Chapter 3.

Andria.

It’s past midnight and I just finished washing the napkins and aprons. In addition, finished cleaning the entire bar for tomorrow.

Mr Krosov doesn’t like the bar left untidy. He expects us to clean it and he always leaves me to do it, since I equally stay upstairs.

I, Ana and Crina, all rent the rooms upstairs. Yet, he makes me clean, because he knows I can’t afford my rent these days; paying for lessons and all.

I had to negotiate with him to allow me stay and I would do extra jobs for him at the bar.

So there you have it; I clean the bar, wash the dishes, prepare dough for bread; leaving it to rest until daylight, when Rosa would prepare the breads.

I yawn, as I go dump the rubbish in the bin at the back. It’s cold out tonight and the moon is bold and beautiful. I remember stories of the Luna princess my mom used to tell me.

She told me, the Luna Princess was cursed by the people of darkness. Never to see the moon again, because she fell in love with the dark prince.

When the curse didn’t stop their forbidden love, they decided to do the unthinkable to both the Princess and the Dark Prince. They made her as an offer of sacrifice to the dark Prince; one he couldn't refuse, to clean his kingdom of his sacrilege.

The prince had to accept the sacrifice and the Princess died in his arms; never to be seen again.

That story always got to me. Still does.

I hear a howling sound in the distance, sending chills down my spine. I better go inside, before my presence attract wolves. They stroll into the village sometimes at night.

But locking the doors and putting a fire in front of the windows help. I put on the fires and nod in satisfaction.

I have a recorded online lectures I've to listen to tonight. There’s even a quiz, so I have to hurry and finish up.

I walk into the kitchen to prepare the dough for bread. Am covered in flour, ruining the borrowed jacket am wearing. I borrowed it, because a customer spilled drink on my jacket tonight and I had to let mine dry.

I put the machine on and allow it blend the dough ingredients.

I hear a sound outside, and go over the window to check. It’s a cat, digging the dumpster for fish.

Sorry, no fish tonight.

I smile. Am still shaken about what happened in the bar tonight. How the stranger saved me. The fierce look I saw in his stormy grey eyes. The darkness I saw in those eyes. It shook me. And when I pleaded with him to stop, he loosened his hold on Raleigh's neck. He saved me

No one has ever stood up for me like that in years.

There was a time dad and mum used to protect me. Their contribution to society, well valued by the enigmatic and reclusive Count of Bran.

Sadly, during their funeral, the Count didn’t even show up.

He only sent a letter, apologizing to the family for their loss. I never even got hold of the letter, my uncle did. Beamned with pride about the letter.

I later heard he was subsequently snubbed by the Count, when he went to pay him homage. He never brandished dad’s wealth again. Actually, he sold everything and migrated to another country. I haven’t heard from him, ever since.

My other colleagues are out in a party. It’s Thursday and most of the bars have parties that they hold for the miners and other villagers. But Mr Krosov is always family oriented and doesn’t like keeping the bar open late. He prefers you drink and go home. Yet he didn't save me tonight. Watched Raleigh touch me.

I would have attended the party, but I was too scared from the incident of tonight. Didn't want any man touching me again.

I’ve attended once at Christmas and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Men groping me under the bar lights, kissing me. Making me uncomfortable. Drunken guys. Crina took me there, and I regretted it. Just a bunch of idiots randomly drinking and having sex with each other.

In the end, I had to escape the place with a few scrapes on my skin. Nicov found me outside the party and he took me home. I shut the door against the entire world that night, crying at the shamelessness of those men that touched me.

My mind has been dying to drift to that handsome stranger, who I had rudely spoken to. And yet, he saved me when I needed help. He almost killed Raleigh for my sake. His bloodshot eyes on me, when Mr Krosov threw Raleigh out.

Even after Raleigh left, the stranger held my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes. His scent, mesmerizing me. He inquired about my wellbeing; the concern in his stormy grey eyes, deep.

When he called my name, thereafter, requesting politely I brought his usual drink, there was something in his eyes that passed through me. A current of electricity. It was brief, but it was enough to make my entire world fade into oblivion.

I found myself regarding the man the way I regard handsome men on the covers of magazines. His cap dropped on the table for the first time, revealing the real color of his hair, auburn and black, his clean shaven face.

His dreamy, smoke colored eyes.

The machine stops, indicating I can knead the dough. I drop my phone, rising to attend the dough. A heavy hand covers my mouth; the smell of fish and some other ugly scent, very harsh and offensive fills my nose.

My head suddenly heavy and woozy. A harsh whisper in my ear, the breathing, the scent.

“Now you would never terrorize the girls again.”

Those are the last words I hear, before I pass out.