Chapter 3

Ilya

My mind went completely blank when I saw the enormous monster coming towards me. It couldn't be real. All those legends and myths I had read couldn't be true. My rational mind just didn't want to accept what was right in front of me. So I stood there in a stupor not even trying to get out of the way.

The man atop the pole kept looking back and forth between the monster and me. It seemed to me that he didn't know what to do. "What are you doing?" he shouted at me. "Run you stupid girl run!"

But I couldn't run, I couldn't even move. The man continued to look at me wondering if I was worth saving. I could barley hear him mutter, "Shit" before he jumped down off the pole. He reminded me of a cat.

I could see the monster getting closer and closer until I was roughly pushed out of the way by the man. The impact of him when we hit the ground made the air whoosh out of my lungs. I coughed and sputtered, trying to regain my breath.

Soon though, many other people came out of the clearing. Their faces were masks of questioning until they saw me on the ground with the man. I could see that they were approaching him as if to help him when a woman's voice rang out and said, "He's coming! The werewolf is upon you!"

The dark haired man leaped up off the ground, his body tense and waiting for the werewolf to come. And oh, how the werewolf did come.

In my frightened haze, I hastily backed up until I was sure I was out of harm's way. The werewolf came to the hunters or whatever they were, in an angry fashion. The hunters became prepared and waited for the beast to strike at any moment.

The werewolf looked around at the hunters for only a moment before picking out what seemed to be the weakest person of the group. To me not one of them seemed like they were weak but what did I know?

The person that was chosen began to raise her small sword but before she could get a stab at him the man that had saved me leapt into the way to take on the beast himself. I stared in awe as I watched him trying to fend off the beast, his thrusting of his sword true and powerful looking. But before he could at least damage the beast in some way it ran off, without looking back.

I had no idea what to make of the whole situation. My breathing was still ragged and truly I think I was in shock. I mean the scariest thing I probably had ever seen was my latest suitor. I shuddered and wondered what was going to happen to me. These didn't seem like your average people that would invite you in for a small chat and a nice cup of tea.

I decided that I should just get out of here then. I didn't want to stay here and be in their hands. It looked like they had capable hands but I don't think I really wanted their capable hands.

When I had pushed myself off the ground and stood up, I tried as quietly as I could to walk out of the open area. But before I could even make one step an accented voice stopped me saying, "You stupid girl! You just ruined our whole plans!"

Well, at least I tried. That was all that mattered to me anyways. I turned around to face the people, my face flushed with shame.

"Do you realize what this could mean for us? Do you know how much trouble you caused?" the same accented voice asked me. But when I looked up to see who was talking to me I didn't expect a young woman who was only a couple years older than me.

She had beautiful rich black wavy hair, and dark eyes that seemed to pierce your soul. But what really was surprising was that she was wearing leather pants. I had never seen a woman where pants before and in that instant I wished I could be her.

I didn't know what to say to her. I mean what could I say to her? I knew my face was flushing an even deeper red with every word she said. So I hung my head trying to keep what little dignity I had in front of these people.

Before the young woman could even criticize me more the young dark haired man stepped beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Anna, the girl didn't mean to wreck the plan, just leave her alone," he said. I was very gracious when the man said that but did he really have to say wreck?

I lifted my head up and found myself looking into my rescuer's eyes. Those eyes reminded me of something I had once seen long ago, but I couldn't place them. I searched through my brain trying to find anything that would place him somewhere.

Then it hit me and I softly said, "Velkan?" How I had dreamed that this day would come. Ok this wasn't exactly how I pictured it but I would take anything that I could get.

His eyes widened a bit in surprise but before he could answer himself, Anna said, "How do you know my brother's name?" Her tone was accusing and I felt that she was trying to incriminate me for something that I didn't do.

My cheeks tinged a bit before I said, "When I was about 14 he saved my life." My hands began to fidget so I put them behind my back, trying to conceal my nervousness.

Anna arched an eyebrow to me as if saying, 'what?'

Anna then turned to her brother and said, "Is this true Velkan? Did you actually save this girl's life?"

For some reason I didn't particularly like the way Anna said girl.

"Yes, I know her Anna and a while ago I did save her life. Although she's quite different now," he said with a slight smirk on his face. I didn't know whether to be pleased or offended by his statement.

"Well then what do you propose we do with her then Velkan?" Anna asked her brother in a slightly irritated tone.

This whole conversation was starting to really grate on my nerves. Anna talked just like my mother did. Always referring to me as on abject. But I didn't want to say anything because what would happen if I said the wrong thing and maybe offend her?

I continued looking at the ground, waiting for them to do anything at all. The next thing I know Velkan is right in front of me. I jump a little in surprise and he lightly chuckles at me, the werewolf incident seemingly forgotten.

"Well what do you propose we do with you Ilya?" he asked me while putting his index finger under my chin and making me look him in those eyes that made me want to faint. But what I couldn't believe was that he remembered my name.

I stood there shocked, not knowing what to do. No one had ever asked me what I wanted to do in my entire life. What was one supposed to do with freedom?

His eyes kept probing and I licked my dry lips before croaking out, "I don't know." Well that certainty was a stupid answer.

But Velkan didn't seem to mind at all and asked, "Would you like to come with us?"

I'm glad to say that I actually didn't faint when he asked me that. But being the stupid person that I am I continued to stare at him not knowing what to say.