Who?

The small flower shop had a big name. Famous for it's diverse and rare collections of various flowers and plants, it also sold soil, manure, fertilizers, and other necessary gardening equipment of top-notch quality.

But what made it so unique and distinct that even people from neighboring towns used to frequent it is that it kept a collection of rare and common herbs alike. A talented and trained student of medicine that Eleanor was, she was often asked for advice on health issues and injuries.

Her vast knowledge and possession of herbs attracted people to the 'Bloom Emporium,' where they indulged in buying various kinds of medicinal and non-medicinal herbs. The simple-minded people of small towns and cities, mostly paupers and bourgeois, hardly cared for a degree that hung on the wall.

So, even though Eleanor did not have a proper degree and was yet to officially graduate from her university, her proficiency was never doubted. People continued to seek her as if she were a professional practitioner. Further, these people had seen her grow up since she was a baby. They were aware of her natural talent and brilliant acumen. She had impeccable manners and excellent skills.

She was adored by everyone she met, except for a few haters, but they were all mostly just those who easily get drowned in vinegar.

'Bloom Emporium' had three brick walls and one see-through glass wall, which showcased the colorful flowers and herbs kept on display to appeal to potential customers as well as let the plants bathe in ample amount of sunlight.

When Eleanor heard the strikingly familiar voice that had unknowingly entered her subconscious mind and invaded her not-very-peaceful dreams, she felt the drumming of her heart increase to a whole new tempo. She had never thought heart could ever beat so fast, but its current pace could easily surpass the speed of the fastest horse in the nation. She noticed the black mask perched on his face covering half of the undoubtedly handsome features and a similar colored cap on his head.

Devin scowled at the stranger. From the dark, ordinary type of clothes that he was wearing, he decided that this person could not be someone important. He didn't even seem like a Bourgeois, so he could only be a pauper. Devin came from a family that placed in the lower ranks of prospers and would most likely get referred to as new money, seeing as his father's mayor position uplifted the family's status.

In the small town of Melvedore, that was mostly inhabited by prospers and bourgeois. Prospers were few and far between, and at that too, only the poorest and weakest ones stayed near low-budget areas.

Even with all the preaching about equality, it was harder to bring it into practice. People with power were revered everywhere they go and the poor had to grovel before their feet to show respect.

The mayor came from a humble household and had married into a mildly rich family. When he won the elections he had increased the social standing of his family as well as income. Therefore, Devin was used to being respected by everyone in the town, even with his roguish reputation.

He only forgave Eleanor for her disrespect towards him for he found it quite amusing. He wanted to tame the feisty kitten and make her submit to him. She was a breath of fresh air, unlike those other girls who willingly flung themselves at him. She talked back to him, always ran away from him. She hated the sight of him while he liked to chase after her.

When Devin saw the stranger showing no signs of respect towards him he furiously snapped at him, Eleanor's hand still in his tight grasp," Don't you know how to act in front of your superiors?"

Eleanor's eyes never left the masked enigma in front of her. Not even when Devin roared at him. She noticed he was wearing a navy blue full-sleeved shirt and a pair of tight-fitting pants. She noted his strange preference of wearing full, body covering clothes, even in the sweltering summer season.

He looked calm and collected with both hands in his pockets. The shop wasn't large, but not too small either. His presence filled every nook and cranny in it, as if he could command the air around him to do his bidding.

This was her third time meeting him, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry because twice now he had come playing the knight in shining armor( or a dull mask) while she remained flustered like a damsel in distress. He had exchanged more words with her offenders than he spoke with her. This irritated Eleanor to no end and she didn't understand why.

"Superior, where? I only see a spoiled man-child incapable of accepting the single syllable 'no.' Is it not shameful for you to not know it's meaning?"

Devin's eyes darkened with fury, but they were no match for the stormy ones of the other person.

"Why, you! You must live under a rock for you to not know who I am."

The masked man, clearly a tad bit taller than the blond, folded his arms. His weight shuffled to one leg as he crossed the other in front of it, leaning in a stylish and dignified manner beating those famed male models by a long shot. His eyes were cold and calm, a deadly combination.

But Eleanor did not know that. She was too mesmerized by his outstanding, matchless presence to properly register the conversation unfolding between the two enraged men.

"Then were you raised in a cave for your manners to be so horrible? That is no way treat a lady." Steely grey eyes narrowed with a murderous intent flashing in them. "Unhand her and take a respectful step back."

Devin scoffed before tightening his hold and pulling Eleanor closer to him. The brunette couldn't help but feel repulsed at being so near to his disgusting self.

"What if I don't? What will you do? After all, she is my girl, while you're just a troublesome meddler. So I suggest that you don't come between us lovers," his fingers grazed the cheeks of the girl who visibly cringed, turning her head in the opposite direction and trying to put as much distance as she could between them in her entrapped position.

Silence ensued for a moment before a dark chuckle broke it. A chilling gust of winds went through the store. The sun was high in the sky, burning hot and bright.

"Your girl? I beg to differ because I know she is not." With that said, the stranger with the ink black hair seemed to have lost his patience. He moved swiftly and in three long steps he had covered the distance to reach the counter.

He held Devin's hand which gripped Eleanor's and squeezed his wrist at specific points using three fingers. At the unbearable force exerted on his wrist Devin yelped in pain, dropping Eleanor's hand and bringing his back to try and soothe it. He continued rubbing the hand which was now turning a horrid mix of red, blue and bits of purple.

'What did this madman do?' Devin continued to question himself on how this happened but he was rudely brought off his train of thoughts when a large hand firmly gripped his collar. With an unexaggerated amount of force, the stranger pulled Devin and dragged him to the door. One sharp push and he was thrown out the door.

"YOU-"

"I will not waste my time on warning you off. If you want, you can try to escape the town by nightfall, but still you will be caught and executed in the most horrible manner possible." The menacing tone did not contain an empty threat but a surest promise.

Horror washed over Devin and he felt a bud of fear slowly sprouting within him as he felt the devilish aura around his attacker, who turned around and walked inside before slamming the glass door closed. He pulled on a rope which caused curtains to fall and cover the entire glass wall, keeping prying eyes from seeing inside.

Devin stood up and ran away with urgent steps.

The stranger again covered the distance between himself and the counter in a few urgent steps, leaping from one end to the other. He came to stand before Eleanor, and gripped her shoulders with his long hands. Bringing one hand to her chin he lifted it to face him.

Eleanor felt shivers run down her spine when she saw a storm of rage on going in those usually passive, indecipherable silver orbs. When they gazed into her pair of jade-like eyes in an instant the fury vanished and was replaced by gentle concern. The change was so abrupt and apparent that it made Eleanor blink repeatedly in surprise.

"Did he hurt you anywhere? Does it hurt? Where?" Even his concerned ranting sounded so sophisticate, Eleanor smiled lightly, vainly biting her lips to hide it.

He patiently waited for her to reply as he continued inspecting every possible injury location on her body. He lifted her wrist and saw a ring of a bruise turning slightly blue. As if crackling lightning got captured in his unique, silver eyes they sparkled with fury, promises of released wrath and thirst for vengeance.

Eleanor didn't know why but she felt as if she had to somehow calm this walking, mad typhoon down because she knew he had the ability to destroy everything in it's path. Though people commonly make the mistake of judging others through their appearance, Eleanor didn't do so.

She knew this man was someone else and not the image he portrayed of himself. His ordinary clothes didn't hide his rigid posture and special aura. He could easily standout in a crowd even if he was trying to be very inconspicuous. His mask could not completely hide the handsome features it concealed underneath.

Only a look of his eyes was enough for him to put anyone under his spell, ready to do his bidding. Not exactly who, but Eleanor did understand that this man was far from ordinary. His actions and manners proved so.

Before she could help it words escaped her mouth that finally unsealed itself," Who are you?"

Her eyes widened when she realized she had uttered these words out loud.