~Thus it was said:
Let no kiss bloom beneath the Branch of Bones.
Let no lover stray from the firelight.
For the woods remember blood,
And the Nyx-born feed well on the unguarded heart~
"Gwen! Gwen! Where are you, girl?!" A robust woman in an apron called out as she expertly kneaded a dough.
She stood in a vast kitchen, concentrated on her work. She was one of the few people left behind in the kitchen and even amongst the few, some could be seen folding up their apron to take their leave after saying their goodbyes.
The lighting in the kitchen was dim, not so much that one would have difficulty seeing but enough to be able to tell it was late into the night now.
"Coming, Madame Vera!" The voice of a young woman called back from somewhere down the hall, followed by the sound of running footsteps.
The young girl named Gwen soon appeared around the corner with a tray in hand which she quickly placed aside and hurried over to Madame Vera.
"How long would you have me call for you before you know to come to my aid?" Madame Vera lectured, though her tone was warm and homely.
"Forgive me, training ran late today and it took a while to serve the evening meal to the warriors." Gwen explained dutifully.
"You sound exhausted. Why don't you call it a night and return early tomorrow morning to join me in preparing the morning meal?" Madame Vera suggested.
"But the dough for the bread, it will take a lot of time if you have no assistance." Gwen protested.
"Do not worry, child. I am already halfway done with it, besides, you had plans to meet with your beau tonight, did you not? If you run any later, Simon may just barge in here in concern." Madame Vera reminded teasingly.
Gwen's cheeks reddened with a blush and she lifted her hands to cover up her cheeks and hide away her embarrassment.
"What is there to be embarrassed about, child? You and Simon have been bonded since your teenage years and will be wedded soon, everyone knows this. If not for your duties that keep you so busy, it would not be a surprise if you were carrying his offspring already." Madame Vera said dismissively.
"Madame!" Gwen whined in embarrassment.
"Run along now, do not keep the young lad waiting. I packed a little something for dinner, you two can eat together." Madame Vera encouraged.
"Thank you so much, Madame! I'll see you early tomorrow morning, I won't be late!" Gwen assured as she excitedly hurried over to fetch the packed meal and quickly took her leave.
Gwen held the packed meal carefully as she hurried to the woods were she was to meet her betrothed, Simon.
It was already a half hour from the time they were to meet and Gwen knew Simon had been waiting for a long while now.
It was not long before Gwen arrived at the woods and she ventured in without hesitation, walking briskly to the clearing which was their usual spot but Gwen was disappointed to find it empty.
"Simon?" Gwen called quietly, knowing it would not do either of them any good if the patrol guards were alerted.
"Simon? Where are you?" Gwen whispered out, glancing around the clearing.
A yelp of surprise escaped Gwen when a pair of arms encircled around her waist from behind and she was pulled back into a hard chest.
"Shhh... it's just me." Simon's familiar voice whispered from behind Gwen, his warm breath fanning over her ear.
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief, turning around to hit Simon across the chest lightly.
"You scared me, you oaf!" Gwen exclaimed, though a small smile lingered on her lips.
"You are so easily rattled." Simon replied in amusement, his hands snaking around Gwen's waist and pulling her to himself again.
"And you easily rattled one have been on my mind all day, running about in that nicely fitted dress. Don't you think you will have to make it up to me for being such a distraction?" Simon asked in a low whisper, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
"Simon... Madame sent your dinner..." Gwen stuttered out shyly, her gaze low.
"Food can wait, the dinner I want is right here in my arms." Simon replied with a smirk.
"We're out in the open... shouldn't we return to your place first..." Gwen stuttered out,
"It would not be the first time I take you out in the open, Gwen dearest. Besides... the patrol will not be going by here anytime soon and I cannot wait..." Simon replied in a husky tone, his hand guiding Gwen's hand down to feel his arousal.
Gwen gasped quietly, her gaze growing hazy as Simon's lips made contact with her neck, littering light kisses down the length while he guided her hand to stroke his bulging desire through the fabric of his breeches.
"I cannot wait till we are wedded and you move in with me...then I won't have to wait for days to get you alone. I will have you as much as my heart desires..." Simon said in between kisses.
He moved slightly, turning Gwen about so she was faced against a tree, pressed up into it, holding the skirts of her gown up and leaving her lower half bare and exposed to her lover's desire.
Gwen whimpered in anticipation as Simon fumbled with his belt, freeing his manhood.
He nudged her legs farther apart with a knee and a gasp of delight escaped her as the walls of her sex were stretched to accommodate Simon's engorged desire.
A strained grunt escaped Simon's lips as he leaned his head down Gwen's shoulder.
As their passion built, Gwen felt a strange wetness drip down on her face.
"Simon... Simon do you feel that?" Gwen asked distractedly.
"Hmm?" Simon asked absent mindedly.
"Something is dripping from the branches, it feels like...it feels like blood!" Gwen announced in alarm.
Simon was immediately shaken back to reality, his eyes darted up to the tree branches where a pair of savage red eyes stared back with jaws of sharp teeth on display, dripping blood.
"It's...demon...demon!" Gwen shrieked in terror.
But the cries of terror and the carnage that followed after were lost to the forest.