The Black Knight (A Mercury Black Story: Part I)

Chapter 2

WINTER
The storm meddled on as held the stick out in front of me, hearing the rustle of the bushes and the leaves of the trees above me. Something was here, I could feel it, I just didn't know what it was. It wasn't until I spotted the red eyes peer from the brush that fear grew inside me, attracting the beast more. I started to run away, as fast as my young legs could take me, flying through the forest that I was lost in. I looked back to see that the black and white creature was still chasing me, but didn't notice the tree root in front of me as I slammed into something hard. I looked up to see that it was a male, around a year older than me, glaring at me with sharp, grey eyes, piercing my soul. I stumbled back from the guy, looking up seeing that the creature was right behind me, even though I out-sped it a few minutes ago. The kid had a fearful look on his face as the creature was about ready to pounce on me, but a loud noise ripped through the forest, my small and fragile body still without a scratch. I looked up to see an older man in front of the guy I ran into, his stern blue eyes and white hair making him noticeable right away. I stared at the older man's black rifle, aiming above my head, but then traveled down to me in an instant. I whimpered and glanced over to the guy I ran into, who I'm guessing was the older man's kid.
            "State your name," a gruff voice said as I snapped my eyes up to meet the man. I was wide-eye, trying to escape the name from my mouth, but too scared to speak. "State your name and age, girl!"
            "I'm... I'm," I began, but it was the only thing I could get out. I saw the kid roll his eyes, obviously annoyed.
            "Dad, c'mon, she's useless!"
            "Silence!" the man snapped, "Anyone can be a threat, Mercury, you have to remember that!" he finished with his son, turning back to me, "State your name and age!"
            "Zuri Ryder, I'm eleven years old!" I shouted, glancing away, preparing to be dead once the man shot me, but it never came. I saw the man's eyes soften as he lowered his gun, his son in disbelief.
            "Dad, what are you doing?"
            "I thought I recognize those eyes from somewhere. Your father has the same violet eyes," the man said leaning down to look in my eyes.
            "So, what does she have any use?" the boy whined impatiently, "Seriously Dad, she's shaking like a leaf!" The man stood up, anger expressed on his face. He glared at his son as he back down from his father.
            "This young child is the daughter of James Ryder, my partner when I was in that assassin group when I was younger. Do not interoperate the power that this girl possesses. Her father was a very powerful man, until he was killed by Salem and her followers a few years ago," he said, turning back to me, "Child, where is Demitri? Where is your mother?"
            "She's dead," I answered, warming up to the man a little bit, "A pack of Beowolf's killed her while she was trying to get food for us."
            "So you're alone?" the guy said, crossing his arms across his chest, "With no weapon or anything to protect you?"
            "Yes, that's right. My mom was going to show me how to use a knife but died before she could do so."
            "Well, Zuri, lucky for you, there is an extra bed back at our place," the man said smiling, "Would you like to live with me and my son? Or stay out here in the wild and die?"
            "I would rather live, thank you," I said giving a nervous laugh, knowing this man was an assassin inviting me into his home, along with the idea that he's training his son to be like him. It was more terrifying to figure out my not only this man was an assassin, but so was my father.
            "Very well," the man said, placing a hand on my back, leading me towards the house, "Come Zuri, might as well get you out of the cold."
            "Thank you, Sir," I said, giving a warm smile.
            "Please," the man laughed, "Call me Marcus."
            We walked through the woods, the boy not speaking to me the whole time, until we reached a small cabin on top of a hill. The boy scowled at me and ran up to the house, his grey hair flying behind him. I heard Marcus give a chuckle behind me as I turned to him.
            "Marcus?"
            "Please, excuse my son, Mercury," he said, "He'll eventually warm up to you, but he's always cold to people at first."
            "Why is he like that?" I asked, looking at the house.
            "When his mother died, he didn't trust anyone at all. It takes him longer to trust people."
            "Oh," I said, walking towards the house. I felt bad for Mercury a little bit, losing his mom when he was so young, because I know just how it feels to loose not one, but both of my parents.
            When we got to the cabin, Marcus opened the door to reveal the small cabin. Three small rooms were down the hall connected to the living room, while the fireplace roared, warming the house.
            "It's so warm!" I said, running towards the fireplace. I cuddled up by the fireplace while Marcus went to his room. I was alone in the cabin, staring at the flames roar, when I suddenly heard the clattering in the cabinets in the kitchen. I turned around to see Mercury staring at me with an unsure face as I shivered, the cold running down my back.
            "You're really cold, aren't you? How long were you out there?"
            "Two days."
            "And your alive?" he asked, "Your father taught you well then," he said, his voice trailing off.
            "Mercury," I began as his eyes looked at me, "I know what it's like to feel your pain, of losing a parent I mean."
            "I know, and I'm sorry I acted so rudely towards you. It's hard for me to trust people."
            "I know," I said, giving a little smile, "but we can still be friends right?"
            "Sure, why not?" he said giving a little chuckle.
            That day was my first encounter with the Black knight, my black knight.