Penance

“Cristian, this isn’t any fair!” Crina laughs at the boy as he runs through the field of flowers without a care in the world while she’s stuck due to her rather large skirt. No matter how much she gathers it up in her hands, she’ll never have the same free movement like the boy.

Cristian is a handsome boy to the say the least. He has blue eyes and dark tawny hair that drains the color from him, making him look washed out and paler than usual. He’s kind to almost everyone, especially Crina. He looks at her like she’s the only person in the room. And despite her family’s lack of money which resulted in their arranged marriage, he’s happy with her. He can’t see himself settling down with any other girl.

“Where are we even going anyway?” The young girl asks as she gathers up her skirt once more and advances towards the boy waiting for her. “Why are we so far from the castle and village?”

“There are rumors out here for a creature that hunts humans in the dead of night,” he replies, taking the young girl’s free hand, “he lives in the castle up on the hill.” Crina follows Cristian’s gaze and sees the ominous castle perched high up on the far away hill.

“And what are we going to do, seek out trouble?” She laughs.

“Of course we are,” he smiles, “consider it a chance to scope out our future home. Because sooner or later, that castle will be ours…” The girl looks at him like he’s lost his mind, but she knew he was serious.

“Do you really think he’s the one behind your mother’s death?” She asks, straight out; knowing that his mother’s death is the cause of this. This wasn’t a chance to scope out their future home, this was his chance to scope out revenge.

“He is the cause of my mother’s death, Crina,” he sighs placing both hands on my shoulders, “I am sure of it. Now come on, you don’t want me to go in alone do you?” He asks, kindly smiling as he offers his future bride his hand. Crina just sighs, gathering up her skirt in one hand and taking his hand with her other. Deep down, she knew this wasn’t going to end well…

**

“Cristian,” Crina’s voice shakes as she walks closely behind the boy. “Can we please go?”

Darkness engulfs them as they managed to get to the castle. The land around the castle is dead. Trees are baren and the grass doesn’t grow. Crina’s grandmother always said that this is a bad omen; that something evil lurks around living off the life force of the land.

“Crina, we’re so close,” Cristian tells the girl, “we can’t turn back now.”

“Yes, we can,” Crina argues. “Cristian, I’m scared.”

A sigh escapes the boys around as he turns to the girl he loves and puts a loving hand on her cheek, “Crina, I’ll never let anything harm you. I’ll protect you up until my dying breath. This is and always will be my promise to you.” The blonde can’t help but to smile at his words; even if they couldn’t help her shake the sinking feeling she has deep inside her stomach.

“How sweet.” A voice behind them says. Both turn and look but see nothing but shadows. A chill dances up Crina’s spine as her heart begins to race; pounding against her chest.

“Should you two be left alone without a chaperon?” The voice asks, this time Crina found it. It came from a man, casually leaning up against one of the many barren tears in the area. His bright blue eyes bore into her as a sinister smirk dances on his lips. “It is really improper for a young lady to be left alone with a man; let alone two of them…”

The man is dressed in black, head to toe. He has unruly dark brown, almost black hair, that’s down to his shoulders. His clothing is neat, but that’s the only neat thing about him.

“You are not my father,” Crina tells him, voice shaking with fear, “you cannot tell me what is proper and what is not.”

A chuckle escapes the man’s lips as he walks over to her, stopping merely inches away. “I like a girl that, even the face of danger, can muster up enough courage to speak out. You’ll go far, young Crina.”

“H-how--”

“How did I know your name?” He questions, cutting Crina off. She meekly nods, afraid of the answer. Crisitan stands at her side, hand wrapped around my her in case they had to run. “Let’s just say, I’ve been watching you darling fluture. You’re going to look amazing in that wedding gown; but even better in the mourning.”

“Crina, let’s go.” Crisitan says, dragging the blonde away. “This man is delusional, let us get back to town.”

She watches the man as Cristian drags her away. The man never moves, never looks away. He just watches them with a knowing expression on his face. Who this man is, she had no idea, and that alone scares her more than anything…