SS ~ Scarlet in the Snow - Page 3

Flash backs of the day's earlier events started racing through my head. But everything blurred and broke after the wolves' howls. I could remember the horses leaving me on the cold snow and blood dripping. A sudden piercing pain formed in my head, so I got up and sat on the bed picking up the glass of water nearby and drinking it. As my eyes searched the room and landed on the large wardrobe mirror directly in front of me. A reflection could be seen in the mirror. But it wasn't me... It couldn't be me! There was something different about me, unlike before. I looked... I don't know... "Beautiful" I said, placing my hand on my face making sure it was me. My reflection had a peculiar glow; it almost seemed as if someone had sprinkled fairy dust on me.

I got up and off the bed to get a closer look at myself, but didn't notice the rag on the floor and I almost tripped and fell before managing to grab hold of the bed. But the sudden jolt forward caused a sharp pain in my head, forcing me to fall forward onto my knees as I screeched in pain, I closed my eyes harshly placing my hands over my face. The wolves' howls began playing in my head repeatedly. I couldn't handle the increasing howls and tried stopping them by covering my ears, but the pain was so much that it didn't make a difference. Then the howling suddenly lessened as if the wolves were running away, I felt my self being picked up and someone no something's claws digging into my skin and a flash back of the 'creature' flashed in my head before the sharp pain stopped and everything fell silent. I slowly opened my eyes looking at myself in the mirror. How could that be?! There was no scar or any sign of blood on my head where it hit hard on the ground. And... The creature's claws?! Getting up off the ground, I hastily ran towards the mirror taking off my jacket to look for any scars. But there was nothing! My heart began beating faster as my mind pieced the puzzle together. For all I knew, maybe I was hallucinating about the whole 'creature' thing, and instead a local had come to save me. Yeah! I had heard of such stories where the mind just makes things up. Shaking my head at my stupidity, I wore my jacket as I looked in the mirror and fixed up my hair and straightened my clothes. As I turned around, I saw someone staring at me from the corner of my eye. I sharply turned in that direction only to see something running at the speed of light from the door, it was in the dark shadows so I couldn't tell what it was.

"Stop" I yelled and ran after it, only to wander through a pitch black never ending corridor. My eyes kept searching for some way out of this darkness. As I turned around to look back, I hit hard against a wall making me twirl around in a circle. As I span I saw the figure again but this time it ran down the stairs. "Stop! Please listen to me!" I cried and ran behind it.

The darkness was overcome by the lights turning on. The figure disappeared yet again! "Argh!" I yelled as I spun around taking in my surroundings. "Holy Gracious Lord! What in the world?!" I exclaimed as I looked around at this mansion. There was a MASSIVE chandelier hanging from the ancient looking ceiling which had historical paintings depicting someone desperately reaching out to the light as the darkness tried to engulf them.

A strong gush of ice cold wind came from my right, my hair flew against my face, blinding me for a second. But as I swiftly removed my unusually silky hair from my face and turned to my right, I was left dumbstruck. Outside in the yard, past the open clear glass doorway, was the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen. There was pure white snow falling from the sky, the trees and bushes completely buried in snow, but what caught my eyes the most was the scarlet red rose that lay there amongst the all the emptiness, brightening up the scenery.

As I walked towards the rose I saw something move behind a bush. I could make out a navy-blue tuxedo but I couldn't seem to see a face. "Hello! Thank you for helping me!! But I'd like to go home now. Can you please show me the exit?" I yelled to him, but no response made its way back to me. Maybe he didn't hear me I thought as I walked closer.

"Stop!" He roared. His voice full of anger which more than enough to stop me in my path. Taken aback I apologised and begin to leave. "I'll find my own way, it's okay" I say, my voice shaking. The wind picked up as my stomach began growling. I was starving! But I'd just had lunch at the counts house. How could that be?! "How... how long have I been here?" I questioned. "I must go home. Mama must be worried! Please help me, my horses have run away. I don't know how to get home" I sobbed. Still no response. "PLEASE!" I yelled and cried.

"You cannot go home Tara. I have sent your mother the money you collected and much more so she and the girls can get through winter. And a letter to ensure you're safe. You must not leave. You live with me now." He said calmly, as if this was completely normal.

"You're a maniac! I can't live with you! I don't know you. I want to go to my mother. Who are you?!" I screamed, astonished he thought he could imprison me. I turned around and ran. Ran for my life away from him. But he was fast. Very, very fast. He caught me by my hair just as I ran past the glass doors and into the mansion. Terrified, I froze. His grip was too strong for an average man. I sensed him move closer. And closer. Until my back became pressed against his steel like torso and chest which I could through feel through his tux. Anxious and terrified, I breathed heavily against him. "Who are you?" I questioned again.

"See for yourself" he said. I was sure I heard a tremble in his voice. He was afraid. But of what? I thought as he let go of my hair and I slowly turned around with my eyes down. I saw his shoes - so polished that I could make out my own reflection in them. With ironed straight light-navy-blue pants, a matching blazer and a white shirt, his well-built body almost teared through it. But his chest was hairy... no... furry?!

He had fur! My head shot up further to see his face and I couldn't believe my eyes. The floor shifted under my feet. And I felt my knees give way. I was falling, my head spinning and eyes closing. Then there was nothing.

I was gone.

NEXT CHAPTER:

"I thought you were a giant wolf-man wearing a tux." I muttered loudly before realising how stupid I sounded. "How long have I been here?" I questioned.

"2 days now. You were blacked out for most of it." He replied as he sat on the bed next to me. I'd always had bad vision, so now that he was up close, I could see just how gorgeous this human was!