This is how I'll die

Liora's breaths came in short, panicked bursts as the beast loomed over her. Its massive, black eyes glinted with a predatory shine, pinning her to the spot. Her legs felt like they were made of stone, and her mind screamed for her to run, but she was frozen.

The beast growled low, a rumbling sound that vibrated through the air and sent shivers racing down her spine. Then, it lowered its massive head and began sniffing her, the hot gusts of its breath brushing against her skin.

Tears pricked her eyes as fear overwhelmed her. 'Don't move. Don't breathe. Don't make a sound,' she told herself, clamping her lips together tightly. 'If I scream, I'll become its dinner.'

Its nose dipped lower, touching her bare foot, the one exposed after her shoe had fallen off somewhere in her panicked stumble. Liora flinched but didn't dare pull away. The beast's rough, wet tongue suddenly licked her foot, leaving a trail of saliva behind. Her stomach churned with disgust, but the fear was too paralyzing to let her react.

She scrunched back further, her trembling body pressed against the rough bark of a tree. Her dress, once pristine, was now smeared with dirt and torn at the edges.

'I'm not made for this,' she thought desperately. 'I don't know how to fight a beast. I'm not a warrior or a hunter...I'm just a lady.'

Liora shut her eyes tightly, as though not seeing the creature might somehow make it disappear. 'This is the end. This is how I'll die. Alone in the forest, devoured by a beast.'

But then, a sound cut through the tension...a soft whistle.

The beast stiffened. Its ears perked up, and its black eyes appeared to be dulled just a hair by the sweet sound carried on the wind. It tilted its head toward the sound, the faint melody that had quieted the growling. Liora dared to open her eyes just a fraction.

He was transformed. The ferocity of the beast had been molded into an almost docile quality as it listened to the tune. Liora's eyes flickered back and forth in an attempt to make sense of what she was seeing. Then, for a fleeting instant, she met its gaze.

The glint of a predator in the beast's eyes had softened and was almost. serene.

A wild thought crossed her mind. Maybe the melody had calmed it. Maybe, just maybe, she could do something. Summoning all the adrenaline left in her body, Liora slowly stretched out her wriggling hand toward the creature. If she could touch it, then maybe she could. 

Her hope was shattered as the beast roared, a deafening sound that sent her heart plummeting to her stomach.

"Ah!" she screamed, louder than she had ever screamed before, her voice echoing through the trees.

She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sharp pain of claws or teeth. But nothing happened.

Cautiously, she opened one eye, then the other. The beast was gone.

Liora blinked in incredulity, her body locked in place. She could hear her heartbeat pounding loudly in her ears as she scanned her surroundings. The soft whistle lingered in the air for just a moment longer before fading entirely.

She took a step back, her legs trembling with the thought of giving in. The forest became quiet again as if nothing had happened; the encounter had only been a dream. However, the dirt on her dress and the burning of the beast's tongue on her foot testified that it had indeed been real.

She stammered in a barely audible voice to herself, "What. just happened?

Liora's thoughts swirled with confusion and fear. The beast hadn't attacked her, and the melody had saved her. But who, or what, had played that whistle? And why had the beast listened?

She let her glance drift in the direction the thing had gone as a feeling of unease had begun to churn in her chest. She hadn't known if she'd only narrowly escaped being killed or something far more otherworldly.

Trembling, she stepped back toward the carriage, her legs wobbling beneath her. All she knew was that this was not a usual travel; it was not much more frightening than the monster she had just seen.

After some time...

Liora emerged from the forest, her dress stuck to her with dirty, damp patches and stained with mud and rags at the edges. Her breathing was irregular, every inhale shaky and shallow, but in her mind's eye was a picture of the beast: black eyes that pierced through and that strange whistle that had called it away.

As she drew closer to the forest opening, voices cut through her thoughts. At first, they were muffled and distant, but then she recognized Mira's voice, frantic and desperate.

"Madam!" Mira cried, running toward her. Her face was streaked with tears, relief, and anger mixed in her expression.

Before Liora could say a word, Mira flung her arms around her. The force of the embrace startled her, but the warmth and familiarity of it broke something inside her.

"Why did you do this?" Mira's voice trembled, but her grip on Liora tightened. "Do you even understand how worried we've been? Why did you go into the forest, Madam?"

Liora's hands rose slowly, her arms weak and trembling, and she hugged Mira back. A lump rose in her throat, and before she knew it, tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean to. I just..."

"You just what?" Mira leaned back, her hands tight on Liora's shoulders as she sought out her face. Her gaze eased, the irritation replaced with concern. "Madam, you're burning up," she said, pushing her palm onto Liora's forehead.

Liora blinked, her thoughts foggy. Fever? She hadn't felt it. How had she missed that?

"What did you see in there?" Mira pressed urgently, softly. "What happened to you?"

Liora hesitated, her lips trembling as she tried to find the words. "There was a beast," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible. "It was massive. black. It growled at me. I thought it would kill me." Her voice broke on the last word, and her eyes glazed over as the memory returned in vivid detail.

Mira's eyes widened, and she pulled Liora closer for a moment, then turned to the other maids. "Help Madam into the carriage," she ordered firmly.

Two of the maids rushed forward, their faces pale and anxious, as they gently guided Liora toward the waiting carriage. Liora allowed herself to be led, her legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

Mira looked back, trying to catch her breath. "What's happening?" she exclaimed, turning towards the chauffeur, who was lying down beside the wheel that was badly damaged.

He rose, wiping his hands on his tunic. "The wheel is completely broken, Madam Mira. We can't repair it here. A replacement carriage arrived just before sunset, but we must move quickly. The steward is on his way to the estate. If we delay any longer."

Mira didn't let him complete the sentence. "We cannot let the steward see her like that," she said under her breath. She glanced back toward the carriage where Liora was being helped into it. Her usually composed mistress looked fragile, her face pale, and her eyes distant.

Climbing into the carriage, Mira knelt beside Liora, who was slumped in her seat, her head resting against the cushioned wall. "Madam," Mira said softly, brushing a strand of damp hair from her mistress's face. "You need to rest now. We'll be at the estate soon, and everything will be fine."

Liora nodded weakly, then closed her eyes for a moment. Mira wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, hoping to ease her shivering.

Steady and rhythmic was the sound of the wheels' rolling on the dirt road. As the carriage kept moving, sunset had been behind them now, and cool night air crept in through the window of the cabin. Liora rested her head against the glass, thoughts spinning in her mind.

The growl of the beast, the soft whistle, the way it had retreated, it all felt too strange to be real. Yet it was real. She had seen it, felt its presence, and feared for her life.

She shut her eyes because her body did not have energy to do more. ...

The carriage stopped in front of the grand gates of Lucien's estate. It was much later than planned; they were supposed to arrive by sunset. The delay worried Mira. She knew people would ask questions, and if the steward arrived before they got everything under control, it could cost her and the other maids their jobs.

Mira glanced at Liora, slumped against the side of the carriage. Her face was pale; her cheeks flushed from the fever, and she looked utterly exhausted. Mira's heart sank. Right now, the most important thing was getting Liora to a bed and making sure she was okay.

The gates creaked open, and Mira caught a glimpse of the estate staff waiting near the house entrance. At the head was the head steward, a tall, sharp-eyed woman who didn't miss a thing. Mira felt a lump rise in her throat as she climbed out of the carriage. She adjusted her shawl and reached in to help Liora step down.

The steward's face changed immediately as soon as she laid eyes on Liora. Her eyes grew wide, and she hurried forward.

"She cannot enter the estate like this" The steward ordered.