The Beast In The Castle

by Daniella Wright

  "While I was at the market, the most peculiar thing happened." She explained to me. "It was so bizarre in a way I can barely describe it. I felt as though there were eyes on my person. Of course, that isn't strange because I know most of the kids here are confused by what I actually am, but it felt… more sinister than that." She was babbling now. "I mean, I know I probably sound crazy. But the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I just didn’t feel okay. It left a few minutes later. I still don’t, exactly, you know, get what it was about.”

  Okay, now she’s freaking out. Breathing shallowly as she tried to speak as fast as possible.

  “Shhh.” I cooed to her, having finished my food already. I ran my hands through her luscious, glossy locks as I tried to calm her down. She scooted closer to me, as I held her to my chest, breathing deeply. “Nobody can get you here. If they tried, I would stop them.”

  Listening to the beat of my two hearts working in unison should calm her down. It usually does. When I felt her breathing begin to even out, I held her chin between my thumb and forefinger.

  Bringing her up to my face, I pressed my lips to hers softly. She was so perfect, almost like her body was molded to fit mine perfectly.

  “Daah-leeeen,” She whined as she pulled away from me. I wasn’t worried as she was using her playful voice. “You taste awful.” Her nose was scrunched up again. Unfair how adorable she can be, while still being unbelievably sexy.

  I barked out a laugh and breathed in her face again until she punched me in the shoulder.

  “You jerk!” Adrianna called after me as I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth so I could taste good enough to get more kisses from my beloved. I avoided a pillow she threw at my back as I entered the bathroom, barking out another laugh at her.

  When I saw her back in the room I almost drooled as she was wearing the black lingerie I bought her.

  Rushing over to meet her on the bed, I could only think “This is what perfection is.”

  Chapter 6

  Spending the day thinking, okay – Fantasizing – about the night before would be incredibly embarrassing if Dalen knew about it. Luckily he has no idea. So it's okay. No harm, no foul.

  I was so happy, thinking only about Dalen and how generous he is and our future, that I let my guard down, in the stupidest way possible.

  There was a knocking on the door, and the foreboding sound of a man laughing loudly at something that only he, himself, heard. Pfft. The neighbors were such a riot. This happened four times in the last month.

  I threw the door open, fully expecting it to just be the kids trying to scare me. “You little twerps. Didn’t your mother ever warn you about… Bothering …” I trailed off as I tried to grab for the dagger at my side, laughing nervously.

  Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no. This isn’t happening. This is not happening!

  Forcing his way in, was an overly muscular man that I would know anywhere. A chiseled jawline, little clothes, and mussed up hair. If I was younger and more naive, I would drool. As I had done in the past. There was no denying the truth; he was the picture of masculine handsomeness. Instead of the attraction I once felt, I saw only the personification of my own greatest fear.

  “Robert,” I whispered, gulping. It had barely been a year since I escaped from his awful grasp. A year since I tried to fight my way into a better life.

  “Don’t worry, sweet thang.” The twang in his voice that – at one oblivious point in my life – used to be charming, is now one of the most intimidating things I had ever heard. “I have no reason to hurt ya. Not unless you give me another one.”

  He was using his playful voice. Oh no. He was always so much worse when he was playful as opposed to angry. When he was angry, he held himself back because he didn’t want me dead. When he was playful, he was in full control enough to just enjoy playing with me. It was always so much worse this way. Which is probably why I usually did everything I could just to make him angry.

  “Nice house you got here.” He commented, walking around. He put his dirty hands all over the place. How dare he infect my life with his awful presence again? Make me suffer through the hell that is interaction with his awfulness. “Honestly, I never thought you’d be the type. I mean, you were never the good little housewife for me.”

  My upper lip curled as a snarl was ripped from my throat. “Why are you here.” I hissed through clenched teeth. He brought out the very worst in me, I’ll admit it. But, the worst part of me is still better than the best part of Robert.

  He smirked at me, clearly having no intention of giving me a straight answer. At least not that easily. After all, knowledge is a weapon. "Of course, I suppose I never taught you how to pretend to enjoy it. Like this guy clearly, has. I honestly thought you got yourself killed on some back-water worthless planet while going after something you don't deserve." He snorted. "I guess I was half right."

  “What. Do. You. Want.” When biting the words, I was praying to myself that Dalen would come home from work early. He would get the jump on Robert. Maybe Robert will die?

  “You’ve always overestimated your own self.” He held my jaw in his hand like I was some kind of vicious dog.

  I might be one because I immediately attempted to bite him. To get him to get off of me.

  “Ouch. It’s almost like you don’t even miss me.” Robert had his hand on his heart, in mock-hurt. “Truth is, I need you, Dollface. See, you are key in this big deal I got. The only reason you aren't dead by now, actually."

  I stepped back from him, giving him an unsure scowl. “Why do you need me? You could just not pay that guy.”

  “Ooh, I would, but you see babe.” He pushed me up against the wall hard enough that my head banged into it roughly, as I fought to escape. “This is about more than money. It’s about saving my own skin.”

  His alcohol-filled breath washed across my face and I do the only thing I can think of. I spit in his face, feeling satisfaction at the sight of him wiping the saliva out of his eyes.

  “Well, have you thought of this? It might be better for everyone if you would just die. So how about we try and take that route, eh?”

  "You'll pay for that, you worthless little whore.” He hissed, wrapping his hands around my throat.

  As I gasped and struggled for breath, my sight was dimming, big black spots in my vision. I got the satisfaction that I won’t go down easy as I clawed at his hands and hissed to myself. Oh no. It’ll be my biggest fight ever. I finally have something I want. Something more important than anything else to me.

  My Dalen.

  * * *

  Peeling my eyes open as I looked around, I tried to control my breathing so as not to begin to hyperventilate. Okay, I am in a closed metal ship. Clearly a cargo ship. That leads to so many more questions than it answers. Why am I still on a ship? Wouldn't it be easier to just leave me unconscious? What is the point of not rushing me off the planet? I could feel no rumble of the engine beneath my feet, which leads me to the belief that I we are still on the planet? Or have I been asleep for so long we are on a different planet? The air tastes the same so we are probably on the same planet, but maybe I’m wrong?

  Have I really been out for long? Weeks maybe? Is Dalen looking for me? Does Dalen even know? Does he think I left him by choice or does he know it was by force? Is he trying to find me now?

  I took a deep breath. ‘Breathe, Adrianna.’ I heard my beloved’s voice in my head. ‘One thing at a time. First, find out how to escape. Figure that out. Everything else is less important.’

  When I looked around and saw no camera on me, and saw that Robert was not around, I walked around cautiously. Robert wasn’t that smart, yeah. But I don’t think he’s dumb enough for him to make it this easy for me. There’s probably something around. Something, somewhere.

  When I found an old busted communicator while rummaging through all the other trash in this room, I had to bite my tongue so I didn’t scream out in victorious happiness. No. Come on, Adrianna. Be serious and thin
k things through.

  Running away from Robert wouldn’t be easy. I needed to fix up the communicator. He’s also bigger and stronger than me, so I’m gonna need some insurance.

  I continued looking until I found a blaster. Upon realizing it wasn’t fake, I cheered inwardly. Oh yes. They won’t know what hit them. Well, they will. They just won’t get it until it’s too late for them.

  I hid the blaster close to me, holding the communicator to my chest as I let my eyes rest. Now, I will play the waiting game. Don’t want to be working on the communicator when one of them walk in now, do I?

  Chapter 7

  When I came to the house after a long day at work, I noticed first, that it was too quiet. Adrianna was never this quiet. Even when she was asleep she would talk or mumble or snore. She fell down and broke stuff with her clumsiness, and she mumbled stuff to herself.

  I hesitated as I put my hand on the door handle, a bit too afraid of what I might find in the house.

  It’s too dark now, so she hasn’t left on her own. What if she is leaving me? What if something awful happened to her? What if she’s sick and all alone and has been abducted?

  … What if Robert has come for her?

  I knew all about Robert. My true love’s own personal boogeyman. People as horrifying and deranged as him shouldn’t be able to live. They are a scourge who needs to be cleansed so decent people can continue their lives without fear. Those who don’t see a single problem with a lifestyle profiting off the struggle of others are awful and while they can become better, people like Robert don't even care to think so.

  When I threw the door open, I glared at the house. As if I could blame the furniture itself for what has happened to my love. Yep. There was a bit of struggle. The orb of light was even shattered on the floor.

  I looked around the house. Must have left some hints right? I believed it because it was easy to believe. Easy to think it would be easy to find what I was looking for.

  Luckily, he underestimated how far I would go to save my love. Yes, I am a physician. However, I have no intention of letting the plague that could ruin my life.

  He left me a note, how stupid can he even be? Thinking I will just give him what he wanted without a fight. He gave me fourteen more hours to meet him. The place made me smirk. Oh yes, the badlands. Venomous dragons, fire-breathing snakes, and poisonous, man-eating plants. Heh. Like I couldn't fight there.

  I used to go there multiple times a day just to collect all the ingredients I needed for more medicines. Hell, that’s where I found my lovely Adrianna.

  Collecting a few hidden knives and my trusty blaster, I got ready to go get her. Squaring my shoulders, I trekked to our meeting spot.

  I can remember when we first met. Every moment where she was afraid of touch, where she writhed and screamed as she slept, where she distrusted every kind word from the natives because she had been conditioned to believe any kindness meant they were trying to simply take advantage of her.

  Those are the things that propelled me forward. The things that pushed my feet forward, into what was surely a trap set by a man who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as she does.

  Adrianna fears nothing. She used to climb on the backs of beasts as if they were domesticated. She once giggled after she was thrown off. She tried to feed man-eating plants. She never showed a single ounce of fear.

  Unless she was waking up from a nightmare about Robert finding her.

  This is what fueled the fire in my belly, the nightmare that had plagued my true love for years has come to life. It has come true, and maybe now, will finally end. Everything will be better.

  I walked through the forest. This was one of the few forests I rarely went down. They had too many beasts. Most plants couldn’t even live here. Constant bursts of fire, and destructive spit destroying their bark.

  I fought through every single thing, with only one single thought. I need to save Adrianna. Was this how knights in a fairy tale felt? No… I felt something stronger. I knew this woman. I loved her. She loved me.

  There were so many things that tried to kill me. I kept count of them, just to occupy my mind so I didn't use up all my adrenaline and energy on the route there. Eight giant fire breathing pythons, 6 poison spitting dragons, 3 man-eating plants, and 21 small ice-fire rats who tried to freeze and burn me so they could consume my flesh.

  When I came upon the camp, I froze. Oh no, Too many variables. Too many of everything. I was expecting a handful of workers along with Robert and a single cargo ship. There were dozens of ships and so many workers. I don’t… I don’t even think I can do this. Not the way I wanted to.

  Taking a deep breath, I decided to explore. Upon checking my watch, I saw that I had several hours left to do this. I walked around the camp, looking for something tangible. Some weakness in their defenses to exploit. Some way I can save her with minimal damage to ourselves.

  There has to be something.

  There has to be something.

  …Right?

  Wrong apparently. Hours later, and I wasn’t a wink closer to where I was when I first started. “Think Dalen, Think!” I berated myself. “You should know how to get through this.”

  All of a sudden, multiple things happened at once.

  First, the sound of commotion coming from one of the ships. A shrill screech that embedded itself into my future nightmares. The sound of a blaster being cocked. A gruff voice shouting to stay inside or bad things will happen.

  Stepping closer to investigate proved to be a good decision. Out popped my beloved Adrianna. She looked much worse for wear. Bags under her eyes, hair a mess, clear burns on her body and scratches down her skin. Oh my, how could anyone try to harm such a dear angel?

  Of course, the fire In her eyes as she sprinted away from one of her captors was, perhaps, the most beautiful thing about her. A fiery spirit that would not quit no matter what happened or who it was that sought to harm her.

  The man chasing her down behind her needed to die. I didn't like doing it, but at this point, I have really been left with very little choice in the matter. Cocking the blaster in my hands, I shot the guy right between the eyes. It was almost mercy. I felt bad for the guy because he wasn't the boogeyman, so I made sure he crumpled to the ground dead in the most painless manner possible.

  Adrianna didn't know if I were friend or foe. That was clear in the way she picked up the pace and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Maybe in the future, I'll bring up that running towards what you think could be someone trying to kill you is a bad idea. Now is not the time, though.

  I ran forward and grabbed her by her wrist. I shot a few more guys who were advancing on us as we ran. We needed to escape the situation right now. No, it’s not a permanent solution. But it is the solution to imminent death.

  Chapter 8

  We kept running until we could run no longer. Where we were, I had no idea. But the term safety probably applied. And at this point. That’s really the best I can ask for.

  "Dalen," My voice is breathless, panting for air. "What are you even doing here?" How could he have possibly found me? It's not like Robert is some absolute moron who would leave a note or something. Especially if he wanted everything to go without a hitch.

  “Robert left a note.” He drawled in response. Sometimes I hate the fucking Moro. They never really got tired. Stamina and Endurance are their best weapons and I don’t have it. He had barely broken a sweat.

  Of course, he is. I forgot how dumb Robert can be. Well, he's dumb and he makes up for it with a whole bunch of muscle everywhere else. "Oh, well, in that case, Robert probably planned to ambush you and kill you."

  “Yeah, I figured.” He replied, leaning against one of the dead trees near him. “That’s why I didn’t just come there on time. I had hoped to find a way to kill them all. I underestimated how many men Robert had.”

  Squaring his shoulders, he took a deep breath. “It is not a mistake that I will repeat.” Then he looked at me. “How di
d you escape?”

  “Well, I found a blaster and squirreled it away for later. When most of the captors had left to get supplies I shot at one of them. I blew his head off in a bloody way that temporarily blinded the other one.” I emphatically explained to him. “Using his momentary distraction, I ran out. And that’s when you came in.”

  Dalen held me close to him. “Let me heal you.” He whispered as he looked over my injuries. Seeing a large cut on my thigh that ran down to my leg, he pulled out his medical kit. “It’s not deep enough to warrant stitches. You’ll be better soon.”

  I hissed in pain as he disinfected the wound and sprayed the herbal spray on it, the one that made my own bodies natural healing speed up. Then he put some stem cells in the area. It healed so quickly we could see it happening.

  “What… What do we do now?” I asked him. This was his planet after all. He probably knew the best choice.

  "Robert knows where our house is," Dalen said rubbing his temples as he tried to think. "We can’t just go home and think we are safe. On the other hand,” He looked around the forest. “This forest is much deadlier at night.”

  I frowned as I looked around. “I can hold my own.” I asserted. Sometimes, he just forgot that I could fight for myself. Not that I blame him. Sometimes, I swear, he looks at me and only sees the crumpled, broken thing I was when we first met.

  “I know.” Dalen gave me a hug. “You shouldn’t have to, though.” Frowning to himself as he weighed the decision in his head he nodded. “I slew a large poison-Dragon on the way here. It should have a cave that we can camp out in for the night.”

  Poison-Dragon’s nests were, incredibly comfortable, is what I have learned. They steal the finest silks and cover their caves in them. It was san eye sore, as poison-Dragons are color blind, and thus, simply grab everything that their other senses like rather than doing anything else.