes glimmered from adrenaline and her blood-stained lips stretched to a smile.

She was bewitching.

At that moment Claude didn't fear her, He was engrossed of how beautiful she was and how she came to his rescue.

He remembered the first time he saw her, how his heart skipped a beat. How his cheeks flushed as her eyes stared at him for the first time and how she called him by his name.

Why on earth did I ever think that she would hurt me? If she wants it, she would have already done so.

"I am not afraid." he spoke with confidence.

She smiled at him and took his hand on hers.

"I know."

They walked to the mansion hand in hand. Clodette's hand intertwined with Claude's was uncomfortably cold but Claude's heart felt warm.

🪻《Author's Note》🪻

Hey lovely people🥀

I felt amazed that I was able to write this chapter. I don't know if I capture the right emotion of Claude as he faced those wolves😓

🍂| Question of the day:
Do you think Claude need to caution himself now that he learned about Clodette's identity?
Was it a good idea for him to stay in the Monique Mansion?

What are your thoughts? Comment below and don't forget to hit that "vote" button!

Love, Julia🪸