1001 Nights with the Lycan King

Chapter 4

A scream tore from my throat as I stumbled backwards, my heart a wild drumbeat. For a moment, I thought it was a hallucination. Something so unnatural could not be real. But it was very real, and it was looking at me as if I was its next meal. Immediately, on pure instinct rather than conscious thought, my body turned and fled, footsteps echoing on the ground as I ran for my life.

Without thinking twice, I disappeared into the copse of trees nearby, zipping through the woods as I frantically realized that instead of escaping, I had brought myself directly into the face of doom.

A chilling howl reached my ears. A howl of a beast stalking prey. A howl that was too close for me to believe there was any chance of escaping. With a desperate surge of adrenaline, I pushed myself harder, weaving through the trees easily with my tiny body, whereas his hulking form found it difficult. That was exactly what my quick mind had counted on. However, I doubted it was enough to slow him down enough for me to escape with my life.

It was painfully obvious that no matter how fast I ran, the creature remained right behind, thunderous footsteps getting closer, like the approach of an unstoppable tempestuous storm. Branches whipped at my face, roots tangled beneath my feet. Though I had abandoned my sandals long ago, I persisted, motivated solely by the instinctual drive to survive.

A gasp left my lips, a tremor wracked my body when I felt it closing in…close enough that his hot breath fell upon my back.

The predator was toying with me. Like a cat toying with its quarry before delivering the final blow. I suppressed a defeated sob, berating my myself internally. I did not come out here just to be killed by this beast. No!

With a scream, I pushed myself faster, this time jumping over the stones and fallen logs that I knew would rip open more scratches on the tender soles of my feet. My body had trained rigorously in the scorching sand; I could manage running barefoot in a forest. There was no other choice.

Up-ahead to the far left, one low-lying branch caught my attention. A plan formed. My body took the sharp turn, and satisfaction pulsed through me when the beast behind wasn’t able to do the same. It went barreling by the turn, unable to stop in-time.

I heard the growl of frustration, the snarl of anger. There was whoosh of hot angry breath as it closed in on me again. But I did not slow down. Only a little farther...

A tugging sensation indicated that claws had snagged onto the silk shirt I wore. I lunged forward, head bent, cloth ripping away from my lower right hip all the way up to my neck.

The threads unraveled with a soft rustling, almost like a whisper, as my shirt and loose trousers were pulled apart by the strong claws of the beast in a single lethal swipe. Cool air whipped against the newly bared skin as I was now left only in a flimsy chemise.

A thud and guttural roar of pain behind me indicated that this otherworldly creature hit the branch that had only been high enough for my form to get through. It wasn’t enough to put it down. But it was enough to buy some time. Enough time to get back to my rooms. Running all night was nigh impossible for me.

Checking behind, I could make out the hulking form growling in anger, sniffing the air to smell my body out. I cursed, looking down at my bleeding feet. At this rate…he’d find me…unless…

The only option was to throw it off the trail. Throw its nose off my scent.

With a deep breath, I veered off the path I’d been on, darting into the dense thicket of trees surrounding me. My feet were bleeding profusely, and I made sure to rub my blood against all the trees surrounding me intermittently. This creature , this demon…would need time to smell the path I took if the scent of my blood seemed to be everywhere. My body protested, begging for a break. But I kept racing forward with purpose.

Finally, satisfied that I could spare a few moments, my hands tore at the hem of what was left of my tattered chemise to bind my feet. I could hear the beast crashing through the foliage behind. His roars echoed through the night, sending shivers down my spine. This had to be quick, I had to be clever.

Standing, I looked up at the sky, trying to discern my position in this damned hell I’d found myself in. My eyes took in the heavens above, momentarily wishing I could simply float up and join them. Wishful thinking stemming from bed-time stories mother would regale us with. I had to accept that fanciful notions of possessing my very own magic carpet, that could take me high enough to touch the stars, were a thing of the past. If only this life were so easy.

Stealthily, I began to move. A few times, I ended up going in the wrong direction, the stars above a sure sign that I was moving farther away rather than closer to the palace. The bone-chilling growls of frustration from my predator were still discernible, but they seemed to be getting farther and farther away the closer I got to the palace.

It seemed that the King had his own personal monster stalking the perimeter. It’s why guards were not needed here. It’s why any enemy who infiltrated the palace from behind was swiftly obliterated.

Finally, I broke through the trees and sighed in relief. The palace was in sight. I could see the very spot I had plucked my flower which now lay crumpled back in the copse of trees along with any hopes of escaping.

The distant howl of the beast behind me reminded me that now was not the time to mourn my failed plan of escape or my lost flower. Purposefully, I began to moved forward, passing the beautiful white flowers in full bloom. With each step I took, I brought myself closer to at least another day of life. Another chance to figure out how to survive. Currently, my life was forfeit if I remained out here.

However, in the next moment, a massive form crashed into me with bone-crushing force. The breath was knocked out of my lungs as I was thrown to the ground, the pain of the impact momentarily paralyzing me. Fur enveloped my body, warm yet dangerous, softer than feathers. The pain in my abdomen doubled and chaos reigned in my mind whilst the beast crashed into my form and pinned me to the ground beneath its crushing power.

Panic surged through me like a tidal wave. My body writhed and struggled as I fought against the creature’s relentless grip, but it was no use. I was trapped, helpless against the merciless monster.

As I lay trapped beneath the creature, its hot breath washing over my face, I braced myself for the inevitable.

There would be no escape from this monstrous creature that now held me captive in its powerful grasp. The stench of decay and blood filled my nostrils, mingling with the metallic tang of fear that coated my tongue.

Look death in the face when it is time, for a true warrior does not fear death, especially not when it arrives in the heat of battle.

Ashad’s words resonated in my mind. I looked up to meet those otherworldly eyes, glowing red. They were locked on me with vicious intent. The vile monstrosity reared back, mouth wide open to feast on its next meal. My gaze stayed firm. I would look death straight in the eye. The beast faltered for a split second.

That was all I had needed.

My silver dagger came down hard over the hairy forearm pinning my body down, embedding itself deeply. I felt the sound of metal scrape bone. The creature reared back, howling in pain. In one deft move, I pulled out my weapon and wildly scrambled away, body groaning in protest. Gritting through the residual pain from being tackled viciously, I forced myself to stand. Turning, to see the hulking beast’s back was to me, I did not hesitate. Without thinking twice, I jumped, my legs straddling its waist from behind as I dug my dagger straight where a heart should have been if the humanoid form were any indication.

Another howl of pain. With one fierce jerk of his body, I was thrown off, like a pesky fly. Any triumph I felt over momentarily besting my predator was fleeting. The dagger was still in my hand. But I had felt the raw power rippling against my body. This beast was much too powerful. Quickly, I ran, leaving the form hunched over in pain. Prayers were uttered with laboring breath that this thing would die after meeting the end of my blade.

But something told me I was not that fortunate.

My lungs felt as if they might burst. I forced myself to push forward.

With determination in my eyes, I reached for the rope still hanging from the veranda. The soft fibers stung my aching palms as I pulled myself up, ignoring the searing pain that shot through my arms and radiated outwards to every inch of my body. Every muscle strained and shook with effort, but I refused to give up. My fingers wrapped tightly around the rope, clenching with a fierce intensity as I continued to climb, driven by adrenaline and pure willpower. Sweat dripping down my face, each breath was a struggle against the weight of my own body as I pushed forward, determined to reach the safety of the veranda above.

As my hands moved up the rope, the fabric began to unravel beneath my fingertips. Panic rose in my chest as I struggled to find a secure holding. The cloth tore further with a deafening sound, and I knew I had to move quickly. My trembling fingers searched for stable purchase as I climbed higher and higher, determined to reach the top before it was too late.

I climbed faster and faster, limbs groaning in protest.

With a gasp, I saw the fabric give way beneath me, tearing from its delicate seams. The deafening sound of ripping rope echoed through the air as I struggled to hold on, my luck running out with each passing second. I pushed myself higher, but finally my lifeline gave way, ripping clean in two, and I felt myself falling.

Falling to my doom as a scream was rent from my throat, bellying the fear of the monster waiting eagerly below for a chance to feast on the dead mangled body of a peasant girl who had been stupid enough to think she could make it out alive.

In a final bid to save myself, my hand reached out wildly and I successfully grasped the bottom half of the railing. Another scream tore from my mouth, searing through my throat with clawing pain. I dangled from one arm, feeling as if the rest of my body would simply break away from the limb that kept my body from plummeting to its eventual demise.

Every single nerve-ending was crying out in protest, my body fatigued and in pain. I inhaled deeply. Warriors persevere. Agilely, I flung my feet forward, using the momentum to push myself forward and up. My other hand finally also managed to grasp the bottom railing. With one final grunt of pain, I pulled myself over, jumping over so that my back landed on the cool stone floor of the balcony. Never had I thought I would be glad to be in this goddess-forsaken place. But here I was. Grimly, I realized I’d take the King over that monstrosity down below any day.

Exactly what was it?