Leo awoke in the dead of night, drenched in cold sweat from her nightmare. Slithering tongues had reached for her in the dark, while roaring fires rose in front of her blocking her escape. They’d reached for her, becoming sweaty hands that pinned her down, cutting into her. Her own scream was what had brought her back to her dark bedroom, shivering and disoriented.

She needed air.

Quietly she slipped into a pair of loafers and a robe and lit a candle before sneaking out into the hallway. It was quiet except for a few crickets serenading through an open window. Usually when she woke up like this, she’d either sneak into the garden or into the kitchen to grab a snack. Today she felt hunger pressing, so she chose the second option.

As she neared, she discovered the door was open, dim candlelight bellowing from within and she was about to turn around, afraid the cook would get angry at her intrusion when she heard a sound. Something like a person banging their head against hanging pans and Arwin’s voice spilling profanities. She’d never heard him speak like that before, he was always so formal and polite, so it made her a little curious.

Silently she snuck forward to peer inside and the sight of her finance made butterflies flutter in her stomach. He looked much less proper than usual, his shirt unbuttoned more than usual and not neatly tucked into his pants. He wasn’t wearing a vest or jacket either and his blonde hair was ruffled in sharp contrast to his usual comb. He was staring at one of the pans muttering about why someone had placed it there and the sight was so astonishing she couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

At the sound his head jerked in her direction, a scowl on his face but as he recognized her it softened to a wide smile.

“Leo, what’re you doing here?” his voiced slurred.

“Oh, I was just out for a stroll, I had trouble sleeping” she admitted, looking down at her feet blushing.

“What a nice surprise” he smiled, striding towards her. He seemed different from usual, more open and cheerful. There was a slight stagger to his movements as he leaned against the doorway, his gaze fastened on her.

A strong fermented smell clung to him and she sniffed a little to try and recognize the scent. “Did you drink?”

“Just a little. I had things to celebrate” he giggled.

“Oh, such as what?” she inquired, curious as to what he’d been doing all day. She had barely seen him even after he came home from work and she was a little sad they hadn’t spent any time together.

He looked to be pondering for a moment, then his lips curled in a mischievous smile. “Maybe the fact that I have such a beautiful fiancée?” he teased, “though I suppose that’s cause for celebration most days…”

She blushed at his words, feeling embarrassed that he could speak such blatant flattery without batting an eye.

“Arwin, you tease me” she mumbled in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. A warm hand then landed on her soft cheek and her head jerked to meet his gaze.

“It’s true…” his voice was so soft and his touch so gentle it made her quiver. Then suddenly he lowered his head and planted a kiss on her lips. Startled she drew back, the sensation still lingering, and her blush further deepened.

“Arwin, what are you-“ but before she could finish her sentence, his mouth was over hers again. Cupping her face in his palms he held her in place, as his tongue slipped through her lips. She shivered at the warm, but overwhelming sensation.

“A-Arwin!” she protested as soon as he paused to catch a breath, “w-we shouldn’t do such things before the wedding…”

He looked at her with mild disappointment, then drew a sigh. “Of course. You’re right… Let me take you back to your room.”

She almost felt bad for turning him down seeing his dejected expression, but as a woman she couldn’t let herself get carried away like that. Not even if they were engaged.

Back to his usual gentlemanly self he offered his arm to her, though she felt he might be the one who needed support and together they made their way back to her room.

At the doorway she spun to thank him and bid him goodnight, but before the words had a chance to form his mouth was suddenly on top of hers again. His arms wrapped around her waist, trapping her against him.

“A-Arwin!” she muttered between kisses, but he didn’t seem to heed her protests. Slowly he started moving them toward the bed.

“Arwin, we aren’t married yet. This is improper” she tried, as he feathered kisses down her neck.

“We’ll soon be anyway” his husky voice sounded at her ear.

Suddenly he pushed her on the bed and in a swift motion he was on top of her, smothering her with his mouth. The tongue slippery between her teeth and his warm hand searching on top of her clothing, she felt a panic welling up.

“Arwin, stop!”

But he didn’t listen. Her eyes widened in horror as he grabbed her nightgown and tore it open in the middle and she gasped at his expression. She’d never seen that kind of primal look in his eyes before.

“Arwin, no don’t!” She shouted, but he drowned her panicked protests again, and his hand fumbled to grab a firm breast, massaging it. Her breath hitched and her blood ran cold. She didn’t want this. She struggled to free herself, but he held her down with his hands and the weight of his body.

Then a sharp pain seared through her head. A memory trying to claw its way out from inside her skull. She had experienced this before.

The images started flashing before her eyes, scorching. The castle on fire, hallways flowing with blood. Her slender arms as she hammered on a door, calling for her father trapped behind it. The pain in her bare feet as she ran over glass splinters and cobblestone, trying to escape the soldiers in pursuit of her. Their hands gripping her, pinning her town, tearing at her clothes. The searing pain in her insides as one forced himself upon her.

“No!”

Arwin was in the midst of trying to spread her legs to remove her underwear, and he startled at the sound of scream. She took advantage of the moment to kick him in the face and sprung to her feet, bearing her escape. She crashed into the hallway and ran for the stairs with primal fear the only thing carrying her forward.

Then she froze.

There halfway up the steps stood a hulking figure, the shape all too well known. In two steps he stood in front of her, her eyes only reaching his chest. She started at the sound of footsteps behind her. There was nowhere to run.

“Oh, Carsein. Sorry if we woke you up.” The sound of Arwin’s voice made her shudder, the tone nauseatingly sweet and sinister, “Could you please help me get the little lady back to her room, so we can continue?”

Her breath hitched and her head jerked up to look at Carsein’s expression, desperately hoping to find sympathy in his eyes, though deep down she knew he wasn’t going to help her.

He took a step forward forcing her back towards the man behind her. Then another and another. She spun around as not to stumble, and gasped when she saw Arwin’s mad expression. There was no trace of love or warmth in his eyes.

This. This couldn’t be Arwin.