Mate For The Bride

Elora's Pov. Was it two years ago since I transmigrated to this world? I couldn't tell because I didn't keep count. A bomb had suddenly exploded while I was working. The darkness lasted for a while and when I woke up again, I expected to be dead and burning in hell but no, I ended up in this strange world with a different face, body, a different identity and a different family. It was as if I had received a second chance so I made a wish. To live like I didn't exist. …………… My eyes searched through the crowd in the tavern desperately. Andrew has been gone for more than an hour which was strange. I was a bit drunk and Andrew had come here to take me home. I should've known something was wrong when two heavy guys approached us. Andrew hastily asked me to wait for him and I watched them drag him away. It didn't seem strange at first. He usually played rough with his friends like that but he'd never keep me waiting this long. Especially when he knew I was a bit tipsy. “Elora?” "Agnes." glad to find a familiar face, I quickly pulled her over to my side where there was less noise. "What's wrong sweetie? You look pale." she touched my forehead, "Are you not well?" "I'm fine, Agnes. I just think Andrew is in danger!" "Andrew?" She tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Some guys took him. He asked me to wait here for him but-" "Shh… sweetie, don't. You did this last time, remember? I know you care so much for your brother but Andrew can handle himself." she told me. "By the way, I saw him heading upstairs." Upstairs? My brows furrowed. That's even more strange. Only high ranked people are invited upstairs. From what I've heard before as a regular at this tavern, secret meetings were usually held there. We were just commoners. What business could he probably have there? Without waiting another second, I left Agnes and rushed upstairs. The guards at the front were not my problem as I could easily slip through them and have my way. This part of the tavern was quite different from there. It was much more luxurious but with minimal lighting that evoked this eerie feeling around me. Perhaps it was the quietness. I could only hear the background noise coming from downstairs. I finished looking around and just when I thought there was nothing here, I found a door that was left slightly ajar. There was a noise coming from there so I got closer, making my steps as light as possible and holding my breath so they wouldn't easily detect me. The voices were muffled and I strained my ears to hear them. "I swear on my life my lord, I did no such thing! I promise, you have to believe me-ahh…!" My breath hitched and I froze, standing there. That was Andrew's voice. Why did he sound so terrified? And why was he begging like his life depended on it? I could hear his muffled screams as they hit him. Each time, harder than the last and he kept begging to be spared. My fists clenched at my sides, watching this scene. How dare they hit him like that? But I couldn't just barge in there so I peeped inside instead. Andrew was on his knees, blood and sweat ran down his face as the two men I had seen earlier held him down in front of a figure. The figure was sitting with his legs crossed, dressed in all black which obscured him in the darkness and shadows. I couldn't see his face though. "You didn't do it?" Dark and husky, his voice was like a devil whispering. I swear I felt goosebumps crawl down my arms. I shivered in fright. How can a person sound so scary with those simple words? "Andrew, you're one of my best men and it's sad I'll be losing you too." he paused. "Was my enemy's offer so tempting that you forgot the consequences of betraying me?" "I-I have always b-been on your side. Betraying you would mean I have run mad, my lord. I never did such a thing! You have to believe me!" "Of course I want to believe you. But Andrew, someone saw you multiple times contacting them." A paper was thrown at his face and when Andrew saw its contents, his eyes widened and panic reflected through them as his jaw dropped. "I-I can explain this, my lord. This is not what you are thinking, I promise-" The man in the dark raised his hands and Andrew shut his mouth immediately, his body trembling like a fish which made me wonder what would happen now. I couldn't think of a way to rescue him without involving myself. How Andrew got himself into a situation like this was still a mystery to me but this kind of situation, these kinds of people were ones I avoided most in my life. They didn't look like they were a piece of cake. "Your time is up." the moment the black figure spoke, one of those men holding Andrew, one with a long knife scar at the side of his face grew out long, sharp claws and went to stand behind him, placing those claws on Andrew's neck. They were going to kill him! Fear filled his eyes before he closed them. A tear rolled down his cheeks making my heart clench in pain. I couldn't stay still anymore. Something flashed in my eyes, anger boiled through me and the next moment, I was kicking the door open and barging in. Before I could even move two steps, one of those men had pinned me to the wall. I didn't see how he moved. I only remembered blinking and then he was holding me by my neck against the wall, growling at my face. "Eww…" his stinky breath made me crunch up my face but he only tightened his hold on my neck and watched as I gasped for air. "Who sent you?"