Chapter eight
Raw panic squeezed Fredrika's heart when she tried to get back to surface.
She flanged her arms trying to grab on something but the edges of the tub were slippery. The ice cold grip on her ankles didn't ease up no matter how she kicked. The lack of air made her lungs to burn and she was sure that she was about to drown. She cried for help but only bubbles came out from her mouth. Her nice warm bath had turned to be her wet deathbed.
Suddenly the icy hands let her go and dark figure appeared above her.
Then a hand broke the water's surface and grabbed on her arm. She was quickly pulled out from the tub on to the bathroom's floor.
Fredrika coughed the water out from her lungs till she was able to breathe again. Blessed oxygen filled her lungs and the fear of death faded away.
Her savior held her gently on his lap comforting her silently.
She squeezed his arm firmly like her life would have depended on it.
The familiar scent of must surrounded her and she knew at once whose lap she was laying on.
- Thank you, she whispered.
She didn't dare to lift up her gaze because she was afraid that he would vanish. She didn't want him to leave; she didn't want to be left alone.
She wanted him to stay with her.
- I am sorry that I didn't come up earlier to stop him.
- Is he gone now?
- Yes, for now.
Fredrika squeezed her eyes firmly shut and nestled tightly into his lap.
- Don't let him take me, she prayed.
- Fredrika look at me please.
She lifted her gaze up slowly.
Richard's blue eyes were looking at her with full of worry.
- I will not let him to harm you anymore.
There was no lie in his eyes and if he was the villain of all villains then he pretended amazingly well.
No he wasn't a villain, Fredrika decided in her mind.
He was her savior.
Suddenly Fredrika heard a knock from the bathroom's door.
- Fredrika are you alright in there, Mr. Raglan asked worried.
Richard was gone again and she was alone.
- I'm okay. I'm okay; she replied and got up from the floor.
After she had dried herself she stepped out from the room.
Mr. Raglan was sitting on a bench close to the bathroom and he got up as soon as she came out.
- I heard a noise and thought that something was happening.
Fredrika looked at her side and noticed that they were alone in the corridor.
- Actually it did happen.
- What in the name of God?!
She told him what had happened and how she almost had drowned to the bathtub.
- This is outrages I will call you a taxi so you can leave from this place.
Mr. Raglan was about to leave but Fredrika stopped him.
- No I must do this.
- Why on earth?! This is far too dangerous.
- He will protect me.
- Are you sure? On this morning you said…
- I know what I said but something tells me that I must do this. For some strange reason he chose me and on this morning I thought that I had have just a silly dream but now…
- But now you want to believe in impossible?
- Well, yes. He asked me to help although at first I said no but now after he helped me although he didn't needed to.
- So you think you are in debt?
- Taking a little piece of Tudor's dirt off from his name is quite a little payment for rescuing my life. And I'll not rest until I have reached my goal.
Mr. Raglan gave her a smile.
- I'm sure that this is the reason why he chose you. I'm sure of it.
But if you change your mind I'm sure that he doesn't blame you. This path you have chosen is full of sharp rocks.
- Running away doesn't solve anything; they'll find me no matter how far I would go.
- There is a point.
- There is only one thing I would like to ask you.
- Just name it.
- Is there any of crucifixes in this house?
- Yes quite plenty in fact.
- Could I have at least one to my bedroom?
