When No One Was Watching.

Chapter 5

Quickly I pull myself out of my chair, fumbling back into the kitchen.

"Who are you, how did you find me here?" The counter presses against my back and a gleam of silver grabs my eye. I grab the large knife pointing it shakily in the direction of the figure. "I will not go back, no matter how far he chases me!"

"What?" The figure steps out of the shadows and into a puddle of light. A tall man, clad in leather, with a quiver and bow strapped across his back. "Who's chasing you?"

Blue eyes, familiar blue eyes, slightly down turned, under an even darker brow. A long slightly upturned nose, pink cupid's bow lips, the lower one larger, and the upper connected to the tip of his nose by a faded white scar. Sunkissed with freckles smattered across his face.

"Do not play mind games with me! You are!" The words explode from my mouth as he steps closer, hands slightly raised. The genuine confusion on his face forces me to swallow them. "Are you not?"

"No? Why would anyone be chasing-"

Little footsteps pad down the stairs interrupting his answer. Dark curls sweep over his face as he looks over his shoulder toward the sound of Esme's voice ringing out.

"Oh Princess, I've gotten the things-" She stops short as she glances at the two of us. Which must have been a sight to behold, as I was backed into a corner with a knife by some sort of trickster mercenary.

"Esme, run!" I call to her but she just stares in shock for a moment. Then placing one hand on her hip she glares at the man before me.

"Karl- what have you done to the princess! This is why NO ONE comes to visit!" Her face forms an angry pout as she sets down a basket full of berries and a glass bottle full of liquid. Walking closer she glares at the tall man harder, her tiny frame looking laughable as it only reaches his midsection. "For the love of Adoni, sit down. You are scaring her!"

Surprisingly he obeys, my heartbeat finally slowing. He takes off his quiver and bow, setting them on the table with a thud.

"Just to be clear, I didn't do anything to her. Why do you insist on calling her princess?" he asks her, plopping into a chair. Grabbing her tiny face in his hands, he checks over her for any sign of harm. "Also why did you bring her downstairs? I told you she needs to rest. Getting stabbed isn't easy Esme."

"That's Karl?" I ask lowering the knife and setting it back on the counter. His eyes flicker over to me. Esme nods fervently.

"He's not going to hurt you, I promise." She picked up the glass bottle again, turning to address her brother. "I think she needs medicine."

"She is quite pale." He murmurs in agreement. "Come sit down, we don't need you passing out again."

Cautiously I step closer and sit down in the chair across from him. I watch as the two move in harmony, pouring a portion of the bottle into a glass. Stirring it with some water, Esme sets it in front of me.

"It's gross, but you'll feel better in about an hour." Karl stands, nodding to the glass. I lift it up, smelling it. He is right, it smells terrible. Should I even be trusting these people? I glance at them as they begin to move around the kitchen, making what I assume is going to be lunch. Well, they could have killed me a week ago or turned me in, and since I'm still here and alive I suppose taking the medicine couldn't hurt too bad. I lift it to my mouth and quickly choke it down. My face scrunches into a grimace as I can't help but glare at the foul-tasting residue clinging to the sides.

Esme giggles at my face and grabs my glass, rising it out and placing it in front of me refilled with water. Moments later three forks and three plates are set upon the table, filled with berries, bread, lamb, and hard-boiled eggs. My mouth begins to water and Esme momentarily disappears into an open archway. Reappearing with another chair, setting it backward, then straddling at the end of the table.