Falling for the Beast

by Victorine E. Lieske

  He raised an eyebrow at her. “Really? Do tell.”

  Oh, what was she getting herself into? The time that she told her physics teacher off came to mind, and she felt a blush kiss her cheeks. “I don’t want to.”

  “Come on, now you have to tell me.”

  She knew she was stuck. If she didn’t tell him, he’d bug her about it all night. “All right. I yelled at a teacher once.”

  “That’s it?”

  What did he mean? “What, that’s not ‘bad girl’ enough for you? I yelled at him in front of the whole class.”

  He shot her a ‘that’s lame’ face. “What did you say to him?”

  “He was passing back tests, and mine had a big red F on the front. He’d hand written, ‘Cheating won’t be tolerated,’ under the grade. I was furious! I’d studied half the night for the exam. I’d done better on that test because I knew the answers. I stood up and told him I wasn’t a cheater, and that he should ask me any question on the test to see if I knew the answer.”

  “You’re embarrassed that you stood up for yourself?”

  She picked up the dice. “No. He told me to go to the principal’s office. I called him a bad word and stormed out. It’s the last part I’m embarrassed about.”

  He got a wicked gleam in his eye and smiled. “What kind of bad word?”

  She whacked his arm. “That’s not the point. The point is, I lost my temper and ended up making myself look bad. If I had simply stood my ground that I hadn’t cheated, I would have looked like the level-headed one. He would have looked like the fool when it was proven that I had not cheated.”

  “What happened?”

  “I got to re-take the test with the principal in the room making sure I didn’t cheat. And then the stupid teacher apologized. Sort of. He said, ‘I’m sorry for mistaking your improvement as deception. Your lack of competence was evidence enough for me, but I see you have made an effort.’”

  “What a jerk.”

  “Yeah, he really was.”

  They continued to play the game, chatting lightly about things that didn’t really matter. Aribelle would sometimes catch him looking at her in such a way that made her wonder. What was he thinking?

  “I can call a moving company tomorrow. Have them box up your things and bring them here.”

  “Is that a good idea? What if Gavin follows them?”

  Thaddeus looked thoughtful. “Maybe we can put your things in storage?”

  “I think that’s best. For now. What will they do with my father’s puzzle?” she asked softly. She couldn’t bear to think of them shoving it back in the box. That would make her cry.

  “I don’t know.” He studied her face, and then put his hand on hers. “I’ll make sure they don’t ruin it.”

  A lump formed in her throat. “Thanks.”

  Chapter 19

  Thaddeus pushed aside the desire to reach out and touch Aribelle’s face. She looked like she was blinking back tears, and he wanted to console her, but touching her right now would not be good. Instead, he made a resolve to take care of her father’s puzzle himself.

  As they played the rest of their game, he thought about what he could do. He could sneak out tonight and go to her apartment if he stole her keys from her purse. But how could he get the puzzle out of there without ruining it?

  They finished playing their game. Aribelle won, although he was close to figuring it all out when she did. He helped her pack up the pieces and put the game back in the cupboard. He followed her up the stairs to their bedrooms.

  She stopped outside of his room and turned to face him. Her eyes held a question that she didn’t voice. “Thaddeus…” she started, twisting her fingers together so tight they turned white. Her gaze bounced around, landing on everything but him.

  He watched her struggle with her words, and his heart tore in two. The desire to pull her close, to tell her she could say anything to him, that she need not fear him, was almost overpowering, but he held back. He couldn’t lose control again.

  Finally, she looked him in the eyes. “When I woke up and you weren’t here...it killed me. I panicked. I don’t want to be stuck here, worrying about where you are.”

  “I’m sorry.” What else could he say? This was proof that he couldn’t lead a normal life. The reason he needed to stop all contact with Aribelle. Stop torturing himself.

  “I know.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “It’s just…I had no way to contact you. To know you were all right. If I could have your cell number…?”

  That’s all she wanted? His phone number? “Of course.” And then the embarrassing truth. “I had to order a new one. It should be here Monday.”

  “What happened to your old one?”

  “It broke. I…smashed it. Well, threw it, really.” Smooth.

  “Why?”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  A small smile played on her lips. “I see.”

  “Let me see your phone. I’ll put my number in.” He held out his hand.

  She reached into her pocket and pulled it out, then unlocked it. “Here.”

  He added himself as a contact. “There. Now once my new phone gets here, we’ll be set.” He handed it back to her.

  “Are you…uh…” Her weight shifted. “Going out tonight?”

  “No.” At least, not in the way she meant it.

  She smiled. “Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” He let her go into her bedroom before slipping down the hall to his office. He closed the door as softly as he could, then turned on his computer. He opened a browser and searched for ‘How to move a jigsaw puzzle.’

  He researched several different ways and decided to use a piece of flat cardboard to slide the puzzle onto felt, and then roll it up carefully around a tube. He searched the house and found a nice, large piece of flat cardboard, but no felt, and the tube he thought he had wasn’t anywhere. He must have thrown it away.

  After searching the basement, he found an old advent calendar made from felt that looked to be big enough if he used the back side. And for the tube, he decided to roll up a thin rubber mat his father had been using at the back door. That would have to do.

  He went to his bedroom, put everything in a backpack, and waited until one o’clock. He listened to make sure Aribelle was breathing evenly. Then he crept downstairs and grabbed her keys from her purse hanging by the front door.

  The night air was colder than he’d expected. November was here in full force. He swung his leg over his motorcycle and started the engine. Speeding down the driveway, he felt exhilarated. It wasn’t only the speed. He couldn’t wait to surprise Aribelle.

  He pulled up to her apartment and carefully listened for anything out of the ordinary. The world was silent, except for the occasional car or the sound of people sleeping. He let himself in. Everything looked to be the same as the last time he’d been there.

  Sliding the puzzle onto the cardboard turned out to be a bit more difficult than he’d thought. The pieces kept buckling as they went over the small lip. But that was the hardest part. He laid out the felt and slid the puzzle onto it. Then he rolled it around the tube he’d fashioned from the mat. After it was all rolled up, he used rubber bands to hold the thing together. He slid the tube into his backpack. The rest of the pieces he slid into the box and packed them as well.

  When he was done, he slipped the backpack on. He’d done it. He figured he’d sneak back into his house and set the puzzle up on the dining room table. There would be plenty of room for it, and still room to eat as well. He thought about Aribelle’s face when she woke up and saw the puzzle. She’d be thrilled.

  He closed her apartment door and stuck the key in to lock it. A blinding pain smashed through his skull and he fell to the concrete walkway. Gavin stood over him, a metal pipe in his hands. “I knew you’d come back a
round, freak.”

  He ground his teeth, fighting against the anger. He didn’t need to give Gavin any more fuel. He’d already shown him his strength and healing powers. If Gavin saw him turn into what he really was, he’d have the whole town coming after him.

  “You don’t want to do this, man,” he said, hoping to talk him down.

  “Do what? Kill a demon? Or whatever you are?” Gavin kicked him in the ribs before he had a chance to react. Thanks to his super hearing, he could hear one of his ribs crack. “Yes, I think I do. And then, I’ll do what I want with Aribelle.”

  Thaddeus felt his teeth grow and sharpen, despite using all his willpower to hold it off. “Stop!” he yelled, but it came out as a roar instead. His back muscles bulged, and the straps to the backpack cut into his skin.

  Gavin’s face was screwed up in horror. “What are you? Some kind of beast? You’re disgusting!”

  Thaddeus raised his hands as Gavin tried to hit him with the pipe. He caught the pipe mid-swing and tore it out of Gavin’s hands. With one leap he was on his feet, now towering over Gavin. His fingernails grew into claws. He let out a growl and bent the pipe in half.

  Gavin’s face turned white and he screamed. He ducked behind one of the wooden poles holding up the overhang.

  Rage flowed through Thaddeus, and he ripped at the pole, destroying it like it was made of paper. Gavin cowered down, his hands over his head. “Don’t hurt me,” he begged.

  “Leave. Aribelle. Alone.” Thaddeus pronounced each word as clearly as he could with the mouth full of sharp teeth.

  “Yeah, fine. Whatever.” Gavin trembled as he backed away from Thaddeus.

  In the distance, a siren sounded and Thaddeus breathed in a few calming breaths. He had to go, now, before the police came. He sprang past Gavin and bounded to his bike, trying to let go of the anger. Why had he listened to Gavin? He shoved his helmet on and sped off.

  This wasn’t good. He hadn’t fully turned in years. He’d been able to hold in the anger…hold in the beast. But the incident at the woods had put him on edge. And now, he’d let himself go. And over what? Gavin? He was a pathetic little creep. Why had he let Gavin’s words goad him into turning?

  He’d almost turned when Gavin had grabbed Aribelle in the woods. He’d been able to keep it together, but barely. Having Aribelle there had helped. But almost losing control like that had made the beast in him come closer to the surface. Made changing easier. He shook his head. It was imperative he didn’t slip back into his old ways.

  He sucked in deep breaths and tried to calm down the entire way home. His claws retracted, and his size went back to normal, but his teeth were still full and sharp, reminding him of what he truly was. When he pulled up beside the house, Aribelle came running out, a robe clutched around her. “You said you weren’t going out tonight!”

  Panic rose in him. She couldn’t see him like this. How would he explain? He dismounted his bike but left his helmet and backpack on. He couldn’t speak, either, because it would come out a growl, or worse, a roar. He strode past her and into the house, willing his teeth to go back.

  “You’re going to ignore me?” she shouted as she followed him inside and slammed the door. “Do you know how betrayed I felt when I realized you’d lied to me?”

  Oh, no. His anger was starting to boil again. He couldn’t deal with her right now. He started up the stairs, but she pulled on his arm, forcing him to step back down and face her.

  “Take that stupid helmet off and talk to me!”

  With one fluid motion, the helmet came off. “Enough!” he growled, barring his teeth.

  Her eyes widened and she shrank back, and the look of fear and panic on her face made his stomach clench. He’d been a fool to think she might have feelings for him. He was horrific, and now she could see. No, not fully see. He was only half-changed.

  His throat constricted as she cowered away from him. He had to show her. Let her see so she would know. He growled and allowed his anger to change him fully into the beast he was cursed to be. Claws extended, and his muscles bulged until he looked like an overgrown monster. The straps to his backpack tore and it fell to the floor with a thunk.

  Aribelle closed her eyes as if she couldn’t stand the sight of him.

  “Look at me,” he roared. “Look and see what I truly am.”

  She blinked, the fear dissolving from her face. She squared her shoulders and took a step closer. Her gaze, now unafraid, grew bolder. “How…?”

  “This is what Catherine cursed me to be,” he said, his anger melting away, slowly turning into regret.

  She studied him, swallowing, and reached out her hand to touch his cheek. He tried backing away from her, but he was so close to the first step of the staircase that there was no room. Her hand softly caressed his skin. “You didn’t tell me.”

  “I didn’t know how.”

  She picked up one of his hands, touching the long, sharp claws. “I’m so sorry.”

  “What are you sorry for?”

  “That you didn’t feel like you could tell me.”

  He stared at her, astounded as to what he saw. All fear had left her. Maybe it hadn’t been fear at all. He might have misread her expression. Maybe it was shock? She stood before him, her eyes full of kindness. And something else he couldn’t place.

  As the anger finally left him, he could feel himself changing back, his teeth returning to normal. She slipped her arms around his neck and brought him closer until their foreheads touched. “You are special, Thaddeus Walker. I’ve never known anyone as caring, or as selfless, as you are. And even if you turned into a space alien every night, I’d still feel the same about you.”

  On impulse, he cupped her face and kissed her, truly touched by her words. All the worry and anxiety he’d bottled up over Aribelle finding out his true nature left him, replaced by an overwhelming desire to show her how he felt about her. He didn’t hold back but kissed her thoroughly on the lips.

  Aribelle pulled him close, responding to the kiss. Thaddeus wrapped his arms around her, and the world outside melted away. His heart pounded against his ribcage as fire ignited in his veins. Aribelle was everything he wanted. All he wanted. And she didn’t care about the curse.

  When he pulled back and broke the kiss, Aribelle put her head on his chest. “Please don’t run away from me again.”

  He hugged her close and pressed his cheek to her head, closing his eyes. Why had he run away? He’d been afraid. Fearful of allowing himself to love someone who couldn’t love him back. But tonight, he held a glimmer of hope that maybe she could. “I won’t,” he said, his voice sounding hoarse.

  Chapter 20

  As soon as Aribelle woke up, she knew it was later than she’d meant to sleep. The sun filtered through the curtains, and the clock proved her right, it was after ten. Rushing, she dressed in one of the outfits she’d ordered online. She grabbed her brush and ran it through her hair, then flew down the stairs and stopped short. Thaddeus was in his recliner reading. He glanced up at her, an uncertain look on his face. “I made muffins. They’re in the kitchen.”

  “Thank you.” She went in and grabbed one, bringing it out to the living room. She sat on the couch and tucked her legs under her. “Did you sleep okay?”

  He set his book down and came over to sit by her. “Yes.” He played with a strand of her hair.

  She wasn’t sure how to bring up what had happened last night. They’d talked about the curse, but she hadn’t forced him to tell her where he’d been, or why he’d lied to her. It had seemed like an unimportant after what had happened, but today she felt like she needed to talk about it. She peeled the paper off the muffin. “You changed your mind about going out last night.”

  A guilty look flashed across his face.

  “What happened?”

  “I wanted to surprise you.”

  “What?” She s
tared at him, not understanding.

  He shifted uncomfortably. “Go look in the dining room.”

  She obeyed, crossing the room, unable to fathom what he was talking about. What could he have done in the middle of the night that would be a surprise for her? She entered the formal dining room and gasped.

  Her father’s puzzle lay spread out on the table, exactly as it had been in her apartment. Not a piece was out of place. Tears flooded her eyes and she set her muffin down as her vision blurred.

  Thaddeus put a hand on her shoulder, and she smiled up at him, blinking.

  “Don’t cry.”

  She threw her arms around him, crushing him to her. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but it was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for her. He was the only one who knew what this puzzle meant to her. Knew how important it was for her to finish it. Preserve it somehow. She kissed his lips, a quick peck of gratitude. “How did you do it?” she asked.

  “Magic.”

  She gave him a flat look.

  He chuckled. “I rolled it up in a piece of felt to transport it here.”

  “Genius.” She laid her head on his chest, hugging him again. “Thank you.”

  He patted her back. After a moment, she turned around and sat down at the table, wiping the tears away and picking up her muffin. Thaddeus joined her, sitting in the chair next to her.

  “I’m sorry I got mad at you for leaving last night. I thought—”

  “I should have warned you I was going out. I didn’t mean to lie to you.”

  She took a bite of the muffin and looked through the pieces of the puzzle scattered before her.

  They worked on it together, and every once in a while she would catch him looking at her in a way that made her heart beat faster. He was opening up more. Trusting her more. She could feel it…see it.

  Last night had been a big step forward in their relationship. Not only had he shown her the piece of the curse he’d held back, but he’d kissed her and hadn’t run away. At last, he was starting to trust her. Her heart was elated.