Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 1: One Life

GISELLE

1475

Death is inevitable, Giselle thought, the darkest, most intimidating part of our lives is also the most certain thing that would ever happen to any of us. Everything else, even life, will let you down, leaving you hopeless. But death, oh, death would never dare. Death is loyal. Death will always keep its promise and eventually come for you.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a priest, they were starting the prayer. The day was windy and dark. Even though it was the middle of summer, cold crept through the land and sent shivers through her body. Wind was whistling as if it was trying to blow them all away.

Everyone around was dressed in pitch black, which was appropriate considering the rotting body being buried. The body hadn't had much luck, it was buried in a hole in the ground flooded with rain at the bottom which meant the worms are going to eat him up a bit faster than all the other fortunate bastards that got to be buried in a dry grave. Also, the entire day looked as if they were holding a funeral for everyone, not just him, Giselle thought dryly. Then again, maybe he was lucky, being dead and all.

He was her husband's, Lord Adam's friend, an older gentleman of 70, frequently ill for the past few summers and his death wasn't a big surprise. Which, Giselle thought, made this funeral seem a bit comical, women screaming at the casket, crying loudly, asking God why he took him. God didn't even take him, God just forgot about him for a while, Giselle chuckled, hoping nobody saw.

The women were distracting but her eyes were set on the priest. He was nodding like he understood all the sorrows of the world and whispering psalms under his breath, for nobody to hear, almost like he was whispering a curse. Giselle smiled at the thought and quickly gathered herself, because a man next to her husband was staring at her. He wasn't dressed like a soldier but he had a sword at his side. He was a big man, taller than Giselle's husband who looked like a fat, short middle aged man beside him. Giselle's interest was instant, she kept looking for as long as he did. He wore a robe of dark red colour and black pants, his beard was dark brown...

"Do you think Lord Adam is going to let us come to the ball later?" Rosa squeaked in Giselle's ear, she was louder than appropriate and Giselle jammed her in the stomach. She squeaked again. Pain surged through Giselle's hand and this scared her. Touching things wasn't supposed to hurt. Walking wasn't supposed to hurt. But it did, lately, everything hurt. And Giselle knew precisely why.

"Shut up, Rosa or otherwise today's going to be our funeral, too."

Rosa was Giselle's best friend, or if you will, her only friend. Her dark, almost black hair blocked Giselle's view like a raven sitting on her shoulder.

"Do you know the name of the gentleman next to Lord Adam?" She asked, like a little child excited over a toy.

"No clue, probably one of Adam's merchants." Giselle whispered. Adam wasn't really that fat, nor short, nor old, he was a good looking man in his late thirties, very smart and actually very kind. He loved Giselle, she believed that to be because he felt younger next to her.

Ladies in the castle usually say Giselle is lucky to have found a husband at all, but she's been lucky with Adam. When they first got married, he gave her time and space to adjust, he realised love doesn't happen over night and that eventually they will get used to each other. Unfortunately, it's been two years and Giselle still didn't love him. Perhaps it was because she's known love and with that knowledge came the opposite one, she knew what love wasn't.

The stranger looked at her again, she felt his eyes on her, interested and burning. It made her nauseous and she knew her face was most likely redder than blood. Giselle tried to keep her eyes on the grave but they kept escaping to the man's face. There was an edge to it, something darker than it seemed at first. His eyes were piercing and focused. Deep in her bones, Giselle felt something unusual. She felt fear. Suddenly, she felt like a fawn escaping a predator. He kept looking and Giselle's heart kept beating, she took Rosa's hand.