12. Eleanor

12

ELEANOR

T he Headless Horseman is real.

The Headless Horseman is real, and I am in his home.

Eleanor stayed sitting against the wall, her knees pressed against her chest, refusing to move even an inch. Trapped in her own trepidation. Each rapid beat of her heart caused a ripple of panic to run down her spine at the thought of it being too loud. She crossed her arms over her chest as if she could muffle the sound.

I just need to wait until he isn’t looking and then perhaps…

Perhaps I can run.

Her eyes twitched, staring at the front door.

What did he mean, staying in the cottage was for her own safety?

“Fuck,” she whispered, burying her head in her knees as she wrapped her arms around the nape of her neck, “what am I supposed to do?”

Each sound of wind against his house, or sticks against the walls, had her eyes shooting up to the entry.

What if he was going to get other monsters to take her away? What if he was genuinely helping her, but decided she wasn’t worth the effort? Or what if he never intended to release her in the first place?

“No,” she whispered so quietly it almost came out as a breath. “No. If he wanted me dead, I would be dead.” Her vision began to blur as she looked down at the white dress pooling around her legs. When Eleanor blinked her watering eyes open, dots of wetness began to form on the skirt.

“ Fuck ,” she muttered, her lips beginning to quiver as she forced her eyes to shut, refusing to give in. Refusing to give anyone the satisfaction.

Her chest tightened as she lifted her head, using the back of her hands to wipe the wetness from her eyes. He told her that she was not a prisoner. He told her that she needed to remain in these walls for her own safety.

Osiris, whatever he was, could be lying. But right now, her only choice was to believe him, at least regarding the dangers lurking outside his cottage.It stood to reason, in her mind, that if the Headless Horseman was real, what other monsters lay in wait?

Resolved to survive, she slowly stood up, keeping her back pressed against the wall.

When he came back, he would not see a woman cowering in fear. If he came back with the intention to harm her, she would fight. If he came back with intentions of helping her, he would see that she was apt of doing things on her own.

The sound of footsteps outside had her eyes darting up to the door, where a small rectangular window sat at the top.

Is he coming back?

Quietly, she took cautious steps towards the door. Once she reached it, she stood on her tiptoes, lifting herself high enough to see outside.

The sun shone down brightly, highlighting what looked to be a once thriving garden, a few pumpkins, and a field of dark green grass. The property seemed hidden, surrounded by large oak trees with bright orange leaves.

But what caught her attention was the thing , man, or… monster walking across the field. She watched as Osiris crossed through his barren garden, hastily making his way to the corner.

Eleanor’s eyes stilled as she watched another person approach Osiris.

At first glance, the man he spoke with appeared human, but as she looked closer, she noted the tapered ears and the sharpened canines.

Her eyes widened as cold tendrils of fear wrapped around her chest.

He is alerting others. He is going to bring them here and steal me further away just like I was warned.

Eleanor fell onto the balls of her feet and backed away, trying to keep quiet when suddenly a loud metal clatter sounded from behind her, as she bumped into something.

Her heart fell into the pit of her stomach as she whipped around to see a fire poker that had been leaning haphazardly against a chair.

Picking up the fire poker, she turned around and ran to the wall beside the door as the sound of footsteps approached. She aimed the weapon at the entry, pressing her back against the wall, holding her breath.

If he comes here with that other monster, it is over.

Her eyes did not move, she did not blink until the door flung open.

Without second thought she thrust the poker forward, only making contact with Osiris’ neck for a split second before what looked to be black shadowy tendrils shot out from around him, slamming her hands against the wall and pinning her in place as the door closed. Her eyes widened in alarm at the strength he held over her without so much as touching her.

No—no, not yet!

Eleanor closed her eyes, unable to stop the tremble from coursing through her body as she braced herself. She knew what to expect. She clenched her jaw and waited—waited and…

When she realized she was not overcome with any physical pain, she tentatively dared to open her eyes.

Rather than seeing rage in Osiris’ eyes as she had expected, he looked scared.

Shaking his head, he carefully dropped her arms, his shadows dissipating into the space around them.

“Eleanor,” he said, “I-I am sorry, did I hurt you or-”

This was her chance. She cut off his words as she brandished the poker once again, silencing any lies or possible threats.

Mistrust and what felt like disbelief had her brows knitting together as she held the weapon against his throat while he did nothing but stare down at her.

“It’s okay, Eleanor,” he whispered.

She could not stop herself from glowering at him. How could she not stare? She watched as his mouth moved. The fire in his head brightened and darkened with his words, almost as if giving an insight as to how he was feeling.

She pushed the fire poker deeper into his neck, reminding him of the weapon. Though, now she knew that even defending herself like this would be futile against him.

Osiris slowly lifted his hand to grasp the poker. “You ought to be careful wielding such things, you could get hurt. If you are meaning to escape and protect yourself,” Osiris said, moving it down to his chest, demonstrating as he spoke, “you should know that my head is not my weak point. You should aim here, at my heart.”

Her eyes flicked up to his searching for any sign of trickery, but to her growing concern did his eyes—which were cut out and revealing the flames within—not only seem almost human-like, but they also appeared sincere.

She shook her head, tightening her hold on the iron weapon.

“Tell me why I should not kill you right now,” she snapped. “Why shouldn’t I, when you looked ready to sell me off to whoever that man was, or whatever he was.”

Osiris shrugged his shoulders, using his grip on the end of the fire poker to press it firmly against his chest. “You have no reason to believe the words of someone you deem to be a monster, yet they are true nonetheless,” he said coolly, almost as if he were detached from what was happening. “Still, I have not done anything untoward, have I?”

Eleanor stared at Osiris in disbelief. Her brows knitting together as her muscles strained. Osiris seemed to notice as his eyes, or what seemed like his eyes with the dancing flames, looked down at her hold on the weapon.

“You have not, but you are keeping me here, you are not letting me leave. If I unknowingly crossed into your land I apologize,” she said vehemently, “but it was not my intention to tread upon it.”

Osiris just gazed at her, his flames dimming. He did not respond right away, instead, he took a slight step back, offering her enough space to breathe without the scent of amber and sandalwood invading her senses.

What was she supposed to do? He was like a wall, towering over her. Even with the poker, she would not be able to overpower him. Not before, and especially not now that she knew he possessed more than just brute physical strength.

“Please, Eleanor,” his dark voice once again forcing unwanted reactions from her body, as the once cool fear in her spine began to heat to something different, “settle your worrying mind. I would just like to talk. You can even keep that with you until you feel safe enough to put it down. All I ask, is that you stay inside. Please.”

Osiris wanted to talk? That was all? Eleanor’s eyes flicked towards the door and then back to him. Damn her—damn her all the way to the pits all monsters are borne from because she released a breath and slowly lowered the poker, keeping her eyes on him for any sudden movements.

Osiris smiled softly, his flames still dimmed, as he backed away slowly with his hands held up at the side of his head in a placating fashion.

“Just talk?”

“Just talk,” he confirmed.

“Then, I suggest you get to talking.”

Osiris smiled again, as if he were truly enjoying this encounter.

“As you wish, Eleanor.”