Monster

4. The Lady & Knight

1825 October 19th

Ten minutes before eleven O'clock

The Lady & Knight

Elsa had no time to comprehend the danger that was to come. Her father's comrade pulled her toward him; her back met his chest. She thought for a moment he meant to threaten her, but it was more or less to keep her safe.

The weapon he held was out before them, and he walked in a smooth arc, glancing around for any sign of movement. Elsa was very aware of the compass still going bizarre on the sword's handle. And then that's when it happened.

Someone or thing stepped out onto the street, no more than a silhouette. It walked toward them, into the shaft of moonlight and,to Elsa's horror, appeared like a walking corpse, its skeletal hands thrust out in their direction.

Ronan pointed his sword at the monster. "Zostań tam gdzie jesteś."

Having come from London, Elsa wondered what that meant.

There was laughter.

It seemed the SKS member knew what he needed to do, and so he snatched Elsa's pistol out of her hold, held it in both hands and aimed it at the dilapidated being that stopped only twenty feet away. Still, Elsa could not make out much of its appearance. Only that it made her very cold and her heart beat wildly. That it was spindly and tilted, like that of an old weeping willow.

Two seconds passed, and then the gun sparked with a loud crack as the SKS member pushed the trigger. The force of the explosion was so intense it made his balance waver, shaking Elsa off of hers completely. She stumbled in his arms and he dropped the weapon to help her back up.

"Told you you shouldn't be out here," he said, accidentally right in her ear, for she was leaning heavily against him. She could hear his heart knocking in his chest. Fear had seeped into her bones. As much as she would not have admitted it out loud, she knew he was right."Too dangerous. Come on, we have got to get you back home."

She did not protest, only nodded and allowed him to take her back home.They looked over their shoulder at the dead monster; but all that was left was a pile of ash that the wind had begun to scatter. The cobblestone path seemed longer than it really was. Scared out of her wits, she stayed directly before the SKS member, one arm around her protectively, the other carrying his sword. The nose of the pistol was tucked in the band of his pants.

When they arrived, Elsa pushed the wrought-iron gate open and rushed along the stone path toward her house. The moon stared down at them like a watchful eye as Ronan followed her all the way to the door, which was locked. He looked at her. "Tell me you have a key, or something."

"An idiot you think I am? I escaped through my bedroom window." She pointed to the tree beside the house.

He looked worried for a second. "How do you plan to get back up there?"

"Climb."

He stared at her dress and pinched the bridge of his nose. When he was done contemplating, he escorted her to the tree and leaned his sword against the trunk before placing his hands together, palms up. Then he bent a bit so that Elsa could grab onto a branch and use his hands as a step. She did just that and he hoisted her up, glancing away fora second when a clear view of beneath the dress met his eyes.

She sat on the branch, pushing stray bramble and dead leaves away, and looked down at him. "You never did tell me who you are."

"I told you it doesn't matter."

"You saved my life. It matters a great deal to me."

At that he smiled, but it was faint, and as he looked away he said,"Ronan."

"And do you not have a surname?"

"Williams, if you must know."

Elsa looked down at him. Finally he turned back at her and their eyes met.She could see now that the irises in his were brown. They reminded her of the caramel apples at the bakery she and her father traveled to on Sundays. And that reminded her...

"You're not going to tell my father about any of this, are you?"

He bit the inside of his cheek. "Maybe not."

Her heart leaped in her chest. Rage took over. "Don't you dare!"she demanded in the loudest whisper. "He'd—"

"I am only joking, miss Elsa."

She let the smile take over. It was relief, and pleasure at his humor. Elsa was home-schooled, and when she was out in public, it was always with her father... and she had never met anyone with a personality like Ronan's.

"Jesteś bardzo piękna," he said.

"What does that mean?"

He smiled. "I hear you read a lot—that your father plans to have you learn Polish. If he does, you shall know soon enough."

"It better have been a compliment," she answered, and then stared at him. "Do you encounter one every night?"

As though trying to joke, he asked, "Do you mean a woman?"

Obviously not amused, she rolled her eyes. "No. A monster!"

"Not every night." He seemed uncomfortable talking about it to her,and instead changed the topic. "You must get back inside. Lock your window. Don't ever go out at night again. Or maybe I might have to tell."

She glared at him, but knew that she'd never wish to sneak out again.

"It's for your own safety, miss Elsa. Who is to say one of us won't be around the next time a monster is nearby?"

The thought gave her chills, and she looked around them to make sure there was no a skeletal silhouette nearby. "On you go,"Ronan urged. "Goodnight, miss."

"I thank you kindly," she called to him once she made it to the windowsill. He bowed and walked away, back into the smoggy night in search of more monsters. She wouldn't have said so out loud, but she hoped she might run into him again.