The Grimm

Chapter 1

Small tree branches whipped at my face as I sprinted through the dense forest. Each limb that I did not manage to dodge left a small cut on my skin, or a tear in my clothes. Labored breathing and the sweat pouring off my face reminded me I should really do more cardio. Usually I do my best to stay out of sight, keep my head down, and avoid confrontation. Today was the first day I had ever been brave enough to cause a scene.

"Keep to the shadows Zelia, you're no good if your dead" my mother used to say when I would act out. 

As a child, I often wondered if she said it in an endearing way, or if it was because she wanted me to live long enough to sell me to the highest bidder when I came of age. An arrow whizzing dangerously close to my head reminded me, it was the latter. 

Indistinct shouting could be heard behind me, as more arrows flew my way. I became lost in my thoughts as I bobbed and weaved through the underbrush. I was beginning to regret how little time we spent planning this diversion for the other women to escape. How did setting fire to the south wall and running off alone become my number one option? Let's just hope that this has been long enough for Sophia to lead the girls to safety. It would be a shame if I had forfeit my life for nothing. 

Arrows continued to fly by. I let out a cry of pain as one managed to graze my left arm, leaving a shallow, bleeding wound.

Finding somewhere to hide became my top priority as my legs became numb and vomit began to build in my gut. They will catch me in no time if I try and keep this up. As I began to focus my energy on finding a hiding place, I realized that the forest I had been running in no longer looked familiar. The further I went, the more dead all the plant life became. 

A thick fog quickly crept in, making it was difficult to see an arms length in front of me. I made a sharp right to throw my attackers off the trail and slowed to a brisk walk to catch my breath, hoping this fog would shroud me from view. The further I walked, the sounds of angry men grew faint, until I could no longer hear them. 

Sinking down low to the ground, I closed my eyes and worked on controlling my breathing. I had been so focused on escaping that I had not noticed the fragrant smell of the wet earth beneath my feet or even the lack of sound around me. Other than my own ragged breathing, it was eerily quiet. 

As I sat still on the ground, the damp mist blanketed me. The chill it brought forced a shiver down my spine as it began to creep into my skin all the way to my bones. As I slowly lifted my head and opened my eyes, a canopy of dying tree tops shielded my view of what little sun was in the sky. With fog this thick, it almost appears to be near nightfall. 

A loud rumble in my stomach broke the silence. I chuckled to myself and said "Well, I guess it's time for dinner then, eh Grimm?"

...Oh no, Grimm! Panic enveloped me as I desperately began looking around.

"Grimm?...Grimm!?" I yelled out with worry. 

My breathing quickened and my heart began to race. Just as I was about to jump up to start searching for him, my leather bag began to move. Leaning over, I slowly lifted the flap of my bag, to find a little black rat snuggled up in my belongings. I let out a sigh of relief as the rat opened his eyes to look at me. 

"Thank goodness you are alright Grimm." I sung to the rat with with smile on my face. 

I lowered my hand into the bag and Grimm leaned into my touch as I began to scratch under his chin. He then took my open palm as an invitation, and made the climb up my arm and onto my shoulder. Perched high on my shoulder was his favorite place to be, other than surrounded by food of course. 

I had met Grimm during my time at Braewood Castle. After being sold by my mother to King Braewood, I was confined to the cells while they determined the best use for me. The first sign of life I saw after those cell doors closed, was a large black rat. I named him Grimm out of the irony of the situation, but honestly, he's been my best friend since. Trapped here for what felt like days, he could come and go as he pleased. I was incredibly envious of his free will, while death seemed the only option for me here. I often wondered if Grimm would eat me after I passed away. Maybe at least he would not starve like me. As I grew delirious, my conversations with Grimm became less coherent. At some point, the unbearable hunger had begun to numb my body, and I drifted into a sleep so sound, it felt like I would never wake. 

To my surprise, I was woken by a guard. His long black shoulder length hair was a sharp contrast to his pale skin, and it may have been my desire for any human contact over the last few days, but he was stunning. When we locked eyes, I felt like I swimming in an endless sea of deep blue. He refused to tell me his name, saying that his assistance is technically interfering with the order of things, and that he could get into trouble for helping me. I resorted to referring to him as my Angel when he was not around. 

The other guards that visited me after that were not nearly as kind as Angel. They never outright did anything to harm me, but the vulgar things they said were enough to make your skin crawl. Interactions with them often left a bad taste in the mouth. 

Eventually I was moved to a new cell block, where I met Sophia and the other young women. Women who survived the initial "hazing" as they called it, were brought to this common area. This place was luxurious compared to the hell I had been in previously. The space was well lit, and contained a bathroom, and multiple bunk rooms with actual beds. Grimm had even managed to track me down, and would lay on the foot of my bed while I slept. When the morning came and we both woke up, I would give him some scratches and kiss the top of his little head before he would scamper off for the day, only to return at night and repeat the process. 

Shortly after I arrived to my new quarters, the girls told me what this holding cell was for. The Prince Perseus Braewood was collecting women to send out to Lords across their kingdom to maintain diplomatic relations. He would need the support of each of them to replace his father as King.

Prince Perseus was the eldest son of King Theomond. At 24 years of age, Perseus was 6 years my senior. He was well known for his temper, and his hunger for power. After Perseus was given control over the military, we began fighting unnecessary wars to ensure everyone knew the power of the Braewood name. 

His younger brother, Sullivan, was 22 years of age, and best known for his prowess on the battlefield. Tales often spoke of the hungry black eyes that would lock onto his prey before battle. Together the brothers were unstoppable, and our land had grown and prospered, at the expense of common soldiers. All of our neighboring kingdoms feared Braewood, and began offering allegiances to ensure they remained safe from the line of fire. 

Occasionally, Perseus would send an advisor down to the cells to remove the women that did not fit a certain look. I wish I knew what happened to the ladies he decided were not worth the time. We only knew that once he had narrowed us down, there would be one final test before we were able to "live a life of luxury" in our new homes. A sinking feeling would grow in my stomach each time anyone mentioned word of a final test. No one knew what it would be, and considering the first test was surviving starvation, it seemed not much would be off limits. 

I never understood how Angel had become a guard in the castle, and he never spoke of it. He seemed so out of place among the other vermin that were employed here. Luckily for us, he would always stop by when the other guards were away. It allowed him to actually help us, and I wondered if he would act differently were he on watch with another guard. He was kind to each of the women here with me, and would often sneak us extra food. I felt like a school girl with a crush, as I had really grown to like Angel during my time here. With just a single smile he could make me forget how dire of a situation we were in. My heart would break a little each time he left us, and would ache until I saw him again. 

Soon, Angel's visits became more serious. We began devising a plan to get everyone out safely. He was able to pack a bag for each of us with maps of the castle and surrounding areas, as well as weapons and rations for the road. I offered myself up easily as a distraction. I had grown to care for each of these women like sisters and there was no way I would let any of them endanger themselves. I had little to lose after my family had discarded me so quickly when I turned 18, so it seemed the most logical choice in my mind. Angel narrowed his eyes to me and gave me a look of concern when I offered myself to the cause. 

"Absolutely not" he objected, "It's too dangerous to go on your own. I'll be keeping guards preoccupied on the inside, which means I can't be there to protect you if things go south." 

His uneasiness towards me placing myself in danger sent butterflies to my stomach. Eventually I was able to soothe Angel of his apprehension, and convince him to let me go off alone. 

This morning when I woke up, Grimm was no where to be seen. I was in the process of searching around the room for him when I heard Angel exclaim, "We have to go! Now!" I looked up to find him barreling down the stairs. The force at which he sped to us made it difficult for him to stop as his body slammed into the cell doors. As he began fiddling with the lock, a tall, muscular man in full armor followed slowly behind him on the staircase. He wore a smirk on his face as he drew a sword, and stalked towards Angel.