The Samurai That I Loved

第53章

Yoru moved quickly down the hallway, retracing his steps from before to Eliza's bedchambers. Upon finding it vacant, he then strided down the stairs with hastened steps. The hour was late and all the lamps inside the grand mansion had been doused. The only flashes of light came from the brilliant strikes of lightning occurring sporadically within the raging storm outside.

Near the back terrace doors, a white ribbon lay forgotten on the marble floor. Pausing, he bent down to pick up the feminine object and trace it between his thumb and forefinger. A red hair strand came free from the silk, prompting him to snap his head up and face the French doors where the rain and wind were beating harshley against the glass.

Without any hesitation, Yoru immediately shoved the ribbon into his pants pocket. Snatching up one of Radford's extra cloaks and hat from the front foyer, he quickly donned them before embarking outside into the blinding downpour towards the stables.

When he reached the stables, it took him very little time to locate a strong stallion and swing atop its bareback. Although the proud creature attempted to initially buck him and fight out of mistrust, he expertly managed the black horse with a practiced hand. Grabbing tufts of the stallion's mane, he urged it out into the tremendous elements of the storm.

Through the black night and moaning winds, the merciless rain and biting cold, Yoru led the stallion onwards. He galloped past the gardens, following a nearly invisible trail that led past the back lawns where the woods stood ominously. Locating a clearing through the forest, he could faintly make out the dark expanse of a lake up ahead and beyond it, a large domed structure of stone. Bracing his hand upon the floppy hat he wore, he quickly pulled it down low over his forehead to shield his eyes from the rain.

"Eliza!" He shouted above the storm. Fear hammered inside his heart at the thought of anything happening to her while lost within the relentless elements. Urging the stallion into a gallop, he raced around the lake side towards the structure, his eyes searching through the rain for any sign of her. But then...A dark, yet visible heap came into view on the stone ground up ahead.

Yoru immediately swung himself off the horse before it could even slow to a steady trot. Running past the animal in the pouring rain, he approached the clump inside the gazebo with heavy gusts of breaths. Only a mass of red hair was visible, slipping out from beneath the soaked cloaked form of Eliza.

A sharp stab of pain hit Yoru's heart in waves of guilt at the sight of his one and only beloved girl. Her emptiness, suffering, pain was so utterly palpable, he felt it as if it were his very own. Bending down on one knee, he clenched his jaw to keep his own emotions controlled as he gently scooped her into his arms.

"Eliza...Eliza-chan." He coaxed her hoarsely, urging her to open those beautiful skylit eyes for him to behold once more. Raindrops flicked from his black lashes as he lowered his almond eyes to her maimed left hand tucked protectively inside her forest green cloak. Lifting his eyes back to her precious face, he inhaled a sharp breath as his chest thrummed and his entire body shook. She seemed so incredibly far away although she was simply right there inside his embrace.

Wretched, lifeless tears threatened to fall from his eyes as he clutched her body tighter and pressed her head into the warmth of his own cloak against his chest. When she suddenly squirmed, he jolted and eased back to look down at her.

The moment Eliza lifted her surprised eyes to meet his, her face became instantly devoid of color and she began to move away frantically as she whispered out, "Radford?"

Yoru frowned for only a second before he remembered he was wearing the other man's damn hat and cloak. Reaching up, he quickly yanked the floppy dark hat off his head, casting his black hair about his face while he faced Eliza with a subtle smile curved at his lips.