Beating Heart (1)

The demon continued fighting with the man, not backing down. He kept on throwing more knives and balls of fire but before they got to the man, they disappeared.

Confused with what was happening "What are you?" The demon voice sounded more croaky now he was fighting.

"What I am?" The man gave him an unnerving smile "I am who I am" He kept conjuring rings of fire as he engaged in conversation with the demon.

"Why do you want to kill her?"

"Why do I want to kill her?" The demon asked "You're a fool if you don't know why I want to kill her. Even if I don't kill her now, others will come for her"

"Seems I've got no use for you, you're a dimwitted ugly demon, psst" This time the man threw the rings of fire he has been building at the demon.

The demon didn't know what happened but the rings of fire started engulfing him before he managed to dissolve them. He had been distracted by this man's talk, he didn't know when he attacked.

"Playing dirty huh?" The demon gritted his teeth as he tried to regain his stance but the man gave him no chance as he continued attacking him.

"One of my many talents" The man replied before taking out his axe to stab the demon in his neck, the demon staggered back as black blood started gushing from his neck.

He touched his neck and it was still bleeding, how come? He's meant to start healing. It only meant one thing, his eyes narrowed "You are a demon too?"

"Not your filthy type" The man answered, before kicking and punching him, the demon fell, and the man used his axe, about to cut him on the floor but the demon rolled off before standing up.

Anger bubbled inside the demon as this stupid man kept having an advantage against him "You are the filthy one, instead of you to join me and kill her, you're trying to kill me. Do you know how dangerous she is? She will be the end of us including you"

"What makes you think so? I'm not a weakling like you" The man taunted as they walked in circles gauging each other.

"You are the weakling, cos you are the one that will end up dead" He charged towards him again after talking.

"Enough of the chit chat" The man punched his jaw and grabbed his hand. He twisted it behind his back before stabbing him again this time on his ribs.

The demon fell before transmigrating into dust.

Now the demon was dead it was time to deal with her. He turned and saw her lying on the floor unconscious. He went closer to her. He noticed her sharp features that were delicate, her dark lashes flustered underneath her closed eyes. Her long hair sprawled on the floor. She looked so innocent and delicate.

Could she do all those things? No, I don't judge from what others say, I have to monitor her and know what she's capable of doing.

What now? where do I take her? Argh, this is getting hard more than it should be. He bent down to carry her. She will have to stay in my house till she regains her consciousness.

He carried her, checking if anyone was close and watching. The next second there was no trace of Kate and the man.

The man had teleported them to his house directly without taking the long route to walk.

He gently laid her down in one of the guest rooms. He brought a warm towel and placed it on her forehead. He saw her features more now he was very close to her, her full plump lips looked red and inviting. He let his nostrils inhale the sweet scent of jasmine intertwining with rose and gilly flower that wafted from her.

He stayed for five minutes, adjusting the heat of the room. He put more logs of wood in the hearth, before leaving the room.

In the town of Govan where Kate came from, Madam Rosie was getting anxious because Kate has not returned since morning and it was getting late.

Could she have lost her way? Or did the night creatures get hold of her? She started panicking "Yes" she replied to her question. That was the only plausible answer she could form.

The night creatures have been killing humans recently, especially in those towns where people usually don't go.

Oh, goddess please keep her safe. No! I have to do something, I need to look for her and make sure she's safe.

Madam Rosie went out closing her stall, she went in search of Kate. She met some townsmen and women that usually went to different towns to know if they saw her by chance in Lockwood. But so far all she got were negative answers.

Where could you be Kate?

"Why do you look so, Madam Rosie?"

Mister Borrel who was going to one of his acquaintances saw Madam Rosie behaving like a hen looking for the children.

"Oh Mister Borrel, it's Kate"

"Kate?" He turned alert immediately after he heard Kate's name "What happened to her?"

"Kate hasn't returned since I sent her to deliver linen to Madam Castrol in Lockwood," Rosie said shaking her head.

"Lockwood?" Borrel asked shocked. As if to add more to Madam Rosie's worry he said " I heard that there had been lots of kidnapping and killing in that town. The town has been chaotic lately".

"What! Oh god, I'm finished" Rosie wailed. Kate has been like a daughter to her since she saw her standing in the streets with no family of her own. She had taken her in and had cared for her like she was her own.

"Please don't fret Madam Rosie, we will find her. I will look for her and find her " Borrel said sounding confident.

"Oh thank you, but I'm coming with you, I won't be able to rest if I stay back"

"Okay okay, let's go then"

Madam Rosie and Mister Borrel set out to look for Kate. They boarded the carriage going to Lockwood hoping that they will be able to find her.

*•*•*•*•*•*

Kate woke up feeling drowsy. She gently rose from the bed, feeling a slight headache. She placed her hand on her forehead, her temperature was high. She sighed.

Everything seemed new to her, she looked around the lavishly furnished room. The high ceiling, and the chandelier hanging on top. She noticed the bed she was lying on was big and soft, which made her want to go back to sleep.

The room was too beautiful as she continued fantasizing. Before it hit her, wait! Where am I? How did I get here? Have I been kidnapped? Questions kept swirling in her head as she became much more aware of her environment.

The last I remembered was…was meeting that hideous-looking creature. Could he have kidnapped me? No! I need to escape before he gets here. But how do I escape?

Kate hastily got down from her bed, trying to find a way out. She looked for where the window was, but when she saw it, her hope to escape vanished into the thin air.

If she jumped, it was very likely she would break her bones. She was looking down from a height that could give one shiver. The woods surrounded the building, so there was no way she will survive such a height.

She turned towards the door, if she went for the door, she may end up attracting the monster.

What should I do now? Oh, goddess, Kate paced around the room forgetting the pains she had. Her only problem was how to escape. Oh, Madam Rosie will be so worried about me.

She was still pacing around trying to look for a way to escape but she couldn't find one. Her hope went down the drain as she couldn't find her escape route.

*•*•*•*•*•*

Madam Rosie and Mister Borrel arrived in Lockwood. The first place they went to was Madam Castrol's mansion. Maybe they could know how to find Kate.

When they reached the mansion, they frantically walked in. They were both conscious of their environment. When they reached the entrance of the building, they were also stopped by the butler.

"What do you want?" Patrick asked looking at them as non-entities.

Borrel didn't like the tone Patrick used to answer them and wanted to retort but was stopped when Madam Rosie placed her hand on his arm.

Madam Rosie answered " I'm Rosie and we came to look for kate, she was here to deliver linen to Madam Castrol"

"Oh, she left some hours ago" Patrick answered.

"She left some hours ago?" Madam Rosie asked more alarmed. Where could Kate have gone to if she left some hours ago? That means my instincts have been right. She has been kidnapped!

"Yes, if you are looking for her then I think this is not the place for you to do so" Patrick gave them a knowing look.

"But do you think the night creatures must have taken her?" Rosie silently asked.

Patrick's eyes narrowed at Madam Rosie's question "I think I'm done here, I believe you know your way out"

"Why do you speak to us in such a manner?" Borrel who couldn't hold his anger snapped.

"Excuse me?" Patrick's eyes darkened

"We will leave. Thank you for your help"

Rosie hastily spoke to avoid more trouble.

"Hmmph!" The butler harrumphed before going back inside the building.

~~~~

"What's got you looking like fried potatoes Patrick?"

"Nothing Madam"

"Don't forget I'm still the owner of this house Patrick" Madam Castrol came to stand five meters away from Patrick.

"I didn't mean to offend you. Madam Rosie came looking for the lady that brought the linen"

"Oh, she's missing?"

"It seems like it Madam"

"Okay you can get back to work now"

Castrol said going back inside.

~~~~

"You shouldn't have said that Borrel. If they would have helped us they wouldn't do it again" Rosie reprimanded Borrel once they stepped out of the mansion.

"Did you see the way he was looking at us? He wouldn't have also lent a hand. I would have crushed his bones if you didn't stop me!" Borrel growled.

"Stop it Borrel, how do you intend to get help if you don't mellow down? Come on we have to find Kate. I hope she's safe"

"Do not worry, Kate will be fine okay?" Borrel patted Rosie on her shoulders to reassure her.

*•*•*•*•*•*

Kate was still pacing around the room getting restless. She didn't know what to do. Should she shout? That would alert the monster more.

Lost in the thoughts of how to escape, her heart almost jumped out of her mouth when the door flung open and in came the man who kidnapped her.

"I see you're awake"