"Would you at least tell me where you're taking me to?"
"Why tell you when you'll see it for yourself."
Yvonne glared at Nunvicks. He chuckled when he saw her expression and yanked the rope harder. She choked slightly as the noose knot squeezed her throat. She stumbled forward like a goat being led to the abattoir.
She clenched her jaws hard.
She hated him.
A foreign emotion. One that she rarely experienced.
She had just escaped. Although she wouldn't have made it back to the shop so easily. She didn't even know the way back to Willovayde.
However, she had intended to find Luseauville, her mistress' manor. A tear slid down her cheek as she remembered Madame. Her heart ached and her breath hitched. A saline taste grazed her taste buds as the tears made their way into her mouth.
Madame was like a mother to her. The only one she had as far as she was concerned. She rescued her from a flesh orphanage when she was but a toddler. And now, she's back to square one. In the claws of another flesh trader.
She threw her head back, her face chilled by the morning dew. Her brown hair tumbled down her face. She longed to brush them aside. Her new captor had bound her hands as well though. He walked on, six feet ahead of her. He seemed oblivious to her sorrow. Not that he would care if he knew.
She felt her nose getting stuffy and her eyes had gotten swollen too from crying till daybreak. Her stomach grumbled in protest.
She tried to escape her reality–memories danced across her thoughts. How Madame and Klaryna always seemed to make her laugh. Klaryna always got into trouble and Madame always scolded.
Madame wasn't a talker much like Yvonne herself. So it was always amusing to see her strained expression whenever Klaryna got into yet another mess. Sometimes, when it got out of hand Madame was forced to have her attendant whip Klaryna.
Klaryna never bore any ill will against Madame though. She would even play victim and poor Madame would shower her with gifts and motherly care out of guilt.
Nunvicks yanked the rope forcing her out of her thoughts.
"We'll stop here for today." He declared.
He observed the Yunvern tree nearby with its Prussian blue leaves. The clearing surrounding the tree was serene. He could see the Plainlands, though he had to squint his eyes.
He gently guided Yvonne to the tree trunk and sat her down next to it. He tied her to the tree, making sure the ropes were nice and taut.
"I'll go get us something to eat. I won't be long dearie." He made to grab her cheeks but Yvonne bit menacingly. He was lucky however, she was only able to bite off a mouthful of his deerskin gloves.
She spat the leather out, glaring at him, her breath quickening. He looked shocked at first but then, he let out a laugh.
"I see you must be hungry then. I'll be on my way." He smirked, shaking his head before leaving, his boots crunching against the dirt.
She was on her guard now. He seemed like a gentleman with his caring speech. She nearly fell for it last night were it not for–her legs.
She fell into a deep thought. Her racing heart regaining its original rhythm.
That was the first time she felt that thing controlled her. It mostly spoke out of turn. She stared hard at her legs, chewing on the flesh that lined her inner cheeks. Her back itched badly. She resorted to rubbing it against the tree bark. Wriggling and shimmying against the tree like a salted worm. As much as her bindings would allow anyway.
The image of it made laughter burst out of her. It went on and on, echoing in the small clearing that the Yunvern sat.
She didn't want to laugh. Her eyebrows furrowed with worry but her lips continued to move.
Finally she stopped.
Then her lips spoke.
"Oh wow, now that's funny. You'reso cute."
She gasped as the words left her. Her jaws ached as it found the manner of speech foreign.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"What are you?" She asked. Of her own accord, this time.
Nothing responded.
"Why did you run away from my earlier captors?" She asked again.
Silence
"Do you know the way back to Wilovayde?"
"Can you help me_" "You sure ask a lot of questions, girlie."
Yvonne paused before replying, "I'm merely curious."
"Are you not worried that I am in danger?"
"There are bigger things that worry me."
Yvonne paused again. She didn't know what else to say. But the thought of someone to talk to after nearly thirteen days of silence and Nunvicks' monologuing thrilled her .
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"You warned me and Klaryna at the Grounds..." , "...I thank you for that."
"You're welcome. It's not hard to spot things in my shoes you know." She giggled in Yvonne's voice. But hers was faster and deeper. Not in a Yvonne-usual-laugh.
Yvonne tried to laugh along. It sounded even more wrong now. A bird that perched on the tree flapped away hastily. It released a dropping as it escaped. Perhaps out of fear or urgency.
Yvonne stifled her scream. Sweat beads forming on her forehead. She had heard it too–the double laugh. Her mouth went slack and dry.
"Why so quiet all of a sudden cutie?"
"Did you not hear it?"
"You mean your laugh? It's too girly."
It didn't hear it. Or chose not to say.
Yvonne swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves.
"What is 'girlie'?" She asked, trying to distract herself.
She heard nothing.
She made to ask why but then she heard twigs snapping. She spun her head towards the direction of the sound.
Her heart pounded and she started to shake noticeably.
She prayed silently that it wasn't a wild beast. How could she defend herself then? All tied up, looking helpless.
"Sorry for the delay love. Edible games are rare here." She let out her breath, realizing she held it all along.
"Please what is the time?" She tried to calm herself and prevent him from noticing her unease.
"Tis already 7 hours past noon dearie." He replied as he gathered twigs and dried leaves. He built a fire and soon enough, the aroma of roasted meat permeated the air.
He settled down beside the fire roast, sitting on an animal skin mat that he spread earlier.
Yvonne's stomach grumbled again, very loudly. She heard Nunvicks chuckle but she ignored him.
She gazed at the darkening skies instead and the green plains below, several feet by her right.
They must be heading north, she thought. She'd recalled Madame often journeying north to deliver an important order herself. Madame would regale her and Klaryna with stories of the Plainlands. She would buy precious trinkets on her way back and gift them some as well.
Nunvicks observed her, smiling languidly. The smile didn't reach his brown eyes though.
"Who were you talking to while I was gone?" He nibbled on a strip of meat, waiting for her response.
Yvonne's eyes were as wide as saucers. But she didn't feel afraid. It didn't let her feel anything but...
She shuddered, brushing the morbid thought aside.
Nunvicks mistook it for fear however. He laughed.
That familiar ache returned, demanding acceptance. She wriggled as she wrestled with it, her legs writhing discreetly. Both fighting for control.
It won.
"What did you hear?" It spoke with her voice, though the words came out slowly. Each pause held weight. Her eyes twinkled. Although her brows arched in fear, the only part expressing Yvonne's shock.
"I ask the questions here dearie." Nunvicks said. His usual smirk was absent. Just an unblinking stare remained. Suddenly he stood up and strode towards her.
Yvonne felt her head tilting to her right slightly. It was baffled–at his audacity. Her lips bloomed into a sinister smile.
No no no.
Yvonne wanted to shout for him to stay back. To walk away before it was too late. Her jaws ached greatly as she fought back for control. To warn him.
Because at that moment, all she could feel was bloodlust.
Scorching bloodlust.