REJECTED SAVIOUR

SIX

FIRE-CITY

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Carim on the other hand felt his head spinning as the resounding slap he had just received made the world rotate before his eyes. The slap stung and he felt the side of his cheek burn from the blow. He glared at the man in pure fury and man stared back at him in surprise.

"Let the lady go!" He said through clenched teeth but the man shook his head stubbornly.

"I found her first so I must have her first. You can continue from where I stopped when I'm done. Now shoo!" He brought his hand to push Carim away but Carim held him by the fingers and was bending them to the side in no time.

The big man cried out in pain as he struggled to release his hand from Carim's wild grip but Carim held on tightly and the big man raised his other hand to hit him. It was times like this Carim was glad to have taken defence lessons from his father, so he ducked and directed a heavy punch to the man's thick face. The man staggered as he tried to regain his balance but Carim was not giving him that time as he was already launching a new attack on the man.

The princess on the other hand stood in shock and fright as watched the strange man fight the r****t in wonder.

The big man, seeing that he could not win the battle and would be dead if he continued to fight, immediately retraced his steps and ran into the forest, with blood dripping from his nose and forehead. He turned to look at the duo one last time, before making way into the forest.

Carim stood, panting as he tried to regain his breath. He slowly turned to the petite woman whose eyes were wide in shock and smiled sweetly at her, loving how beautiful her eyes were. They were a pair of hazel eyes with green flecks and Carim never seen a pair of eyes that beautiful.

"Hi, princess!" He teased and her eyes narrowed.

"How did you know - " she began to speak, panic rising inside of her as she watched the stranger who was now laughing heartily.

"You called yourself one." He informed and she shook her head, relaxing a little that her secret had not been leaked. She stupid to had brought it up to the big man but she had been desperate to escape and had not be wary of what she had been saying. She was glad it was over. Thanks to the stranger before her.

"Thank you," she expressed her gratitude and he flashed her a big smile that got her mesmerized for a moment

"You're welcome." He had his smile intact and she could not help but stare.

He was a handsome man, a very handsome one at that, with his dark brown hair plaited in one big braid and his perfect dark brow shielding a pair of golden-brown eyes complimented his looks. He was manly in every way and despite the robe he had on, she could still see his well defined and toned muscles as they tightened with every movement of his. He was gorgeous and he knew it.

She immediately wished the ground could open up and swallow her when she noticed the smirk playing on his lips. She could not believe he had caught her staring shamelessly at him. She quickly cleared her throat and turned to go.

"It's getting dark. I should head back." She told him and made way to walk past him when his cold fingers held her by the wrist. She turned to look at him in confusion and he tossed her that charming smile on his again.

"You didn't tell me your name." He said to her and she sighed, wondering if she should tell him her real name. She had long been doing this sneaking around and would not be punished severely by her father if she was caught. Telling her name to a stranger could implicate her.

"Don't you want to tell me?" He raised a brow and when she didn't respond, he let out a sigh.

"I'm Carim by the way. I don't know what a young lady like you would be doing in the forest by this time. Come, I'll take you to your house. I don't wish for a repeat of the past incidence."

"I don't wish for that too, but I am fine. You don't need to take me anywhere." The princess was quick to decline and Carim was taken aback.

"Okay, if you say so," he shrugged, "but there is no way I will leave you in this forest. Let's part when we get to the market square. It would be safer there." He offered but the young lady shook her head vehemently.

"This is the only route that leads to my home and I need to get going." She told him and he let go of her arms in surrender. Sure that was not the only way to the palace - Hell! There were several roads that led home - but this was her secret path, a path she was sure no one would catch her when she sneaked out. She was sure some guards would be at the market place and would be damned if she was caught. She was not ready to quit her sneaking around, the palace was just too boring for an only child.

"Wait!" The deep voice of the handsome stranger called out and she internally groaned, turning to look at him with a frown on her face - one she tried to mask but failed woefully.

"I'm sorry," he frowned and she immediately felt remorseful.

"What did you want to say?" She asked him softly, her face relaxing buy the frown still remained on the man's face.

"I just wanted to know your name. I have a right to know, don't I?"

He was right and she knew it.

With a deep sigh, she said.

"Lizvy. My name is Lizvy."

And she turned on her heels and left his sight.

Carim could still remember the day like the back of his hands. He could still remember how he had ran into her again at the market place after so many weeks of searching for her - he had found himself thinking about her through out the night and had wanted to see her again but had never even when he made it a thing to take a walk to the forest for no reason - this time with a veil to cover her face.

How he had known she was the one was beyond him but he just found himself following the lady behind until she had turned to yell at him. Her eyes had softened then when she recognized him and he could still remember how she had sighed like a person burdened with lots and lots of load.

Well, he had asked to walk with her and they began talking - though she had been uncomfortable at first - and one thing led to another and there they were.

The day he had believed that she was truly a princess was when she had showed him the secret path that led to the forest.

What a crazy girl she was and still is, but he was not ready to lose her. Not at all.