My Captor, My Tormentor, My Love

Chapter 13: Vincent Morgan Saint-Leclaire / Part Two - Lost and Found


‘Vincent’s Point of View’

It seemed like I had been traveling forever. It was a harsh and traumatic time for me. I was so young and all alone with no one left to guide me but my memories. I lost count of the number of days and nights that had passed since I first began my search for Elizabeth. At the beginning, the weather was brutal with the blinding snow, blustering winds and frigid temperatures. If it wasn’t for the kindness of strangers I met along the way, I never would have survived those first couple of months.

I began to lose hope of ever finding Elizabeth, or the Bastard who kidnapped her from me. I began to despair at the thought of never setting eyes on my beloved sister again. Then as Winter turned into Spring, and Spring turned into Summer, my luck suddenly began to change.

I had just entered a town called, Serendipity, which was on the outskirts of a large farming community. The day was bright and sunny, with a cool and comforting breeze blowing through the air. Beneath the blue sky the town was bustling with people who were rushing along doing their various business, and horses and carriages traveling on the dirt graveled roads.

The sounds of children laughing and playing filled the air around me as I walked along the main road into the village and smelled the aromatic of baked goods. I decided the best place to start would be the local hotel and quickly headed towards it.

I walked up the steps and entered the hotel. I approached the clerk who was sitting at the front desk reading a newspaper. As I explained my situation to him, he patiently listened, when I was finished he looked at me and then spoke.

He told me there was a man fitting the description of Montrose who had arrived over a week ago along with a young girl accompanying him. “He left here just a day ago and was heading South” the clerk informed me. I quickly thanked him and ran out the door. I couldn’t believe my luck, after all this time I was finally close to reaching them and rescuing Elizabeth.

I ran to the stables and inquired on how much it would cost to rent a horse. Luckily, I had saved and earned enough money doing various chores during my travels that I could afford to buy an old mare instead of rent one. I purchased a saddle and bridle for the mare then raced out of the town in search of Elizabeth.

I raced the poor horse without rest, through the day and into the night, until finally I came upon a small encampment up ahead. Before I was seen, I slowed my horse down to a trot then jumped off and walked over to an alcove of trees. I tethered the mare near a small brook and then left to go investigate. Creeping up through the bushes on the side of the road, I could make out voices coming from the camp. I knelt down and peered through the bramble of a bush and what I saw infuriated me beyond reason.

I had finally found my sweet Elizabeth but what I saw would remain frozen within me forever. She was sitting on the ground against a huge boulder. Her beautiful hair was a long matted mess. She had bruises covering her face and arms, and she was sobbing. I lost all reason for thought. Before thinking of the consequences, I jumped up and ran into the clearing Montrose had set up camp in.

Furious, I jumped him and started pounded my fists into every part of his body I could reach. He wasn't expecting me but was a large man and easily threw me off. I looked for a weapon that I could use as defense and saw a thick broken tree limb along the edge of the forest. He was on me before I could reach it.

When he saw who I was, Montrose started laughing and taunting me as he continued to beat me within an inch of my life. After it appeared he was finished, he pulled out a large dagger. Approaching, he pulled me up by my hair and lifted my neck back. He placed the edge of the blade against my right cheek and slid it in, I screamed...oh it hurt so much...then he proceeded to drag it down the side of my face.

I knew I would die right then. My darling Elizabeth, I am so sorry that I have failed you. These were my last thoughts as I lost consciousness.

When I finally came to, I opened my eyes and found myself lying on my back near the burned out fire of the camp. I touched the side of my face, it felt numb and was caked with dry blood. Looking around, I saw Montrose dead across the ground, the large limb I had seen earlier was resting on top of his body. He had been struck in the back of the head and his skull crushed. I panicked when I realized how quiet it was. Getting to my feet, I began looking anxiously around for Elizabeth. I called out to her but there was no answer. I frantically started to search the camp.

I heard my mare neighing in the dark and quickly ran towards the sound. It was there I found her. She was slowly patting the horse and talking to it. I quietly walked up to her, not wanting to frighten her further. I reached out and my hand touched her shoulder. She didn’t move or acknowledge my presence standing behind her. I gently turned her around so that she was facing me and looked into her face for the first time in months.

“Elizabeth?” I whispered to her.

She just looked at me and continued talking to herself. Oh my God, I thought, what did that Bastard do to you? I no longer saw the happy and carefree child Elizabeth used to be. In her place was this abused replica and I realized that my beautiful and innocent little sister was lost in another world forever. I pulled her into my arms, kissed the top of her head, and gently held her close.

I made a promise to myself and Elizabeth that night. I would take her away from this place forever. I would protect her with my life and we would never return to this land again. We would start anew together in another world.

This part of our life was over, to be forgotten, and a new one was about to begin.

TBC