6. Dimitri
Chapter 6
Dimitri
D imitri gazed around the entryway of the castle. It didn’t smell musty anymore, but it was still an unappealing space. Or perhaps it was the silence and solitude that rendered it so.
He needed to find his pack and prepare the last of his food supplies, but it was hard to muster much care for his next meal. Rosalie and Daphne had spoken as if food would magically appear on his plate, but if that was within the manor’s capacity, it had yet to extend him such treatment. If he wanted to eat, he needed to provide the food himself, and that meant replenishing his supplies. He would need to walk into Thebarton the next day.
His pulse quickened at the idea that he might run into Rosalie again, but his need was legitimate. He was nearly out of food. And the walk would provide some activity in the day, at least. He felt no desire to spend an entire day alone in the manor.
He was still lingering in the entryway, lost in thought and reluctant to venture further into the empty building, when he heard footsteps. Someone was approaching the manor, and they were coming at a flat sprint.
He hurried back to the door, pulling it open and stepping outside in time to meet Daphne on the front steps. Her expression transformed at the sight of him, her relief palpable. But she bent over, gasping too hard for speech.
“What is it?” He hurried down to her, alarm coursing through him. “Where’s Rosalie?” He looked past her, but there was no sight of the other girl.
What could have happened to propel Daphne across the border of the manor grounds—and at such speed? None of the possibilities that presented themselves were pleasant.
“Is it Rosalie?” he asked again, barely holding in his impatience as Daphne struggled to regain her breath. “Is she injured? Does she need help getting home?”
“Abducted,” Daphne panted out at last, making his blood freeze. “Three men attacked me. She fought them, and they seized her instead.” Her face crumpled. “I didn’t see where they took her.”
“You did the right thing,” Dimitri assured her, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. He hadn’t made the mistake of leaving it behind that morning, which meant there would be no need for even a moment’s delay. “If they’d taken you too, no one would know about it. Can you show me where the attack happened?”
He hesitated and shook his head. “No, you’re too exhausted. Can you describe it for me?”
Daphne looked like she wanted to protest, but since her breathing still hadn’t normalized, she couldn’t do so.
“It was right after the third bend,” she panted out. “They came from the trees to the east.”
“Thank you!” he said. “You go inside and rest. Take the door to the left of the entryway. There’s a sitting room with a banked fire and provisions—such as they are. I’ll bring Rosalie back here when I find her.”
Daphne blinked but didn’t argue. Rosalie might not want to enter the manor grounds, but he didn’t know what state she would be in, and the manor was the closest building to where she’d been taken.
He was determined not to think of the possibility that she might be badly injured or dead. Thoughts like that would only get in the way of what needed to be done. If it turned out she needed a doctor, he would deal with that when the time came.
Running down his drive, he forced himself to moderate his pace. It was difficult, but he couldn’t afford to sprint as Daphne had done and end up too exhausted to continue. He had further to go than she’d had.
It took far too long to reach the third bend, but at last he saw it ahead of him. Putting on an extra burst of speed, he rounded the curve and slowed to a stop. Daphne had definitely said the third one, but he could see nothing unusual to indicate the struggle that must have happened there.
However, closer inspection revealed marks in the dirt beneath his feet that indicated more than passing footsteps. Something had happened in that spot, just as Daphne had claimed.
Hurrying to the trees on his left, he examined the greenery closest to the road. While he was far from an expert tracker, he had learned the basics from some of the older members of the mountain community, and he had often hunted large game through the trees on the mountain slope. It was easy to pick up the signs of the men he was pursuing—clearly they had made no effort to hide their passage.
He stepped past the tree line and paused. Should he be going to Thebarton first and gathering more men to accompany him? He only hesitated for a moment, though. Going into the town and searching for men would take far too much time. Who knew what harm might come to Rosalie in the meantime?
Daphne had said there were three men, and it was unlikely they were as well-trained with the sword as Dimitri. His closest neighbor on the mountain had been a retired weapons master, and Dimitri’s mother had done all his laundry and cooking.
He picked up the pace, not moving as fast through the trees as he had on the road but still making good time. He only slowed whenever he lost his quarry’s path, searching around each time until he found it again.
“Over here! Help!”
Dimitri tensed at the cry, spinning to stare into the trees. The voice had sounded a little odd, but the words had been clear. Whoever had taken Rosalie must have abducted others as well.
He tried to follow the voice, straining to hear any further calls or sounds of movement. An explosion of birds from a nearby tree made him startle, but he could see no sign of any people. Did he dare call out?
Just as he was about to risk it, he heard another cry.
“This way! We’re over here!”
The voice sounded the same, but it was coming from back in the direction of his original trail. He hurried after it. How had the abductors made it past him without him seeing or hearing anything?
“Just a bit further!” the voice called again, this time leading him south.
He dashed through the trees, ears and eyes alert, but he could see none of the signs that had been guiding him so far. He finally slowed, frustrated. The voice had sounded close, so he should have reached them by now. Something was off.
“Are you there?” he risked calling out. There was nothing but silence.
His lips tightened. He didn’t like to turn his back on someone in need, but he could see no sign of a fresh trail, and he had already lost valuable time. There was no way to follow a voice that had gone silent, and meanwhile he still had a clear path to follow in the other direction.
He retraced his steps until he saw evidence of the abductors’ movements again. With a last glance back at the quiet forest, he resumed his earlier path.
After some distance, he heard voices again. He slowed to a crawl. The voices were different this time—rather than one person calling out, it was the low murmur of an exchange. And the sounds were coming from in front of him—right where the trail was leading.
He had finally caught up with them, and he would be wise to approach with caution. Drawing his sword, he held it ready as he crept closer. The voices had fallen quiet, but he had locked their location in his mind.
He slipped behind a large bush, carefully looking around it into a clearing. The leaves obstructed his view, however, and he hadn’t located Rosalie when a voice spoke again, louder this time.
“Visitors are always welcome,” it drawled. “But we do prefer them to come in the front door. Won’t you join us?”
Dimitri froze. Were they talking to him?
“Come, come, don’t be shy!” the man added after the silence stretched on.
There was cold amusement in the tone, and Dimitri didn’t like the sound. But there was little point in lurking behind a bush if they knew he was there. Better to face the situation and see if he could brazen it out. He had his sword and his wits—and from the reaction of the few townsfolk he’d met, his position as owner of the manor gave him some standing in the region. He just hoped that was enough to master whatever situation he found in the clearing.
He slipped the blade back into its scabbard and strolled around the bush, forcing his face into impassive lines.
His first impression was of a small crowd of men—too many men. His fingers twitched toward the hilt of his sword, but he kept his arm at his side and his face calm. His one advantage was that they looked as unpleasantly surprised to see him as he was unpleasantly surprised at their number.
His eyes locked on a man standing slightly in front of the others. He was young—Dimitri’s age at a guess—but even so, Dimitri had the distinct impression he was their leader.
“You’re not welcome in my woods,” Dimitri told the man.
He used the same voice of command and authority that his mother had successfully deployed against his younger self. From his study of the manor’s deed, he didn’t really have any claim to this particular stretch of trees, but he was hoping these men wouldn’t know that.
“If you’re looking to cause trouble, you can do it elsewhere.”
The leader’s eyebrows rose. “Your woods, do you say? Don’t tell me you’re the prince from the castle.” A small smile played around his lips, making Dimitri stiffen. “How very interesting.”
The man stepped swiftly to one side, revealing Rosalie. Rope dangled from one of her wrists, suggesting she had been bound and subsequently freed. If it had been an escape attempt, she hadn’t gotten far, however. A tall man stood behind her, one hand clasped around her waist to hold her in place and the other hand clamped over her mouth to keep her silent.
Her wide eyes were fixed on Dimitri, but their expression was shocked rather than pained, and she didn’t appear to be injured. Even so, fury ripped through him at the sight of her restrained and silenced.
Without conscious intention, he drew his sword from its scabbard. Striding across the clearing, he took the leader by surprise, gripping the front of his shirt and holding the sharp edge of his blade to the man’s throat.
“Let her go. Now.” The words came out hard and cutting as ice.
The other men surged forward, but the leader’s stance remained relaxed. He waved a hand for his men to stay back, his eyes fixed on Dimitri.
“How very, very interesting,” he murmured, sending a chill down Dimitri’s spine.
The leader’s eyes flicked to one of the men hovering close by.
“It looks like you did a good job after all,” he said to his underling. His voice rose in volume as he addressed the man holding Rosalie behind him. “Do let our lovely guest go. There’s no need for restraints among friends.”
“Sir?” the man asked, clearly confused. Whatever the leader was doing, it wasn’t what his men expected.
“I think my words were clear,” the leader said in a tone that made the man instantly release Rosalie, leaping away from her as if burned.
She whirled on him immediately and kicked his shin. He winced but didn’t retaliate, and despite the situation, Dimitri couldn’t help a small smile. He regretted it when he looked back at the leader, though. The man’s eyes were on Dimitri, and his smile had grown.
“Very interesting,” he murmured again. “Quite delightful, really.”
He raised his brows, his eyes dropping to indicate the sword. Reluctantly Dimitri released him, stepping back. But he kept his eyes on the man and his blade ready.
He half-expected the leader to order an attack. But the man’s smile remained in place as he straightened his shirt.
Rosalie tried to stalk past him with her nose in the air, but he stepped smoothly into her path. Dimitri’s hand tightened on his hilt, and he started forward. But the man made no move to seize her, and Rosalie stopped. She could have sidestepped him easily enough, but she chose to face him, making Dimitri still. He couldn’t interpret the expression she was wearing, and a sliver of unease crept down his spine.
“And I thought your usefulness was past,” the man purred. “But look who came running to rescue you.”
She remained silent, radiating an anger that Dimitri could feel from several steps away. The leader appeared unaffected, however, responding to his own comment.
“Why, it’s none other than the new prince of the castle!” His smile widened further. “I’m not sure why I’m surprised. You are the youngest daughter of a merchant, after all.”
Dimitri’s brows tightened even further. What was the man implying?
The leader continued, using a voice that made Dimitri want to rip him away from Rosalie. “I think you’re going to be very useful indeed. You must excuse my momentary discourtesy earlier. I meant no harm by it, of course. But if you need comforting, I’m sure your prince will be happy to oblige.” He chuckled once.
“He isn’t my prince,” Rosalie said, her voice as stiff as her stance.
Her response hit Dimitri hard. Why did he feel like he was the outsider in this interaction? Who was this man? And more importantly, who was he to Rosalie?
“And yet he came running to save you,” the man replied, still with a laugh in his voice. “He doesn’t seem to be able to control his emotions where you’re concerned either.” He laughed outright, making Dimitri feel as if he’d been stripped bare, failing at a very important task in the process.
“None of it matters,” Rosalie said. “I have no intention of ever seeing you again, Jace. You heard Dimitri. You’re not welcome here.”
The man reached out a single finger and ran it down her cheek. “What a pity,” he whispered. “I did enjoy our time together, Rosalie.”
A sequence of emotions flashed across Rosalie’s face as Dimitri’s chest tightened. Was this Jace the man who had hurt Rosalie in the past? The one Dimitri had wanted to find and set straight? And now he had abducted her?
Dimitri stepped forward, no clear plan in his mind but unable to remain still and watch Jace taunt her. But Rosalie reacted more quickly than he could. Slapping Jace’s hand away, she stuck her nose back in the air and marched around him.
When her eyes met Dimitri’s, he tried to rein in the emotion on display, but he wasn’t fast enough. Her expression softened in response.
“Come on,” she muttered as she passed him. “We should get out of here before they change their minds about the letting us go part.”
Once again, he smiled despite the situation. There was something so irrepressibly Rosalie about her. It relieved him to see it after her interaction with the man from her past.
He glanced back at Jace once, reluctant to let him go so easily. But the other men had closed ranks behind their leader, and Dimitri knew Rosalie was right. This wasn’t the moment to call Jace to account for whatever he had done in the past.
Instead, Dimitri fell into step behind Rosalie, guarding her from the rear until they could gain some distance from her abductors.
Rosalie didn’t appear to take note of the signs he had tracked through the trees, but she must have had a good sense of direction because she led them unerringly back the way they had come. Dimitri trailed behind with frequent glances back to make sure they weren’t being followed. As far as he could tell, they weren’t.
They had nearly made it back to the road—still moving in silence—when he heard the mysterious voice again.
“This way!” it called. “Over here!”
He stopped instantly. It had sounded close that time, as if the other captives were mere steps away. He looked around, but just like on the previous occasions he could see no sign of anyone. And there had been no indication back in the clearing that Jace was holding other captives.
Rosalie continued forward as if she hadn’t heard the cry, only stopping when she no longer heard his footsteps behind. She swung around to stare at him.
“Did you hear that?” he murmured quietly in case there were more of Jace’s men somewhere near.
Rosalie strode back to him, rolling her eyes. “Really?” She propped both hands on her hips.
Dimitri frowned, but he couldn’t ignore the voice. Not now that Rosalie was free, and there was no urgent need for him to keep moving.
“I heard them on my way to you as well,” he murmured. “It sounds like someone is in trouble.”
Rosalie regarded him silently for a moment before sighing and indicating for him to follow her. She crept toward a nearby tree, stopping only when she reached its trunk. Tipping her head back she stared directly upward, pointing into the canopy.
Dimitri crowded beside her and stared upward as well, bemused. A brightly colored bird—some kind of parrot, he guessed—sat on a branch, the foliage concealing its position.
As they stood there, the bird opened its beak.
“Over here! Right here!” it called in such startlingly clean tones that Dimitri fell back a step.
“It was a bird?” he gasped. “I was hearing a bird?” It was hard to absorb. He had noticed the voice sounded a little strange, but he had never doubted it was human. “What is a parrot even doing here? Don’t they usually live in jungles?”
Rosalie shook her head. “You really don’t know anything about Glandore, do you? They might not have lived here originally, but they’re everywhere now. And absolute nuisances, the lot of them.” She glared up at the bird as if it was the one who had abducted her. “It’s all because of the Legacy, of course. The original Beast’s castle had invisible servants who used the parrots to talk for them. So now we’re all blessed with these pests. Not only can they talk, but they have a knack for saying the most disconcerting thing in any given situation. We can thank the Legacy for that, too, I assume.”
Dimitri grimaced. He had delayed finding Rosalie because of one of those birds. It wouldn’t have happened if not for his ignorance, and it was only luck that those extra minutes hadn’t meant dire consequences for her.
Rosalie stared at him. “You really don’t have any idea what you’re doing, do you? But you still refuse to leave! Surely you must see the necessity of it now. As long as you stay in this castle, your mere presence puts us all in danger. You’re worse than useless.”
She stalked off, heading toward the road again, and Dimitri followed. Despite his self-condemnation, her words felt excessive.
“I did come rushing to rescue you,” he pointed out. “I didn’t do it for the sake of your gratitude, but surely it’s worth something, at least?”
“Gratitude?!” Rosalie stared at him. “Do you seriously think you helped me back there? I know you were busy playing the gallant hero, but surely you noticed they let us go!”
Dimitri frowned. Given the numbers they had been facing, he had been grateful for the easy escape, but clearly he was missing something significant.
“I did notice, yes,” he said slowly.
“And did you think they were doing that out of the goodness of their hearts?” Rosalie fixed him with a withering look.
Dimitri considered his words carefully. “It looked like you had some sort of…history with their leader. Jace, you called him?”
Rosalie instantly stiffened. “Jace doesn’t do anything unless it benefits him. Thanks to your heroics, he now believes there’s a connection between us, and he intends to turn that into a payday for him and his men. I’m never going to be able to shake him off now. Who knows what he’ll do next!”
“But at least you’re free,” Dimitri said quietly. Whatever Rosalie thought, he saw a great deal of good in that.
Rosalie shook her head impatiently. “If you hadn’t shown up, I would have convinced him that his men had grabbed the wrong person. They were looking for someone connected to the castle, and now they think that person is me.”
Dimitri’s brows snapped together. “Those men were after me?”
“No, I don’t think they wanted you. I think they wanted…” She grimaced, seeming to have trouble finishing the sentence. “They must have been monitoring the transformation of the castle grounds,” she said at last with a sigh. “They know you’re in residence, and they wanted leverage against you.”
Dimitri swallowed. “They wanted to use you against me?”
Rosalie shrugged. “I’m guessing that was their original plan. They intended to take you for whatever they could. But now he thinks the Legacy is pushing us together, and that if he lets it play out a little further, there will be a great deal more to take.”
She stopped just inside the tree line, turning to look at him. “Those men back there want you to become a Beast because then the Legacy will fill your castle with gold, jewels, and other valuables. They intend to take that wealth, and they don’t care what state they leave you in afterward. Is that clear enough for you? Before that little scene back there, there was someone who wanted to rob you. Now there’s someone who wants to see you cursed for life.”
“At least they’re not still holding you, though,” Dimitri said stubbornly.
Rosalie stared at him, mouth agape. “Are you determined to ignore all good sense?”
Yet again, Dimitri’s lips twitched up despite himself. Rosalie’s eyes flashed in response, and he quickly straightened his face.
“I can see I’m extremely deficient,” he said gravely. “May I suggest we discuss it further once we’ve reassured your friend of your safety?”
Rosalie seemed to accept his words, but the moment he stepped onto the road and turned northward, she called after him.
“Stop!” She marched to his side. “Where are you going? You can’t think I’m going with you to your castle! That’s the last place I intend to go. I’m going back home.”
“Daphne’s waiting for us at the manor,” Dimitri said apologetically. “She was exhausted from sprinting all the way to fetch me, so I left her to rest and recover and said I would bring you to her there. It’s closer than town, you see, and I wasn’t sure what state you’d be in.”
“You left her there alone?” Rosalie’s eyes widened. “Anything could have happened to her!”
“She was inside,” he offered. “I’m sure she won’t have picked any roses.”
Rosalie groaned. “Why did she run to you of all people?”
“She behaved very sensibly,” Dimitri said. “I was the closest source of help. I’m relieved she came to me.”
Rosalie narrowed her eyes. “You would be. Just think how all the girls in town will swoon.”
Dimitri frowned, but Rosalie had already turned in the direction of the castle with an air of resignation.
“I’m going to fetch Daphne and that’s all. Once I know she’s safe, we’re going home. We’ve both suffered enough from the Legacy today.”