Dark Enchantment

Chapter 4

Wow, it has been forever! I have been kind of stuck in a rut. But the story will still continue! So don't give up hope! :) 

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Recap:

“Oh, thank you.” Lila replied, as a flush covered her cheeks. She hurried to put on her shoes and stood, walking over to where Hunter stood by the door. “So, let’s go?” She asked.

He nodded and stepped to the side to let her pass. She walked past him and they both started walking down the dark hall; Lila falling into step behind Hunter.

Chapter 4

Lila glanced at Hunter’s back as he took long, confident strides down the dark hallway. She noticed that his shoulders were strong, broad. The way he held himself exuded a confidence that only came with time and battles fought hard.

What has he gone through? What sort of battles lay in his past? Why would he choose to hide himself in the cloak and a house so far from civilization?

Lila sighed quietly and shook her head in frustration as she realized what she was doing. Her employer’s past was his own, and she had no right to even ask questions. This time she needed to control her curiosity. It had gotten her into her fair share of trouble, ever since she was old enough to walk.

A ghost of a smile flickered across her face. Her father’s face filler her mind and a memory resurfaced. One of many, as it seems lately.

“Lila Elizabeth Cadwell! Get down from that tree right now! You might hurt yourself!” Lila’s father stood at the foot of the mulberry tree that grew in front of the local grocery store.

“But daddy, the wittle biwdies awe hungee!” A four year old Lila looked down with a frown on her chubby face framed by pigtails.

Her dad looked up with a worried expression consuming his face, “Lila sweetheart, the birdies mommy will come back and feed them. Just like your mommy is waiting to feed you back at home. Mommy’s take care of their babies.”

Lila looked up at the nest in the top ranches of the tree and furrowed her little brows, thinking hard. Then she looked down at her daddy and beamed down at him nodding, “Ok, daddy! Cawch me!”

And she let go of the branch, jumping down toward her father, who looked up with a horror stricken expression. The wind rushed by Lila’s ears as she fell toward her father at a fast pace.

Then right at the last moment her father grabbed her and pulled her to him. He hugged her tightly and she squirmed uncomfortably. “Wha wong daddy? Wets go home!”

Her dad breathed out a sigh of relief. “Please angel. Do not scare daddy like that again. Climbing trees is very dangerous.” His eyes searched hers, begging her to understand.

She looked up at his face and placed a tiny hand against his cheek, and with a serious expression on her four year old face, she nodded, “Sowwy daddy, I pwomise.”

He smiled down and her and pulled her in for another hug, “I swear Lila, this curiosity of yours will be the death of me.”

Lila shook her head as tears threatened to fall at the memory. Even if she had probably given him more than half a head of grey hair, that curiosity was nurtured by her father. She still remembered how he created treasure hunts and similar games for her to play and explore to her delight.

Even so, this time she couldn’t afford to explore who this man hiding behind the black cloak is. Looking at his broad back she gave herself a final nod, as if to seal the deal. No exploring. Just do your job and down stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. Or else you might end up out of this house and nowhere to go.

After walking through the musty dark halls for a few minutes, they reached a room. As they walked in Lila glanced around. It was lit with a few lamps placed around the room and a fireplace. The couches were a dark brown, and scattered in disarray on them were gold thread pillows. The coffee table in front of the fireplace was surrounded by the couches, creating a half circle sanctuary.

On the coffee table and lying around the room were boxes, books, wrappers, and an array of other things; all mixed up together and in piles. Hunter walked over to the couch and swept of the items onto the floor.

Mentioning for her to sit he walked over to the coffee table and picked up a box of Chinese food and a fork. As Lila sat down he walked back over and handed her the food without a word.

“Thank you.” Lila said softly glancing up at him through her lashes.

He grunted and sat down on the other side of the couch and switched on the TV. As Lila ate her food and watched the show flickering on the screen, Hunter’s gaze swept back and forth between her and the screen, under his dark hood.

Finally his gaze stopped on her and a thoughtful look came upon his face as he watched her sit there and eat.

After Hunter gave her the food and turned on the TV, Lila zoned out. The warm food filling her stomach, the fire crackling, TV flickering, and the comfort of another soul being in the room with her created an atmosphere which she just wanted to savor.

After a while she felt someone watching her. Coming out of her stupor she glanced over at Hunter. The way he was positioned let the light of the fireplace softly highlight his face.

Lila caught her breath and didn’t say anything, afraid that he would figure out that she could see him. Her eyes caressed his face softly. Blond curls framed his face, which was angular with high cheekbones, lips pursed in curiosity, and eyes piercing all the way to her soul. This face was not a face that should be hidden behind a hood.

Then her eyes fell on his right cheek and a gasp almost escaped her lips. She struggled to choke it down. A jagged scar ran across his cheek, a stark contrast with the beauty of his face.

What happened? Her lips parted and just as she was about to voice her question, the fire popped, breaking the spell they were both under.