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Chapter VI: The Journey Beyond

I winced as Jane wrapped my hands. She grimaced. "Almost a week, and you have gone through more than most of us go through a month."

"I'm guessing that's not a good thing?" We were sitting on one of the cots in the servant's quarters. It was dusty and old, but it was good shelter from the weather. Or so I was told. However, I struggled to keep warm. I'm guessing it was the same for everyone. The blankets were brittle and torn. Wind still managed to creep in through the cracks and nip on any exposed flesh. I did not even want to know what it was like when it rained. However, I guess I might find out soon, if I survived.

Jane shrugged. "I don't know. You are something different altogether. Fortune shines in your favour."

"How am I fortunate?" I asked and shook my head. "My life leaves no mark in the future, therefore I am taken. Then I get sold to a notorious powerful family, and targeted by Master Hevil..."

"You weren't the only one," Jane responded and she blinked hard. "I am grateful to Titus, but some things even he could not prevent."

"I'm so sorry," I said and she shook her head. "We're all in this together you know? To the bitter end."

"I refuse to believe that," I said and shook my head. "I refuse to give up hope."

"Don't cling to it too hard," Jane warned me. She massaged my shoulder and wrapped it. "You need to rest..."

"But I might have to help for tonight's dinner..."

"Master Monroe has clearly dismissed you for tonight. Apparently he was plans for you tomorrow..." Jane took my good shoulder and held it firmly. "Take my advice, use this opportunity. There are few and far between."

I nodded and lay back. "Thank you, for all your kindness Jane."

"You need not thank me," Jane muttered. "You bestowed so much more when you shielded the most wicked man of my mistake, and took a part of the beating meant for me." Jane left as she said this, and I was left looking up at the ceiling. I started thinking about the night before. How Dimitri's little acts of kindness made her wonder what kind of a man he really was. Him rescuing me from the pit also struck me as odd. It was true, he did not want to leave me to waste. But was it even possible that a small part of him cared? Soon, my eyes grew heavy and I was out like a candle.

I woke up early morning, before everyone else. I slipped into the bathroom, washed up and then headed out. I sat on a rock I found in the gardens, away from all eyes and ears. I would be back before anyone needed me, but I needed a minute to myself.

My thoughts wandered back to my old life.

"Why did you leave us?" Archie's voice rang in my mind.

"I will find my way home, I promise you," I whispered to the wind. "Little brother."

As soon as the sun began to rise, I returned to the servant's quarters. Everyone was rising and scrambling to get ready.

"AVA!" Nathan's voice bouldered in the room.

My heart skipped a beat. Was I in trouble now? I ran up to him.

"You're looking better I see,"

"Still a little stiff and sore, but good and ready for whatever Dimitri has in store for me," I said with an edge of confidence.

Nathan raised his brow. "Good, come with me."

I followed Nathan out back and to the stables. I guess I had to clean the muck out. I grabbed a rake.

"What are you doing?" Nathan asked.

"I just thought..."

"That is McGregor's job...come,"

I put the rake back and followed Nathan onto an open field. Dimitri was already there, along with one of his brother's I had learned to call Master Damien. He had longer hair, up to his shoulders, and a scar that ran a line through his left eye. He was dressed far more luxuriously than his older brother, and carried a mocking smile along with it.

They were busy readying their horses, but I frowned. There were two of them, and three horses. Was someone else coming along?

"Master Monroe...she is here as requested," Nathan spoke.

Dimitri turned around, and I respectfully glanced to the ground. "Can you ride Ava?"

My eyes widened. " I believe so, Sir." Was this other person meant to be me!?

"Good, cause you're coming with us,"

What on earth?! I closed my gaping mouth and and bit my lip in nervousness.

"Seriously giving the scum of the earth a horse? Can't she just walk all the way?" Master Damien asked.

"If she walks, it slows our journey and makes us more vulnerable to the monsters lurking inside..." Dimitri answered. He was fixing the straps then motioned for me to come. The horse was magnificent, mostly white, with black spots dotted around. However, I only ever rode a horse three times in my life.

"And why are you taking her again?" Damien asked exasperated. Dimitri shot him a look.

"Considering the last time I left my property home unattended for days, I found her very much dead. I leave this one for a few hours, and she gets a beating and falls into a pit. Like it or not, I just don't trust my family to properly take care of what is rightfully mine."

Damien shook his head. I was now standing next to the horse, wondering how to climb on. I was probably seconds away from a beating if I did not accomplish this. I grabbed the edge of the seat on top and tried to pull myself up. Pain shot through my wounded shoulder and I gritted my teeth as I landed on the ground.

I heard footsteps behind me, and turned around to my dismay to see it was Dimitri.

"I thought you said you could ride a horse?"

"Yes, Sir, I can," I insisted. "I just don't know how to..."

I gasped as Dimitri grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me onto the saddle. I gripped the edge.

"Swing your leg over, the uniform should not tear," Dimitri commanded me.

"If only," Damien spoke and smirked at me. I did my best to ignore him as I swung my leg across, and I gave a deep breath of relief. I was on the horse. I had not fallen off yet, and I had not received a beating...yet. Dimitri grabbed the reigns of the horse and lead the majestic animal to his black steed. He climbed up with one arm, still holding the reigns of mine in the other. "Hope you're comfortable, it's gonna be a long trip. Don't fall off, because next time you're walking, or getting on yourself."

I nodded, and gripped my seat tightly. I was partially hungry and wondered how much I would get to eat on this journey. However, Jane did provide me with some leftovers in the middle of the night, and so I could still last while. "I understand, Sir."

Dimitri nodded at this, and clicked his tongue while squeezing his legs to get his horse moving. His horse started walking, and so did mine. Damien followed from behind. My eyes widened as I took note of the sword strapped onto Dimitri's horse, and what looked like a gun was strapped on his side. I was still to understand this world, but I grew more scared. Where were we going if Dimitri felt the need to take weapons?

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