Piercing, Green Eyes

By: Anne Scott

My footsteps echoed through the hallways. I had no idea where I was, or even what I looked like. Looking down, I could tell I had a white dress on and a felt something on my head, a completely different ensemble than the jeans and t-shirt I thought I had had on earlier. The people leading me offered no suggestions as to where I was headed and they ignored me as best they could.

I turned another corner; even if I was able to escape I'd have no idea where to go. I had been turned in so many different directions I highly doubt I could find my way out. I looked towards the wall and saw a cobweb covered mirror. I saw a glimpse of a wedding dress and I was wearing it. I stopped in my tracks, confusing my walkers.

"Why am I here? Why am I wearing a wedding dress? Am I getting married? Who am I marrying?" My shouted questions echoed through the cobblestone corridors. I kept ranting, everything I could think of to ask, desperately hoping for some response. My leaders didn't say a word but kept trying to get me to continue walking. "Why won't anybody answer me?" I plead falling on my knees, scared.

"If you'd like answers then you must come with me," a deep voice growled behind me. I turned around, not standing up. I tried to see the speaker, but, instead, was only granted with the sight of his tall outline.

"Why should I go with you?" I questioned trying to hide my fear.

"If you don't come willingly, I'll just force you," he replied simply. The man crossed his arms and looked me over. Although I couldn't see his face, I could feel his eyes roaming across my body. I knew the dress was rather low cut and hung to my curves; I knew his eyes caught every valley and peak of my body.

His body told me that he was not a force to be reckoned with. I knew that the only way to get answers would be to follow him. "Fine then," I said raising my chin defiantly. "Lead the way."

He turned without a word and made no motion that he would wait if I got lost. I followed after him as best I could, a rather hard feat due to my dress. He turned a corner and immediately opened the door. We entered the room and as soon as I stepped over the threshold, the door slammed behind us. I turned to look at it. A wooden bolt secured it into place. There went my only chance at escape.

As I turned back around, he began to walk around me, as though he were a hawk circling his prey, a cat waiting to pounce. Our eyes both examined each other, taking each other in. His face was the first thing I noticed. It was handsome...or it had been at one time. Now it had five scars running diagonally across it as though he had been mauled by a bear or lion. Behind his scars, were the most unique green eyes I had ever seen which both entranced and intimidated me. I shook my head breaking my gaze from his hypnotic eyes.

"I think you promised to answer my questions," I said trying to fake some courage.

He moved closer, whispering in my ear. "Ah, but I didn't promise." I could feel him grin from behind me. He took one for my curls and twisted it around his finger. "I've been watching you for awhile." I stiffened at his words. "Your beauty and elegance entranced me and I knew from the moment I first saw you that you would be mine."

I searched within the confines of my memory of any meeting with this man of mystery. "I've never seen you before," I said somewhat lamely.

"No... no, I don't imagine you would."

"Then how did you se-"

He interrupted me, "Let's not talk about that now. We'll have plenty of time for that conversation...later," he murmured in my ear.

My throat suddenly felt dry, and my heart went into overtime, "Later?" I asked.

"Yes later...after, subsequently, in time, succeeding; however you wish to say it. We will soon have nothing but time. We will be together forever," he said softly as he took a deep breath. "After? After what?"

He chuckled and continued circling around me, "After the ceremony." He stood in front of me. His green eyes staring into my brown eyes.

"Ceremony?" I swallowed not looking away. I'm sure I looked like a deer caught in headlights. I had no thoughts rushing through my head except the extreme feeling of fear.

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, m'dear," he said caressing my cheek. I flinched and looked away from his piercing, green eyes. "You and I shall become one today. We will be husband and wife, lovers, a couple, a duet...again whatever word suits your fancy." He leaned down and captured my mouth in a kiss.

I was too stunned to react; but soon my brain kicked in and I felt my hand strike him across the face, the sound resounding throughout the room. "You have no right to kiss me. And whatever delusions you are under that I am yours, well then...you couldn't be farther from the truth!" I said confidently.

He laughed again. "Do you think your simple refusal is going to stop me? Think again, my dear fiancée. I acquired you and now you're mine. I also strongly suggest you rethink ever hitting me again in the future," his green eyes darkening with the threat

I stepped back, my head held high. "You did not acquire me! You kidnapped me, drugged me, and whatever else. Besides, I am not some piece of property that you can decide you want and claim. I have the ultimate say in whoever 'claims' me," I argued back. "When I get married, it will be to someone who I know and who knows me!"

He lowered his voice, "One day you will know me as I know you. When you walk home, you like to sing to yourself when you think nobody's around. Lullabies and love ballads. You have a wonderful voice, beloved. Someday you shall sing one of your ballads to me," he said resuming his circling, his hands behind his back. "You also like to sit outside and draw, write or read if it is nice out. When it rains though, you love to curl up in a blanket and watch it; sometimes you even run out and dance in it. You like to help others, not for your own rewards but for the benefit that person receives."

"How do you know this?" I stuttered backing away from him.

He sighed and walked over to a chest of drawers, "I told you I've been watching you for awhile." He opened a drawer and pulled out a box. He knelt in front of me. "Now, I am not asking, I am telling you. We are getting married together, whether you like it or not. By the way, here is your engagement ring, the wedding one comes later," he said grabbing my left hand and forcing a ring onto the designated finger. He kissed the ring on my hand.

I pulled it back, repulsively and tried to take off the ring. He laughed, "The ring will never come off, m'dear. It's charmed."
I twisted the ring, but it would not budge. My tries became more frantic. He took my hands into his own. "Beloved, do you not like the ring? Look at it; see how the diamonds and garnet sparkle? I designed it especially for you. I know you want a garnet ring for your own, " he held out my ring for me to examine it. I pulled my hand back and with all the force I could muster, I slapped him across the face again, the force causing his face to turn.

I ran to the door, desperately trying to move the wooden bolt. It was too heavy. There was no way out. He turned around and came after me, putting his arms on either side of the door. I turned around and found the green, eyes staring into me. "I told you not to hit me again," he growled through clenched teeth.

"You told me to rethink about hitting you again," I said ducking out from under him. I ran to the edge of the room trying to find a door. "And I did." I said my eyes spotting another door.

I heard a growl and I turned to look at the source of the noise. A huge, ebony wolf was prowling the floor in front of me. I swallowed. Where had the mystery man gone? Then I saw those piercing green eyes on the wolf.

I slinked along the wall trying to get to the door farther down, hoping it would open. I reached my haven, and it was unlocked. I secretly thanked God and rushed outside, only to hear the rustling of feathers above me. I looked up and a raven with those green piercing eyes was flying above me. It would move down sharply seeming to attack my head. I stopped and cowered, covering my head with my arms.

Soon a cage dropped out of nowhere, capturing me in it. I fell onto my knees and cried. I would never escape, would I? I looked around, but I couldn't see the man anywhere, nor could I see any animal that he could have shifted into.

I covered my face with my hands and sobbed. What could I do now? As I cried, I felt strong arms encircle me. "My silly fiancée, I told you that you would be mine. You cannot run or hide without me finding you. I can transform into anything I want, it doesn't have to be an animal. You can try running away again, but I'll just track you down," he murmured in my ear. My sobbing got louder. "Now, now m'dear, don't cry. It's the first day of the rest of our lives, forever," he said kissing my neck.

I had no other choice. I had no escape. I would marry the mystery man and be trapped by him, forever.