Arabella and the Four Knights

ACCIDENTALLY CAPTIVATED ARABELLA made a popping sound on her heart-shaped lips after applying her limited edition Dior plumping red lipstick. With her fingers, she brushed off a few strands of her iron-curled blond hair on her cheeks as she checked her final look in the mirror. Her revealing outfit was perfect for their night out. Her attention shifted to her glass window upon hearing a pebble hit on it. She zipped her high-knee boots and grabbed her chained sling bag. She headed to her window. Seeing her boyfriend, Richard, in their yard made her smile. The lights of their house were all out and no one would notice her leaving their house at eleven in the evening. Expertly yet slowly, she went down from her room on the second floor and dived into Richard's arms. He even gave her a kiss as a reward for her job, escaping their strict household. She was living with her mother, who constantly reminded her not to leave the house without her consent. She was already seventeen and was still guided by an eight pm curfew. While the other teens, even younger than her age, can hang out anytime they want. She had always wanted freedom. And so, she is going out at night with her boyfriend, whom her mom doesn't know about. Her mom would never allow her to be in any relationship with any guys. From afar, she could see where Richard parked his dad's pick-up. Their friends were gathered by the bed and some could fit in the backseat. They headed to the newly opened bar in the next town. Most of them were still not of their legal age but a friend of theirs, from a business family, was able to pull a string for them. Since she met Richard from the nearby university at their school, she had been clubbing for more than a month. She had always been in trouble ever since she entered high school. And now, she is having bigger problems with herself. All she knows is that she is enjoying it. She took a sip of different cocktails here and there and swayed her hips like a slut for her boyfriend. After finishing a few glasses, she could feel her bladder filling up and made herself on her way to the restroom. The dancefloor was full of drunk people and it was expected that she could bump into anyone. A hard, lean body hit her. She looked up, ready to get mad, but stopped when she saw how beautiful the light chestnut eyes of this guy were. It was almost gold and glittering under the party lights. He was maybe one hundred eighty centimeters and in his early twenties. "Ahmm, hi," she said as soon as her lips parted open. She can't even stop herself from smiling. She had never seen a guy that had the most perfect features. His dark blond wavy hair was even silkier than hers. He bowed down and leveled his lips at her ears. "I believe this is not a place for a kid like you," he said in a low, breathy voice. She could feel the goosebumps on her spine from the way he talked. "I am not a kid." She tried to smile even if it was starting to be obvious that she was lying. "Yes. You are," he said as he lifted his hand, holding her ID card. Her eyes grew bigger and snatched back her ID. "And I believe you should not care about that," she answered back. "Unless you own this place and would not allow someone like me to be here." He smiled like he was entertained. "In fact, I did." Her jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me." He kept on smiling and it was starting to convince her. She took a sigh and forced a smile on her. She put her hands on his broad shoulders, tiptoed, and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "If you really are the owner of the place, consider this as my fee for staying here tonight." She smiled, tapped his shoulder and left him. Just before she could step further, a hand grabbed her waist and pulled her towards the cologne that she smelled on the guy who claimed to be the owner of the bar. What happened was too fast. A soft pair of lips pressed against hers. Her body started to heat up when the handsome man's lips started to move. Not only did his lips move, but his tongue began to explore deeper. Her knees almost collapsed, and seemed to have forgotten to balance on the boots she was wearing. She felt disappointed when their lips finally parted. "Now that is enough," he said, smirking. After that, he left her standing there as if nothing had happened between them. Her fingers felt her lips. "What just happened? Did I just cheat on Richard?" she muttered to herself. She could even feel her cheeks burning. "D*mn, I need to cool myself." After she came out of the restroom, a man was standing outside in the men's comfort room. He was wearing black and the way he looked in her direction was really creeping her out. It was like he wanted to eat her alive rather than lust. She hurriedly headed to the dancefloor where there was a crowd. Unfortunately, the man was fast enough to catch her pace. "Hey," he greeted her. "Wanna grab a drink? My treat." "No, thank you. I'm with someone," she answered and forced a smile on her face. She left the man, heading to the table of her friends, but she could still feel the glare from behind. Her boyfriend greeted her with a kiss on the neck. It was ticklish but was not enough to make her calm. "Can we go home?" she asked. "The party is still getting started babe," he said, breathing on her the smell of alcohol. "If you want, I can drive you home," said a voice from behind that made her almost jump. When she turned her head, she confirmed that it was the guy that had been following her. "And who the hell are you?" Richard said as he stepped back, shielding himself from the stranger. "She said she wanted to go home. I just want to drive her--" Before the stranger could even finish his sentence, Richard's fist kissed his face. "That was a nice punch," the stranger praised as he curved a grin on his face. "Is it my turn?" With a great blow, Richard was thrown on the floor a few meters away from where they were. Her eyes went bigger. A normal man could not do that. But there was only one thing she knew. They need to get out there as soon as possible. Whoever the stranger is, they need to stay away. "F**k!" Richard cursed as he tried to get up, wiping the blood on the side of his lips. She could see the fear on his eyes. Luckily, the bouncer went to look after what was happening. "Come on. We need to go," she said as she helped her boyfriend to stand up. Richard got into the car and started it in a hurry. They even left a few of their friends at the bar. They don't even have time to ask and they will probably ask too many questions. There are only four of them in the car. Richard is also driving like he was in a drag race. "Why are we leaving again?" asked Angela, the girl in the backseat. "Damn. I did not even pay for my last drink." "I'm sorry. It's just that--" she answered, looking back. "Richard, watch out!" Angela shouted. She immediately looked in front to see a silhouette of a person in the middle of that empty road. Her boyfriend immediately made a turn on the steering wheel. It was too late for them to make a break before they would hit whoever that was. Richard was drunk and he was not able to save them from hitting the side of the road. The car was stopped by the large trunk of a tree. The bumper in front was greatly smashed. Everything was blurry when Arabella opened her eyes. The airbag was out. Richard's eyes were closed as large pieces of glass stacked on his chest. "Oh, no. This is not happening," she uttered. The tears in her eyes were starting to build up. She looked behind and saw the two lovebirds not making any move. She removed her seatbelt and tried to make her way out of the car. Her head was in great pain and she could feel the blood on her cut dropping on her temple. As soon as she got out, her eyes settled on a pair of man's shoes in front. She looked up to see the guy who punched Richard now standing there. She opened her lips to ask him for desperate help but was not able to say when the guy's eyes turned blue. And she was not sure if she was still drunk to see such things. The next thing she knew was his hand grabbing her neck, choking her. He even lifted her from the ground with a hand. "What the hell is happening? This isn't normal anymore!" she thought. She was struggling and her eyes were shut. This man is trying to kill her. "Please... Don't," she begged, gripping his hand. "Help," she voiced out as if someone could hear her. The guy grinned and said, "If I kill his mate, perhaps I can rule the pack. This is an awesome idea." The guy laughed. "He can't brag about becoming a king." She was paying more attention to whatever he was uttering. What she knows is that she is almost out of breath and this could be the last seconds of her life. "Someone. Please help me," she said in her mind. Then suddenly, her whole body dropped to the ground. The hand on her neck was no more. She constantly coughed and tried her best to open her eyes. There she saw a big furry creature biting the bad guy's neck. It was a dark blond animal. The creature looked at her with its pair of beautiful golden eyes. And before it could step more towards her, darkness took over her entirely.