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Chapter Sixteen
Blair
Blair gasped, running as fast as she could through the dark streets. Her hands gripped her skirts, hoisting them up higher so she wouldn’t trip. She felt her shawl slip from her shoulders and whirled around, reaching for it. The shawl slipped through her fingers, falling towards the cobblestones. She fell to her knees, grabbing its corner and pulling it towards her, but a boot stomped on the fabric, making her pause. Her gaze lifted to the man hovering above her, his tongue licking his lips while his hand tugged at his tartan. His red beard glimmered under the lantern’s light.
“Bonnie lass,” he said darkly, “what brings ye out here all alone?”
The man with the scar chuckled behind him while leaning against the wall. He busied himself with his knife, digging the dirt out from under his nails. “Don’t ye know ye shouldn’t be out here all by yerself?” he called before flashing her a cruel smile.
Blair shuddered as she slowly rose, not wanting to make any sudden movements. She took one step back, trying to distance herself from the thugs leering at her. She glanced around herself, not knowing where she was. When the scarred man had brandished his knife, she instantly broke into a run, not knowing where to go, given Aindreas was nowhere to be seen, and Alisa had returned to the castle.
Darkness had fallen over the town, and whatever intrigue it once had during the day was completely gone as she stared at the brigands, slowly closing the slight distance between them. Her eyes prickled with unshed tears. She swallowed back a scream as they closed in on her. The scarred man continued leaning against the wall while the two dark-haired men, twins, she realized, came from her left and right.
“Don’t ye worry, sweet thing,” said one twin. He was slightly shorter than the other with a portly waist. He stroked the side of her cheek with a meaty hand. The way he stared at her made her skin crawl, and she shoved his hand away.
“Don’t touch me,” she whispered harshly.
The men looked between them before bursting into a fit of laughter. The scarred man kicked away from the wall, sauntering towards her while tossing his knife from hand to hand. “Aw, sweet little thing,” he said menacingly, “I don’t think ye get to say things like that.”
Blair turned on her heel, deciding her shawl wasn’t worth fussing for. She took two steps before her hand was grabbed, yanking her back to the red-bearded man. His hands stroked up and down her arms while he inhaled her scent, burying his nose in her hair.
“We’re not finished with ye, lassie,” he breathed against her ear.
Blair’s bottom lip quivered as the scarred man appeared at her side. She held back a scream as she felt his knife against her cheek, the smoothness of the blade making her nauseous as he caressed her neck and her collarbone with its tip. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. The man’s deathly cackle greeted her ears. She looked away from the men, looking around for anywhere or anyone she could run to.
Blair needed to get away from these men. She needed to act fast. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked around, searching for someone to call out to for help, but there was no one. The crowds from the day were gone, leaving only these thugs in her presence.
She whimpered, feeling the red-haired man tugging at her skirts. With one final deep breath, she stomped her foot on his boot, ignoring his groan in pain. The man stumbled backward into his scarred companion, making the knife clatter onto the ground.
Blair didn’t wait. She whirled around, picking up her skirts, and ran down the alley.
“Ye come back here!” one man shouted after her.
“Get her!” shouted another.
Blair’s hands trembled, and she tightened her grip on her dress, forcing herself to move faster. It was difficult in her skirts, and the cobblestones made her feet wobble. She had no clue where she was going, only knew she would have to find someplace to hide. Looking around, she hoped to see the needle and thread sign. Surely, Mr. Fraser and his daughter would help her, but it was difficult to see in the darkness, and everywhere she went, it looked the same.
Where could she possibly go?
She ground her teeth to keep from crying. Images of Alisa leaving the store assaulted her mind. She couldn’t understand why Alisa left her, why Aindreas didn’t return for her in the square. Was she really so bothersome? Is that why they left her?
Blair sniffed as tears fell from her eyes, chilling her skin as she ran. She could hear the men’s harsh breath behind her, hear their thudding footsteps. They were nearly upon her, and she didn’t think she could run any longer. She turned the corner, slamming into someone and falling forward. Pushing herself up, her whole body ached as if she had run straight into a wall. She didn’t look around while forcing her sore body into a crawl, knowing she needed to move quickly. Yet, her body wouldn’t listen to her. She was so exhausted. Her whole body burned and shook.
Someone chuckled darkly above her. Blair ignored them, focused on moving, even if it was only a little. She grimaced as a boot pressed into her hand, smashing it against the cobblestones. A whimper escaped her lips, and she sobbed as the boot dug into her wrist. She lifted her gaze, her eyes widening as she saw the scarred man standing above her with his knife, twirling it in his hands while he tilted his head from side to side.
“Ah, there ye are,” said one of the brigands.
Blair glanced over her shoulder, finding the redhead slowing down and sidling next to the twins, who were bent over, heaving while trying to reclaim their breath. He patted their backs and smiled widely. “I knew we could count on ye.”
Blair shook her head, trying to stand, but the boot moved from her hand and pressed into her shoulder, pinning her to the cobblestones. “Please,” she gasped, feeling someone crawl over her body, his breath on her ear. She shuddered as she felt bristly hair sliding against her jaw. “Please, let me go. I just want to go home.”
“Ah, my sweet, bonnie lass,” said the man on top of her while stroking her hair away from her face. “I’m afraid we can’t let ye do that.” His laughter made her whimper, and Blair clamped her eyes closed, not knowing what else she could do.
“Let her go.”
Blair stilled. She recognized that voice. It was the same voice that haunted her dreams. She opened her eyes, feeling the weight of the man disappear. Peering over her shoulder, she found one man towering behind the brigands. His blue gaze pierced straight through her, making breathing nearly impossible.
“Aindreas,” she breathed. She rubbed her eyes, not knowing if he was a figment of her imagination. Had he truly come back for her? Was he really here to take her home?
