“Yes, and well, I would hate to miss it.”
“Right…” the vampires voice trailed off momentarily, “well, I guess I will see you around then?”
Osiris nodded his head as Elias turned and left, gripping the handle firmly as he waited for the vampire to have left his property line.
Opening the door, he rushed in.
His shadows reacted before he did when he felt the cold prick of metal against his neck. He grabbed the arm that held a weapon to him and pinned it against the wall with his shadows as he turned to face… her?
“Eleanor,” he rasped, staring at his shaking human woman.
12
ELEANOR
The Headless Horseman is real.
The Headless Horseman is real, and I am in his home.
Eleanor stayed sitting against the wall, her knees pressed against her chest, refusing to move even an inch. Trapped in her own trepidation. Each rapid beat of her heart caused a ripple of panic to run down her spine at the thought of it being too loud. She crossed her arms over her chest as if she could muffle the sound.
I just need to wait until he isn’t looking and then perhaps…
Perhaps I can run.
Her eyes twitched, staring at the front door.
What did he mean, staying in the cottage was for her own safety?
“Fuck,” she whispered, burying her head in her knees as she wrapped her arms around the nape of her neck, “what am I supposed to do?”
Each sound of wind against his house, or sticks against the walls, had her eyes shooting up to the entry.
What if he was going to get other monsters to take her away? What if he was genuinely helping her, but decided she wasn’t worth the effort? Or what if he never intended to release her in the first place?
“No,” she whispered so quietly it almost came out as a breath. “No. If he wanted me dead, I would be dead.” Her vision began to blur as she looked down at the white dress pooling around her legs. When Eleanor blinked her watering eyes open, dots of wetness began to form on the skirt.
“Fuck,” she muttered, her lips beginning to quiver as she forced her eyes to shut, refusing to give in. Refusing to give anyone the satisfaction.
Her chest tightened as she lifted her head, using the back of her hands to wipe the wetness from her eyes. He told her that she was not a prisoner. He told her that she needed to remain in these walls for her own safety.
Osiris, whatever he was, could be lying. But right now, her only choice was to believe him, at least regarding the dangers lurking outside his cottage.It stood to reason, in her mind, that if the Headless Horseman was real, what other monsters lay in wait?
Resolved to survive, she slowly stood up, keeping her back pressed against the wall.
When he came back, he would not see a woman cowering in fear. If he came back with the intention to harm her, she would fight. If he came back with intentions of helping her, he would see that she was apt of doing things on her own.
The sound of footsteps outside had her eyes darting up to the door, where a small rectangular window sat at the top.
Is he coming back?
Quietly, she took cautious steps towards the door. Once she reached it, she stood on her tiptoes, lifting herself high enough to see outside.
The sun shone down brightly, highlighting what looked to be a once thriving garden, a few pumpkins, and a field of dark green grass. The property seemed hidden, surrounded by large oak trees with bright orange leaves.
But what caught her attention was thething, man, or…monsterwalking across the field. She watched as Osiris crossed through his barren garden, hastily making his way to the corner.
Eleanor’s eyes stilled as she watched another person approach Osiris.
