Scarred Knight

When you deserve it

Lake

The constant feeling of being watched and observed had me blinking my eyes open. I winced from the harsh light and squeezed my eyes shut for a few moments before I reopened them.

I had been in this position before.

The thought came out of nowhere, but even though I didn’t remember it, I felt the familiarity of it. I was in a hospital room. Cold and smelled of disinfectant. It took my confused and hazy mind a few seconds to remember why I was here.

The accident.

I tentatively touched the side of my head where I had hit the window when someone had crashed into me. It was sore, but not severely. My right hand and shoulder also throbbed with muted pain, but the good news was that I didn't feel like anything was broken or bleeding.

And, it was all because of him.

My eyes flew around the room as I recalled the strong arms, coming to control the car, to save me.

“Ghost…” I whispered. No one answered. The shadows remained undisturbed, and even the air was still. He wasn’t here. Did he bring me here and left? And why does it hurt, to be left alone?

The door opened and I sat up, my fingers curling around the blanket, involuntarily. Fûck. I didn’t know who brought me here and if anyone was informed about my accident. I don’t know why these things happen to me. The doctor entered and behind him followed the person I wasn't expecting.

Alex fûcking Carter. What the hell was he doing here?

“Miss Lake, how are you feeling?” The doctor asked as he came to stand on one side of the bed, while the ice block stood a few feet away but still he filled the room with his presence.

I dragged my eyes from the human perfection and focused back on the doctor who was waiting for my answer. “I don’t know. Everything hurts and everything around me seems hazy and…” My eyes flicked to the cold presence before I asked the doctor, “Can you tell me, who brought me here?”

“Oh, yes, this nice gentleman found you passed out in your car, post the accident, and brought you here.” The doctor gave me a kind smile as he said, “And, its okay to feel a little bit out of sorts, you have a mild concussion, nothing that rest wouldn’t cure.”

“Oh…” I murmured as the doctor went on about the things I shouldn’t do and scribbled off a prescription, but instead of giving it to me like I thought he would and he should've, he gave it to the ice block when he stepped forward.

“Do you want us to call someone from your family?” The doctor asked, now his gaze moving between me and Alex, as he looked unsure.

I wanted to roll my eyes, now he remembered to ask if I was okay with the stranger or not.

But before I could answer, the ice block stepped forward, bringing with him the cold, as he said, “That’s not necessary. Miss Lake is my student and I’ll be happy to help her, and drive her home.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Good, good.” The doctor said and with another kind smile directed in my direction, he left.

I opened my mouth to stop the doctor, but snapped it shut when the ice block took a step toward me, his stance changing as if a panther readying himself to attack.

As soon as the door closed behind the doctor, the temperature dropped just like it had when he had entered that dark alleyway, as if anytime we’d experience the snowfall. With much effort, I looked up at him. His perfect face, all sharp angles. Dark brows slanted above emotionless, cold and hard eyes, which were already focused on me, glinting with something unreadable.

I don’t know what was it about him that made me not so afraid of him, even though I had seen how ruthless he could be. I told myself that I should be afraid of him. He had kîlled two men in front of my eyes and god knows what else he was capable of doing or have already done, but instead of bringing the fear, I was intrigued.

Almost… mesmerized. Hmm, I definitely have concussion and not the mild type.

The one thing I knew for sure, he was no teacher. “Why are you here?” I asked. It was a loaded question if one would give it enough thought, but he went the straight route.

“Like the doctor said, I found you. And like a true, nice gentleman that I am, I brought you to the hospital.” The hint of the smile and the lift of his lips told me, what he thought of him being a gentleman.

I scoffed. “You and gentleman, he couldn’t be more wrong.”

He took another step forward.

I stilled.

He smirked.

I glared at him.

“Scared?” He asked in a mocking tone.

“I should be, shouldn’t I?” His brows came down, on his beautiful green eyes. “But, I am not.” I added, with my own lips pulled up in a smirk.

I could see how my answer affected him, he didn’t expect that. Ha! I bet everyone was afraid of him.

This time when he walked toward the bed where I sat, I locked every muscle in my body, not even twitching as much as my mind screamed at me to back off. He stopped only when he stood over me, on my side. “It seems you’re always getting yourself in trouble.” He said, his voice flat.

“And it seems you’re always, so conveniently, there to save me.” I replied, narrowing my eyes on him.

He smiled, but it was superficial. His eyes remained ice cold as he leaned closer and asked in a drawl, “Are you implying that these accidents have something to do with me?” I shrugged. His eyes darkened as he grabbed my chin and I felt the touch of his fingers to the tips of my toes as he pulled my face closer to his and said, “Believe me, if I want to hurt you, I won’t do it from behind the scenes.”

I swàllowed and searched for something to say back to him. He annoyed me and angered me so much, even more than the she-devil. A slow smile creeped across my lips as I remembered what had set him off earlier and without thinking I said, “Then you must be truly my Knîght, to always come for the rescue.”

His grip tightened imperceptibly before he withdrew, stood up straight and meeting my gaze with his cold ones, he replied and said, “As I said, this Knîght will take payments in Scars and might bleed you too.”

Did that scare me? No.

It should, right? Yes.

But since the night I had been attacked and then kissed like it was the cure for what happened and what could've, I had not been myself. He had obliterated my views on certain things. Had altered me and my wants. And that’s the only thing that scares me. The ghost might have filled my loneliness and pulled me out of my nightmares, but it was him, this knight, who had turned certain nightmares into desired filled dreams— that had always left me wanting and aching for something that I shouldn’t want. That was forbidden on paper. But I dreamed of them and woke up wanting those things in real life.

“Careful, I might ask you to swear your fealty.” I whispered, my eyes glued to his hard greens. Seeing nothing, but also not missing anything. Seconds passed and then minutes, when he didn't say anything, I started to look away, feeling stupid.

But then finally, he spoke, “I will, when you deserve it.” My head snapped up in shock as his words registered. But he didn't wait for my response as he turned around and said over his shoulder, “I’ll be waiting outside to drop you home.”

“Wait, what do you mean that—” He didn't stop, his feet moving fast, putting distance between us as he left, slamming the door behind him.

Leaving me more confused than a mere concussion could.

.

.

A. Gupta

To Be Continued...

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Saved By The Devil is the first book. in the Carter Brothers Series.