𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter forty-five; A Clearing In The Woods
" Some say the Monster of France was stronger than the Grim-- than death itself. . . I say Demetre Langlois is the best Hunter in the world. "

IN THE TWO months that followed Catherine's abduction and safe return, Elspeth Liens was quite busy.

With Demetre Langlois still off battling for a mad king's conquer of Calais and the still fresh revelation that Elspeth herself had come to love him, the only way to live was a routine. And a packed one, at that.

Elspeth woke up just as the sun rose every morning. She was greeted by Alex Dupont and Hugo Laurent who updated her with any pertinent information that had transpired during the night. Breakfast was shared with her guards as her friends still slumbered in the early hours of the morning, and then Elspeth painted.

  She painted until the rest of the castle woke with her, and then Elspeth took care of any House duties needed. Now, Elspeth had assumed Demetre's intentions were not to shoulder her with the responsibilities of bookkeeping and simple chores, but she had taken them up anyway. Sorting out his office, checking over numbers, and ensuring anyone employed by the House was well cared for.

Then she would hunt.

It had begun as simple trips with Alex, without much fanfare at all, but it quickly evolved into something much, much more.

Because before very long Elspeth Liens wasn't hunting animals in the wild; she was hunting the Darkness in the Blood Wood.

She knew Demetre would have his own opinions about her choice to join Sebastian's hunt, but a part of Elspeth was doing it for Demetre.

As if killing whatever lurked out there could put a part of him to rest, as if she could make the castle safe for his return.

Not to mention it kept her mind busy.

Elspeth had run into Sebastian one morning and offered to join his hunt offhandedly. He reminded her what he was hunting differed from her prey, but this did little to deter her. After Elspeth got Kenna's blessing (which truthfully was more of a plea for Elspeth and Sebastian to be friends again), it became routine.

She would call in earlier than Sebastian every day, returning to the castle just in time to share dinner with Greer and Kenna; Lola was off on her wedding tour and Mary had found herself quite busy in days passing.

But Elspeth didn't seem to mind.

And once a week Elspeth took a day off to spend with Catherine.

They would have tea or walk or read or simply spend time in one another's company.

"I had no doubt you would keep busy, but it's still surprising."

Elspeth only smiled as Catherine read over her most recent work for House Langlois. The girl had triple-checked with Alex and Hugo that Catherine was privy to the inner workings of the House before sharing it, and it had been reassuring to know someone was double-checking her numbers.

"I just don't want him to have anything to worry about when he returns," Elspeth said, leaning on the arm of the sofa she was splayed across, "Though I know when he finds out about my hunting trips, he will."

"I never thought a child could cause me more concern than Francis," Catherine said, looking to Elspeth, "You have proven me wrong."

"It's only hunting," Elspeth tried to reassure.

"My girl, it's hunting with your ex-fiance," She reminded, sighing, "Though, I suppose your suitor won't mind."

Elspeth felt her face heat with embarrassment, shifting uncomfortably.

"About that. . . I've, um, stopped seeing Lord Landon," Elspeth rushed out, "He was kind, but I--"

"I'm not talking about Landon," Catherine only laughed.

Elspeth rolled her lips into her mouth, sinking further into the sofa as the queen stood.

"I hope time apart from him has made you come to your senses," She said, brushing down Elspeth's unruly braid, "And that you will be prepared to see it when he returns."

The girl twisted her fingers for a moment as Catherine stood above her. Like she was much more of a child than she truly was, being doted on by a caring mother.

"What if it ruins everything?"

Elspeth peered up at Catherine with wide, vulnerable eyes. The expression killed the queen.

"Time will tell, dear one."

Elspeth smiled lightly, nodding in agreement.

"Go send these off," Catherine said, handing Elspeth back the papers, "And brush your hair. You are a noble, don't forget."

"I could never."

↬

Elspeth returned to her chambers that night with Alex and Hugo in tow. Things had gone from informal to friendly and now Elspeth knew any noble would be appalled at the way she snorted in laughter while speaking to men well beneath her station.

But they were kind. Funny and thoughtful, and Elspeth considered them friends. Regardless of their stations.

"Alex, you can hardly sit still for a meal, how was I to think you wanted a portrait?"

"Of course, I want one!"

"He's prone to jealousy, Elspeth."

The girl grinned, turning to Alex.

"Then we must mend this," She said, "Tomorrow we'll start your portrait. Right after breakfast."

Alex grinned, his crooked smile making him look younger than he was.

"Alright, then."

Elspeth laughed as Hugo opened the door for her, ensuring her they'd be stood outside. She thanked them before truly retiring for the night, sighing as the door closed behind her.

The room had felt larger lately. Elspeth had spent an entire week in Demetre's until his scent disappeared from the bed and she realized how strange what she was doing seemed. But her room didn't prove the same comfort Demetre's had.

But she exhausted herself during the day to avoid those feelings. Those thoughts.

So Elspeth Liens took a quick but steaming bath before collapsing into her bed and letting slumber take her. And as if she blinked, she woke up and changed into her hunting attire.

Nothing of note had changed that night, so breakfast was uneventful. Painting went as well as Elspeth thought it would, with Alex fidgeting every moment up until Sebastian called on her. He seemed eager to leave the stool, and Elspeth only laughed.

"Today, we'll go East."

Sebastian always over-explained his plans. But Elspeth always let him. She figured it gave him comfort and a sense of direction when they'd scarcely found a thing.

"Alright," Elspeth agreed.

"We'll cross the clearing that the Grim was slain in."

This got her attention.

Never had Sebastian mentioned it. Each time they entered the Blood Wood, neither of them spoke of Demetre's past or their own. Almost like they refused to acknowledge the history of the woods they hunted in.

"What?"

"It's where soldiers recovered its body," Sebastian said. "We've mostly avoided it since then. It'd be the perfect place to hide."

The thought sent a chill up her spine she could not suppress, but Elspeth nodded. They mounted their horses and set forward with the small group of men they'd assembled.

Normal days went like this. Walking, searching. Stopping for nothing, inspecting any footprint or misplaced branch.

Today was silent. No jokes or chatter. Elspeth felt a shift as they entered the thick of the trees, the cusp that welcomed them to the Wood each day.

She was on edge, her horse following Sebastian's. Elspeth's eyes were flicking around the forest as if something would pop out at any moment.

And hours into their ride, when the trees began to thin out, she knew. She knew before Sebastian had said it because the air felt different here. Heavier, somehow, thick when she inhaled and cold visible breath when she let it out.

She wondered what Demetre had looked like. All those years ago, in this clearing.

The stories had been told, even in Scotland. A short ten years ago a boy was sent into the woods to slay the Grim, an almost mythical beast that had been held responsible for hundreds of deaths and evaded every hunter, tracker, and soldier sent to kill it.

The version Elspeth had heard was the boy, Demetre Langlois, was meant to prove himself. This would be his glorious achievement, solidifying his place in service directly to the Queen and King. Some said the King had stolen Demetre away from his family after seeing the boy train to become a soldier. Others whispered that the Queen had been watching him and took him under her wing when he began showing academic promise.

The past of Demetre had always been fuzzy and it varied with each person that spoke.

But what remained the same were the simple facts.

Demetre Langlois had always been evil. The King sent him into the woods to slay the Grim when Demetre was fourteen. And a week later, Demetre emerged with the pelt of the beast.

After that, Demetre grew into the cold man Elspeth had met her first night in France. Calculated and cruel, refusing to spare anyone save for the royal family a moment of his time.

But now, knowing Demetre the way Elspeth did, she couldn't help but wonder.

Where had he come from? Where was his family? How could a House as acclaimed as Langlois be a secret to everyone outside of the castle? Why had Henry sent a boy to kill the beast?

Was the Grim what gave Demetre his morality? His hard stance, his pinpoint loyalty. Had he always been that way? Or had the rumors made the man?

Her mind swirled with questions, and Elspeth realized she knew Demetre as well as one person could know another, while also knowing nothing about his past. She had never been told anything about his family, save for the Estate burning down some odd years ago. Elspeth hadn't known what he was like as a child or when he had started hunting.

Her heart ached. Had she really never asked him? How thoughtless could she have been? Demetre had asked about her family, her life and hobbies and childhood-- but she had never asked him the same.

"This is the clearing."

Sebastian dismounted his horse, quickly searching the clearing for anything,

But Elspeth sat uneasily in her saddle, hands tightening around the reigns. She had never felt anything but at peace in nature, and even though the Blood Wood tested this often, it had never won.

Until today.

"Was it really as large as they say?"

There were a million questions clawing up her throat, but this was the one she spit out. Elspeth did not want to betray Demetre's trust, but she needed to know something. Grasp some truth behind the tale.

"As tall as a man?" Sebastian questioned, peering at the woman over his shoulder, "Wide as a carriage?"

"Mhm."

". . . Some of it is embellishment, Ellie."

"What part is the truth?"

Sebastian frowned, noting her tight expression and tense posture.

"Wolves come in many sizes, but this one was the size of a large horse," He admitted, "Its back would've been taller than you, yes."

"How. . ?"

"How did it exist?" He clarified, "That is a question only God can answer. . . how did Demetre kill it, though?"

Sebastian frowned as Elspeth's eyes met his, her mixture of sorrow and fear tugging at his heart.

"Some say the Monster of France was stronger than the Grim-- than death itself. . . I say Demetre Langlois is the best Hunter in the world."

Elspeth thought back to Demetre's parting words. That he would defy death for her.

Briefly, standing in that clearing, Elspeth believed him. Perhaps death was something so simple to a man like Demetre, he had meant his words in a way more meaningful than a simple saying.

"Perhaps both are true. Maybe neither is. In the end, he is the only one who knows."

Sebastian mustered his most reassuring smile before mounting his horse again and leading the group through the clearing.

Elspeth figured both had to be true. That Demetre was the best hunter in the world, and also a man stronger than death. To face a terror like that alone, he had to be.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I'm so excited to get into
Demetre's backstory guys