Dandelions don't die [Ongoing]

NINE - Elizabeth

Touch and die

A roar shook the building mere minutes after Glenna had followed her husband out of the kitchen. Elizabeth almost jumped out of her seat in fear. She looked frantically at the man sitting next to her. 

Was Glenna in danger?

Where had that sound come from?

"They'll be fine, little human," he said, obviously not concerned in the least. "They are mates, they won't hurt each other too much. They just tend to be very loud."

Was that supposed to soothe her?

Glenna was surely strong but Donahue had lifted Elizabeth off the ground like she didn't weigh more than a kitten.

"It's best to let them fight and then they will fuck for the rest of the night."

Elizabeth blushed at the crass words. She didn't know what to make of the huge, grumpy looking man sitting beside her. His size and demeanor should make her afraid but it didn't. She had thought that she would die at the hands of Glenna's husband, but she hadn't and the man beside her seemed to have saved her for some reason. 

"Let's eat, little human," he said abruptly and got up.

Elizabeth watched him in surprise but then rose to walk after him. She didn't dare to cross him.

"Stay," he told her in a hard voice and pointed at the bench.

Elizabeth sat back down quickly and followed him with her eyes, as he went to fill two bowls with stew. She didn't look at any of the other people in the kitchen. She didn't dare to.

Maybe one of the other men would also attack her, if she moved somehow wrongly. She didn't want to be the reason for another fight.

Her savior came back and put a half-full bowl of stew in front of her along with a fork and spoon.

"Mush up the food, it will be easier to swallow," he told her and then took his seat again and began to eat his own dinner.

Like she didn't have a mind of her own, Elizabeth followed his advice and squeezed the vegetables into pulp. 

From outside, shrieks and roars could be heard from time to time. Elizabeth looked up every time in worry. Her savior didn't seem bothered. He just polished off three overly full bowls of stew and half a dozen thick slices of bread without saying a single word. Elizabeth tried to eat but her throat ached horribly and after a few small spoonful she stopped.

"I know it hurts, but you have to eat. You're already too small, little human," her savior said in a low voice when he cleaned his bowl with the last bits of bread.

He didn't look at her, while Elizabeth stared at him.

Like Glenna, he was kind even if he seemed grumpy and unapproachable.

Elizabeth forced herself to eat the rest of her dinner.

"Come on then," he said and like before stood up suddenly. 

He grabbed both of their bowls and took them to the stack of dishes. Unsure what was going to happen next, she felt like she didn't have any choice but to follow.

Her savior walked even faster than any of the women and Elizabeth had to almost run to keep up with him. She felt like a dog running after their master. He lead them into the backhouse of the tavern, where Elizabeth had never been before. She realized that this was where the other women and men lived. They passed several rooms, until he stopped at a random door. He opened the door, which was not locked.