SECRET OF THE AMULET

CHAPTER 1

The ground below the boulders was under the authority of a mosaic of plants because the canopy was dominated by spruce, maple, and ash trees, whose leaves and branches allowed just enough light to flow through to the mosaic of herbs.

Occasional trees had curved branches that drooped onto the forest floor; flowers of various kinds were scattered across the forest floor, adding a splash of colour to the famous forest near Grim Mountain.

The air was filled with a cacophony of sounds, most of which came from foraging animals, which were out of sync with the odd roar of a huge animal trying to frighten away predators.

Bridgette Montgomery scooped the hem of her dress to walk faster! Her uncle, Lord Thomas Montgomery, has prohibited her to venture into the forest because of a certain rumour that a beast was lurking in it. No, a beast definitely lived within the forest! She heard the tales herself. However, she believed that it was not true at all!     

Her elegant dress flowed from top to bottom and has a jewel neckline that exposed a hint of the luxury garment worn beneath it. She looked stunning! A narrow fabric belt placed very low around her waist broke up the continuous flow of her dress' elaborate corset, which hid her tummy and allowed her to eat comfortably.

The dress below the fabric belt opened up on the left and right sides, revealing the dress beneath. Because the top dress was a few inches longer than the bottom dress, the front of the top dress bent outwards, while the back continued to flow a few inches behind her and ended in a broad curve.

They were almost as long as she was extremely wide; their flow was broken up just above the elbow, where they were divided by small, decorative bands made of the same fabric and colour used to outline her sleeves and neckline. Her dress has a v-neckline that was almost the same colour as her sleeves and neckline.

Earlier, when her uncle was occupied with a guest, she escaped through the back door. She bribed the groom to let her use one of the fastest horses in the stable. Lord Thomas Montgomery has several horses, but he prohibited her to ride any one of them. He always claimed that she deserved better! She’s been hearing it since the day he rescued her from being burned alive! Well, she used to believe him, but over the years, she doubted if it was true. After her mother was brutally murdered, she’s been hiding under the protection of Lord Thomas Montgomery. He claimed to be his uncle, and she instantly believed him. After all, he resembled a little bit to a man who used to be his father!

She was born into a royal family in the capital of a huge country. She had had a carefree life until she was approximately 12 years old, at which point things worsened for her and her mother.

They barely made it alive to the Grim Mountain after a hundred soldiers pursued them. The Queen was framed for treason, and they were both stripped of their titles. If someone didn’t help them back then, she was long dead!

Bridgette sighed heavily as she was about to give up. She waited for the beast to show up because she needed to see it to believe that it was true! However, she couldn’t stay inside the forest for too long, or her uncle would send his men to locate her.

Another sigh escaped from her slip as she walked away from the biggest tree in the middle of the forest. The beast was supposed to appear near it! For the last time, she turned around, and then she narrowed her eyes when she caught on something from a distance!

Suddenly, her heart beat faster, and excitement surged through her body!

She returned to the big tree, but there was nothing! So she ventured farther until she was totally lost in the middle of forest trees, and suddenly she felt that she was no longer alone. “Hello?” She tried to call the beast. It was stupid, but she was frightened at the stillness of the leaves and the silence in the forest.

Out of fear, Bridgette decided to leave immediately! She was about to run when she heard a ferocious howling of the wolves from a distance. She snapped her brows together as she listened, but she could no longer hear anything!

When she looked up at the sky, the moon has just appeared, and she became even more scared! Silently, she prayed that her uncle would notice her absence. What if there’s really a beast in the forest? Would she be able to make it out alive? Bridgette bit her bottom lip as she slowly stepped back.

Suddenly, a pair of abnormally large wolves stood in front of her! Bridgette blinked her eyes to dismiss them if ever they were just a figment of her imagination. As she tried to be calm, the sound of her heartbeat was deafening!

“Oh, God!” Bridgette mumbled when the wolves slowly approached her. She panicked at the thought of being shredded into tiny little pieces! She would be unrecognizable if ever it would happen.

She placed her hands on her heart and prayed for help!

Bridgette’s eye widened in surprise when a strong force knocked her down, and her eyes refused to believe the scene before her! “Milord!” Bridgette exclaimed as she recognized Lord Zacharias Blackwood, the Duke of Hartwell, who visited her uncle for an official business.