10. Eleanor

10

ELEANOR

E leanor’s eyes slowly opened, the sound of someone knocking on the door in rapid succession filling the room, accompanied by the smell of freshly made pancakes and warm butter.

She sat up carefully, her head still feeling the effects of last night. Looking down, she realized she was still wearing her wedding dress. Only, it was no longer pristine. It had stains of dirt and grass, some drops of blood near her shoulder, and was altogether a wrinkled mess. If her uncle had been here to see her, he would surely spew his rage.

“Please put on the blindfold,” Osiris requested.

Eleanor looked to the bedside table, and sure enough, there was a black blindfold neatly resting atop it. She laughed softly. “Is this truly necessary?” Reaching forward, she picked it up and did as he asked. She lifted it to her eyes and carefully tied it around her head. “It is on. I am officially unable to see,” she teased.

“It is necessary,” he started, “I wish to speak with you, and you must eat.”

“How am I supposed to eat if I cannot see anything?”

Footsteps approached and she listened intently as they came closer, stopping just in front of her.

“May I touch you?” he asked, almost sheepishly. “I will bring you to the table where you can eat.”

Eleanor’s face began to heat as she nodded carefully. Not being able to see only made her focus on his voice even more. It was deep and raspy, and she was sure she could listen to him talk all day.

Why am I so nervous?

She carefully lifted her hand and after a moment, she felt a large hand wrap around hers. She let him gently pull her to her feet. Even in his movements, there was hesitation. As he placed his other arm around her waist to guide her, her heart seemed to skip a beat.

Eleanor followed his pacing, carefully taking one step after the other, turning as he put more or less pressure on her waist.

This situation should have made her even more nervous of who her captor was, though oddly enough, it was a breath of excitement in her otherwise routine life.

Osiris pulled on her waist and she stopped moving. The next thing she heard was the sound of a chair being pulled back against the wooden floors.

“Please sit, Eleanor,” he asked gently.

Complying with his request she sat down, unable to help the blush that was more than likely creeping across her face. Each time he said her name she wanted to ask him to say it again and again.

Osiris pushed in her chair so that she could rest her arms on the table. His large hands were once again on hers, as he guided her fingertips to the fork and knife that were on either side of the plate.

“Please do not hesitate to ask if you need help, Eleanor.”

What is wrong with me?

Lifting the utensils, she carefully felt around the plate until she found the edges of the pancake. “Did you make this?” she asked, digging in her fork and cutting off a piece.

Osiris hummed. “Yes, it is not much, but I thought you might be hungry. Though, I must admit, I am not known for my culinary skills.”

Bringing the fork to her mouth, she took a bite. It was perfectly soft and deliciously sweet. Eleanor moaned softly as she raced for another taste. She was starving, and how long had it been since she could treat herself to something sweet?

“Do you like it that much?”

She paused, the next bite hovering in front of her mouth. Her face reddened and she began to lower her fork. “I am sorry, I did not mean to eat so much-”

Osiris grabbed her hand, stopping it from setting the utensil down. “Why apologize for such things? Please eat until you are full. I only ask because I wished to make something to satisfy you. Please eat, Eleanor.”

Eleanor nodded, lifting the fork to her lips once more.

They continued on in comfortable silence as she ate. Osiris didn’t once stop her or speak until she was done. The hunger that had been gnawing at her was sated, and for once, she didn’t wish for more. It was a feeling of true fullness that she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

After she set her utensils down, Osiris finally spoke. “We must discuss your being here.”

Eleanor nodded her head. “Yes, of course, I shall be out of your hair today. I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality.”

“Well,” Osiris started, hesitating before he continued, “I am not confident you will be able to leave today. Do you, by any chance, know where you are?”

“When we collided, I was heading into the Evermore Forest, but after that…” her voice trailed off.

Osiris hummed. “We are still somewhat within the Evermore Forest, but where we are, is dangerous. It was a risk bringing you home, and if you wish to leave, I worry for what might happen.”

“What do you mean?”

Osiris hesitated. “The woods can be a dangerous place, and if you are spotted, the locals might not fare well to your being here,” he started explaining. Eleanor could feel herself growing frustrated with the shroud of misdirection and mystery.

Eleanor sighed. “Then help me leave, Osiris,” she said bluntly.

“Well, it is not that simple. Where are you even going? Do you know? Do you have a map? Supplies? You have no horse, so do you intend to walk?”

His questions shot off as if he truly had been planning since he left her last night.

“Listen, Osiris, I am thankful for your hospitality, I really am. Still, I am leaving today. I can handle myself, so if it is bandits you worry about, then you can rest easy.”

“No, Eleanor,” he pleaded, “I do not mean to impose on your plans, but you do not even know where you are. If you wait a few days, mayhap I can acquire a horse or-”

“A few days?” she repeated, shaking her head. “I think I should go. If you could please show me to the door then I will be on my way.”

Eleanor stood up, pushing her chair back. She wanted to argue with him more, but he was a complete stranger. What good would arguing do when she owed him nothing?

“Eleanor, please,” he begged, “I promise, a few days and you can be on your way-”

“Osiris, bring me to the door.”

“-and then you will be more prepared, but leaving now is not safe, besides-”

“Osiris!” she exclaimed, frustration beginning to crackle behind her eyes.

Eleanor puffed out a breath. Why was she even listening to him? Why was she wearing a ridiculous blindfold? Because he said so?

Money. Power. Control. All men are the same. And even this man, Osiris, who knows nothing of me, wants to tell me what to do and where to go.

The sound of a chair being pushed back caught her attention, but he did not walk towards her. “You should still rest; you are injured and what if you get lost-” he kept rambling.

She had had enough. He wasn’t listening to her; he wasn’t going to show her to the door.

Eleanor lifted her hands to the blindfold as Osiris urged her to stop and ripped it off.

She lifted her eyes and froze.

Her blood ran cold as her muscles tensed, and the hairs on the back of her neck began to rise, the feeling of wrongness creeping up her spine.

What her eyes landed was not the man that had helped her, but something that had stolen her. His large pumpkin head glowed with the flames that danced within, his body was massive, and imposing, looming over her with his heated, fiery gaze.

She knew running wasn’t an option.

Step number five.

I should have listened to step number five.