Chapter 8 (An exchange in return)

Who are you?"Clara asked panting."And what are you doing here?"

But that made him laugh.

"Don't worry princess."The other said."You will make money for us when we get hold of you."

The two tall guys walked to her direction as Clara went backwards. She looked around hoping for the spirits of the forest to help her that is if they even existed.

"We won't hurt you princess."One said and laughed "Just go the easy way or you know what's next."

"Stay away."She shouted.

"Or else what?"The other said.

Clara was now contemplating on whether to run or wait for help. But time was not on her side and if she still stayed there for a minute,it might be her funeral.

Without wasting much time,she gathered her courage and ran as far as her legs could carry.

"So she wants to play....then let's play."

**********

"Someone please help me."She screamed."Are the spirits of Ora gone astray? Don't they exist? "She asked herself as she regretfully cried."Don't they get rid of such people here? Then why?"

She did not have the time to rest at all. She just kept on running until she hid behind a rock panting, hoping for how she could get out of this.

"Search everywhere. We must not lose her"

"We are not leaving here without that precious gem."

"Then what are we all waiting for? Let's move."

Clara hid there until she heard their footsteps slowly disappearing."I trusted you and this is what I get?"

She just couldn't believe it. The legends she had always held on to was a myth after all.

After verifying that they would not be around here, Clara quickly got up and continued.

***************

The two guys in search of Clara came to a halt after hearing footsteps nearby.

"It's her. Search here and I'll go search the other places."He told the other and went after her."She's trying to be stubborn."

*********

Clara continued running with no one willing to help her. That was when she remembered Azumi. Could she als be in danger?

"At last I've found you."

She just couldn't believe it. He was right behind her. She tried running much further but unfortunately she was no match for him.

"Trying to run huh?"He teased and as soon as he got hold of her,he immediately yanked her to the ground and that made her give a light groan.

"How does that feel?"

Clara with teary eyes stared at him but that didn't soften his heart."Leave me alone "She angrily told him.

That made him scoff."You are stubborn and I like cute girls like that."He told her as he wiped her tears."To eat and use with my bare hands."

"You will pay for this."

"After I'm done with you."

He positioned himself on top of her and gave her a powerful slap knocking her out.

"Dont worry. It's about time I get my reward for chasing you so give yourself to me "

He started kissing her roughly from her cute lips to her slender neck.

"Someone please...."she faintly said but it had seemed no one will be able to save her.

The young guy continued and finally held her smooth breasts kissing and holding her.

He then tore her dress and gently caressed her belly and her thighs downwards.

Clara had never felt such emotions before but this was not the right person nor the time for that.

She felt weak and motionless and almost passed out when she heard a voice lurking in the forest. At last could this be her saviour our just some random guy ready to hurt her too.

"You know... I will be more careful to do enough investigations before jumping into hasty conclusions."

He quickly covered her mouth and eyes and tied her hands with a cloth and immediately the guy angrily turned the look on his face was begging for his life and that made him stand."Your ....."

"Save that for later."Damien said and darkly gazed at him.

"Stay away from this." He replied.

"Leave the girl alone."Damien commanded coldly."Don't let me repeat it the second time."

At least someone was here to save her. With that in mind she allowed darkness to take over her.

But the guy was not ready to give up just like that.

"If you are wondering about your friend's whereabouts "Damien smirked."Don't think about it. He's a goner."

"Don't fool me Damien. You may have Vilgaria but you are in another territory and you don't have the authority here."

"You don't believe me."

Without saying a word,he pulled out a dagger from his pocket with blood stains all around it."You don't expect me to hurt myself. As you can see I have no wounds."

He could not hide that fact.

"Either we all go the easy way or we go the hard way. That was what you said... "He darkly tilted his head."Remember?"

But the young guy was just not convinced enough and Damien's presence only made him angry and that made him give a blow as a clear answer.

"You should have just said no."

And with that the fighting begun with the young guy taking the lead.

Damien had never encountered such techniques with such a person before and he likes that. At last someone could fight to his level.

"Nice try "Damien darkly said and wiped his blood from his mouth."But I don't let people win for more than twice."

"Just go to hell!"

As the fight continued, slowly and steadily, Damien took hold and he did not show mercy at all.

He punched the life out of him until he noticed the guy was almost dead.

Tiredly,he stopped and stood there staring at the scene in front of him.

He smiled and praised himself for doing such a good deed.

Until the guy hit his head with a stone.

"You just don't know when to give up."

"Maybe I don't."

"I warned you but you just don't listen."

Damien said and as the duo continued, Damien smartly stabbed him in the neck.

As the young guy cried for help, Damien did not think twice about leaving him to die. He wanted to end his life. There he continued stabbing him, slicing him into pieces until the guy finally passed away.

He didn't know why but he felt a bit happy doing that and that kept him wondering. Was it just because of her?

"Women...."He scoffed turning to her."You people can make men do wonders."

***********

Clara felt herself being covered and carried but she was too tired to move herself.Deep within her,she knew someone had finally come for her.

He leaned her against a tree and watched her smooth delicate face. He somehow liked that.

Slowly and steadily,he removed the cloth from her eyes and to his surprise,she had woken up.

"Don't worry you are alright."

He stared at her and noticed she was in total shock. All she did was to stare at him with watery eyes until her tears decided to fall.

"Hush....don't be scared. Those guys are dead."He assured her of that."I'm here.... I'll be by your side."

There was silence everywhere.It was as if they were staring at their souls. All he wondered was where he got that love and sympathy for her from. It was as though it just penetrated through him.

Damien delicately removed the cloth covering her mouth and wiped her tears. Where had you been all this time? He asked himself. He was hypnotized by Clara's innocent beauty.

"Thank you sir. You have saved my life."

"There's no need thanking me. I had to do it."

That just cheered Clara up.

"I'm Damien."

"I'm Clara."She said shyly."Is there anything I can do for you for saving me?"

"Well....."

"Clara !"Azumi shouted and ran to her."Leave her alone. Clara what happened? Did he do anything bad to you?I saw some....." She was just flooding Clara's mind with endless questions.

"Do you want her to have nightmares?"Damien cut her off stroking his hair.

Who the hell does he think he is?She asked herself."Who the hell are you?"

But Damien decided to save that for later. Seeing that he was not ready to answer her, Azumi grabbed Clara and was about to leave when....

"I actually saved your friend from those guys you saw."He smiled.I was just doing my part."

"You...you saved her?"

She was totally speechless on hearing that.

"He's right Azumi."Clara told her."He's a good person."

"Yeah... whatever."She somehow didn't like Damien at all."Thanks."She forcefully said."Oh my goodness Clara your dress."

That was when everything started making sense to her."Now let's go. Micah is all alone at home. You don't want her to ponder you with questions."

"About that. Have you forgotten you have a favour to do for me?"

"What?"Azumi asked herself.

"I want you to act as a wife to me?"He said.