The atmosphere in the tavern remained vibrant and lively. The lights from the oil lamps illuminated the space with a warm and welcoming glow. Laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the sound of musicians tuning their instruments and dancers practicing their steps. The aroma of spices and freshly cooked food wafted through the air, transporting everyone to a world of tradition and joy. Melody, her heart still racing from the encounter, tried to calm herself as she poured herself a glass of water.
A man was sitting on one of the liquor barrels when he saw Melody enter.
"Hello, beautiful," said the man.
"Who are you and what are you doing here? You can't be here, go away," Melody replied, taking a few steps back.
"Oh, no, little one, I've only just arrived and you already want me to leave. Don't be a rude girl."
The man, with weathered skin, a robust build, little hair, and black eyes, approached her menacingly, cornering her against the wall.
"Melody, are you okay? I was looking for you..."
His words were cut short when Clara screamed upon seeing Melody struggling with the man.
"Clara, help me!" Melody shouted, kicking and struggling to breathe.
In a sudden movement, she managed to kick the man in the groin. He let out a scream of pain and fell to his knees. Melody seized the opportunity and began to run, knocking over everything in her path. She took Clara's hand and they left the cellars as quickly as possible. In their flight, they stumbled over some candlesticks that lit up the area. Unfortunately, there was gunpowder that the gypsies used for their tricks. Disaster struck and the gunpowder reacted. In a matter of seconds, the entire tavern was filled with a loud bang and the fire began to spread rapidly.
"Fire!" people began to shout, alarmed. The flames quickly destroyed everything in their path.
Bastian, frightened, searched for his sister. His desperation grew rapidly as he could neither see nor hear her.
Melody pushed her way through the crowd, looking for Bastian and an exit. That man was still following them.
"Mel, I can't take it anymore!" Clara exclaimed, coughing and tired from running.
"You're crazy if you think I'm leaving you here with a demon, Clara! Come on, run, can't you see the fire?" snapped Melody, barely able to breathe. "Bastian, Bastian! Brother, where are you?" she called out to her brother, but to no avail. From inhaling so much smoke, she finally lost consciousness.
Clara, on the verge of panic, began to call her friend desperately.
"Mel, wake up, come on, wake up. I can't leave you here. Either we'll burn to death, or that madman who's after us will kill us," she shouted, shaking the unconscious blonde.
Damien heard Clara's cries and immediately came to her aid.
"Where are you going, Damien? This place is about to fall apart. I've found a way out, we're almost there," shouted Andreas, helping some people out.
The young man with turquoise eyes ignored the soldier.
"That girl needs help, Andreas. I can't leave her like this."
The prince reached Clara, who was begging for help, and without further ado, took the unconscious girl in his arms. He began to run again, while Clara followed as fast as her legs would carry her. Once outside the tavern, the masked prince tried to revive Melody by giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
He proceeded to give her breaths, and within seconds, Melody came back to reality, somewhat agitated by the lack of air and recent events. She woke up with a start, bumping her forehead against her savior's.
"Ouch, baby! A thank you would have been enough. Although I wouldn't mind a kiss," said the boy, rubbing his forehead.
"You again? Do I owe you something or what?" asked Melody, still confused.
"Well, doll, I don't mean to brag, but you literally owe me your life," he replied sarcastically.
"Where's my friend?" asked Melody, getting up and staggering a little.
"You mean the blonde. She went to get help," replied the redhead, also getting up.
Melody ran off, leaving the redhead speechless. She couldn't leave Clara alone with that madman who was chasing them.
"Wait!" shouted the young man, but when he got no response, he went after the gypsy woman with the butterfly mask.
Halfway there, Damien was stopped by Andreas, who stood in his way on a white horse.
"Get on the horse, damn it!" roared the soldier, annoyed by the prince's impulsive decisions.
"The girl..." said Damien, removing his black cloth mask. "I can't leave like this, Andreas. The people in the tavern must get out, and that girl..."
"Nothing, Prince! The soldiers are already here, and that girl is already far away. We must leave. You know that if the royal guard sees you, the king will hear that you were here."
Damien understood Captain Andreas. He was responsible for the prince's safety, and if his father found out he had been at the fire, he would become hysterical and Andreas would pay the consequences. He couldn't allow his father to punish his friend for his mistakes.
"All right, Rutden, you win. Let's go," said Damien, climbing onto the soldier's horse. He took one last look in the direction the gypsy girl had gone, hoping she was okay.
"You're worse than a child, Damien. It's not my job to babysit you," snapped the blond-haired soldier, his hair tousled by the cold night wind from the ride.
Damien rolled his eyes, leaving them blank. He hated it when Andreas got dramatic.
"Oh, shut up, Rutden. You're just making me dizzy with your complaints. Instead of complaining, let's go get Orion. I can't leave without my horse."
⋯ ❈ ⋯
Bastian managed to escape from the burning tavern, but without his sister. He hoped that she had also managed to escape from that inferno.
"Bastian, Bastian, where are you?" Clara searched desperately for the young dark-haired man.
Bastian heard Clara and immediately went to her.
"Clara, are you okay?" he asked, and she immediately hugged him, beginning to cry inconsolably.
Bastian feared the worst.
"Where's Mel, Clara?"
"She's on the other side of the carts, Bastian. She's not waking up. I fear the worst," said the girl, on the verge of tears. This made Bastian even more desperate, not knowing anything about his sister.
"Take me to where my sister is, Clara," he said urgently. She nodded, took his hand, and quickly led him to where Melody was.
It didn't take them long to get there, and Bastian's soul returned to his body when he heard his sister's voice. He ran to hug her, fearing the worst, but thankfully, the girl was safe and sound.
"Bastian, I thought I'd lose you in that fire, brother. Thank goodness you're here," said Melody, still hugging him. "I was so afraid something would happen to you."
"Thanks to Clara and a boy who saved me, I'm here. Bastian, a guy was chasing Clara and me..."
"Well, well, you have more lives than a cat, you little bitch. I thought you were dead and burned," said a malicious voice.
"What the hell is your problem with my sister, you bastard?! Clara, Melody, run away, go back to the carts. I'll take care of this idiot," shouted Bastian.
"No, Bastian. I won't leave you alone, brother, don't ask me that," said Melody, unable to leave him alone. That guy was dangerous.
"I said go!" said Bastian, facing his sister.
"Clara, take her away."
"Yes, Bastian. Come on, Mel, let's go."
"No, Bastian, please," begged Melody, as Clara dragged her away.
But it was useless, because another man grabbed them, and the more they struggled, the tighter they held them.
"Let them go, you bastard. Be a man and face me."
"Whatever you want, brat. I'll kill you either way."
"Try it, coward. I'm not afraid of anything," said Bastian, enraged.
Bastian lunged at the man. The blows came and went, but the coward stabbed him treacherously in the leg and side.
The scene left Melody terrified. She kept screaming and kicking, trying to help her brother. Riven and Jacob, fed up with the drama, gagged the young women and carried them away once and for all.
Melody wanted to scream and cry out of helplessness and rage. She just prayed to the gods that her brother was okay. Sooner or later, they would pay for what had happened.