Page 9 of Unseen Eye
As the creature circles me like a predator toying with its prey, I brace for the attack. All fear gives way to raw survival instinct. With a scream that echoes through the forest, I raise my dagger and wait for the moment to strike. “Nimble like a nymph, swift as a shadow,” Kendry’s lessons echo in my mind.
I manage to land a few good strikes, drawing blood from its twisted form and forcing it back for a moment. The blood is not normal—black and oozing, quickly staining my pants. If I weren’t fighting for my life, I’d be freaking out about the mess.
However, the creature is relentless, undeterred by pain. It attacks with renewed ferocity, lunging with bared fangs. I sidestep, pivoting behind its front leg, and drive my dagger into its side, just beneath the ribs. For a fleeting moment, there’sa flicker of triumph as the creature lets out a pained howl and collapses. But before I can catch my breath, more emerge from the shadows, their eyes burning brighter with hatred and hunger. I’m outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of options.
In other words, I’m screwed.
I wonder what Kendry will think when he finds me gone in the morning. Will he find me? Will there be anything left to find? With nowhere left to run, I stand my ground, heart pounding as the creatures close in. Their gaze is piercing, their anger apparent as they circle closer.
Apparently, they decide they’ve wasted enough time, as one lunges and knocks me onto my back. The impact takes the breath from my lungs, and I stare up at the creature towering over me. Its red eyes burn with a sinister glee, and its hot breath makes me gag. My heart races as I scramble backward, but there is no escape.
It lunges one last time, and in a moment of sheer desperation, I throw up my hand as a silent plea for mercy. Suddenly, a blinding burst of light erupts, cutting through the darkness with a radiant intensity. It’s not just a flash; it’s a dazzling beam of pure power that slices through the creature’s chest and making it rear back with a howl of pain. The light consumes it, disintegrating its form into wisps of shadow.
Breathing heavily, I stare at my hands, still tingling from the surge of power. The light fades, but its warmth lingers—a strange comfort in the cold night. What the absolute hell? Where did that come from? Was it me? Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.
As if summoned by my silent plea for help, a figure emerges from the shadows, stepping into the moonlight with an aethereal grace that defies description. It’s dark, but even in the dim light, his beauty is undeniable. His features are sculpted withthe precision of a master craftsman, every line and contour radiating an otherworldly allure. He moves quickly, passing by the stunned creatures who hesitate, their confusion evident, as if they can’t quite process what happened either.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demands, his sharp gaze assessing the situation.
Before I can answer, the beast lunges, forcing him into immediate action. He engages it with a fluid grace that speaks of years, decades even, of training. His movements are a mesmerizing dance of steel and shadow. He hurls a dagger with deadly accuracy at a creature sneaking up on me, never taking his eyes off his current target. Meanwhile, I lay there like an idiot trying to comprehend what the hell is happening before my eyes.
“For fuck’s sake, woman. Are you just going to lay there?” he calls out, his voice dripping with frustration.
Snapping out of my daze, I retort sarcastically, “Well, I do feel more rested now after lying down for a bit,” as I launch myself at the nearest beast. His glare tells me he’s less than amused.
We fight side by side, our movements unexpectedly synchronized. He is fast and precise, effortlessly cutting down the beasts with his sword. I focus on the smaller, more agile creatures, slashing and dodging their attacks with equal ferocity.
“Nice moves,” he comments, casually deflecting a beast’s bite with a twist of his blade before swiftly dispatching it. “But you missed one.”
I spin around, narrowly evading another beast’s lunge. “Thanks for the tip, asshole,” I snap, driving my dagger into its side with a satisfying thud.
“Evil little thing, aren’t you?” He chuckles, a deep, rich sound that oddly resonates with me amid the chaos. “Seems like that tongue’s as sharp as your blade. A simple thank you would’ve sufficed.”
“Thank you?” I echo with an eye roll as I retrieve my dagger. “Ihad everything under control.”
“Clearly,” he replies with a grin, swiftly dealing with another beast. “Why the hell are you out here? Alone?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I retort, sarcasm dripping from my words despite the adrenaline rush. “Or are you just here to play hero?”
He arches an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. “Hero, huh? Depends on your definition. Besides, it’s not every day I get to see someone with a death wish this entertaining.” His tone is playful, but there’s an undercurrent of sincerity that catches me off guard. Each strike of his sword is precise, each parry flawless as he drives the creatures back with practiced ease.
Finally, as the last beast retreats into the forest, I take a moment to catch my breath and gaze at my ‘hero.’ His features are strikingly perfect, with a chiseled jawline and high cheekbones that create a face of unparalleled beauty. A few small scars on his cheek catch the moonlight, adding a rugged charm to his otherwise flawless appearance. Silken dark brown waves cascade around his face, curling around his neck. His broad shoulders and muscular build speak of both strength and agility, every muscle honed to perfection.
With the immediate threat abated, I cut him off with a smirk. “So, is creeping on women in a dark scary forest your type of thing?”
He glances up, a mix of surprise and amusement flickering across his face. “I’m glad to see you’re in good spirits,” he says, though his tone carries a hint of disbelief.
With a shake of his head, he turns his attention back to me, his gaze softening as he assesses my condition. “Are you injured?” he asks, concern evident in his voice as he continues scanning our surroundings.
I shake my head, still reeling from the intensity of theencounter. “No, I’m fine,” I manage to reply, though the words feel hollow on my tongue.
“What were you doing—” he begins to ask, but in that moment, we lock eyes, and suddenly time seems to stand still. There’s a flicker of recognition in his gaze, a flash of something that makes my heart skip a beat. He looks at me as if he’s seen a ghost, his expression shifting from shock to disbelief.
“Fuck,” he whispers, the words barely audible but laced with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. And just as quickly as he appeared, the most gorgeous man I have ever seen vanishes into thin air, leaving me wondering if he was ever really there in the first place.
Chapter Five
I stand there, dazed and disoriented, staring at the spot where the mysterious man vanished. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of fear, confusion, and something else I can’t quite identify. If it weren’t for the dead bodies of the beasts scattered around me, I might have convinced myself it never happened at all. Slowly, I force myself to breathe, steadying the wild rush of adrenaline. It’s time to psych myself up for the long, lonely trek back home.
