Princess Of Night

Princess of Night (ch 21)

It was eight o'clock when I ventured into the forest. I don't know why I decided to go for an evening walk. I just felt I had to.

My feet crunched on the pine needles. The faint sound of an owl echoed through the forest. I breathed out. It was a warm night but the darkness freaked me out a little. I buttoned my coat up to the neck.

"Hello."

I whipped around and saw a girl. She looked about my age. She was astoundingly beautiful. She had cropped black hair which was unkempt but perfect at the same time. Her dark hazel eyes flashed in the darkness, outlined in black. Her rosebud lips moved quickly.

"I said, hello??"

I came back to life. "Oh, hello....who are you?" I asked, awkwardly. After all, it was a bit weird being approached by a complete stranger in the forest at night.

"My name is Lucia. And you're..." She stretched out her hand.

I took it and it was ice cold. "Er..Ash. My name's Ash."

I looked into her eyes and for a moment I thought I saw a flash of red. I shuddered.

"So..." An awkward silence followed.

"Let's get straight to the point. Gareth..is mine." Her voice took on a cruel tone.

I stepped back. How did she know Gareth and what was she talking about..?

"I...Gareth...it's not..." The words didn't come out properly. "What I meant to say was...You can have him. I was never with him in the first place so you're...."

I was interrupted when her hands suddenly clamped around my neck. The strength of her fingers told me she was something other than human. Not another one, I thought. I gasped for breath. My heart pounded loudly in my rib cage.

"Let.......me......gooo.." I whispered in between gasps for breath. Her fingers released and I brought my hands to my neck which was throbbing.

"You liar!!" She screamed. This time there was no mistaking the flash of red in her eyes. Her face twisted into an evil mask. I stared in shock.

Her hand flashed in front of me and I felt myself being thrown backwards.

My back hit a tree, and I heard a sickening crack. The pain was unbearable. It spread throughout my body - a wave of agony.

Black dots appeared in front of my eyes. I saw Lucia coming closer to  me. Not again. Surely she couldn't hurt me any further...

She could. She whispered in my ear, her cool breath blowing on my cheek.

"It's not over yet."

My eyes widened in horror. What was she going to do to me?

I felt her cool breath move to my neck. And I realised what she'd wanted. I closed my eyes as she I felt the tiny sting.

Then...Black.