Three years ago…

John and his parents had been invited to a party at the Eleanor household. It was a chance for John to get to know his future bride better and there could be no distractions. As a result, Raphael was once again left behind so that no one could find out who or what he was. It was better if none of the other noble families knew of the disgraceful son.

But Raphael was not the type to sit at home and wallow in self-pity. He had always wanted to travel and saw this as an opportunity to visit Eerea’s neighboring kingdom, Gynae. It had been a place to always fascinate him ever since his mother told him stories of its history.  Lady Argeno had grown up in Gynae and was herself eager to go back someday, but as for now, Raphael was the one with the opportunity.

He quickly scribbled down a not for his family telling them that he would be gone for a while in case his journey ended up being longer than theirs.

The Argeno estate was located near the border of where Eerea ended and Gynae began. Raphael saw this as a sign; it meant his travel time was shortened.

He arrived in a small village a couple of hours later, not having packed anything. But it didn’t matter to him; it would be more of an adventure to figure things out as he went away. Besides, he was a well-trained sorcerer. Most things he needed he could just manifest with a simple spell.

Raphael was walking around, admiring the view, when suddenly something – or rather someone, caught his attention.

She was a young girl with raven hair that fell into her face in a mess. Her grey eyes were wide and searching. Her arms were crossed over her chest, in a rather defensive manner, like she was trying to shield herself from someone. Those pale eyes frequently darted through the crowd, and she would jump every once in a while as if she saw the face of someone that scared her to death. Raphael felt drawn to her, a strange kind of connection… one he couldn’t name. He had this sudden urge to go up to her and ask her if she needed help – but with how bewildered she appeared, he doubted that would be such a great idea. He might only succeed in frightening her more.

His gaze followed her as he slipped out of sight. Raphael felt a sense of regret at not having talked to her, but shrugged it off. What were the chances he’d see her again anyway?

He continued wading through the crowd until he found himself in front of a little inn. It seemed as good a place as any to stay his first night in Gynae. He walked inside and was greeted by a friendly looking lady that’s smile only widened upon his entrance.

“A room for you and your lady friend?” the inn-keeper asked in a friendly voice.

Raphael chuckled. “Just me.”

The lady grinned. “Surely a handsome young man such as yourself has already found himself a nice young girl to spend his life with,” she joked as she started opening her log book.

“I’m afraid not. I have yet to meet the girl I want to spend my life with,” Raphael added, grinning to the lady as she pushed the log back toward him.

She gestured to an empty spot on the list, “Sign here please. I bet a lot of ladies in this village would be happy to know of your availability.”

Raphael laughed. “You flatter me,” he said as he signed his name. “I might not be nearly as good of a catch as you think I am.”

The lady waved him off as he pushed the book back to her and she took it from him.

“You would have to be a very horrid man behind closed doors to no be a catch, young man. Don’t let someone make you feel less than your worth,” she said as she pulled out his room key.

“How do you know I’m not a horrid man behind closed doors?” he asked as he took the keys from her.

“Room five, to the left,” she said as she released the keys. “No young man without good manner would speak so amicably with an old lady such as myself. I see enough people go through here to have realized that.”

“That you,” Raphael said, offering her one last smile before heading to his room.

After having gotten some rest, Raphael decided to go out and explore the area some more. So far, he was enjoying Gynae more than he could previously have imagined, No one there had even tried to make him feel insignificant, like a bother, worthless. For the first time in his life he felt a sense of belonging. There was finally a place that knew nothing of him and his shaking relations with his family. He was free.

It was then that Raphael got the idea to purchase a house for himself in Gynae. A place he could retreat to when the Argenos became too much for him to handle. A place where he could live in peace and even raise his future family, away from the poison that is the Lord and Lady Argeno.

As the inn keeper suggested, many eyes from young ladies followed him as he made his way around the village. He smiled at them when he would catch them looking and they were sent into fits of giggles with their friends. His attention was so focused on his sight seeing that he didn’t see he coming – not until she crashed into him.

His reflexes reacted before he did and he caught her before she was sent to the ground. Their eyes locked and he recognized her as the girl he had seen earlier… the one that had captured his attention.

She quickly straightened herself out, as if being touched by him singed her. She recoiled instantly.

“I apologize for starling you, and not paying attention where I was going,” Raphael blurted out quickly in an attempt to put her mind at ease. It didn’t really work. She regarded him suspiciously with those wide eyes. Her whole body seemed tense and ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.

“I have to go,” she said as she started leaving.

“Wait!” Raphael called after her. “Let me at least escort you home… it’s the least I can do.”

“I don’t need an escort. I’m perfectly capable to fend for myself.”

“I did not mean to imply you need protection. I apologize again if I have offended you.”

“What other implication could there be when being offered a male escort to one’s home? Just because I’m a female does not mean I’m helpless and can’t take care of myself.” Her words came out frantic, almost like she a more trying to convince herself than him.

“Are you sure, you seem to be over-compensating a bit.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m fine.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I made sure.”

She sighed and started walking, her steps determined and sure. Perhaps his earlier assessment of her had been wrong. Sure, her hair was still messy and her eyes still frightened, but her demeanor had shifted.

Raphael did a quick jog to catch up with her. “I will follow you, you know.”

“Go ahead, just don’t talk to me.”

She continued to walk stubbornly, her arms crossed over her chest more in determination than protection now. Raphael fell into step with her and she proceeded to roll her eyes.

“Not talking isn’t fun, how else are we supposed to get to know each other?”

“You are assuming that I have any interest in knowing you,” she paused and looked him sideways. “And I have none. Now would you please leave me alone?”

“Only if you tell me why you seem so distraught, my lady. Something has you on edge, and I intend to find out what it is,” Raphael said, keeping pace with her when she started walking faster.

“I am not distraught,” she replied, mimicking his tone on the last word. “And even if I was, why on earth would I tell you, a complete stranger about it?”

He extended his hand to her. “Hello, my name is Raphael Argeno and I’m from Eerea. There, I’m no longer a stranger.”

She groaned. “Really? Really? You think I’m incompetent enough to fall for that? Do I have dumb written on my forehead?”

“A simple introduction from yourself would’ve sufficed, you know,” Raphael commented, feigning offense.

“And you leaving me alone when I first requested it would have sufficed as well, you know.”

“Look, I’m only trying to be nice.”

“Some people need to learn to take a hint.”

“Well, I am blond for a reason.”

“Insulting yourself is not helping your case.”

“Are you this difficult with every guy that tries to approach you?”

“No, just with the ones that pester and try to stict their noses in things that are none of their business.”

Raphael paused and to his surprise, so did the girl. “At least tell me your name and I will leave you alone.”

“That is a proposition that seems too good to be true.”

“Trust me?”

“I have no reason to.”

“Or do you just refuse to trust people in general?” A flicker of pain shot across her features, but she didn’t react on it. He had hit a nerve, that much was clear. This fact only intrigued her to him further. What was her story and why was she so adamant about keeping him out of it?

She averted her gaze, only to look back a short while later with her eyes now narrowed. “You promise to leave me alone if I tell you my name?”

“As a man of noble blood, you have my word.”

She nodded once, knowing that I he was truly what he claimed, he wouldn’t dare break that oath. “My name is Mallory. Mallory Greenburg.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mallory.”

“I wish I could say the same, Raphael,” she said as she turned to leave.

Raphael liked the way she had said his name. Even though she was clearly frustrated with him, she still said his name as a melody on her lips. It gave him hope that maybe she hadn’t wanted to get rid of him after all.

*****

It was just on the right side of midnight when Mallory finally braved going home. She had idled in the woods near the small cottage where she currently live with her step-father while her mother was away. Her nerves still felt on end, even though he was probably long asleep by now; it was what she wished for.

The door creaked as she opened it and she flinched, paused for a reaction, and when none came, contributed more carefully this time. The last thing she need was for her step-father to wake up now, especially as she had been out all day ‘without his permission’.

She moved to her room on tip-toes, grateful that he hadn’t even stirred by the time she got to her room and closed the door in relief. The real reason she was so eager to get away from Raphael? She didn’t want him to realize just how damaged she was. He seemed like such a nice guy, and it pained her that there was no way she would ever end up with someone like him, not now. Not since….

It had been a month since her mother left to the kingdom of Seinaen to take care of her recently widowed mother. Mallory had no idea how long her mother would be gone; she only knew that until then, she was stuck under the supervision of her step-father.

Her real father had died in the war following the assassination of the king and queen of Gynae. Eerea had moved in and decided that Gynae was no longer allowed to live in peace with magic users. If they couldn’t, no one could. Her father lost his life as a sorcerer, branded as a traitor, after swearing his family was completely innocent. He had her mother and her pretend to be shocked and disgusted at what he was so they would live. Mallory could not think of anything harder and more heart wrenching than having to pretend she hated her father, someone she loved dearly.

Of course, her mother had been devastated, and for many years tried to provide for them by herself, but no one except her sister, Mallory’s aunt, would give her work. And working at the inn didn’t pay much. Eventually, she realized in order to take care of their little family, she would need to remarry, if any man was interested in a woman with a child.

That was when Sir Edward Jameson entered their lives. He was rich, handsome, and interested. Her mother accepted without as much as a second thought. A couple of months into the union, Mallory’s grandfather fell ill and passed away, causing Mallory’s mother to leave to console her heart broken grandmother. Mallory was left alone with Edward, who despite being a knight, was everything but chivalrous behind closed doors.

In his mind, since his wife was gone, he needed someone to fill her empty slot. A fifteen year old Mallory was just perfect for him. She couldn’t fight him no matter how she tried. Even he magic wasn’t strong enough, and he’d simply kill her is he knew she had any. There was no way out. She was stuck, afraid. He was the reason Mallory didn’t want Raphael to come over. She was afraid what might have happened to him.

Mallory barely had any sleep that night; she woke up at the crack of dawn so she could sneak out of the house once more and avoid her step-father all day/ She knew it was impossible to keep doing it forever, and that eventually he would figure out what she was doing, but at least until then she would be safe. It was he aunt’s morning to work at the inn, so she decided to go grab breakfast with her; maybe this time she would be brave enough to tell her what was happening – not that she knew what her aunt would be able to do about the fact.

She wasn’t paying attention to where she was going, too occupied with her thoughts when she crashed into Raphael again. As before, he managed to catch her before she collided with the floor. “Oh, it’s you,” he commented with a bright smile.

“You promised to leave me alone,” Mallory replied, narrowing her eyes suspiciously even though she was actually glad to see him.

“That’s very hard to do when you were the one to run into me. I was merely on my way out,” Raphael remarked, his lips still twitching up at the sides. Mallory couldn’t help the flutter she felt in her stomach. This man would be the end of her.

She carefully removed herself from his hands and straightened out her dress. Only then realizing how dirty and shabby it was. A faint blush spread about her cheeks and she quickly turned away from him. “I’m sorry,” she said with her back turned to him.

“It’s no problem. I can think of girls I would rather not walk into, and you are not on that list.” Mallory’s blush intensified.

“Well, then until next time we walk into each other,” Mallory said as she began going into the inn.

Raphael laughed.

*****

Raphael was just about to turn and leave as Mallory had requested, but a sudden commotion in the crowd kept him rooted in place. Someone was coming over, making a lot of noise. But why? He watched as a man around his father’s age pushed through the crowd and head straight for Mallory who had also halted in her steps when she heard the uproar. She was watching the man now, a look of complete terror on her face.

The man approached Mallory and roughly grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the inn. Her small gasp of pain was not lost on Raphael. He followed them inside. The man was whispering to her sternly while her entire body was rigid. His assessment of her the previous day hadn’t been wrong; she was afraid of someone, and he was the one holding onto her arm at that very moment.

The lady at the counter who had been so nice and sweet to him when he checked in and as he was heading out just moments ago, now had her eyes narrowed as she watched the man with Mallory. He approached the counter, suddenly all smiles, the charm lain on thick. Raphael’s eyes narrowed, instant recognition dawning on him. His brother had done that same thing – several times. He knew about John’s elicit lifestyle and had tried to put an end to it several times all to no avail. He felt sorry for his future wife, the Eleanor girl, but now felt like he was taking a glimpse into his brother’s future. If his suspicions were correct, he needed to get Mallory away from this man, and fast.

He paused for a while until the man dragged Mallory to one of the inn rooms. It wouldn’t be wise to act immediately, without knowing whether or not he was correct. He went up to the kind inn-keeper. “Who was that man with Mallory?”

The inn-keeper smiled. “You’ve met my niece? That spares me the introductions later… she’s a really nice girl, you know? Smart, pretty –“

“Please answer my question, it’s urgent,” Raphael interrupted, an apologetic look on his face. “Who is the man with her?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about him. He’s her step-father, Sir Edward Jameson.”

Every muscle in Raphael’s body tensed. “Are you certain that is his name?”

The inn-keeper could now sense something was off, her stance growing alert. “What do you know about him?”

Raphael frowned. “He was the knight that my brother trained with, once highly respectable, honored throughout the kingdom of Eerea. But that all changed when the queen’s sister, who was only seventeen, went to the king to file a complaint. She claimed he had assaulted her and with that claim, several other young girls stepped forward to say the same thing. He was honorably discharged and asked to leave Eerea. The king didn’t want to have him jailed or convicted as that placed a black mark on his guard and he couldn’t have that. We never knew where he went… and if that is him in there with Mallory, she’s in danger.”

The inn-keeper’s eyes widened. “You think he would assault her too? Even though she’s his step daughter?”

“I’ve learned that men like that have no limitations in their targets.”

Raphael and the inn-keeper started moving to the room Edward had just taken Mallory into. The lady was about to knock on the door, but Raphael didn’t give her the chance. He kicked the door down. Edward was standing against Mallory, his hand around her reddening throat. There was a cut across her cheek and tears rimmed her eyes. This must not be the first time he had attempted harming her. Raphael didn’t think.

He extended his hand and started chanting. “Sit fuerit, ab eo quod fecit.”  May that which he has done upon him. Edward immediately dropped his hand from Mallory’s throat and started gasping for air, clawing at his throat.

Raphael approached him, his rage overwhelming him. His crystal blue eyes now shining a dangerous red.  He squeezed his hand into a fist and Edward sunk to the ground, his eyes starting to pop. Everything and everyone around Raphael began to disappear; all of his focus on the vile man before him.

Edward was writhing in pain, until he no longer moved. Raphael was still unable to break free from his rage. Finally, he the rage lifted in one red cloud as Mallory placed her hand on his shoulder. His gaze, now returned to normal, landed on her. Before he could say anything she threw her arms around him. He was stunned for a second, but embraced her without another thought.