His Black Wings by Astrid Yrigollen

to pick it up first. It seemed like my mind tried to warn me of something about to happen, or perhaps it was his voice that I unconsciously recognized. From my kneeling position I looked up and in to the eyes of Kurten Wandsworth. I felt the icy cold hand of dread grip my heart as I looked into his eyes.
     
    “Watch where you’re going, Tart…” He trailed off as we both stared at one another in silence. His face registered shock, then anger. Pure black anger and hate radiated off of him. The bitterness that welled up in my throat also soured my stomach. My heart began to beat fast and I felt light headed. I scolded myself for being weak. I should just continue walking, ignoring him. But instead I froze in my kneeling position. He kicked my parcel away towards the open street and for the first time I noticed he was using a cane. I gasped, knowing I was responsible.
     
    “You…” He growled. I stood and backed up a few steps wondering what he would try to do. It was night and there weren’t many people around. Would he raise an alarm? He must have read my mind for he leaped toward me and enclosed me in his embrace covering my mouth with his gloved hand. He wrestled me into the alley with much difficulty as I was squirming and trying to cry out. He was panting at the effort and leaned me heavily against the alley wall.
     
    “I thought I would never see you again Claren.” He whispered in my ear.
     
    “I’ve prayed for this day. Do you know how hard it’s been, do you know the pain I’ve gone through because of you!? I will never be able to walk right again because of you!” He still held on to me tightly. My heart was beating so loud I was sure he could hear it. Adrenaline was being shot out in to my veins giving me extra strength to keep him at bay.
     
    “Don’t struggle, whore. To think we would’ve been married…” He spit on the ground. He grabbed the front of my dress and tore it down.
     
    “No Kurten!!” I screamed as I tried to fight him off. The next thing I knew Kurten released me and I heard a horrible cry. I must have passed out because when I opened my eyes, Mr. Brighton was standing above me and a crumpled form was on the ground at his feet. He reached down to me as my vision blurred and I blacked out.
     
    When I again opened my eyes, I was back in the carriage. My employer was sitting across from me with a stern look on his face. He saw me open my eyes. He immediately waved his hand in front of my face.
     
    “Sleep Lilly, rest.” Was all he said. I closed my eyes and did.
     
    I awoke in my own bed with Naza staring at me. I was still in my ripped traveling clothes. I sat up quickly and looked around.
     
    A knock at the door made me jump. Mr. Brighton came in and looked at me sternly. He hesitated then came to stand at the foot of my bed.
     
    “How are you feeling?” He asked.
     
    “I…I…” I stammered, “tired…scared.” He nodded.
     
    “Can you tell me what happened?”
     
    “I just left the shop, and I dropped my package and there he was.”
     
    “Did you know him?” He questioned with a peculiar look on his face.
     
    “No Sir.” I said looking down.
     
    “Did he say anything to you? Anything at all?”
     
    I shook my head.
     
    “Well then, we must report this to the St. Marhen authorities.” I panicked.
     
    “Why? He left me alone…”
     
    “He wasn’t going to my dear girl. He had more in mind for you than you could probably guess.” He walked over to me and tugged briefly at the torn material of my dress. I looked down, not knowing what I should do.
     
    “Tell me Lily, if you saw this man again, would you recognize him?”
     
    “No.” There! I had said it too quickly and he must know that I was hiding something from him.
     
    He looked surprised, then looked out the window.
     
    “I see. Well you should get some rest then.” He turned to leave.
     
    “Fredrick?” He stopped and looked at me.
     
    “Fredrick, how did you find me? In