Another short story, I think I'll be able to get a 2nd chapter up by the end of this week since I'm already writing it and I just felt like this could be a good cut off point. I don't plan for it to be very long, but you never know. Anyways, hope you enjoy. This is for homework as well. xD
Nox Aeterna
It was a cold dark wintry night. The woods were awash with a grey grimness and the wind howled for vengeance. It was on nights like this that the predators came out to hunt, and when the predators came out, so did the Huntress. She had many names; the Huntress, the Iron Maiden, the Lady Knight. Rumours flew high and low throughout the lands, yet no one had ever caught more than a glimpse of this legendary figure. And she preferred it that way. She tried to maintain as a low profile as she could, however, it was easier said than done in her line of work.
She galloped up towards the small inn and dismounted. Immediately a stable boy came out and took her horse. Nightmare, it was called. She threw open the small inn door and the din came to an abrupt halt.
"I seek shelter." Her body cocooned entirely by snow gear her voice was slightly muffled, yet it still commanded attention and respect from the people in the room.
"Oh yes, yes, but you see... ah..." The innkeeper behind the bar swallowed uneasily as her glacier blue eyes settled on him, "we're kind of ah... all booked out."
He winced as she spoke again, this time with the sound of razors in her voice. "Then I will pay you double."
"Oh, then, of course, come in and I'll show you to a room." With this the innkeeper led her up the old rickety stairs and into a small bedroom, complete with a small fireplace and a bathroom. "We charge half now, a quarter before breakfast and the rest as you leave, and I assure you your horse is in the best of care-"
"How much?" She did not look at him as she spoke, but instead surveyed the room.
"Th-that would £140 including the double, but as I said-"
"Take it." She held out a swath of notes and dropped them in his clammy hands. "Keep the change."
And with that she closed the door in his face and dropped onto the bed with a sigh. The surprised innkeeper slowly proceeded down the stairs, wiping his brow with a small handkerchief. Upon seeing the many curious faces of his patrons and some lecherous ones too, he scowled and said "don't mess with her," emphasising it by staring hard at the men with lecherous expressions. They just jeered and looked away, making dirty jokes and taking bets on who could bed her first. Good luck with that. The innkeeper thought bitterly.
As he proceeded towards the bar, he noticed a strange man in a red cloak sitting at one of the tables.
"Can I help you?" The man turned to face him, a pale face darkened by his shadowy black hair and bottomless black eyes.
"No. Thank you." With that he picked up his glass of red wine and turned his back to the innkeeper.
The innkeeper shook his head in puzzlement as he headed behind the bar. It certainly is a night of strange guests. And the last thought he had on the lady and the man was how the colour of her eyes seemed to be the complete opposite to the colour of his eyes.
Please Review, it's a simple request :P