A Devils Roar |

Chapter Seven

I turn to him confused and go to ask why but I'm pushed against the brick wall and sucked through like a rabbit hole. And I'm falling and falling and falling. Falling through space and falling through time. Bleak coils of dirt and dust linger and I'm on the ground. Grass and snow at my fingertips.

My bronze fingers turn pink from the snow and I'm confused. It's supposed to be summer. The sun should be melting all of this and leaving in its wake, flowers and hunny bees..

The trees bend at odd angles, their trunks rotted and branching off at weird angles, their roots pocked through the soil and frost like spikes digging through hay. I had to be careful I don't trip. The leaves were almost a black green colour and had me standing and spinning around in circles.

Everything seemed dormant and silent. There were so animals, non that I could hear anyway. Tucking my cloak closer I realise something, my bounds.. there gone!?

Not thinking to hard I grabbed the cloak and tug it around my form, the wind blew passed and my hair danced about in the frosty air. I shivered and continued walking through the snow. It was much colder then I expected it to be. Is it always this cold?

I've never seen winter. I've never seen the snow that falls in chunky flakes.

My teeth chattered and my boots did little to keep my toes warm. My breath come out in cloudy breaths. I could actually see my breath. I laughed at that. A small chuckle left my mouth as I continued along an unpaved footpath dizzily.

『。。。』

The snow had thinned and turned into concrete until I was walking on bricks. I shook from the cold and hug myself in a pathetic attempt at warming up. Chuckling, I found my smiling as I walked along the brick road. It was short lived as massive metal gates come into vision. There was no way around them and I gulped. They looked heavy and unbreakable. Everything here looked unbreakable.

"Oh god.."

It comes out of my mouth and I find myself unable to stand the cold any longer. My legs give out and I'm on the ground, it's the last thing I remember before passing out.

『。。。』

"Do you think she is alive mon amour?"

"Oh cause she is, just look at her Lucien."

"Are you sure mon amour? She looks rather pale."

"That's because she's cold."

"Ah, Mrs Maria! But she is ah, beside the fire. How is she still cold?"

"Lucien my dear, you still have a lot to learn.. Now come on children help me grab some more blankets for the poor girl."

"And let's hope the Master doesn't find out."

"Ah Auguste my friend, you worry far too much."

『。。。』

The warmth surrounded me like a flame and I cuddled closer into it's warmth. Soft thick blankets rubbed against my face and the smell of burning wood and lavender wafted through the air. Not wanting to open my eyes I laid in the bundle of blankets with closed eyes just relishing the feel of a warm flame against my chilled my bones.

I opened my eyes a little and saw red orange flames dancing in the brick fire place. Half of the room was dimly lit and there were stacks of books shoved into a corner by a small wooden table. The chair I sat in was a musky green and felt so vilify I was sure it would tear from my nails. They were far to long and in terrible need of a trim.

"What are you doing here!?"

A shock wave pulsed through me and I was frozen. His voice was loud and vibrated throughout the walls and had me sitting still with my mouth ajar in fear.

Who was that?

I couldn't turn my head. It was as if I had no willpower left in me and my brain was left empty, and unable to tell my body to move. I was loose and my arms didn't lift and my waist couldn't twist.

"I won't repeat myself."

And as if magic had let go of me I spun around in the chair and ended up falling off of it. Everything happened so quickly, the man in the shadows, the fire catching ahold of the blanket. It was one mistake after another and I cried in panic as I untangled myself from it's comfy folds and cotton and wool. It smoked and smoked but when I heard something snap it stopped.

"Who are you?" His voice vibrated the walls within my body and had be shaking.

"Annalise.. Sir.." I don't mention that he had asked the question twice when he said he'd only ask once and I don't look at him. His face will probably be too much for little ol'me.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn't know how to answer him. How do you tell someone that you were wondering the forest and passed out from the cold when it's summer.

"I.. I passed out near the gates and I think someone must've brought me in.. sir." I don't tell him how cold it had been and I don't tell him how I fall through a brick wall. A growl rumbled throughout the walls and my legs shook slightly.

"Get out!"

As much as it shouldn't have surprised me. It did. The stood in the shadows but I could still make out his silhouette in the dark. He was tall and broad and I couldn't really make out his expression or anything detailed but I could tell that he was angry. Very angry..

"I.. I don't know where to go.." I mumbled to myself desperately.

"What did you say?" His voice was curt this time. His angry must have subsided but that didn't make me any less nervous.

"I.. I don't actually know how I got here."

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