Trigger Warning: This chapter contains depictions of violence which may be upsetting for some readers.
---
"Mom, what is this you're putting on me? It feels so uncomfortable."
The little girl protested as her mother fastened a rough brown cloak around her small frame. Her pale cheeks flushed a soft crimson, a clear sign of irritation.
"Mom!"
She made a pouting face, tugging at the fabric.
"Now, now, little angel — it's almost done," her mother soothed gently as she secured the final knot. "Rosella, my dear, you know why I'm doing this. It's my first time taking you to the Capital's Market. You must stay by my side at all times. Do you understand?"
Rosella pouted but nodded.
"Yes, Mom… it's clear."
"That's my good girl, You'll see fruit stalls and different shops and I'll teach you how to buy thing—...." Rowena said warmly, but the words were barely spoken before a harsh cough escaped her throat. A thin trickle of blood ran from the corner of her lips. She tried to hide it, wiping it swiftly, but Rosella saw.
"Mama... Mama are you okay? Why is your mouth bleeding ? "
Tears brimmed in the child's eyes, her voice quivering with fear.
Rowena quickly forced a smile, brushing the blood away as though it were nothing.
"Little angel… don't worry. It's just a little sickness. I'll be fine."
"But… it doesn't look like a little sickness. You've never even called a doctor, Mom…"
Rowena sighed, her expression clouded with sorrow. She wanted to tell Rosella everything. The truth about her illness, about the past, but seeing her child's delicate innocence, she couldn't summon the strength.
"It's because this disease is strange," she forced a soft laugh, "No doctor can cure it... It's incurable."
"Incurable? What does that mean, Mama?" Rosella asked, tilting her head in childlike confusion.
"Oh… would you look at the time! We're getting late for the market."
Rowena quickly excused herself, moving toward the restroom.
Once inside, she gripped the sink, her knuckles white. "Nothing hurts more ..." Tears welled in her eyes. Blood painted her lips once more.
"Rosella… my little angel… I'm sorry. Before I pass away, I have to teach you everything so you can live on your own. I can't trust anyone. Once they discover who you are… they'll take advantage of you… or worse… kill you. My dear Rosella…"
Her sobs grew heavier.
"Nothing hurts more than leaving you alone in this cruel world. Please, dear Lord of the Holy Angels… let me live long enough to protect her until she's old enough to protect herself. Have mercy, O holy angels…"
"Mom? Are you alright?"
Rosella's innocent voice called from outside.
Wiping her tears quickly, Rowena forced on her cloak.
"I'm fine, dear. Let's go."
And so, mother and daughter left the house.
---
Solvane Black Market
"Ugh! Why only nine girls? I told you to capture ten! You can't even handle a simple task?"
A large, bloated man in a grim black uniform barked furiously. His appearance was unsettling, his eyes sharp with cruelty. Around him, a group of men in similar but lesser uniforms lowered their heads in shame.
One of them, evidently the most senior, stepped forward.
"I apologize, Head Leader Gregor Maddoc."
He kept his voice steady. "When we captured the ninth child, she was of high status. The Royal Solvane Guards pursued us. We couldn't risk capturing another, sir, or we would've been exposed — even in disguise."
"You worthless filth!"
Gregor raised a fist, but before he could strike, a chilling voice interrupted.
"Mister Maddoc…"
Chills ran down Maddoc's spine.
"You're making a lot of noise."
A black figure appeared behind the fat man. His sinister aura turned the entire gathering rigid. At the mere sight of him, every man present fell to their knees.
Maddoc started trembling.
"Greetings to the Lord of the Black Army, Owner of the Black Market, and our Director, Lord Veyric Draan."
They all spoke loud in unison.
The man in the black cloak — Lord Veyric —smiled cruelly, his gloved hand pointing toward Maddoc.
"You've done well. These girls… they'll fetch us good coins in the Umbren Black Market." He let out an evil laugh.
"Poor little things — their families must be ...looking for them."
He said glancing down at the trembling little girls.
The girls were thrown into a large, iron-barred cage strapped to a carriage. One defiant girl screamed.
"You monster! Wait until you get punished!"
"Oh, a brave one…"
Veyric backhanded her across the cheek, her cheek flushed red and blood trickled down. The slap carried such brutal force it should have broken her jaw, yet it didn't—leaving her shivering and crying in pain. The other girls watched, breath caught in their throats, frozen with fear.
"Tsk tsk… such fragile things shouldn't speak so boldly. He laughed again.
"Take them away — and handle this one with care. She might be special."
"And as for the tenth child…" he grinned.
"Snatch one if you see any along the road."
The Black Army men nodded and departed into the gathering dusk.
---
On the Road to the Forest
Rosella Maren and her mother were on their way home. The evening had fallen, painting the sky in streaks of violet and gold. They had bought fruits, vegetables, and some simple trinkets. Rosella twirled a tiny bracelet on her wrist.
"Mom, today was fun!" she giggled.
"Aww, my little angel… I'm so glad you enjoyed."
Rowena smiled.
"Yesh mama. I learned how to buy things and about the prices. Look, I bought my first object. Isn't this a good bracelet?"
Rowena laughed lightly at her daughter's innocence.
"Well ,yes, it is beautiful...but not more than my little angel."
Mother and daughter were laughing and talking, about a mile from their small hut, the ground suddenly trembled. Rowena instinctively grabbed Rosella and pulled her behind a tree. It's needle like leaves brushing her cheek, accompanied by a strong scent of wood.A heavily loaded carriage rumbled past the forest's edge, its wheels groaning under the weight.
Rowena covered Rosella's mouth, praying they hadn't been seen. Just as panic took over her thoughts .. Rosella's skin felt unusual. Her temperature rose.
Oh no ....
It suddenly hit Rowena
Is this ....a yew tree ? Rosella is allergic to yew !!
Fate was unkind. Rosella couldn't hold her sneeze and the sound echoed through the quiet forest.
One of the guards spotted the movement.
"Stop the carriage! Now!"
The men dismounted, searching the area.
"Are you sure you saw someone?"
"Positive."
The guard smirked evilly.
Rowena clung tightly to Rosella, fear crawling through her bones. The men's footsteps drew nearer. Just as one passed behind them, another appeared ahead.
"Gotcha."
He smirked.
"Such a sweet little girl and...a woman. We'll take the child… and you, lady, might entertain us."
The man grabbed Rowena's neck and touched her lecherously.
"Run, Rosella! Run like the wind! Don't look back! Run !"
Rowena's voice cracked with desperation.
Rosella hesitated, trembling. She was still reeling from the allergic reaction. Though not severe , combined with terror, it left her mind foggy and slow.
"Now!"
The little girl sprinted into the darkness. Her chest burned but fear pushed her legs forward.
"Get the girl!" someone barked.
Rosella ran until the trees blurred around her. She unknowingly crossed the border into the Umbren Shadow Forest, where Solvane men dared not follow.
"Curse you little..."
The man too enraged to notice the deepening, unnatural shadows, charged after her. Only when the air grew cold and the light faded did he skid to a halt.
"Damn it, I've crossed into the Shadow Forest. Lord Veyric will flay me alive."
The man murmured and searched for the little girl. The Umbren Shadow Forest was unusually darker today. Thick bushes and wild trees stood tightly packed together. Unease spread over him as he took each step and went deeper into the forest.
Meanwhile Rosella small and delicate, ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Panting and terrified, she crashed into a tall figure cloaked in black.
He looked down, surprised to see a child. He seemed to be practicing his bow. The forest was his secret training place.
A child ?
He hadn't expected to see anyone here, least of all a little girl.
"Who are you? What are you doing here alone?" the young man asked. He couldn't have been older than seventeen, yet his presence was commanding.
"My… my mother… they hurt my mom…"
The man knelt, concern flashing in his silver eyes.
"Calm down, little one. Tell me what happened."
Tears streamed down Rosella's face.
"Bad men… filthy men… they took her… please save her…"
He brushed her hair from her face. "You're safe now, little angel."
Something in his voice stirred a feeling she couldn't describe. How did he know my nickname? she wondered. As she was wondering, the man who was following her showed up.
"Looks like we've got some company.... hah... Come here little girl."
"Leave" The young man's voice was a command.
"Did you say that to me ? Ahh... What a day! A small and lowly young man dares to command me." The man quickly pulled out his sword and dashed forward.
"Close your eyes little angel." Rosella obeyed instantly. She heard only the clash of swords, a final, wet slash and a spurt of blood.
"This is your punishment for underestimating me." The attacker was dead. A dark mist surged from the young man's hand, surrounding the body, engulfing it. When the mist cleared, there were no remains—not even a drop of blood. Only dust and dark ash remained. He looked at the little girl, trembling with fear, her eyes tightly closed. Such an obedient child, he thought.
"Open your eyes little angel. Let's go save your mother."
Lucien Draeger, heir to the Umbren tribe, didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward the border, his mighty, sharp sword ready for battle.
Guided by the little girl, he reached the place and spotted the men surrounding Rowena.
"Look at her soft skin," one said as they tore her sleeve.
Her desperate cries echoed through the forest. She didn't want to die by the hands of such filthy men.
Lucien's jaw clenched as he reached the scene.
"Let her go!"
A soldier mocked. "Who is it to disrupt our play time eh ?.... Ahh a young man ! You're a fool for coming here alone."
Lucien drew his bow and fired. One by one, the men fell.
More soldiers charged in, swords drawn.
"Who dares to interfere with the Black Army's affairs?"
"I do."
Lucien's voice cut through the gloom, filled with fury.
"You abduct innocents… and you deserve a miserable death."
Before they could answer, Lucien drew his blade, and one man's head hit the ground.
The rest fell soon after—a swift, decisive fight. Lucien left no survivors. The bodies were swallowed by the darkness of his spell.
He freed the caged girls, and they fled toward the capital, their faces streaked with tears.
"We're saved!" they cried out as they ran, voices trembling with relief.
Rosella, who has been standing to the side, ran to her mother.
"Mom! Please wake up!" she sobbed.
Rowena remained unconscious, her face pale, lips bloodied.
Lucien knelt beside them. "What's your name, little angel?"
"Rosella… Rosella Maren."
He nodded. "A beautiful name. Don't worry. I'll get you both home. Where do you live?"
"A mile from here… in a little hut."
Without hesitation, Lucien lifted Rowena into his arms.
"Lead the way, Rosella."
And so the girl led him through the dark forest, hope flickering in the night for the first time.
–––––––––––––––––––––
To be continued....
Chapter 7...