Page 11 of A Soul to Guide

“I have my own money,” he answered. The following sound was a thwack and then a thump, as if someone had been struck so hard, they’d hit the ground. Within seconds, the man holding her other arm was gone. “I heard a commotion; I came to investigate.”

“Hey, what the hell?” Lori cried, moving away from Raewyn.

Jackson pulled away, and Raewyn let him so she could get closer to the stranger she’d been following all day.

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t as bad as she originally thought.

“This isn’t what was–” Jackson’s voice was cut off with a choke, like his throat had been grabbed.

Lori’s scream was next, followed by a groan from Jackson next to her, as though he’d been thrown at the woman. Their combined slapping thuds reverberated through the ground as they fell into what she assumed was a pile.

“I told you to leave her alone,” the stranger said calmly but firmly. “Now fuck off, the lot of you.”

Only two sets of footsteps echoed, one from behind and the other from in front. By the lack of burnt cooking that wafted in the air, Lori had run, while someone behind her had gotten to their feet to do so as well.

Greg’s leather scent disappeared, while Jackson’s and the unnamed assailant’s scents remained.

Until now, Raewyn hadn’t realised her heart was pumping wildly in adrenaline and fear. She also hadn’t noticed tears were dampening the cloth over her eyes. Her hands were trembling, and it was only now that she was safe, and everything was okay, that she understood just how frightened she’d been.

In the moment, she’d just been so worried about fighting back, nothing else had registered. Now, all she wanted was to sink to her knees in relief.

Raewyn let out a little sniffle.

“Stop crying. They’re gone.” He made a thoughtful hum before he added, “At least the conscious ones are.”

His warm scent of oranges and cinnamon suddenly became comforting, like the big hug she’d needed since she arrived in this stupid realm. Her tears pooled heavier rather than disappearing.

“T-thank you for saving me.”

“I said stop crying, and stop being afraid.” He gave a grunt before pushing her to the side – albeit gently. “You’ll just bring Demons, if they aren’t already heading to this town.”

“I know, I’m sorry, but I just can’t seem to stop.”

Gosh, she wanted to stop! She hated how gross her cloth was becoming against her face.

“Well, the inn you stay at is just around the corner, so you’re not far from being safe. We better leave, before the guards come around and start asking questions. Since we’re the ones still standing, they’ll think we were the ones at fault.”

Wiping her nose as she frowned, she asked, “H-how did you know I was staying at the inn?”

“I come to this part of town often. I’ve seen you around.”

“Oh.” Her ears twitched at the shifting of dirt, as though he’d begun walking away, and Raewyn leapt forward. “Wait! Please don’t leave me alone here.”

She managed to grab ahold of his large wrist, both her thin, nimble hands barely wrapping around the thick limb.

He paused and turned, and Raewyn knew, just knew, he was staring down at her.

“I can take you back to the inn, if you would prefer.”

“Yes, please,” she answered, gripping his arm tighter. The thick, coarse clothing covering it crinkled in her palms. “I also wanted to ask you something.”

“Fine. What is it?” he asked as he started walking.

“I overheard you were leaving today.”

With an odd sense of humour in his voice, he said, “Did you now?”

Knowing she was getting further away from those people and closer to the safety of her room, her trembling subsided. She could even smell the food and alcohol from the tavern, and the owner had been nothing but caring and protective towards his patrons.

---