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But I wasn’t alone.
There was a presence in the room, a silent observer.
I could sense it in the subtle shift of the air, the faint rustling of fabric, and the scent — not the musty, old smell of the inn, but something different.
It was earthy and subtly sweet, a scent that was strangely calming.
I bumped into something and immediately turned around.
As my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I noticed a figure standing before me.
It was large, the silhouette broad and imposing against the faint light.
My heart pounded in my chest as realization hit — I wasn’t alone in the room.
9
RURDRAX
By the time I slipped out of my travel-worn clothes and into a fresh pair of linen undergarments, my eyelids were heavy with sleep.
The day had been long, and the comfort of the worn mattress was all too inviting.
I was just about to slip under the crisp bedsheets when a creak from across the room jerked me back to wakefulness.
A small, wooden door I hadn’t even noticed before was slowly opening, and a figure was stepping through.
My eyes, adjusting to the dim light of the lantern on the bedside table, focused on the intruder.
It was a female, wearing her nightgown, hair loose and falling around her shoulders.
She looked… familiar.
It was the same human female from the parlour.
The door locked into place with a soft click, and as if in response, the female jumped back, seemingly startled by the sudden closure.
Her startled retreat landed her straight into me, her slender form colliding with my solid chest.
She gave a soft gasp, her wide eyes flicking up to meet mine.
“Who…” she began, her voice just above a whisper, her body rigid with fear.
But then, a flicker of recognition flared in her eyes, her tense stance visibly relaxing. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she breathed out. “I thought this room was empty.”
She made no attempt to return back into her room.
She put on a brave face despite the trembling in her voice.
Her words washed over me like a fresh wave, confusing me, a sensation I was not accustomed to.
My eyes flicked over to the locked door she’d emerged from, a series of muffled thuds echoing through the room.
As if feeling my gaze, her eyes darted to the door, her body freezing as the thumping grew louder, more persistent.
Abruptly, she sagged against me, her body shaking with suppressed sobs.
I caught her, my arms moving instinctively to wrap around her shaking form.
