~Daphney
I woke up with a throbbing pain in my skull. I pressed my palms to my ears to block out the loud chattering and folk music that came from outside.
I jolted upright, panic surging through my veins. A sharp pain spread around stomach forcing me back on the soft mattress.
I sucked in air, my hands pressing against the site of the pain.
I wasn't in Aunt Renee's fancy home. The air here smelled like moss and tobacco and this loud noise was only native to one place, the slums.
My eyes darted to the tattered wallpaper, patchy curtains that covered a small window and large embroided tapestry that hung above an old dresser.
There was only one person in the world that could turn such an old home into paradise.
"You're awake!!" Aunt Vivian's voice sounded from the doorway. She almost fell as she hurried to my bedside.
"I was so worried about you," she said tearfully, wrapping her warm hands around mine.
"How did I get here?" I asked, my voice hoarse from dehydration.
I tried to sit up again but the pain returned, forcing me back into the bed.
"Dont move, you're still hurt," she said, dragging the covers over my body. "It takes a miracle to survive such injuries, even the strongest wolf would have died on the spot."
My fingers curled into fists as memories of the terrible attack flashed through my mind.
"Did Aunt Renee bring me here to hide what she did?"
Aunt Vivian's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth dramatically.
"Renee would never do such a thing," she said firmly, her voice laced with denial.
Of course she thought of her as an angel, she was her sister after all.
But what kind of sister would let her human sister rot in this horrible place filled with rogue wolves and outcasts?
I explained everything that had happened at the wedding but Aunt Vivian still wouldn't see past her sister's innocent facade.
"You must have mistaken your Aunt for someone else," she defended.
"If Renee had attacked you, the man that brought you would have told me."
My breath caught in my throat. "What man?" I asked desperately.
She shook her head, "I don't know him but he said you were his friend and when you recover, you know where to find him."
My throat tightened. It was Adrian. He had saved me from Aunt Renee and brought me here for safety.
A warm feeling spread through my chest but it was quickly replaced by anger. I wouldn't have been in the garden if he had not dragged me out and abandoned me in the first place.
Even though I was grateful he saved me, it was still because of him I got attacked and now feared for my life.
Time went by quickly. On the rare days I wasn't slipping in and out of consciousness, I lay still in bed, starring at the ceiling.
The wounds on my body healed slowly and left behind very large scars that burned when I touched them.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, the large scars and stitches on my stomach, mocking me. I looked like a ghost with pale skin and severely matted hair that would take hours to untangle.
I caught Aunt Vivian's small frame stumbling into the room.
Her eyes lit up with excitement as soon as she saw me standing.
"Don't let the scars bother you, when you're fully healed, I will give you medicine that would make it go away," she said, placing her hand on my shoulder.
I nodded and slowly put down my blouse.
"Your friend has been coming to see you every day," she announced. "He said he can't wait to see you."
"Oh!" I muttered, turning to face her.
"You're not going to see him," she said, leaving no room for argument.
I nodded in agreement, even though I had already planned my escape.
I waited patiently for Aunt Vivian to complete her routine security checks. I even assisted her in locking the large wooden gates and putting off all the candles and lamps.
Once I heard soft snoring coming from her room, I threw my scarf on and tiptoed to the back door.
I snuck out through a broken part of the gates and once I was far enough, I started running.
The streets were eerily quiet and dark. Even the pubs had closed and the drunkards that usually littered the streets where no where to be found.
Was something happening that Aunt Vivian had not told me about?
I slowed down, a chill running down my spine.
I wrapped my scarf tighter and kept walking, my eyes nervously darting around.
I sighed in relief as I crossed the border that separated the slums from the rest of the city.
Adrian and I's spot was just around the corner. A small hidden lake that Adrian had told me was made by the goddess Uriel.
It looked like something out of a fairytale and I always thought Adrian showed it to me because I was special.
I arrived at the entrance of the lake and searched the tall trees for the secret passage.
I pushed through the thick vines that covered the passage and squeezed inside.
I took a deep breath, the smell of water lilies and nightshades, filling my nostrils.
I had not visited for almost a year and it still looked as glorious as it was the last time.
The moonlight reflected beautifully on the surface of the water. It was a Koi pond and because of the light, I could see the beautiful fish clearly.
I crouched beside it, running my fingers through the ice cold water as memories of Adrian and I flooded my mind.
"Daphney," a calm voice sounded behind me.
"Adrian," I gasped, spinning around quickly to embrace him but the smell of sulphur and strong perfume made me pause. My hands froze mid-air as the man stepped into the light, making his face more visible.
It wasn't Adrian. It was the green-eyed stranger from Iris's wedding.
"You saved me?" I whispered, unsure if I should be happy or disappointed.
He paused briefly, confusion obvious in his eyes but he quickly masked it with a bright smile.
"I'm glad I came before things got really bad," he responded, brushing back my hair with his palm.
"Thank you," I gulped, tears blurring my vision. "I owe you my life," I whispered, my voice breaking as I spoke.
He inched closer to me and wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in his warmth.
For a moment, I let myself sink in his warmth before the sound of shuffling behind us made me pull away.
A very familiar scent filled my nostrils. I looked around, my heart racing wildly.
I could smell Adrian, but I couldn't see him anywhere.
Was my mind playing tricks?
"Is everything okay," the stranger asked, titling my chin.
"Yes," I lied nervously, "I just realised I didn't even know the name of my savior."
He leaned closer, his green eyes boring into me like he could see my soul, "Darius."