4 years ago…
BOOOOOOOM, RUUUUUUUUUUUUMBLE, CRASH
The sounds of heavy thunder shook the trees in the forest as lightning lit up the stormy gray sky.
Step, squish, step, squish
Silas ran through the forest as Marlo ran beside him.
"Come on boy, we have to get Evangeline's painting before the storm comes. We don't want it to get ruined," Silas huffed, trying to catch his breath as he ran.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM, CRASH
The thunder roared louder as the lightning grew more and more intense.
"Daddy stop, please stop," Evangeline cries echoed through the forest, causing Silas and Marlo to stop in their tracks.
"Evangeline," He uttered, looking down at Marlo.
"Daddy no, please stop," Her shrieking cries filled their ears causing Silas' heart to sink.
"Run ahead boy," Silas ordered, watching as Marlo ran to her as he followed behind.
'I have to get to her now,' He thought, as he ran, following her cries.
At the forest glade, Evangeline laid on the side of her legs, watching as her father paced back and forth, her art work turned over on the ground.
"I told you no more, I told you to stop, but you won't listen," He raged, anger radiating off his body.
"Daddy I'm sorry, please just stop this," She begged, covering her face.
"Maybe I wasn't clear enough to you, maybe you need to be taught another lesson," He growled, rolling up his sleeves as he walked towards her.
"No please, please don't," She pleaded, scooting backwards.
CRASH BOOOOOM
The thunder roared as he got closer.
"I warned you already, now it's time too….."
RUFF, RUFF
Marlo rushed out of the bushes, standing firmly in front of Evangeline.
He showed his teeth, letting out an intensely low growl, as he had a stare down with Dutton.
She looked at Dutton, seeing the evil desired look in his eyes.
"Daddy please, don't," She begged.
"I've been waiting for my chance at payback, now it has come," He grinned, staring into Marlo's eyes.
He took a step forward and Marlo lunged at him, biting on to his leg.
"Get off of me," Dutton shrieked, as Marlo continued to latch onto his leg.
"Daddy, stop," Evangeline screamed, "It's enough stop."
"I said get off," Dutton shouted, finally shaking Marlo off.
Dutton towered over Marlo, the lightning and thunder casting a dark shadow around him.
"My turn," He smirked.
He began kicking Marlo, his whimpers filled Evangeline's ears.
"No," She screamed, pushing Dutton out the way.
She threw herself over Marlo, holding on to him tightly.
"I won't let you kill him," She cried, covering Marlo with her body.
"I'll get you off one way or another," Dutton shouted, "I want that dog."
He began kicking Evangeline, each kick sending waves of pain through her body.
"I won't let you go," She whispered in Marlo's ear as he licked the side of her face.
Her vision went blurry as Dutton continued to kick her.
BOOOOOOM RUMBLE
The thunder roared on.
"You might want to get off, if you don't want to lose your life for a dog," Dutton laughed, continuing to kick her.
WHACK
Dutton felt a rock knock against his head, causing him to fall backwards.
He looked up, seeing Silas' darkened silhouette towering over him.
Silas got on top of Dutton, grabbed him by the collar, and repeatedly punched him in the face.
"Who gave you permission to touch Evangeline, to touch Marlo, who do you think you are? I'll kill you," Silas raged, continuing to punch him in the face.
She listened, hearing Silas' voice.
"Cade please… Please don't kill him," She whimpered, catching Silas' attention.
Silas looked over at Evangeline, seeing her collapse onto the ground, and stood up, throwing Dutton against the forest floor.
He rushed over to her, and kneeled beside her, cradling her in his arms.
Dutton stared at him, his vision going blurry, as he felt himself slipping out of consciousness.
"She saved your life, if I had it my way you'd be dead right now… I'm only going to warn you one time if you ever put your hands on her again… I'll cut out your tongue," Silas warned.
Present time….
Dutton stared into Silas' eyes, his previous warning echoing in his ears.
"It's you, you're Cade," Dutton choked out, barely able to breath, "The isolated, mysterious, harsh Grand Duke of Parola is Cade the Forest Prince."
"In the flesh… And now you'll see why my coldness is known throughout multiple kingdoms," Silas stated, deadpanned.
"Your Grace please," Dutton pleaded, tears forming in his eyes, "I'll do anything, just please don't hurt me."
"Those will be the last words you say," Silas muttered.
SLICE
Silas threw Dutton to the ground, making him drop the ring as he covered his mouth.
Silas looked down at the ground, seeing Evangeline's ring roll across the floor. Rage overfilled him as he walked over to the ring and picked it up.
He looked over at Dutton, shooting him a chilling glare, as blood began seeping through the cracks of his (Dutton's) fingers.
"So this is what she was angry about, you took her engagement ring, in hopes to sell it," Silas fumed, walking over to him, "This is her dream ring and you took it from her."
Dutton looked up at Silas, his body trembling as Silas crouched down to his level.
"You know I gave you two million in gold pieces as a dowry. Which is enough to pay off all your debts and live comfortably… I did it to make Evangeline happy, I know how much she wants to protect you but then you go and steal the one thing she values…" He sighed, putting out his hand, "Give me your hand."
Dutton looked into his eyes, shaking his head.
"No, no, no, you didn't care about Evangeline, you hurt her after I warned you… Now I have to break your hand. So give me your hand," Silas sighed once more, staring into Dutton's eyes, "And don't fight me over this. I'm not changing my mind."
Dutton placed his free hand into Silas' hand. His body shook in fear as he shut his eyes tightly, preparing himself.
CRACK, SNAP
Dutton fell backwards, shrieking into his hand, as he rolled back and forth in pain.
"Now I'm taking Evangeline to my kingdom where she will live happily for the rest of her life. If you ever step foot in my kingdom without my permission I will have my subordinates kill you on the spot," Silas warned, patting the side of Dutton cheek, and stood up, "This is your only warning. Live your life debt free and leave Evangeline alone."
He walked over to the door, shooting Dutton a sharpened gaze as he pointed to the darkened area in the room.
"And if you ever wonder if I'll make good on my promise, go ask your tongue it's sitting in the corner over there," Silas growled as he left the house, slamming the door behind him.
The next day…
"How much longer do you think she'll be out for?"
"Well it's been a day and her wound seems to be getting better but with a headache injury it's hard to tell, not to mention, she's clearly malnourished…"
"His Royal Highness is not going to like that when he finds out what happened to her…"
"The poor girl, you have to be an evil person to do something like that to someone… And as harsh as His Royal Highness is, Sir Dutton Rowe of Kingdom Sectar deserves every second of it…"
The servants' words echoed in Evangeline's ears creating an irritating, screeching sound.
'Where am I?' She wondered as her head started pounding.
"She should be waking up soon for sure and when she does I'll inform His Grace…"
Evangeline slightly opened her eyes, the world around her bright and blurry.
"She's waking up," A servant gasped, causing more pain to Evangeline's sensitive hearing.
She sat up, covering her ears, the world around her unsteady and dizzy.
"No, no, don't get up," A servant advised, "I'll get His Grace."
Evangeline felt around her, feeling the covers that covered her legs.
She threw them off of her, swinging her legs off the side of the bed she was laying in.
"Miss Evangeline wait, you have to stay laying down, your head," A servant warned.
She pushed the servant out of the way, stumbling to her feet. Her vision, blurry and bright.
She forced herself to focus, making out a doorway through the blurriness, and ran to it, ignoring the servants' calls to stop.
She made her way out of the room, stumbling around with each step, her ears echoing in pain.
'I have to get out of here,' She thought, stumbling down the hall.
CRASH, BOOM, THUD
She continued to bump into decor that was in the hallway, each sound making her ear drums radiate with pain.
"Miss Evangeline," The sounds of her name being called by different servants, screeched in her ears.
"No, get away," She whimpered, stumbling through the halls, "Stay away from me."
SLIP, THUD
She fell forwards, falling into Silas' arms.
"Evangeline," Silas called out, looking into her eyes.
She stared at him, unable to see his face. The familiar sound of his voice, causing her to relax.
"Cade," She uttered, touching his chest, "Please save me…"
"You're safe now," Silas uttered, scooping her up in his arms, "You're safe."
"Don't leave me again," She whispered as she leaned her head against his chest, hearing the sounds of his heart beat, and losing consciousness…
"Never again," He vowed, "Never..."