Chapter 11:

Aric left me alone in my own tent, giving me animals fur as blankets. It was nice of him to place 4 guards around my tent, since we all knew that this was a crisis situation. I had no idea that these soldier men could get this serious. But I was scared at the same time. What if Hades came back and noticed I was gone? Hades would come after me and kill everyone and everything, just as punishment for me, for running away.

That's why I didn't sleep that well. But I did as Aric said and got up early in the morning, getting dressed in travel clothes, and the guards helped me with my own horse and luggage. Aric ordered that the 4 guards accompany me while we travel, which was fine with me. By the time noon came, it was hot and we traveled nonstop. There was no way these guys travel this hard.

"Excuse me, but how much longer do we have?" I asked a guard.

"Not long, ocean healer. We have to reach those hills by evening…"

"That looks…like, only a mile away…"

"We must camp there, Aric's orders, but we must defend ourselves ruthlessly, for some odd creature resides there, preying on man…"

"What! Why stay there then!"

"It's the only passage that won't cost us a weeks journey. A risk. But fear not, your surrounded by King Atalo's finest men…"

"What lives there?" I asked, my hand tightening on the reins.

"A beast with eyes of fire, talons of black steele, and a ferocious appetite… but it is said that it can be killed."

"Ok… What's it called?"

"No one knows… but all we know is that Aric fears nothing… and we shall follow him to whatever end."

We reached the hills, settling down the tents, fires, and other equipment. The guards followed me wherever I went, making sure Aric's orders were followed as they were. By the look on their faces, the men looked uneasy and anxious by the time nightfall came. Evening darkness covered the trees, releasing hushed growls of newly awakened animals in their caves.

"Hear that? That serves as no inspiration…"

"Indeed. We can't see them, but they can see us."

Aric hadn't talked to me all day, but I kept looking over at him where he was talking with other men around a fire. The 4 guards that followed me around all day turned towards me, with small blushes on their cheeks. Just from their expressions, they were edging with questions.

"Ocean healer…?"

"Yea?" I responded, hoping to not squeeze an awkward moment out of this.

"Is it true with what they say?"

"And what do they say?" I raised a brow.

"Is it true you were created by Aphrodite herself?"

"No, I'm just…a girl."

"Well, is it true that you can heal with powers given by Poseidon himself?"

"No, I just do what I do…"

"Incredible… Well, are you a demigod?"

"No. I'm just a mortal. I don't know what those people are saying, but I'm just a mortal. Ok? I'm totally flattered that everyone thinks I'm special and all. But I'm not. I'm just not cut out to be a demigod or whatever…"

"Sir!" the 4 men said in unison, standing up straight, stiffening their arms.

I turned around and there stood Aric. In the light his face was riddled with some sort of agony, almost a serious demeanor that almost scared me. Aric put his men at ease, then looked back at me.

"Evey. Follow me."

It was a question. I gathered some little bits of courage then followed Aric, to his tent. Aric held the tent door for me then tied it closed, giving us privacy and isolation. On his table, there were no maps, swords, or any other kinds of war equipment. So this conversation mustn't be that important.

"Evey… Ocean healer… Whoever you are… Listen carefully…"

Aric's words were a little slurred that wasn't so charming as it was yesterday, almost telling me he was either anxious or bothered.

"Aric are you drunk?" I asked, really, really annoyed.

Tossing his head back, he let out a laugh that turned into a chuckle. Rolling my eyes, I believed he was tipsy.

"Aric…!"

"Oh, Evey… I'm not drunk. I'm intoxicated by you."

"What?" I blushed.

"Evey… become my wife."

Shut the front door! My eyes widened, bulging from my eye sockets! Doesn't he know anything about giving a warning!

"W-W-What? Wait… W-Wait what!""I knew you would be this alarmed… Don't be afraid. The feeling is perfectly natural my love. Become my wife, Evey."

"What the hell! Aric you just don't go around asking people if they'll marry you! What are you, insane! You have to make the chemistry happen!"

"Chemistry?"

"Yes! We need to flow! We haven't even, like, dated! We haven't even known eachother for more than 48 hours!"

"Don't be so alarmed, Evey. Become my wife. Bear my children. Be mine forever. Love me. It is as simple as that."

"No it's not simple! I-I'm really… I don't think…"

Aric came up to me, grabbing my head in his hands, and held me close. My face was red! And every which way I was having some serious goosebumps! I'm too young to get married or even have kids!

"Aric…"

"Evey, you deserve to be mine…"

"Aric…"

"Evey. You are so beautiful that you give the sun a reason to shine. You are so lovely and…mysterious, it drives me insane. If you lay in my bed, there will be no more nightmares for either of us."

Oh god. He was so romantic.

"Aric is that all you care about? What if I wasn't pretty? Would you like me then? And have you even thought about my age? I mean, like, how old are you? And besides this is not going to work! You live here and I live- Somewhere else. And I'm not going to give up my home."

"Evey-" Aric was cut off by the sound of a roar.

But not just any roar, it was a vicious bellow. It reminded my of the movie 'Predator' and that alien roar, but louder.

"Evey stay here! All men follow me! The beast has awakened to feed it's belly! Come! All of you! To slay the beast!" Aric yelled, gaining courage.

"Aric! Don't you dare leave me here alone!" I screamed.

A lot of voices were shouted outside of the tent, making me scared.

"Sword! Spears!"

"The beast! The beast!"

BUUUURRRRRROOOAAAAARRRR!

The entire tent shook from the bellow. Men screamed in agony! The sound of tearing flesh! Aric! This couldn't happen! I ran out of the tent only to find retreating men running past me.

My arms shoved past all of them, trying to reach to Aric. Tents were torn down and fire licked at the ground. Huge paw prints were in the dirt, measuring how large this thing was!

Clashes of steele echoed, and then…there was the beast. Aric was laying on the ground with his sword laying a few feet away from him!

"Aric!" I yelled.

The beast looked at me, it's large yellow eyes fixed upon me. It was a huge animal that was covered in fur, large fangs, but had the tail of a dragon. Hissing at me, it charged, hungry for a meal!

"No! Evey run!" Aric yelled.

I spun on my heel and ran for the gates of hell! It's paws made a 'Promp' sound as it ran behind me! Screaming, I ran towards the trees! There was no way I could fight this thing! There was no way to settle a hungry animal down!

What kind of animals were here anyway! What the hell happened to all the tigers, lions, and bears! (Oh my!) The trees were tall, and I was pretty sure the animal couldn't climb or jump with it's stubby arms and legs!

"Aric!" I screamed!

One hand after another, my hands climbed up the tree! The beast roared and clawed at the tree, doing anything it can to even make a scrape at me. Not hoping to die, I climbed higher, until the branches were no longer big enough to hold me.

"Evey!" Aric yelled, unleashing his rage and his sword!

"Aric DON'T!"

He was in love with me, if he was willing to try this hard to protect me.

Aric tore at the paws and face of the scaled beast, forcing the beast to back up, but the only problem was that the tree was breaking. Soldier men came to help Aric, but they couldn't help me as the tree was ripping at the trunk! Finally the beast put its attention back on me- Charging forward, pounding its head on the trunk.

"No! No!" Aric shouted.

Making me fall. The ground screamed as it rushed towards me. When I came to, the beast was hovering over me. It's foul breath breathing on my chest, but it did not do anything else. The powerful thing just hovered over me. It's face was shrouded with evil, but…it was calm. Almost in love.

But not in love with me. In love with the music that was playing. I recognized this music. My hand reached into my pocket, pulling out my iPod. I must've accidentally sat on it and pushed 'Play' button.

It played Chopin violin Nocturne no. 20 and it was on speaker. I had this on my iPod because I used to play piano and violin when I was younger. Chopin was one of my favorites.

The beast…

It almost swayed back and forth, closing its eyes, purring out its joy. While I laid there, totally clueless and… awed. It's drool just missed my body, and I stood up with the iPod in my hand.

The beast stayed still. Not a growl, not a hiss, and not an evil glare came from it. I waved the iPod around, and it's head followed. My heart raced as sweat came down from my forehead, and I knew I was hyperventilating.

"It's ok… Good doggy? Good kitty? Good pet. You're a good pet aren't you? Huh? Yea. Yea. Yea. Goof pet thing… It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you… Hope you don't hurt me. Sleep…"

The beast didn't comply. But it loved the music. I know I heard this story somewhere! Where someone makes music so beautiful, a beast calms down and goes with the flow. Don't ring a bell. Anyway…

"Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. You can listen to all the music you want… just sleep. Sleep."

The beast laid on it's stomach, eyes getting heavy, and turning its head in a comfortable position. Soon…it was asleep. I turned off my iPod, and Aric came towards me in stumbles.

"H-How… H-How did you…" he kept gasping," Evey… When- H-How did you…"

"SORCERER!" a man shouted.

"A witch! Burn her! Chase her back to the Underworld!"

Shit! This must be a time when they burned girls accused of being witches! Backing away, I put away my iPod! Shit, they weren't suppose to see that!

"She plays music without using any instruments!"

"What dark magic is that!"

Aric withdrew his sword with his chest puffed, in a fighting stance. He aimed at his men, with murder in his eyes and love in his heart.

"Back! All of you! Back! Nay, she may possess powers beyond our understanding. But nevertheless. Nevertheless… She is…my fiancé," he turned towards me," My love. My bride to be."

Aric knew what he had just done. How dare he. Even though I did like him, I couldn't five him what he wanted. To all his men, and to all the world, he has announced we're going to be married soon. So now I'm a sorceress and a fiancé? Damn it.

But this will cause trouble for us all.