Bride To His Darkness

The once cloudy sky was beginning to appear cloud-free when Samantha made it to Madame Ginevra’s small home. The news about Callum and how every other instigators involved in the illegal trade business had reached the ears of the villagers, and Samantha could hear endless murmurings on her way to the house.... From the people’s reaction, their faces were beginning to brighten up, and some of the villagers that looked familiar to her were all gathered with their hoes and axes as they walked by, already returning from their farms without the fear of being raided.

Satisfied with the positive energy, she glanced at Ivan who walked alongside her. He was modestly dressed with his glasses perched against the bridge of his nose, and when his blue eyes lowered to look at her, as if he sensed her gaze on him, Samantha was prone to avert her stare, and she was unable to get rid of the endless flutters in her stomach.

"Do you think she will recognize you?" Ivan started a conversation, his gaze still lingering on the woman who struggled to stare ahead. "These people of Fernwood, they stare at you funnily, they must be in a lot of doubt if they are still failing to fathom your identity by now."

"I want it that way." Samantha answered firmly, a faint smile dawning her lips, "my only concern is having Madame Ginevra recognize me. You know, when I still lived here, in Fernwood, you could say she was my second Mother. Maurice and I were able to sustain a healthy diet thanks to Madame Ginevra. She always offered a helping hand whenever we had nothing, it was a kind gesture we found rare, and when we asked why, there was something she said to me that I could never forget, ’a Mother who understands her own child’s grief, will not overlook the grief of another child.’"

Samantha quoted as her heart suddenly felt heavy, it was a feeling so profound she had to stop talking to avoid turning into the cry baby which she was. Ivan didn’t fail to notice, and he couldn’t be more happier about the fact that she was letting him in on all the people she found close in the past.

"I see... is that the reason why you took the risk to save her daughter from Callum?" Ivan inquired, still able to vividly recall her daring strength in the face of Callum. He had been meaning to ask her about it, and now that they were talking about this Madame Ginevra who had been a positive impact on his little lamb’s life, he felt this was the opportunity to face his curiosity.

"It was... a miniscule of it." Samantha answered hesitantly, her tone wavering at the recollection of Callum’s disrespect for the innocent girl. "In the slave establishment, I had witnessed something similar happen before my eyes. There was this girl who had been caught trying to escape...I think she was younger than me? When she was found after her failed attempts to escape, there was an extremely dark corner in that establishment.... She begged me to help her when a guardsman forcefully dragged her in there, her eyes... She was desperate for freedom, she needed help, but there was nothing I could do to save her, I just... watched. Amanda’s situation was no different, and I guess I... I felt triggered–mhm–!!!"

Samantha’s eyes went wide in surprise as her voice muffled, but it was for a millisecond after realizing Ivan had pulled her into his arms so unexpectedly. She didn’t understand why he was hugging her like this till he said,

"I’m sorry that you had to witness those nightmares alone, they must have treated you horribly." Samantha could feel his hold around her tighten, as if he was still clinging to the idea that everything that happened to her was his fault. "I can’t bring myself to imagine what hell you must have gone through while staying there, but no more. I don’t want you to hide your scars from me ever again, show every single one of them to me, and I’ll forever worship them."

He pulled back and held her hands in his, "you won’t have to deal with this alone from here on out, I’m here for you. We’ll fix everything together."

"Ivan.." Samantha had to avert her gaze elsewhere so she wouldn’t give in to the tears pricking her eyes. She smiled before looking at Ivan once more, deeply touched by his pure devotion. "We’ll both be each other’s strength, and nothing more. The past cannot be changed, what has happened has happened, and I’ve accepted that."