A Beauty So Beastly Read online

  “You’d better tell me, Will, or I’ll take your gift, you’re little balls of light, and send you and it to the bottom of the pool.

  Will laughed. “You’re a big talker, Bea. Nothing more. Just a spoiled bitch.” He opened his mouth. A ball of light formed.

  Will’s ability will no longer work for him, I thought.

  Immediately the small light in the back of his throat vaporized. I smirked. Even though I didn’t comprehend how such a thing was possible I was grateful.

  “What have you done?” Will gagged. He flicked his hand but no light appeared. He tried again with his mouth.

  “It’s gone, Will. I took it.”

  Furious rage boiled over and he roared, twisting out of my grasp. Professor Pops was a step behind, ready to grab him if I needed his help. Adam was on the other side of me. Troy stood behind Professor Pops, his wings flapping irritably.

  Will shook his body. He was breathing heavily. “You won’t win, Beatrice. You can’t. You lack the courage and conviction necessary to lead your people or save our realm.”

  Stop! I put an arm out without speaking a word aloud.

  Will’s body froze. “What the hell?” He was truly scared now, his features contorted in anger and shock. “How are you doing this?”

  I didn’t know and at that moment I didn’t care. I just wanted to stop him. The first thought in my mind was to put him to sleep. Will became stiff and fell onto his side with a thud. His eyes closed. I glanced down. It made no sense that I could make other Vaktare’s abilities do as I commanded within my mind. I thought each Vaktare was only supposed to receive a single ability. Why did it seem like I had so many?

  I moved closer to Adam and hugged him. “You’re a mess.” Blood streaked his blond fur and there were wounds all over his body. A chunk of his ear was missing.

  Adam gave me a once-over. “You should see yourself. You’re incredible.”

  “Really?” I was thinking he was pretty freaking amazing but I held up my paws, checking them out. My fur was no longer honey brown but a deep rusty red. “What happened?” I asked, surprised.

  Adam smiled. It was one of awe.

  “Yeah, why is her fur a different color?” Troy asked. His eyes were no longer brown but a deep bronze with silver rings around the outside. Professor Pops had a hand on Troy’s scaly shoulder. I sensed a great sadness rolling off them both and I knew it was because of Cole. They felt responsible. So did I.

  Adam smiled, but it was filled with sadness. “I never would’ve believed it if I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes.”

  “What?” I asked.

  Adam glanced at Professor Pops. I did too. His eyes no longer glowed as red though they were still flashing. I figured he sensed the danger was gone for the most part.

  Adam stood, pulling me with him. “There is a story told to all the Vaktare and Locanis children about the Unduyee, a great red warrior that would one day come to Hiraken. It was said that the red warrior would be the keeper of all abilities and that her humility, benevolence and warm giving heart would return peace and equality to the land. Of course, we all believed it was a tall tale.”

  I remembered the story. I’d read it back in the Museum for the Supernatural. “What are you saying?”

  He spun me around, allowing me to see myself in the piece of broken glass still hanging on the wall. “See. Red fur.”

  I stared at my reflection. That was the first time I’d truly seen myself, other than the one time in the pool water. But it’d been dark then. Seeing myself in the glass was much different.

  My face was shaped like a large cat and covered in red-brown fur. My teeth were long, sharp, and white. My eyes were fully orange, like the final light just before the sun went down. I stood back so I could see more of myself. Adam was still taller than I was and a werewolf instead of a cat, but we made a good-looking pair. I turned around and hugged him with such force that I nearly knocked him to the ground. I was so happy he was okay.

  Adam returned my hug ferociously. “You shifted on purpose this time. Do you have any idea how to shift back?”

  “No. My body just kind of does its own thing.” I rubbed my nose against his furry cheek.

  Professor Pops cleared his throat. I let go of Adam. “I’m so sorry about Cole,” I said to Professor Pops, barely able to meet his or Troy’s gaze. They’d lost so much because of me. “But I’m going to get him back.”

  I walked over to Will. He was no longer in his Vaktare form, no longer the scary black werecat. Instead he lay on his side, still asleep and totally naked. I went to the main closet, grabbed a trench coat that was my dad’s and covered the worst of his nakedness. “Wake up,” I commanded, kneeling over him.

  His eyes blinked open. “What? Where am I?”

  I grabbed his neck, piercing it with my claws. “You’re still at my house, Will.” I squeezed. “And you aren’t going anywhere until you tell me how you opened that thing and where Cole went.”

  I felt their presence as the others stood behind me.

  Except Professor Pops. He came to stand on the other side of Will. The Professor’s eyes were red again. “Young Vaktare, Cole is my son and I will find him. So this conversation is going to go two ways.”

  Will’s eyes flickered back and forth between Professor Pops and I.

  “One, you can choose to tell me how to find him.” He paused and brushed some of Will’s hair out of his eyes. “Or, you can say nothing and I will kill you.”

  From behind, I heard Troy growl and felt the heat of his breath. It singed the walls over my head.

  Tears leaked from Will’s eyes. “Then I’m dead either way. So do what you must.” He clamped his mouth shut.

  Troy’s large head appeared beside mine. “I can make him talk. Let me do it, Grand Pops.”

  The Hunter glanced at Troy. His face changed from scary to calm.

  “No, Troy. I want you to go home.” He glanced away, his eyes searching the sky outside. I followed his gaze, wondering what he was looking for. “If your father shows up . . .” Professor Pops didn’t finish his sentence, but I got the feeling he believed there was someone or something scarier than he was out there.

  I watched Troy’s face fall. “But I can’t leave. Cole—” his voice broke.

  “I know, Troy. I know.”

  “Anyway, he can’t be mad. I haven’t seen him in years. You’re more my dad than he is.” Troy shook his head. A thick tendril of smoke escaped his nostrils.

  Professor Pops patted Troy’s shoulder, his face filled with tenderness. “You know your dad can’t live in this realm. He doesn’t do well around people. He left you with me so that you wouldn’t be lonely, so you could have a real life.”

  “Cole is my best friend. I won’t abandon him.” Troy’s dragon face became even more ferocious.

  I watched their interaction with extreme interest. Will continued to cry. I didn’t know what Adam was doing, but I knew he was back there, probably feeling like I was—that it was best to stay out of the way when a dragon and a vampire Hunter were arguing.

  Professor Pops nodded. “I understand.” He looked at Will. “We’re doing this the hard way.” He tilted Will’s head out of the way. Then Professor Pops sank his teeth into Will’s shoulder. Will screamed, trying to push him away, but Professor Pops had him in such a grip Will didn’t have a chance.

  A minute passed as Will’s face became pale and the life started to go out of his eyes. “There are twelve possible realms. Cole could’ve gone into any one of them. I don’t know which one. No one can know.” His voice came out hoarse, the words almost unrecognizable.

  “What are the names of the twelve realms? How can we get there?” Troy asked, blowing smoke in Will’s face.

  Will coughed.

  Professor Pops withdrew his fangs and wiped his mouth. He seemed surprised by what Will had just said. “There are twelve? That is interesting.” Professor Pops paused as if thinking some things through, a bleeding Will held firmly in his
grasp. Will’s eyes fluttered as he tried to keep them open.

  At last Professor Pops said, “I know what to do.”

  Will flinched at the sound of Professor Pops’ voice, though it wasn’t nearly as chilling as it had been before.

  Professor Pops just looked at Will as if he’d forgotten he still gripped the Vaktare. Then Professor Pops stood.

  “We are leaving, Beatrice,” Professor Pops said, releasing Will. I watched his body sag to the ground. “My apologies for the abrupt departure, but I know you’ll be in good hands.” Professor Pops glanced behind me and I knew his focus was on Adam.

  “If you know, tell me. I want to help,” I said, outraged that he was leaving so soon.

  “We both do,” Adam added, coming to stand beside me.

  Professor Pops gave us an understanding nod. “I know. And you will. But first I must take care something alone.” He grabbed me in a hug. “Stay safe, Beatrice. I know we’ll see each other again soon.” He released me and shook Adam’s clawed paw-hand. “Be good to her, Adam.” His eyes flashed a bright red.

  “I will, sir,” Adam said.

  Professor Pops walked toward the door. “Say good-bye, Troy. The faster I get you home, the faster I can get this done.”

  “I’m coming,” Troy said, stepping around Will, his wings and tail swishing the air. The tip of his tail found Will’s face and slapped him. Will let out a very girly, very unmanly scream.

  I went to Troy. “You are freaking cool,” I said softly, touching his face. His scales seemed to ripple under my skin as though caressing my clawed hand.

  Troy tried to smile. “Right back at ya.” He pressed his snout against my furry cheek.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were a dragon,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “I’m all about making grand entrances,” Troy snorted, sending smoke against my back.

  I leaned away. “Who do you think would win between and dragon and a werecat?”

  Troy let out a snicker. It started out small and grew into a full on belly laugh. Fiery sparks flew out of his mouth. I joined in, as did Adam. I could even hear Professor Pops chuckling in the yard as he waited for Troy to finish his good-byes.

  “No contest. A dragon,” he said, making his way toward Professor Pops.

  “When we get Cole back, you and I will have to give it a try. Deal?”

  “Oh, yeah. It’s on, Beatrice.” He smacked me in the back with one of his wings.

  Professor Pops waved. Troy pushed through the doorway, ripping a giant hole in the entrance.

  “Sorry,” Troy said, even though it was obvious by the snickering that followed that he wasn’t.

  Adam and I followed them out. The other two Vaktare were still fighting. Professor Pops and Troy ignored them. So did I. Professor Pops climbed on Troy’s winged back as he beat his amazing wings deftly against the night air and they took flight.

  “That’s something you don’t see everyday,” Adam said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

  “Agreed.” I rested my head against him.

  Adam cleared his throat. “You realize when you do shift, you’ll be naked?” He pulled me tighter against him.

  I felt my entire body get hot. I glanced away, unexpectedly really, really glad for my fur.

  Will ran past Adam and me, surprising us. He ran down the stone steps and toward the fighting werecats. Thankfully he quickly shifted back into his werecat form. The other two Vaktare didn’t seem to notice him. Will let out a roar as he got down on all fours and took off. When he thought he was a safe distance away, he turned back toward Adam and me. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done, Bea. You and the dirty dog!”

  “Don’t move,” I whispered, reinforcing the command with my thoughts.

  Will froze mid-stride, falling on his side.

  “You’re going to have to tell me how you do that,” Adam said.

  “I promise, just as soon as I know,” I responded. “But what about the red diamond? Will had it in his hand when he opened the abyss. Do you think he dropped it?”

  Adam walked over to the place where Will had been standing before he shifted and began lifting large chunks of debris and furniture out of the way.

  I kept my eyes on Will and the other two Vaktare. “What happens to things like jewelry or a wallet when we shift?”

  “That’s easy. They fall out.”

  “Oh?”

  He picked something up and held it out for me to see. “Got it,” he said.

  “Good.”

  Adam came back over.

  “What should we do with Will?” I couldn’t kill him. We’d gone to school together. He’d been my boyfriend. Sure, he deserved to die, and I knew without a doubt Will would’ve had no problem killing me, but I wasn’t Will.

  “Whatever you deem worthy, Beatrice.” Adam gave me a look that promised he would support me no matter what.

  “Okay.” I knew what I’d do.

  Will needs to go back to Hiraken. As soon as the thought passed through my mind, Will was gone.

  “Where did he go?” Adam asked.

  “Hopefully back to Hiraken,” I said, shrugging.

  “Maybe you should’ve killed him. The King will probably torture him for failing.” Adam flinched and I wondered if he was thinking about his sister.

  “It’s exactly what he deserves.”

  “And what about the others?” Adam asked.

  They had both suddenly fallen to the ground.

  “Are they dead? They aren’t moving.” I went down the steps, toward them. The bodies changed into what looked like thousands of lightning bugs and dissipated into the air as I watched.

  “What was that?” There was nothing left.

  “In this realm, that is what happens to the corpse of a dead Vaktare.” Adam took my clawed hand in his. “Let’s go back inside.”

  I went with him. Rhem’s body changed into tiny lights and dissipated, the same as the other two. I shivered. Death wasn’t something I would ever get used to.

  “It’s okay,” Adam said.

  I nodded, kicking at a portion of the ceiling that had fallen to the floor. My house was a mess. It looked like a tornado had blown through it. “Tell me about the diamond. I mean, sure, it’s beautiful, but why did Will want it so badly?” I asked, cupping it in my paw.

  “Do you mind?” Adam took the diamond from my clawed hand. “It possesses very strong magic. It’s one of two diamonds in existence that can be used to jump realms. I believed there was only one—until I saw yours.” He smiled sadly. “Obviously, you have no need for such trivial magic, but for most Vaktare, it’s a much desired stone that makes up a very powerful charm. I recommend keeping it close.”

  “I will,” I said, taking it back. Then I really thought about what he said. “Where’s the other diamond?” I remembered he’d said he took it and my dad’s powers. That meant he still had the other one.

  Adam glanced down. “It’s safe,” he finally said. “And that diamond? I thought Celeste stole it.”

  “I lied. I wanted to make her suffer.” I turned away, disgusted by the guilt.

  Adam shook his head. “So you had it all this time?”

  “Yes,” I nodded.

  “It’s a good thing I believed your lie, otherwise I might not have had the opportunity to get to know the real you.”

  An electric bolt of anxiety shot down my spine at his words. There it was again, the reminder that he’d been sent to kill me.

  “So what next?” Adam asked.

  I glanced around the entryway. Thoughts of my parents, the new king of Hiraken and those Vaktare who wanted me dead, worry over my new friend Cole and even my friends Eva, Ashley, and Cassidy swirled through my mind. Life was going to get even more complicated. Of that I was sure. “I should probably have this mess cleaned up. Bring Mrs. Dotts and Isaac back, and . . .” I looked down at myself, at the thick fur, and my hands that were more beastly than human. “I guess first I’d bette
r figure out how to shift out of this form. As soon as I do, I’m going to take a shower.”

  “Maybe you should get to your room right away just in case you shift sooner rather than later.” Adam hugged me. “Not that I’d mind.” He winked.

  I snuggled into his shoulder.

  “Your fur is so soft, Beatrice.”

  Heat burned my cheeks. “So is yours.” I ran my hands up and down his back. Embarrassment gave way to desire. Sexual tension snapped the air around and between us. But kissing in our were-forms, at least kissing the way I liked to kiss, wasn’t possible. It seemed my body understood. I felt my skin tingle and immediately I shifted.

  Adam quickly turned away.

  “Humiliating,” I said, feeling my whole body heat with mortification as I carefully picked my way through the debris and made my way upstairs.

  See Me Naked

  Twenty-One

  Fizban appeared as soon as I walked into my room, or what was left of it. “That was awkward,” she said, glancing with distain around my room.

  I let out a belated scream, covering my girly parts. “You scared the freaking daylights out of me.”

  Fizban laughed, picking up and tossing large chucks of plaster off my bed and onto the floor. “Nothing wrong with a little nakedness.” After brushing off a portion of my bedspread, she sat, crossing one leg over the other and began to pick at one of her long nails. “You are rather jumpy though.”

  I thought about everything I’d just been through. Being a little jumpy seemed appropriate, considering. Before I could express such thoughts, I heard Adam yell.

  “Beatrice!” The sound of claws scraped against marble stairs and then Adam crashed through the door, teeth bared, and growling.

  Fizban tutted him. “Calm down, Adam. I just surprised our Beatrice.”

  I yelped. I didn’t want Adam to see me naked, even though I knew he had before, mostly, when he ran me up to the house after the first time I changed.

  Fizban laughed as I jumped over broken furniture and pieces of the wall, climbing into my closet. Surprisingly, it was still in tact.