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Chapter 2

"Giselle!" I called out and turned at the rustling of leaves.

"Giselle!" This time a little weaker.

"Hello, love." A cold hand gripped my arm.

I gasped and tried to pull away.

He didn't even budge.

"Let go of me!" I demanded.

He laughed and released my arm. I immediately ran away from him and in the direction I thought the house was, though I was slightly disoriented. Suddenly he was in front of me and I ran right into him.
After recovering from slamming into his strong form, I backed away as best as I could with his hands holding my arms.
"How'd you do that?" I gasped. He studied me and let me go again.

This time I didn't run, I knew he would catch me.

I got a good look at the man. He was tall with longish midnight hair and pale skin. His face was well structured and his features flawless. He was dressed as a noble, but not many would be out this late, especially this deep in the forest.

He was very handsome, possibly the most perfect man I had ever seen, but had a certain darkness about it.

I saw his deep blue eyes gleam red in the moonlight and it hit me.

"You're a demon! Get away from me. I am a priestess of the sun and demand you let me go." He laughed and put his face very close to mine. "Or else?"

"Or else, I'll use my powers to send you to oblivion." I quickly thought.
Priestesses don't have power but the high priests and holy men have power from faith. They have the ability to banish demons, unlike witches and other evil beings that use black magic.
"Now, now, you know it's a sin to lie." He smirked knowingly. His voice was sultry and made me want to gravitate towards him.

"What lie?" He caught my bluff.

"Priestess powers? Really?"

"What do you mean?" I act confused and keep playing along.

"What's your power? Priestesses don't have any power outside of healing." The words flowed from his mouth in an amused tone.

"Please leave me alone." I begged.

"Must I? I'm enjoying this." Enjoying? What kind of sick creature was this?

"I must get back to my sisters. They will be looking for me." I told him confidently.

"You are brave. But you think me ignorant of your position."

I felt embarrassment take seed in my stomach.

"You are lost in the forest late at night. I would take it that your sisters are asleep don't even know you and the other are gone."

"How do you know there is another?" Terror replaced the embarrassment.

He just looked at me.

I looked down at my bare feet to avoid locking eyes with him. My nightdress and cloak didn't cover them so they felt cold from the chill of the air mixed with the moistness of the damp forest floor.

I looked back up to the man, but he was no longer there.
My stomach tightened in fear and I looked around.
Foolish of me to look away for even a moment.
I felt cool breath on my neck and I took a sharp intake of air.

"Get away from me you foul creature."

"Now that's not very nice." He whispered seductively in my ear.

He then gracefully swung in front of me lifting my hand, like a gentleman, though I knew he wasn't one.

"I am Gavriel, by the way." He told me and kissed my hand.

"I need to find my sister Giselle." I announced firmly.

"Pity." He countered and walked off into the trees.

What was that about? I hurried and ran back to the house before he changed his mind.

I rushed through the threshold. Our doorway was warded against any evil, so the demon couldn't get in. The high priestess was sitting at the table.

She stood up and asked, "Where were you? And where is Giselle?"

I told her the story of me and Giselle running into the forest, but left out much of the encounter with Gavriel.

"I found a demon in the forest." I had reported.

"What did it look like?"
"White skin, handsome, he felt cold to the touch. He looked human."