Lost in the Woods

Chapter 10: Dine with the Devil

Celine's perspective

"Hello, my love," he purred. "I'm glad you finally made it. Come and join me."

I didn't move from my spot. I knew it was a stupid thing to do, but I was suddenly paralyzed with fear. The trees seemed to offer me shelter beneath their thick canopy, despite the beasts lurking behind me. My breath was still ragged from the frantic run, and they say that once you stop, it's even harder to move again.

"I don't bite, if that's what you think," he tried to soothe me, but his smile did not reach his eyes. And I knew better than to believe that biting was the worst thing he could do.

A sudden growl made it clear that I didn't truly have a choice. He had summoned these creatures from gods knew where, and his power seemed even greater than I had first thought. The house, the woods - I had assumed they were enchanted in themselves, but now I was beginning to understand that it had been Blaine's hand all along. And that fact did nothing to put me at ease.

My feet moved in the end, and his eyes gleamed with satisfaction as I finally stepped into the sunlit clearing. Here, I felt exposed, vulnerable beneath his scrutinizing gaze.

I think I blame my lack of fear until now on our sudden first meeting. Back then, Blaine had been just a simple lunatic living alone in a strange house in the woods, someone I had only been tasked with delivering something to. Even after I realized what he was capable of doing, I hadn't truly cared - only about getting my River back. But now, Blaine was no longer just a thought in the back of my mind, but a powerful force I could no longer ignore. And I was sure he could see the shift in my understanding.

As I approached the empty chair, he rose to his feet and came around the table, his manners be damned.

"You don't have to-" I began, but he had already gripped the back of the chair, dragging it smoothly across the grass.

He smiled - a saccharine grin - as I tried to round the chair keeping as much distance between us as possible. After he pushed the chair back in, I all but plopped into it, my legs too tired to keep me upright any longer. I had hoped he would return to his seat. Instead, with his hands still on the back of my chair, he leaned forward, and my heart leapt in my chest as his breath brushed against my ear.

"I could feel your hunger from a mile away," his breathing was hot against my ear, and this time it did not smell of tobacco or wine, but of spearmint and dark spice - cool, crisp, yet slightly bitter.

Yesterday, I might have snapped back that it was his fault I was hungry. Now, I wasn't so sure that cockiness was the best way to handle him.

"Lucky for you, I prepared quite the feast," he continued, and I stole a glance toward the covered dishes on the table, as if I had momentarily forgotten why we were here. "That is, if you haven't lost your appetite."

I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my breathing steady. I could still feel Blaine close, and I willed myself not to flinch.

"How did you know you'd find me here?" My voice came out steadier than I expected.

His fingers drummed lazily against the back of my chair. "How did I know?" He hummed, amused by the question, then straightened slightly, moving away at last. "It wasn't a matter of how, but of when."

His answer puzzled me. Even though I wanted to press further, I simply nodded. Blaine walked back to his side of the table and sat down, elbows resting on the armrests. Now that I had a clearer view, I could discern that the largest ring on his hand depicted a serpent twisting around his finger, its metal dark and aged.