THE GIFTED LUNA

CHAPTER 2

Eyes still shut, Tiara stayed rooted to the ground, too scared to even breathe.“Well, what are you waiting for?” The armed man’s partner rang through the air. Still focused on Tiara, the armed man ignored his partner.“Look, all you heard were a few leaves rustling. That could’ve been anything, a squirrel, a rat, an oversized insect, or even the wind. I saw a deer over there and that deer is not going to sit around waiting for us to put an arrow through it. If we waste another moment here, we’ll lose our chance,” the armed man’s partner, slightly annoyed by his partner’s silence. “Fine,” the armed man said with an exasperated sigh, “Lead the way”Much to her relief, Tiara watched the man lower his weapon as his partner guided him away from her. She waited till the coast was clear before making a break for it. Her house was only a few feet away and all she needed at that moment was the safety of the four walls of her home.She kept running, refusing to look at anything else but the straight path to her house. “Ouch!”, she exclaimed after running right into something. “Are you okay?” She heard a voice ask. Knowing she had run right into the arms of what she had been trying to escape, she pulled her knees to her chest and squeezed her eyes shut.“Please don’t kill me,” she murmured.“Give me one reason not to,” the voice responded and she froze.“Hey, hey, I’m kidding. I’m not gonna hurt you. Are you alright?”She said nothing in response.She heard the man move and she braced herself for the end. Instead of an arrow to her chest, she felt the man’s arm around her as he lifted her off the ground, bridal style. I guess they’ve got a sacrifice spot, she thought to herself.After a two-minute walk, she was lowered onto the ground. Although she knew she was about to get skewered, she missed her captor’s touch.“Hey, you’re safe now,” the voice said. Summoning courage, she opened her eyes and her heart did a little dance. Her captor’s face was mere inches away from her and boy, was it a sight to behold. He had smooth skin that shimmered in the sunlight, striking green eyes that hinted at unseen depth, a symmetrical face that highlighted his attractiveness, and a chiselled jawline that enhanced his masculinity. He had a full head of silky, black hair and a light beard that complemented his face. He had a toned body that was not overly muscular but had enough muscles to display his strength. Her gaze drifted to his lush lips.“Are you okay?” He asked again, pulling Tiara away from her distracted thoughts. Recalling the gravity of her current situation, she looked around to find that she was on her own balcony.“Who are you?” She squeaked, her voice still struggling to find its way back to her. He let out a light chuckle and her heart did a flip. She had never heard a more beautiful sound.“I think that’s my line. But first, are you alright?” he asked, concern expressing itself on his pretty face.“I’m fine,” she blushed.“You really shouldn’t be out there by yourself. The forest is a dangerous place.”She nodded. She winced in pain as she tried to get up, her hand flying to her head. She found that there was a tear on her forehead and from the way it felt, it seemed bad. A concerned frown overtook his handsome features.“You’re hurt,” he said with a frown, “I’ll tend to that,” and with that, he stood up and Tiara saw, for the first time, just how intimidating he was as a man. He turned to go back to the forest but before she could stop herself, Tiara stopped him.“Please don’t leave me,” she said, her voice raspy.“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he responded with a kind smile before he left. Tiara watched his imposing figure get smaller, her heart racing, not with fear, but with an excitement she found hard to explain. She watched as he plucked a few healing herbs from the forest while stealing glances at her.After a moment too long, he was by her side again. He expertly mixed the herbs to form a medicinal paste and applied it on her forehead with surprising tenderness.“Where’d you learn to make concoctions like this?” She asked, intrigued.“Eh, when you are responsible for the lives of several people, it comes to you naturally,” he shrugged.“What?”“Don’t worry about it,” he said, once again flashing that dazzling smile of his.“Okay! You’re all fixed up. Think you can stand?”She nodded, rising to her feet. She sucked in a breath as a pang of pain shot through her.“Hey, you don’t have to get up if you’re still hurt,” he said, still worried for her.Now it was her turn to chuckle.“Well, I can’t exactly stay here, can I? The last time I stood in one spot, I nearly got shot,”“What?!” He exclaimed, a little surprised by the casualty of her tone.“Don’t worry about it,” she smirked.He narrowed his eyes at her.“I’ll be here with you. Whatever may come finding you won’t touch a hair on your head,” he said.She searched his eyes for the hint of a lie but found none. Right there, staring into his eyes, she felt a rush of electricity course through her.“Now, what were you doing in the forest all by yourself?” he probed.“Oh, it’s nothing,” she responded, his voice jolting her out of her thoughtsHe stared at her, unconvinced, leaving her breathless at the intensity of his gaze.“Fine, I went to get herbs to sell.”“You shouldn’t be out here on your own,” he said sternly.“It’s not like I have a choice,” she responded, slightly annoyed.Worry overtakes his features.“Do you live here?” He asks pointing to her house, “All alone?”“It’s nothing you should concern yourself with. I’m fine. Thanks for-“His index finger was suddenly on her lips, stopping her from finishing her sentence. She looked at him with a small frown and found that he was laser-focused on a random tree in the forest.“What are you-“He placed his second index finger on his lips, silencing her again and she folded her arms in protest.His voice barely a whisper, he said, “I think we’re being watched.”“What?!” she exclaims in a low whisper.“We’ll be alright,” he said trying to comfort her. Straightening himself and somehow, appearing even bigger,“Show yourself!” he barked into the forest.No response.“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he said even louder.Still no response. Tiara’s heart was pounding against her chest in fear again.“Show yourself,” he said with a tone of finality and slowly, the armed man she had seen earlier appeared before them.