18 Chapter (18): Squinted Grace

Elizabeth whacked on the door.

"Hey, cousin! Are you there?"

She shouted.

Inside the cottage, Ryan yanked back. What on the whole world brought Elizabeth here? He had not fixed the bed and stuff, he only had put the essential stuff inside the bag, he shot the bag under the table with his feet and surged for the door brushing his hair with his long fingers.

He opened the door and his whole existence shook, not only his pounding heart. Luna was there too.

"Gods! What are you doing here?"

He blurted the words that were not exactly like what he wanted to say.

"What a low level of greeting you have gotten! I am disappointed, cousin."

Elizabeth poked Ryan's chest with her thin pointy fingers, pushing him to step backward.

"I meant welcome! Luna, you surprised me."

"Did I?" Luna walked inside after her sister.

"Yes," the word jumped out of his dried throat. He turned back as her perfume intoxicated him. It always did, this vast purity, she could make life colorful for him, proving that there were reasons he rarely could leave because he feared not smelling her scent.

"Wow! Cousin, did a dirty goblin find a way here? How do you stay here!"

Elizabeth was straight she was ruthless and didn't mind if her words could hurt someone.

He coughed, "I was cleaning!"

"I sense a soft perfume! Did you have a guest?"

Luna asked.

The question sent a chill to Ryan's head. He grew dumbstruck.

"No one is here but you girls, tell me what are you doing here?"

Elizabeth dragged a chair back for her sister and made her sit down in relief.

"First lit up the woods in the fireplace, I dislike having a cold before my 20th birthday."

Elizabeth nagged, directing to the fireplace.

Ryan did not hesitate and nodded, peeking at Luna who was quiet.

"We are going to Snow feast, would you come?"

Luna asked without wasting more time.

Ryan sat on his knees, putting some woods in the fireplace to make the fire stronger while looking into the fire, he frowned, he loathed that the girls would go in such a public feast.

"How did he accept?"

He said roughly, not being fascinated with this news.

"You meant, how did we convince your father? We convinced him with sisters' tricks, tomorrow is my birthday. Would you come or not?"

He peered into the lashing fire, thinking that could be a proper time to reveal his decision about leaving. It was harder for him not to see their faces but he couldn't live this life like this, with an expanded killing emotion.

"I would come if you want me."

He got to his feet and leaned beside the fireplace wall. Folding his hand, he gazed at Elizabeth who was still scanning the place. She wasn't stupid and obviously noticed that a woman was there, however, the lace panties on the floor proved that.

"Shameless!" Elizabeth mumbled.

She felt a wince that ran forward and smashed her feet.

"Well, I am here to talk to you!"

Luna uttered, she felt that her chest was heavy but it was the right time to discuss it. He heard Jason was talking to Charles that Ryan had decided to leave because he had gathered some belongings that mattered to him so much. She would not let him go, not because of her.

"I am all ears, you had brought me here for some reasons." Elizabeth leaned back, folding her hands in her chest.

"That night!" She swallowed. She closed her eyes to gather her courage.

"You don't have to pursue yourself to remember that night." Ryan cut her.

"Let me talk before it chews me from inside."

She heaved out a cold breath. Ryan could hear his heart kicking his chest, pushing him to go forward and cry on her skirt but he wasn't a child anymore although he regretted his neglect. Perhaps she was right and they were bounded up to speak about it.

"I was saying, I remember that night as clear as the color of roses in the yard."

Ryan stood straight, his hand dropped and his eyes grew wide. Did she really remember who had done this to her? Who was that bastard?

"Calm down, Ryan! I know you enough to realize what you are keeping in that big head!"

Luna warned. Elizabeth was as open-mouthed as her cousin.

"And then?" Ell asked, her voice was low.

"I didn't see the person who hit me!"

Ryan brushed his fingers into his hair and turned back.

"The horse was riding fast and I was on the margin of the road, wishing a cart to pass, I was frightened because it seemed he was following someone. I slipped and my head beat the stone. I was already worn out and furious. The man halted and dismounted the horse I remember his boots that didn't belong to a regular person, they were rare leathers."

She paused to take a breath but her narration term was slow and the reason she got over-anxious was letting the memory of that night come to her mouth.

"He approached me but things grew hazy, but I clearly saw that a wolf jumped between me and the man then I fainted, then, when I opened my eyes things were blurry, and something was riding me back."

"A horse?"

Elizabeth asked.

Luna frizzed, she didn't know if they could ever believe this but that wasn't the horse of that rushing man. She closed her eyes, her fingers twisted as a fist, and squeezed her skirt between her gloved fingers.

"No, sister! A wolf! I was sure that was a wolf's fur."

The truth was nuisance and bitter. Ryan felt that his heart was boiling and his nerves were aching.

"A wolf? Which kind of wolf? What road you were exactly crossing?"

Ryan surged to the table and hit it with his fist. Elizabeth yanked back and displayed him a glare.

"Are you insane? Spew that disgusting rage out on someone else." She told Ryan.

"Uncle said the wind had swirled the road guide board. I was dropped in the..." She was panicked, her look was frightened as if she was dropped into that nightmare again. Elizabeth grasped her hand tightly.

"In the?" Ryan grabbed her hand.