My eyes flew open as I was snatched suddenly from the carriage, my mind snapping out of sleep as I tried to blink the film from me eyes. Angry shouts rose up around me, and as I heard the sound of pistols cocking, I realized in dread what had happened…
We'd been caught.
Seven policemen surrounded us, five of them with their guns drawn and aimed. One of the five held my wrist tightly in one hand, digging his fingers painfully into my skin, the other hand pointing the gun steadily. With a sinking feeling, I followed the direction of the gun, helpless as the Chief roughly slapped handcuffs on him.
"You are under arrest for murder," the Chief growled as the man grasping my arm began to pull me back and towards a different police buggy,
"Erik!" I cried, planting my feet firmly onto the ground and resisting my captor.
His eyes found mine, and I saw a flick of rage pass through them as he glared at the Chief. "Let her go! She has done nothing!"
"She was found with a killer," the Chief hissed.
"A suspect," Erik replied coolly. "Unless you have evidence to support your accusations, I suggest you—"
He yelped and fell silent as a nearby policeman smacked him across the face with his club. They began to drag us farther apart, but I grit my teeth and refused to budge. No way was I going to leave him to those creatures. But I had to act fast, before I was out muscled…
"WAIT!" I yelled, twisting my face into the most pathetic expression I could fathom. "Please, Monsieur, please let me ride with him! I beg you!"
The Chief eyed me, then looked at Erik, who kept his eyes to the ground…I could tell it was all he could do to contain his anger, by the way his jaw tightened…for both of our sakes, I hoped he could bite it back for a few more moments.
"Why would you want to do that?" The Chief asked me.
"He…." I took a breath. "He is my fiancé. "
Both Erik and the Chief gaped at me, even though Erik recovered quickly and made his face blank just as the Chief looked from him to me and began laughing. There was a hint of annoyance in Erik's eyes, and miserably I knew it was directed at me. Gods, had he not forgiven me after all these—
"This monster? This…diable?" the Chief snorted.
"All you have to do is search him," I retorted stiffly. "Erik…you do still have the ring you bought me today?"
With a sullen look, Erik sighed. "Of course. Left pocket."
The Chief quickly fished around, and pulled out the golden ring. "Holy Mary, the damsel wasn't lying!"
Looking a bit in shock, the Chief stared at me, then waved his hand dismissively at the policeman that held me. The asshole finally let go of my wrist, and I moved from my spot, rushing to Erik's side and pulling him close to me. He turned his head, as if to kiss my cheek.
Instead…
"What in Hades are you doing!" he hissed.
"Trust me!" I whispered.
"I tried that, a long time ago," he growled.
Tears made my vision blur, but before I could say more, the Chief pushed us into the buggy. I felt an old scar in my soul open, events I had tried to put behind me starting to bleed into my memory. How foolish was I to believe Erik could have forgiven me…
The Chief watched as my tears slid down my cheeks, shaking his head. "Glad you didn't marry him, Mademoiselle. I'd hate to have made you a widow."
With that, he slammed the door shut, and off we were, back towards Paris, and death.