Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Chapter 7: A Bargain?

∙ Madis POV ∙

Nyx Archeron. What a stupid and utterly silly name.

So why did I still think about it? Why did I still remember it even a week after? —Probably because it was so stupid and utterly silly. Nyx...

Again I found myself working in the bright sunlight, sweat dampening my body which made the cool wind immediately feel ten times colder on my skin. Aesa next to me always kept an eye on me. Although I knew she looked over all the time I couldn't get rid of the feeling that someone else was also watching me. There was someone, somewhere watching me. Was it a wolf or another hungry beast? Or did the burning sunlight just make me feel dizzy and imagine things? Maybe I started getting delirious and saw things that weren't even there?

"Come on, help me put the wheats on the cart," I told Aesa. There was something watching me, watching us. There definitely was something. But I did not know where. Panic let icy fingers dance over the back of my neck. My stomach churned.

In the past week I had thought a lot about what had happened in the forest the other day. Why had he told me his name? What was he trying to achieve? What could he possibly want from me? Why was he so persistent about finding out who I was? I was a no one. Nobody of importance.

Aesa and I took the wheats into our arms and walked towards the carriages. We loaded them onto the carriage, one by one, inhaling deeply every time we had placed one down.
"Good then you head back and I finish this row?" I asked and Aesa nodded. Today she needed to do maid chores at Kjardan's and I could finally go back to sewing. We had managed to finish the field work early, it was still before noon which meant I had a whole afternoon of sewing ahead of me. She grabbed the cart and pulled it after her, waving me good bye. "Be careful, Madis."

Smiling, I waved and watched her small figure that pulled the large cart slowly disappear on the horizon. Gods, what would I give for her to finally be able to escape this and live a happy life. Aesa deserved none of this—she deserved the world.

I swallowed thickly and averted my gaze from the distance.  Squinting my eyes at the sky, I inhaled deeply. I let the warm sun fall onto my skin, sending a silent prayer to the mother to help Aesa get out of the poorhouse.

Just a second later the shock came. I heard a growl behind me and I got the confirmation that something had indeed been watching me. I quickly spun around, but there was nothing. I couldn't see anything. I pulled the dagger out of its shaft and held it in front of my body.

The noises were getting louder and when I turned again some huge black creature was dashing towards me. I immediately stomped my feet into the ground and ran.

I was fast, but not fast enough. It was useless, my heart and legs gave in. Aesa must have nearly been back at the poorhouse by then. I knew I could buy her time if I just stopped and the beast would eat me first. If it ate me maybe it wouldn't even come for Aesa?

I stopped, ready to face my fate. The something grabbed my arms and threw me to the ground. I felt my ankle twist or break. Dust covered my eyes, burned and stung, and I coughed loudly. I winced in pain but started kicking and pushing my dagger into the creature above me. I trashed, screaming loudly. Despite the dust I forced my eyes open and looked at a disgusting creature on top of me. It had a male body somehow but serpentine features, covered completely in dark scales. It had strong arms with polished, black talons. The huge creature had almond-shaped eyes and razor-sharp teeth as well as a tongue which was silver and forked. "Tasty mortal flesh," it hissed, licking its none existent lips. It grabbed my arms tightly, pinning me to the ground but I quickly shot my leg up, kicking it in its abdomen. All those years of gymnastics the matron forced us today were at least worth for something.