THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 193: Evil Within

Chapter 193: Evil Within

I ran as fast as I could into the woods. Branches blurred around me as I ran fast, ignoring the brutal screams that echoed in the woods. They must have gotten another one! I thought to myself, the sound couldn’t have been Branderson because it was feminine which meant that they were yet to catch Branderson. Somehow that gave me a little bit of relieve but it was just a little because my heart still ached for the people that we had lost.

My legs hurt from running, the muscles in them screamed in protest and I could feel myself starting to slow down a bit and still, I didn’t stop. I couldn’t, I had made a promise to Branderson, I was going to live, I was going to go back home. I was going to allow his sacrifice to be in vein.

With that thought in my head I ran faster, ignoring the ache in my legs and the burn in my throat. My breaths came out in cloud of smoke as I panted because of the harsh weather. I couldn’t continue like this, I was going to have to give up soon and it doesn’t matter how badly I wanted to go home, my body was weak and it was going to shut down any minute from now on.

But still, I have to try! I thought to myself just as a loud guttural roar filled the forest. Birds soared over head and I turned my head towards the sound, already knowing who it belonged to. I slowed down in my steps as I turned back towards the direction and another cry sounded. This time around it was the sound of one that was filled with pain.

Branderson, they got him already!

I stood there for a few seconds debating on whether to continue my run or just leave him there to die like he wanted. Except that was it, he had been ready to die, he wanted to be united with his family, so I could just leave him there. That was exactly what he wanted and it would be good if I honored his wishes.

I turned around to leave but my legs had already turned back heading back towards where I came from. It doesn’t matter what I said, I couldn’t leave Branderson, not when I knew I still had a chance to save him. I pushed myself to run faster when I heard another scream come and this time around it was closer. I stopped to pick up a piece of wood I had found on the ground when I sighted the soldiers that were torturing Branderson.

They had him down on his knees along with the other people they had found. Some of them were bleeding and some just looked too tired. They had Branderson on his knees, his head was ripped back up with a dagger pressed against his throat. One of his eye had swollen shut and blood now dripped from his mouth.

"Let him go!"

Everyone turned to look at me at that. The people’s eyes widened with hope while Branderson’s eyes widened with fear before they suddenly hardened into anger. Loraine on the other hand stood away from the rest of the prisoner’s her hand holding on to Ilyana who was now crying.

"Dahlia I_" Loraine tried to speak but I ignored her and advanced forward, not sparing her and her daughter a second glance.

It was her, it was all her!

She had betrayed us, ruined months of perfectly crafted plan. The berries that I thought had been poisoned berries were not actually poisoned berries. She must have swapped them when Ilyana gave it to her. Her pathetic excuse was that they were going to find us no matter what and we were just going to land ourselves into more trouble.

So it would be safer if we were to surrender which we didn’t and as a result of that lives were lost! It wasn’t my fault, it was the fault of one woman who couldn’t see past her fear. A woman who had misplaced trust and now we were paying for it.

"Well, well, well, look who it is." A soldier said as he stepped forward.

I didn’t have time for any of their taunt, I gripped the stick firmly in my hand. "It’s not him you want, it’s me. Now let him go."

"You are not in any position to make demand princess!" He snarled at me in anger but I didn’t waver.

I walked forward towards them and a soldier stepped forward, grabbing my shoulders as he halted my steps. Big mistake! I grabbed the man’s hand and without hesitation, I used the stick and brought it down on his arm. I then spun him so his back was pressed against mine and the stick I was holding was now inches away from his eye. One wrong move and I could make him lose the use of his eye. He seemed to know that because he stayed utterly still in my arms.

"There we have it gentlemen, now I’ve got my own hostage." I said as I glared at the rest of the soldiers. From my peripheral vision I noticed that one of the soldiers was slowly starting to advance towards me, no doubt to attack me from the side.

I whirled around to look at him, "Do not even dare, trust me you will be dead before you pull any move and the last thing we need is more bloodshed!"

The soldier’s gaze darted towards the first soldier who looked to be in command. He gave a single nod in response and everyone stayed put.

"See? That wasn’t so hard was it?" I asked as I turned around to face them.

The soldier snorted in response before he walked towards me. "You know you’ve been nothing but a menance to us ever since you showed up? Like why do you have to make everything so fucking difficult for us? Why can’t you just fucking listen?"

Branderson chuckled dryly from where he knelt down on the snow. He stared up at me, a wry smile forming on his face. "Yeah, I’m afraid that hasn’t been one of her strongest suits!"

"Shut up old man!" The soldier yelled backhanding Branderson.

"STOP!" I yelled letting go of the soldier I had held hostage.

I dropped the stick and raised my hands up in the air. "Please just stop! You have me now, so do whatever you will with me but please let him go!"

The soldier’s gaze widened as he turned to look at me, a sly smirk forming on his lips as he turned to look at me. "Do whatever we want with you? Are you sure about that?" He asked licking his lips.

I immediately recognized the moment I said the wrong thing. Branderson seemed to have recognized it too because he thrashed against the other soldiers holding him. My gaze found him and then went to the rest of the people who were huddled together whimpering softly.

"Yes, just let them go." I said and my words only made Branderson more violent.

"No, no, no, not her!" He yelled, "Leave her alone!"

"Okay will someone shut him up?" The first soldier spoke and someone used the end of his crossbow to hit Branderson in the face knocking him out immediately.

I gritted my teeth but forced myself to remain calm despite it all. As long as they were safe, as long as they were all safe. The soldier stepped forward and he raised a hand up to twirl a finger in my hair, then his hand move to cup my cheek.

I tried to move away but he grasped me firmly by the cheek, not allowing me to get away from me. He hand was so firm that I had no choice but to look at him. Those brown eyes of his revealed the evil that dwell within him. Against my will I shivered in fear and his nostrils flared almost as if he could smell it. My body immediately grew rigid when he bent down to sniff me.

"Oh, I am going to have so much fun with you!"

"Yeah, I don’t doubt that." I said my voice coming out steady, a stark contrast to how I was feeling on the inside. "The question is can you handle me?"

The soldier smiled, his gaze lighting up at the challenge. "Tie her up, we are heading back!" He ordered, his voice loud and authoritative.

Heaving out a sigh, I ran forward reading to go and help Branderson get back up but I was stopped two soldiers who approached me with a rope. I let them tie my wrist without any struggle. I watched as they did the same to the rest of the prisoner’s including Loraine who slowly walked towards me.

"I’m sorry." She whispered.

I offered a wry smile, "It’s not me you should apologize to." I said to her, my gaze landing on the corpse littered all around us.

Loraine followed my gaze and she released a loud sob but I didn’t bother to wait, I followed after my captors, letting them lead me to what terrible faith my bestow me.

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