by Eva K. More
It wasn’t long before Beast went into a clearing and put her into his car.
Had the path been that close?
Once they both were inside, he cranked up the heat. Kat didn’t even have the strength to look at him; the car seat was so soft that she could have fallen asleep instantly. And why not, though? She was so tired, and she surely didn’t want to listen to Beast venting on her.
“What was that song you were singing?” he asked instead of shouting at her as she expected, the rumbling of the car and the sound of the storm were drilling at her head.
Blinking her eyes open, Kat watched the heavy drops fall on the windshield. How does he know where to drive? She couldn’t see anything outside, even with the headlights on. “It’s a birthday song from crocodile Gena. I used to sing it a lot when I was small.”
“Do you know what it means?” he probed, still not shouting at her.
Trying to clear the cobwebs in her head, she tried thinking of the reason he wasn’t angry with her. “Mostly. I don’t speak Russian, but my Baba translated the song for me when I asked her once. I was around six years old.”
“Can you sing it again for me?” He asked as she noticed he was changing gears, and they suddenly were moving faster.
“Ya igrayu na garmoshke, U prochozhich na vidu... K sazhelyenyu, den' razhden'ya, Tol'ko raz v godu.”
The car then stopped, and before she could open her door, it was wrenched open. She didn’t object to Beast carrying her again because Kat was sure her legs didn’t work at the moment anyway.
“Does this Jenna have such a nice voice as you do?” she heard him say but was unsure if he intended to mock her or not.
Inside the house, it was warm and comfortably bright. She looked up at Beast, but he was staring forward, his eyes expressionless. Although, she noticed that the lines next to his eyes were strained with tension.
Why is he asking me such inconsequential things? She pondered. It was astonishing that she had enough power left in her to grin crookedly. “Gena’s male.”
Beast didn’t comment on it as he crossed the living room.
“Why aren’t you shouting at me?” she asked, confused by his calm demeanor. His only response was to grunt. “You know I never intended to run away; I just wanted to find a neighbor with a phone to call my family.” At this, he scoffed, still not saying a word or looking down at her. Kat then leaned her head against his shoulder, too tired and weak to maintain her head by herself. Her hair was wet, but his shirt was wet as well. Did he really wear only a t-shirt in this weather? “But that’s fine; you can be angry with me tomorrow. Right now, I just want to sleep.”
“I’m angry with you now,” he finally said with a grave tone. The cold control in his face made her shiver. “But in order to give you a piece of my mind, I need to prevent you from dying of hypothermia.” He booted a door open. “That’s why you’re going to take the hottest shower of your life, and you’re definitely not going to sleep.”
He put her down on her feet directly into the shower stall, and with all her clothes still on, he turned it on.
While the warm water penetrated her clothes and reached her skin slowly, she looked at him, staring at her. His black hair was wet and matted to his forehead, but everything she was seeing was as if it was encased in fog; her brain felt mushy.
She saw Beast’s eyes traveling down her whole body, watching the mud disappear in the drain. “That’s sort of mean.”
Fascinated, she watched him nod his head before he reached for her. “Better me being mean than you being dead, don’t you think?”
“You know, I think you’re more human than you let on. It doesn’t feel right to call you Beast… Do you have a real name?” Her mouth felt like cotton was filling it; she wasn't even sure that she was pronouncing things as she should.
He opened her zip and took off her sweatshirt. Somewhere deep in her mind, she wondered if he didn’t care that he got wet in the process. Of course not, he’s already wet from the rain, was what came to her mind.
Opening her jeans, he cursed viciously. The garment plastered to her like a second skin. “Lean forward and put your hands on my shoulders,” he gruffly said as he crouched in front of her.
“If you answer my question-” she was about to fall asleep soon.
He cursed again, but after a quick look at her face, he surprised her by complying. “Gabriel. Now, those hands!”
Huh. Gabriel… how nice.
It didn’t even occur to her to protest further. “Are you taking off my clothes?”
He grunted, struggling with her jeans. “Trying to.”
Jostling her, he made a satisfied sigh when he finally managed to put the material past her buttocks. She didn’t have much strength in her hands, and her upper body wobbled around.
“Yeah, but why?” She was still full of wonder, but not alarmed. Why wasn’t she bothered? She was just so darn tired.
He glanced into her eyes before turning back to his task of taking off her jeans, doubling his efforts. “So the damn water reaches your skin. You need to get warmed up; your skin’s still ice cold.”
When he was done, she was standing beneath the shower in her shirt and underwear, and he was soaking wet, dripping on the bathroom floor, droplets of water were falling from his hair onto his mask.
“I imagined it would be much sexier when you undressed me,” she drowsily said.
Beast shook his head as he looked her over. “Obviously, not the first time.”
Gradually, the warmth was flooding her limbs, making them tingle painfully, and when she started shivering beneath the hot water, her other senses came slowly back.
Kat realized with a start that she was standing nearly naked in front of Beast, and he was watching her shower. Because of the water, there was nothing left to the imagination concerning her body.
“How long are you going to stand there?” she asked when she finally felt that she could talk without stuttering or offering another embarrassing piece of her mind.
He had crossed his arms in front of his chest and cocked his head to the side. “Until your lips aren’t blue anymore.”
But then his eyes glazed over as he scanned down her body, lingering on her chest area and stopping on her thighs. Embarrassment was soon flooding her cheeks, and she was sure there was nothing blue in her face anymore, but a lot of red. Awkwardly she tried shielding her private parts with her hands.
“I think… I think I’m okay now.” She mumbled, too embarrassed to say anything else.
Beast watched her shrewdly, but his eyes were twinkling. “You sure?” His gaze then wandered down her body again, looking at her lecherously.
Embarrassment mixed with anger at his look, so without overthinking on it, she reached forward and pushed against his wet chest. The bathroom was already wet; it didn’t matter if she splashed any more water outside the shower. “Yes, I’m sure,” she hissed. “I’ll finish alone.”
And obviously satisfied that she had come back to her senses, his anger returned, and he shot her a scorching glare before exiting the bathroom.
he woke up the following day around the afternoon, warm and cozy. Outside, the weather hadn’t much improved as she saw through the window that the sky was grey and dark, and it was still raining.
A feeling of dread permeated her body; she was scared to face Beast-no, Gabriel! But she couldn’t ignore her pressing need for the bathroom anymore, and she knew that this was a confrontation she couldn’t avoid.
Cautiously, she walked into the kitchen. She had not seen Gabriel on her way, but she felt his presence in the cabin. Kat couldn’t describe it really; it was like a pull, a sizzle in the air that always alerted her that he wasn’t too far away. Suddenly ravenous, she made herself a sandwich.
Yesterday was a blur of memories and emotions, fear, and anxiety mixing with relief and ease. She had been close to hypothermia, if not even in the early stages, and even if she was scared of the upcoming confrontation, thinking bac
k, there had been no doubt in Gabriel’s concerned gaze.
A little ashamed, she did not look up as he entered the room until he threw an object on the kitchen counter in front of her. She regarded it curiously before her wide eyes met his cool ones.
“What’s that?” She asked, not believing what her eyes were seeing.
“A phone,” he deadpanned.
She had known that, of course. It was no smartphone for sure, but it was still a mobile of an older generation with buttons and a small display.
“I can see that.” She told him patiently. “But why is it here?”
“So you can call your family. Wasn’t that what you wanted?” he replied, rolling his eyes.
Her mouth dropped open, and she searched his eyes for any indication that he was telling her a cruel joke, but when he remained stoic, she truly felt the weight of his words. “I don’t understand. Why now?” That’s not what she had wanted to say. She wanted to thank him, be simply delighted of his compassionate nature. Except, Beast wasn’t forgiving. But maybe Gabriel was? Perhaps Gabriel had understood the reason behind her adventure yesterday?
He waited until she looked into his eyes, his gaze calm, clear. And accusing. “I had it yesterday already, that’s how I realized you were gone. When I called, and you didn’t answer.”
Dread settled into the pit of her stomach at his words. Apparently, after all of her insistence, she had managed to reach him. But he had told her ‘no’ so many times that she couldn’t have known he’d suddenly changed his mind. Still, she felt awful. More so than before.
“Oh, God!” She groaned and buried her hands in her hair. Her ordeal could have been avoided if she had only waited just a little bit more… but she couldn’t let her grandparents wait anymore, right?
“Yeah, now imagine my surprise yesterday,” he said, looming over her.
“How did you find me?” She asked dejectedly because really, what else could she say that she hadn’t told him yesterday? If anything, when waking up, she had realized how stupid she had been. A forest! It was so easy to see how she could have gotten lost in the forest now. In fact, how could she have ever thought to find a way out of it? It could only have been desperation and stupidness, making her blind to the apparent odds against her.
“There are a few cameras positioned around the house and road. That’s how I knew in which direction I had to look at.”
Cameras? She hadn’t seen them. And as much as she wanted to save face, she couldn’t be angry for not knowing that fact. It was probably the only reason she was alive and well now.
“I’m sorry, Gabriel.” She whispered and saw as his eyes widened slightly. Had he forgotten he had told her his name? It felt foreign on her lips, but a lot better than that dreaded word ‘Beast.’ “I know how stupid it was. I just wanted a way to contact my grandparents.”
“Stupid,” he muttered as if tasting the word on his tongue.
“Yes. Stupid. Crazy. Naïve. And I meant what I said yesterday; I didn’t want to run away. I’m trusting you to bring me back home.” It unnerved her that he still kept looking at her with his gaze aloof, and his eyes cold. She didn’t feel the easy companionship that had started blooming between them in the past few days anymore. When he looked at her, there was no warmth. No anything. It made her shiver. “But it’s been over a week already,” she continued, “and it’s making me crazy not knowing how long it’s going to take anymore.”
Recognizing her hidden question, Gabriel’s relentless stare flashed with annoyance for a second. “Ivo’s still looking for you. I’m waiting for something bigger to distract him.”
“This could take an innumerable amount of time!” Kat pointed out, frowning at the thought of spending months locked in that cabin.
“It’s going to be soon.” He deadpanned, trying to reassure her, but obviously failing.
“How do you know?”
“I do.” He had his arms crossed in front of his chest, his stance exuding raw power, his eyes now openly displaying his distaste.
“But how- oh, you’ve got something planned?” Kat probed further, ignoring the menacing narrowing of his eyes. She could very well deal with his anger; it was better than dealing with his coldness.
He sighed and pointed his chin to the object in front of her. “Don’t you want to call your family now?”
“I-” She had wanted to protest, sure he would have evaded answering, but then she listened to his words. “You’d still allow me? After the ridiculous stunt I did yesterday?”
Impatiently, he lifted his eyebrows. “That’s what the phone is for.”
“I thought that because of yesterday-”
“You want to or not?” He spat.
She knew that he was blatantly ignoring or at least not acknowledging what had happened yesterday. But for whatever reason, despite his aloofness, he would still let her realize her wish.
“Yes,” she said softly, hopefully, thanking him with her open expression.
Kat had been about to grab it when he halted her movement by picking it up and putting it up his hand to stop her from taking it.
“First, a few rules,” he said, and Kat bit her lip so he couldn’t see her giddy grin when she nodded. “You can only call one time, right now. And I will take the phone back with me and destroy it. Also, you won’t mention what happened, not say where you are-” as if I know where exactly I am, she thought, rolling his eyes, “or whom you’re with.” Kat snorted then. If she told her Baba she was with someone called Beast, the older woman would certainly die instantly.
Gabriel shot her a reprimanding look. “Are we clear?”
Kat straightened her back and nodded her head vigorously as he kept watching her, then she said in earnest. “Yes.”
For all of his stern demeanor and hard gaze, Kat could not ignore how charming this gesture was.
“Here.” He put the phone into her hands, and she eagerly punched in the number she knew by heart. “Loudspeaker on, little bird,” he mumbled, and she immediately pushed the button, putting the phone back on the kitchen island when the ringing started.
Gabriel crossed his big arms in front of his chest and watched her with hooded eyes.
The dialing tone echoed around the small kitchen, and suddenly Kat felt nervous, hoping her grandparents were home. They couldn’t be anywhere else, could they? Also, she was afraid her baba might be furious with her, but the tension dissipated once she heard the unmistakable click of the call being accepted.
“Hello?” She heard the familiar and Oh-so-comforting voice of her grandmother.
“Baba!” Kat cried out in joy, relief evident in her trembling voice.
“Kat? Oh, darling, Kat! How are you? Where are you? O, Bozhe!” She heard her grandmother’s voice break, and her heart constricted. Hearing a beloved one’s soothing voice was so incredible, she wanted to weep in delight but kept her composure for her baba’s sake. After all, she had to be strong and careful not to cause her grandparents any more grief.
“Oh, grandma! I’m- I’m alright. I’m so sorry I can’t come home yet.” Kat looked at the ceiling to prevent her tears from spilling. “But, I’m okay, I swear.”
“Thank God! We were so worried.”
“I’m sorry,” Kat whispered. She blinked back tears. “And I just want to be home… how is Dedo?”
“Do not worry about us, child, just make sure you are alright. You know your grandfather, if he had the strength, he would fight tooth and nail for you. As it is, his willpower and the need to see you safe keeps him working even harder on himself. Is Maryan treating you well?”
Kat’s eyes connected with piercing grey ones, stunned at her grandmother’s words. Gabriel cursed lewdly.
“Who is Maryan, and why should he? I’m here with Gabriel.” She heard Gabriel curse yet again saw him move to grab the phone. Not understanding anything that was going on, Kat stood and took the phone from the counter, taking a few steps backward and getting herself out of reach. “What are you tal
king about?” She asked into the phone but stared bluntly at Gabriel. It was so hard to discern his expression with the metal mask hiding a big part of his face. Was he glaring at her for evading him or because of the subject that had suddenly come up?
“Katherina,” her baba said softly. “Who is Gabriel?”
Goodness. “He-” He lunged at her, and she pivoted, knowing that he would soon manage to wrestle the phone out of her hands. “He is the one keeping me safe. Who is Maryan?”
When Gabriel encased her from behind, she rolled her back and clutched the phone with both of her hands, trying to shield it within herself.
“He didn’t tell you?” her grandmother asked.
“Who-” Gabriel had managed to rip the phone out of her hands. He straightened to his full height so Kat couldn’t take it back, despite exerting herself while trying to.
“She’s fine,” he said into the phone. “Maryan’s aware.” Then he hung up.
The only sound filling the room was Kat’s heavy breathing as she watched him wearily. It didn’t occur to her right then how close they were standing, but even the spots of blue in his silver eyes could not make her focus loosen.
“What was she talking about, Gabriel? Who is Maryan?” She asked, refusing to give up and letting the subject to rest. Gabriel held her gaze, trying to intimidate her with his silence. “Why did she know that I was kept somewhere? Why wasn’t she surprised? What is going on here?”
And what did he do in response to her questions? He turned around and stalked out of the kitchen. But she was a woman on a mission, so, hot on his trail, she surpassed him and planted herself in front of him, putting a hand on his chest to halt his escape.
“Hey! Who is Maryan?”
Stopping, Gabriel regarded her hand on his chest like it was poisonous, but Kat wasn’t stupid – besides that episode of escaping through the forest – so she noticed his eyes expressing how he was warring with something in his mind.
Muscles still taunt beneath her fingers, he finally answered her succinctly: “He’s an acquaintance.”
