Chapter 37

Aurelia's gasp echoed through the clearing as the arrow launched from the King's bow. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat a frantic drum against her ribs. 'Thwack!' The sound cut through the air, followed by a startled yelp from below.

Finn, finally alerted to the danger, scrambled back, his face a picture of terror. The arrow, thankfully, found its mark not in flesh, but inches from his foot.

As the adrenaline subsided, a wave of relief washed over Aurelia, so strong it left her knees weak. She sagged against the rocky cliff face, her gaze dropping to the base. There, at Finn's feet, lay a small, furry creature – a squirrel, its lifeless body pierced by the King's arrow.

Samael's triumphant smirk did little to ease the turmoil within her. His golden eyes glittered with amusement as he turned towards her, a playful lilt to his voice. "See," he drawled, "I never miss."

Aurelia stared at him, speechless. Her mind reeled, replaying the scene. He'd aimed for Finn, hadn't he? The fear in her eyes, the way he'd deliberately heightened her terror… it had all been a cruel game.

Her initial anger simmered into a cold fury. He enjoyed playing with his prey, toying with their emotions before delivering the final blow, or so it seemed. But in this case, the "blow" had been aimed at her as much as it was at Finn.

She finally spat, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and disgust. "Y-you nearly killed him!"

Samael's smirk faltered for a fleeting moment. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual, unnerving amusement.

"Did I?" he countered, his voice dripping with a feigned innocence. "Perhaps your imagination runs a little wild. It seems the only thing wounded here is your delicate sense of trust."

She looked at Finn, who was scrambling to his feet, brushing snow off his clothes. His face was pale, his eyes held a lot of fear that mirrored her own.

Aurelia edged back from the cliff's edge, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Cecilia's voice, oblivious and grating, chirped from behind, "Oh dear, I didn't even see the squirrel! " She called out to Finn, "Do bring it along, won't you? We could have a lovely little roast for supper."

Aurelia spun on her heel, her anger a simmering fire in her gut. Ignoring Cecilia's words, she started back towards the carriage, determined to put as much distance between herself and the King as possible.

Just then, Leviathan's voice, laced with amusement, cut through the air. "Be careful, now," he spoke, "the woods have a way of hiding dangers you wouldn't expect."

Aurelia gritted her teeth, forcing a curt, "Of course, milord," through clenched jaws. Reaching the carriage, she leaned against its cold wood, the phantom chill of fear still clinging to her skin despite the fading adrenaline.

A sudden movement, a flicker in the trees, caught her eye. She frowned, her body tensing. Pushing herself away from the carriage, she squinted into the dense woods. Silence reigned, broken only by the distant cry of a crow. Was it just the wind playing tricks on her?

Uncertain, she took a hesitant step forward, curiosity warring with caution.

Taking a deep breath, Aurelia took another step forward. Her gloved hand instinctively went to the hilt of thendagger strapped to her thigh.

With a determined glint in her eyes, Aurelia decided to take a chance. She stepped deeper into the woods, the thick canopy overhead filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the snow-covered ground. The air was crisp and quiet, the only sounds her own footsteps crunching on the frozen ground.

Aurelia pushed deeper into the woods, the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy overhead. Each step felt heavier, her initial bravado fading with every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig. The questions she'd buried deep down clawed their way to the surface. What was she doing? Where was she going?

Logic screamed at her to turn back, to return to the relative safety of the carriage. Escape was a fool's dream; one she had once attempted,even if she did run she had no where to go, she doubted her aunt would be pleased if she returned back to the manor without the king's blood spilled on her hand, thats if she even makes it to her aunt's manor. The woods held more dangers than just the King's cruelty. Bears, wolves, and countless unseen perils lurked within the tangled undergrowth.

She pressed on. Then, a flicker of movement in the dense foliage caught her eye. A shadow darted between the trees, disappearing before she could get a clear look.

Aurelia froze, her breath catching in her throat. Adrenaline surged through her veins, momentarily banishing the chill that had settled into her bones. Slowly, cautiously, she crept towards a large oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers.

Just as she reached out to touch the rough bark for support, a loud cawing erupted from somewhere deep within the woods. A startled flock of crows burst from the trees above, their black wings beating a frantic tattoo against the silence.

Aurelia flinched, dropping her hand back to her side. The sudden cacophony sent a jolt of fear through her. Had she startled some creature, or was she being watched by unseen eyes? The unsettling feeling of being hunted, not by wolves or bears, but by something far more calculating, sent a shiver down her spine.

The nagging voice in Aurelia's head grew louder with each step. She should go back. The woods, once alluring in their mystery, now felt like a suffocating labyrinth. Glancing back, she froze. The path, barely visible moments ago, seemed to be swallowed by the encroaching trees. Panic clawed at her throat. Had she been walking in circles?

Whipping around, she searched for the familiar oak tree, the one she'd almost touched. But in its place, only a dense thicket of firs stood, their branches heavy with snow. A shiver ran down her spine. Was the forest itself playing tricks on her?

Desperation gnawed at her. With a sense of grim determination, she chose a direction at random, plunging down a narrow path barely visible between towering pines. The path twisted and turned, the sunlight failing to penetrate the thick canopy above.

After what felt like an eternity, the path finally opened into a clearing. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the trees, painting the snow-covered ground in a golden glow. In the center of the clearing stood a sight that stopped Aurelia in her tracks. A small, ramshackle cabin, nestled amongst the trees.

An unsettling shiver danced down Aurelia's spine. The cabin, bathed in the golden light moments before, now exuded an aura of unease. It was as if an unseen hand had dimmed the sun, plunging the clearing into an unnatural twilight.

The thought of a siren song echoed in her mind, a melody luring her to a perilous destination. Despite the prickling of danger, her feet seemed to take on a life of their own, propelling her closer to the weathered cabin. The clearing seemed to shrink, the towering trees and snow-covered ground dissolving from view until only the cabin remained. What secrets did it hold? Who, or what, awaited her inside?

Aurelia hesitated, her hand hovering over the rough-hewn door. Doubt gnawed at her, a fierce battle raging within. Curiosity warred with caution, the promise of shelter battling the prickling fear that something wasn't quite right.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the creaky door, a hesitant sliver at first. Darkness greeted her, thick and stifling. The scent of woodsmoke and something else, something earthy and unfamiliar, wafted out.

As she took a tentative step inside, the door slammed shut behind her with a resounding bang. A startled yelp escaped her lips as she spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the knob of the door that wasn't there.

But instead of the dark interior of the cabin, she found herself staring at her own reflection. Not in the dusty confines of the cabin, but in a familiar hallway, polished stone gleaming beneath her boots. A soft glow emanated from down the hall, the same hallway she knew all too well.. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a trapped bird desperate to escape. The ornate tapestries on the wall, the scent of beeswax and… cinnamon?

A voice, cold and silky smooth, echoed through the corridor. "Aurelia."