Red Rose

        "She what!?!” I snarled at one of the guards when he told me Illyria had escaped. This woman was causing a lot of trouble already. I don’t know why dad insisted on keeping her here. She should have just stayed in the woods and let nature take care of her. But I had to save her. I couldn’t leave her.

My blood boiled and I left the castle, walking towards the village to find her. As I was looking around the crowded street, I noticed a red rose on the floor, squished by passersby. I picked it up and smelled it, it had her scent mixed up with the flower’s own natural one.

“Excuse me, Kieran?” I heard Molly, the town baker call. She seemed a little concerned, “if you are looking for the lady you brought, she went that way,” she said, pointing at the North side of the woods.

“Did you talk to her at all?” I asked and she shook her head.

“No, but Lilith told her about the meaning of the roses for us. She told her that they will be painted with her blood, and that must have scared her,” she said and for a moment I felt sympathy for her. Illyria must be terrified at that thought and I needed to find her.

“Thank you, Molly. I will find her,” I said, before I took off running. I had to get there before anything or anyone found her. I could hear loud screams coming from the river and my blood was boiling at the thought of someone hurting her.

Dodging trees and rocks, I finally arrived where the screams came from and there she was, being dragged by a heavy set man, with hunger for blood. 

She was desperately trying to get loose from his grasp, and I was going to save her. My fangs and nails elongated, while my eyes turned into murderous ones. I ran as fast as I could to get to them. 

Before long, I was pouncing on that man, and despite being tall and muscular, he was much bigger. He let Illyria go and slowly turned to me. I could see her hide behind a tree, waiting for me to be done with this jackass. 

“Well, well, well. If it isn't the famous Kieran Moore. How are your parents?” he said, while I had no idea how he knew me and my parents. I snarled and didn’t even feel like engaging in conversation. I just wanted to hurt him, the way he was hurting my beloved.

Yes, Illyria Abbot is my beloved. Seeing her earlier, got my senses out of control, and despite her being aggravating and annoying, I was not going to let her get killed by this monster.

“You're not talking, huh?” he asked, while waiting for me to make my move. He thought I was that stupid.

“Kieran, please let's go,” I could hear her whisper clearly behind me, despite being a little far. I could feel her body trembling in fear.

“I am sorry, I don't talk with leeches like you,” I said, putting myself in a fighting stance, ready for whatever may come my way. I could hear him laugh, as his belly moved with the rhythm, mocking me.

“Your dear daddy is not here to help you now, kid. I will have so much fun breaking you into pieces,” he snarled, as he elongated his own fangs and ran towards me. I dodged the attack and he ended up hitting an oak tree. 

He turned around and ran again towards me, but as I was about to move, he extended his hand and pulled me down from the legs to the ground. I lifted myself and tried to pounce him once again, but this time he was alert, and scratched me on my face with his nails, leaving four marks on my cheek. I wasn’t worried, they would heal soon.

“Is that all you got? Pathetic,” I said while I laughed, making him angrier as he pushed me against a tree. He was holding me against it as my back was arching on the trunk, causing an uncomfortable stab.

“Leave him alone, you animal!” Illyria took some courage and started hitting his back with a rock. What the hell does she think she is doing? She needs to stay hidden behind the tree. The big guy dropped me on the ground, leaving me groaning in pain.

He turned around to face Illyria, walking menacingly towards her with what I was sure was a promise of pain in his eyes. She was in danger and I took my strength to get up and stop him from getting anywhere near her. 

She was backed up against the tree and I took a branch, breaking it in half to reveal a sharp end, and going straight for his neck. It might not do much, or at least that's what I thought, but it should be enough to get him away from her.

To my surprise, he plummeted to the ground. I looked at Illyria and walked towards her like a predator. With my bloodied hands, not sure if it was mine or his blood, I put them on Illyria's collarbone while dragging it up to her neck and ending up in her face, painting it just like the red rose in her hand, while she looked at me with panic in her eyes.

“Don't fear me, little rose. I won't hurt you, but next time you decide to run away, make sure you do it without anyone noticing. I have eyes everywhere,” I said in a low growl, that sounded even more dangerous than what I usually sound. 

“You are not my father and I am not your prisoner, Kieran. I need to go back home,” she said, trying to sound angry, but failing to do so.

“There is no home to go back to. You heard my mother, they are all dead, and I confirmed it,” I said as I leaned over, while feeling her shivering body react to mine. I could smell her fear and arousal at the same time. 

“You are lying to me. How dare you?” she mentioned, her voice sounding more like a whisper. I clenched my jaw, and I was going to take her back to my castle the way I did earlier, when she smacked my hand away.

“I can walk, I don't need you to act like a caveman right now, thank you very much,” she said, walking away from me at a slow and steady pace. 

A tear fell from her eye. She tried to hide it, but I was too attentive to notice everything. We walked back, not saying another word to each other...just complete silence.