Someone to Die For

          The horse I was riding on was black. Her eyes held a touch of wildness that I couldn’t ignore. She had a plan, she was going to escape. I watched as her eyes shifted for a way out. The hoofs on her feet scuffed the sand as if ready to run. My heart beat increased rapidly, Eric was on the other side of guards. The stallion’s heart was thumbing against my ankles. The huffs of her breath enclosed in my ears. Maybe she could get us out of here. I seized on to her neck tightly before reassuring her that I was ready.

          Her huffs left the ground in a stamped. Wind tousled my hair as she raced across the desert opposite of the soldiers.  The soldiers disappeared in a dust cloud, while we made our way into the sun.

          Then she stopped. Her head turned towards me, eyes as black as her fur stared into my soul. She scuffed the ground before leaping towards the sky, and dropping me viscously to the ground. I felt all the air leave my lungs leaving a burning sensation in my chest. I lay in the dirt watching the malevolence horse disappear in the horizon.

          A soldier dressed in a navy uniform marched up to me. His face is a leathery tan with a black mustache growing over his face. He took my arm and cruelly pulled me to my feet. He stared at the direction which the horse had disappeared. Thick lines formed on his face causing that hairy animal on his face to stand out. His grip on my arm tightened causing me to yell out in pain.

“Do you realize how much money that horse was? How long it took to train her? She was our best mare! I told Eric to not let a prisoner ride her.” He shook his head in disgust. Before I could argue in my defense he took a thick rope out of his man purse. I felt my eyes widen. I turned to see where I could run but the man’s grip was too strapping. He twisted the rope around each of my wrist making sure that the husky material scraped into my skin.

 The soldier stood behind me pushing me through the humid dirt. The rest of the soldiers came into view all stopped on their horses. The guard behind me pushes me forward so that I fall in front of Eric’s horse. My lack of hands causes me to fall straight on my chest. Dirt is shoveled in my mouth and coated in my hair. Tears threaten to fall but I pushed them back. I am not going to give them the advantage to see me cry. At lease I am back with Eric.

          My relieve turns into fear when I glance up at Eric’s face. He looks twenty years older as he slowly departs the horse. I could hear his feet smack the sand as he approaches me. He grabs me by the shoulder, pulling me up towards him. His blue eyes strain from all color as he smacks me. I fall back to the ground holding my face. The spot remand warm, even as he picked me off the ground and unto his own horse.

          “Keep heading east, only a half hour ride until we reach the castle.” Eric’s voice held something, I just didn’t know what. He climbed onto the horse settling himself behind me. I felt his arms slide around me to take control of the horse. He fell behind, letting all the other soldiers pass by us. The horse slowed as he gently untied my ropes. I lifted my hands back onto my face. The tender spot was still blazing.

          You poor girl, I told you no one would love you. The voice echoed in my head. I let the tears fall.

                                                          ****

          I could feel her tears roll onto my arms. I had to hit her. These men wouldn’t have respected me if I didn’t. She was so silent, her breaths coming in muffled noises. I could see the purple forming onto her cheek. I hated myself for it, she hated me for it. I would make it up to her, privately where no one would know that I actually cared about hurting her. She had looked so… afraid. Maybe it wasn’t her fault that the horse had escaped. Maybe I’m a lunatic for thinking on her behalf. Once we get to the castle I won’t see her anymore. Our lives will be on different sides of the planet. But there was still a lingering part inside of me that cared for her. Not in a romantic way, I don’t know her. But something deep inside wants her. Why? I don’t even know her. I really am losing my mind.

          “Katharine?” I keep my voice to a whisper. She doesn’t reply. “Katharine, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hit you.”

          “Then why did you?” Her voice sounds haunted.

          “I… I don’t know.” How would she feel if I told her that I had to? That I picked publicity over not harming her?

     

That’s not an answer.” Her back was completely straight. She made sure her skin was a complete distance from me. “I hate how you pretend to be a gentleman when you clearly took me, almost raped me, and then you just slapped me. Stop saying sorry for things you’re doing on purpose.” Her voice was un-breaking, even though warm tears still fell upon my arms. She doesn’t want me to know she’s crying.

          I couldn’t handle this. I pulled her back into my chest, her affectionate body colliding into mine. I gently wipe away her tears before whispering down into her ear. “Don’t cry,” I glided my hands through her hair. “When we get to the castle, you will be treated like a princess. I promise you, that I will make sure of it.”

My father made me in charge of our assignment. He left it to me to find a girl, bring her back, and treat her however I may wish. At first I was furious; I had refused to have any interference with a servant girl. That is when he told me I may choose a servant to care for the girl and give me updates about how she is doing.

Then the thin hairs of my neck stood. I had forgotten about the test. No, I wasn’t putting Katherine through that. Then again, it’s too late. She will have to complete the different stages. The sound of blood rushed in my ears. If I let her go now the guys will know. I don’t have a choice, I hope she lives. God please let her live.