Hunted

The ocean mirrored the sky, night falling into endless night. With each pull, the tide brought the stars to my feet. The opalescent moon hung engorged just above the distant mountain ranges. The sea foam bubbled at my feet. The smell of burnt applewood drifted lazily across the shore.

"Turn around." He said.

His voice, deep, like the low warning growl of a beast about to pounce, was much closer than I'd anticipated and caused me to start.

"I cannot."

"You will."

The sand, like velvet carpet, cushioned his valet's footsteps as he was directed toward me by his master. His white gloved hand pinched my wrist and like the flourish trickery of a magician's hand, he yanked me around and dragged my unwilling body back to his master.

He towered over me, a naturally imposing figure. His face was cloaked by the night but I didn't need to see it to know he was grinning. The kind of grin that highlighted his sharp teeth but did nothing to warm his dead gaze.

"You are caught, my love." His abrupt tenderness only sent sheets of ice down my spine.

The sea breeze washed over me, stroking the white shift against my bare legs. The white linen seemed to pick up the glow from the moon and kissed my newly formed curves, the swell of my ample breasts.

"You cheated." I replied with no soft affection.

"Well..." He cocked his head to the side, his large hands deep in his pockets. "You're the last one left, does that not please you?"

I snorted in disbelief, the sound a clanging reminder I was not of the same swan birth as the other girls. "Should it please me that I have only momentarily outlived the atrocious end that awaits every prey?"

"Yes."

His valet had disappeared. Near the sand dunes where the dying bonfire coughed up the last few gusts of smouldering applewood, the other four Lords were gathered. Drunk on power and gold flecked whiskey they staggered around laughing precocious and boasted brashly about the night's hunt.

I sucked in a lungful of brine scented air and took a large step into the gap between us. Soft sand coated the pads of my feet. "Do it now. I'd rather you kill me here so I might meet my maker with some dignity than you parade me like a boar for my flesh to be feasted upon until nothing remains."

There was a heavy silence before the Lord replied. He spoke through his salivating, ravenous grin. "I do not intend to share you. But I will not kill you here."

My eyes kept being drawn away from his shadowed figure to the dancing light of the bonfire. My heart rate began to pick up until it was beating so fast like the delicate wings of a hummingbird.

"Fine."

I turned and sprinted through the foam and sloshing waves that broke unevenly against the shore. The water sent splinters of icy pain to every nerve ending like the cold was flaying skin from bone. I tripped and the night baptised me as I dropped beneath the surface. Bubbles surrounded me. Instinctively I drew in a sharp breath and the salted water seared down my nose and throat.

I resurfaced, gasping and spluttering with my hair plastered across my face. The sea pushed me back like the steady foot that guides a rocking chair. A large claw knotted at the roots of my hair and reeled me out of the waves.

The reflection of the stars glittered just enough against his eyes to show the fury that feasted like maggots.

"The game is done." He snapped, releasing his hold of my hair but quickly snatched up my hand and crumpled it into his fist. I stumbled and tripped trying to keep up with his hastened pace.