Tall sprigs of spiny bear’s-breech grew along the path,neglected by the groundskeeper. It was a tall plant with small fruits, something resembling olives placed neatly up the spine. The leaf edges bowed into tight spikes.
I ripped one out of the ground, pricking my hands in the process. I did not bring anything sharp, so this would do just fine in a pinch.
Footsteps echoed from under the bridge, so I ran up the stairs to get to higher ground, ignoring the cold air that bit at my skin and the chafing of my damp mourning gown.
I peered from above, crouching low, watching that blond Creature move into view. Another set of clicks could be heard as he walked underneath me. He kicked the wall in frustration, muttering and running his hand through his wet hair.
As I leaned on the edge of the higher ground, some dirt crumbled from the edge and landed on his shoulder.
His head snapped up, and we both froze for a moment. Like we were holding pistols to each other’s heads. We were both still. A snap of lightning lit up the sky, and his eyes flashed their reflection back at me, a perfect analogy of how intense his stare truly was.
The stalemate was broken when he moved quickly for the stairs.
I stumbled back and ran toward the tall, house-like tombs littered through the cemetery like a miniature town. The sealed doors gave no leeway as I tugged on each handle, desperate to find one left unlocked. I ran through the headstones, jumping from bed to bed as he neared in my peripheral vision. I climbed on top of the mossy sarcophaguses, ascending higher up the steep hill before reaching the next landing.
I stopped at a crossroads. My throat burned from exhaustion, my pause granting me little relief in the panic. The crowd ofimposing statues surrounded me like a jury, and my executioner was close behind. Pieces of wet hair slapped against my face as I turned, glancing at each of the paths. There was no road that seemed better than the next, all equally dark and unknown, as the rain muddled everything in the shadows into one.
Only then did a flash of lightning clue me into which pathnotto take. The light illuminated a tall figure in the middle, approaching with a calculated steadiness that could only have come from something truly cold-blooded, ready for the kill.
The path I chose did not matter, as long as it was not his.
I cut across the stretch of graves. Small, humble headstones were kicked over as I hastily ran without regard for the disturbed souls beneath my boots.
I lost sight of him, but as I approached a large tomb, two clasped hands carved above the frame of the doorway read,We shall meet again. My hands met the doors for only a moment.
My body was jolted forward, crashing through the doors, and strong arms wrestled with me on the floor. I grabbed both ends of the bristly plant and pushed the sharp weed up against his throat, keeping him far enough away where he could not bite.
He hissed at me, baring his fangs with such violence and anger. It made me realize how his threats to kill me could very well be honest, and he would not break a sweat. This was a predator through and through. I had no reason to expect anything human from him. I would be a fool if I did.
I used all of my strength to push the thorny shrub against him. Black blood began to trickle from his skin as he pushed harder against it. I brought my knees up and kicked outward, shoving him back to allow me to stand again, but his persistence knew no limit.
The thorny stalk slashed across his face when I swung, cutting his skin, but it did little to faze him.
His eyes were blackened and narrowed at me as he lunged again, grabbing me by the neck and forcing me backward.
The back of my knees hit the edge of the stone sarcophagus, and he slammed me down against it, my head hitting the stone as I went down. The wind was knocked out of my lungs from the sheer force.
I dug my nails into his wrist, gasping for air. My heart banged against my ribs, threatening to make its own escape if I was not going to be able to run. His grip tightened, pinning me to the slab below.
I tried to raise my knee again, but he kicked my legs apart, firmly placing himself between them.
“Let go!” I tried to shout, but his grip was cutting off my voice.
Then he tugged my dress up with his free hand, yanking my leg over his shoulder.
“No!” I screamed. My eyes widened, and I fought against him, grabbing at anything I could. Tears welled in my eyes. This was the first time I found it within myself to be terrified of him. There was nothing I could do. He would do it, and I would be too weak to stop him.
He slid his hand higher up on my neck by my jaw, forcing my neck to extend, opening me up to his mercy. He was close enough that I could see his fangs twitch at the sight of my pulsing neck. He was shaking like a rabid animal, ready to tear through whatever he could catch.
“Silas!” My plea came out as some sort of cross between a scream and a sob, unable to decide if I wanted to die fighting or frightened.
He paused, his quaking body hovering above me, eyes fixated on my neck. His wet hair left waterdrops on my face, mixing with the fresh tears.
It was like hearing me cry his name snapped something in him, but he could not decide how he felt about it. The look on his face was harrowing. He was livid, frustrated, or conflicted—whatever it might be, he was not going to tolerate me any longer.
“Say it again.”
“S-Silas...” I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat.
