Adam pressed a finger to my lips. “I’ve signed a contract agreeing to stay until such time as you release me. I’ll abide that.”
I smiled, knowing the right thing was to release him. “Thank you, but that’s what I’m trying to say. You don’t need to stay. I am releasing you.”
Adam stepped back. Disappointment rolled over his gorgeous face. “Already? I’ve done nothing to make up for what you believe my mom did. I researched red diamonds. They’re worth millions.”
“I know. But she—”
Mrs. Dotts pushed open the door. She was humming. “You’re out of bed.”
“Yes,” I said.
Mrs. Dotts set a tray on the table. On it were two steaks. “I thought you might be hungry.”
I hadn’t even thought about eating.
“Thank you, Mrs. Dotts. ” I went over and cut a piece of meat. Then realized I should’ve asked Adam which he wanted first. “Sorry I didn’t let you choose, Adam,” I said when he came to stand beside me.
Mrs. Dotts dropped the napkins she’d been about to hand over. “Is there anything else you need, Miss Cavanaugh?” Her voice quaked with surprise.
“Have you heard of the word Vack-tare?”
Mrs. Dotts froze. “Um, well.” She stuffed the napkins in the front pocket of her apron.
Isaac walked in. “Miss Cavanaugh. May I have a word with you?”
I glanced over mid-bite. He held a strange box in his gloved hands. Adam squeezed my shoulders. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was—that Isaac might know what the word Vaktare meant. I dropped the fork and rose.
Mrs. Dotts scurried out of the room, closing the door behind her. Isaac stepped further inside.
Fresh Cut Wood
Nine
“What is it, Isaac?” My heart began to race, pushing the pain out and back in with each thump.
He cleared his throat, glancing at Adam.
“He’s fine to remain here.”
“Very well, Miss Cavanaugh.”
“When I came to work for your father fifteen years ago, you were just a small child. And while your parents were never kind to me they were never unkind either.” He coughed. “I knew I was luckier than most. Your father paid me well. Very well. I came to respect, even admire him.” Isaac cleared his throat again. “On your sixteenth birthday your father and mother came to me and asked if I would be willing to keep something for them.” He lifted the box in his hands. “They made me promise that if anything bizarre began to happen with you and if the two of them suddenly vanished I was to give you this box.” Isaac set it on my desk.
“Do you know what’s inside?” I asked, goosebumps tightening my skin.
“No, Miss Cavanaugh, I do not.” He stepped back. “I’ve witnessed many peculiar events in my life. I know your family is different.” He paused, pulling on the bottom of his vest, uncomfortable. “Have you heard anyone use the word Vaktare?” Isaac was suddenly nervous. He gave Adam a cursory glance.
I nodded, excitedly, taking a step toward him. “Do you know what that means?”
He shook his head. “I only know that I overheard your parents say the word on many occasions.”
I felt my face fall. It was weird. Normally my face didn’t move much.
“Miss Cavanaugh, your parents—you are different. Your parents knew I knew. Being in this house, I’ve heard things, even seen things.” He clasped his hands together. “Please know I would never do anything to betray your parents or you. I owe your parents my life. My allegiance is, and will always be, to your family.”
“Thank you, Isaac.” My eyes were misty. I wondered what my parents had done for him, but now wasn’t the time to ask. I quickly dabbed at the edges of my eyes. Crying was fast becoming annoying.
“You’re most welcome, Miss Cavanaugh. And if there is anything you need, you have only to ask.” He turned and left the room.
I scooted my chair closer to the box. It was beautiful. Not much larger than a sheet of paper. The latch had the head of a roaring lion. On the lid was carved the letter C. I guessed for Cavanaugh. Thorny vines wrapped around it and a single red rose bloomed in the center. Behind the C and the rose had been carved an intricate background. Creatures that appeared to be part man and part beast were in a forest.
“Aren’t these amazing?” I said touching one of the heads. As soon as my hand brushed the wood, the latch clicked open. I gasped, clutching my chest. And then laughed.
Adam smiled, crouching down so his head was even with mine. That must’ve been uncomfortable.
“Wait a sec.” I picked up the box and took it over to the bed. “This will be better.”
Adam seemed surprised by my actions. In truth, I was too. In the past, or even yesterday, the comfort of others hadn’t mattered to me.
I took a deep breath, eager for the answers that were sure to be inside.
“Go for it,” Adam said, noticing my hesitation.
Taking hold of the latch, I lifted it.
I didn’t know what I expected to find. The inside smelled like fresh cut wood. It had been stained to match the outside.
I glanced at Adam. He rocked back, appearing to be as confused as I was. I reached in and picked up the only thing in the box: a piece of paper. It’d been torn out of a notebook. On the paper, scrawled in black ink were a name and a number.
“Is this you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “My last name is Haddox, remember?”
All of my courage deflated.
Adam squeezed my hand. “So you call the number. Your parents thought the name and number were important, right?”
“I guess.” I placed the number back in the box and closed it. Exhaustion overpowered my limbs. “I’m tired, Adam. Would you mind giving me some time by myself?” I knew the pain would increase with him gone but it was becoming more bearable.
“Of course.” Adam glanced at his watch. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He got off my bed and went to the door. “It’ll work out. Everything happens for a reason.
I couldn’t agree or disagree. “Thanks, Adam. For all of your help and for staying.” As I said the words, a tendril of fear curled through my stomach, like a snake in search of its prey, it slithered inside. My heart raced. “You’ll still be here in the morning?” I asked, timidly.
Adam opened the door. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
His words made me smile. I stared after him a few moments, thinking about how happy I was to have him in my life. I didn’t have my parents, and while I missed them, which was weird and wonderful, but I had him. Adam. It seemed overly lucky that he’d come just after I was cursed. I didn’t think Eva, Ashley, Cassidy or even Will would’ve handled the situation as well as he was.
I set the box on my nightstand, changed into some PJs and went over to the bed. I tried to sleep, but as tired as I was, I couldn’t. So I climbed out of bed and walked over to the window seat, pulling open the curtains. The moon was nearly full. I curled up with a blanket and a pillow and fell asleep.
***
I sniffed the air. Another hunter was nearby. It was hungry, like me. And it needed to eat. But this was my territory. I roared, shaking my head.
In response the hunter howled. A wolf?
My ears pricked as I ran. Its large paws padded the dirt softly, making its movements barely perceivable. It was heading up the mountain, same as me.
Though it was summer the air this high up was chilly, especially at night. I found the temperature enjoyable and lifted my face toward the night sky. The moon shone brightly and the stars twinkled against the blackness. It reminded me of a map, the stars plotting points, telling me where to go. I stared at the stars more intently, as though seeing them for what they truly were.
Where should I go? I thought, searching for an answer.
To the right I heard the snap of a fallen tree branch. Instinctively I turned toward the sound, crouching low, preparing for the unknown. I’d been too caught up in the stars to listen t
o what was going on around me.
Whatever it was moved closer. I waited, shifting my body so that I was in the perfect position. Twin pools of blue glowed as it stepped into view.
I peered closer, trying to discover what it was.
“I wondered when you would finally shift.” The voice came from the area where the eyes glowed. It was male. He stepped out of the trees and into the moonlight. It was a large black cat, but bigger than any wildcat I’d seen in my mountains, or at the zoo for that matter. Thick black fur covered his body. He was on all fours, but his back legs had more of a bend at the knee, like a human rather than a wildcat. His paws were long and shaped like human hands and feet. Thick claws extended from them. They were sharp and pointed. His face held the shape of a cat but it somehow looked human too.
“What are you talking about?” I backed up the way I’d come, the prey I’d been hunting long forgotten.
In answer he lifted one of his front paws and a ball of light came out. It headed right at me. For a single second I froze, unsure what to do. In the next second instinct took over and I dove out of the way. The light hit the tree to my right. It made a sizzling and crackling sound and then the light went out. By the light of the moon I could see the tree had been charred and there was a hole deep within the trunk.
“Found out what your ability is yet?” He growled and sent another ball of light my direction.
I dove the other way, baring my teeth and making a hissing sound. That scared me almost more than the big cat and the ball of light.
“Please, what do you want? I can get you anything.” I hoped to reason with him.
“Can you?” He paused, tilting his head, as though he were mulling over my offer.
“Of course.”
The male cat roared and it felt like the whole Earth shook. I wanted to lower my head, to cower before him, but something inside told me not to. So I lifted my chin. “What do you want?” I was so scared, but I forced those feelings away, and stepped toward him. “Either tell me or leave.”
The male cat laughed and his long tail flicked back and forth randomly.
“Your family no longer has the right to give orders.” He snorted and his whiskers quaked. “Your father doesn’t even have his abilities any longer. They were stripped from him.” He seemed to know more about my family than I did.
“You know who I am? What I am?” My chin started to tremble.
He laughed harder. “Of course.” Something about the way he said the words sounded familiar but I couldn’t place his voice.
I realized for all my feigned toughness, if he attacked, I’d be dead. He probably weighed five hundred pounds.
“It’s time the Cavanaughs were destroyed and a new royal line took your place.” He charged.
I stood my ground, not knowing what else to do. As he got closer, he opened his mouth. Drool dribbled from his sharp teeth. He was so close I could smell his putrid breath. At the last second I closed my eyes, preparing for the inevitable.
But it didn’t come. There was a rush of wind and a loud thump.
I peered through my lashes and was surprised to find that the male cat had been knocked on its side. He rolled to his feet and shook his head. Standing between the cat and me was a gigantic blond wolf. His body was a similar shape to the cat, though he was bigger. His tail was fluffier, his ears were bigger, and his face was different. He was every bit as scary, especially as he bent low, baring his teeth.
“Leave now and I’ll let you live,” the wolf said. His voice was so deep I felt it in my bones.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come. Your fight isn’t with me. In fact I’m on your side with the rest of your kind, Locanis. We can kill her together.” The cat tried to move around the wolf, but the wolf blocked him from passing.
“No.”
The cat growled and sent a ball of light at the wolf. The wolf chuckled, batting the light away. “How does it feel to know you have the lamest of Vaktare abilities?” The wolf gargled laughter. “I mean, it’s a ball of light.”
“Shut up!” The cat shot another ball of light.
The wolf caught it. “Here kitty, kitty.” He threw the ball of light back.
The cat yowled, diving at the wolf.
They rammed into each other, their teeth snapping and tearing into the other’s fur. They rolled on the ground. Dirt kicked up around them, making their fight harder to see.
I watched the battle in amazement. Too stunned to do anything else. The creatures were like none I’d ever seen. Certain features made them obviously a cat or a dog, but they were much too big, their limbs too long. Plus they spoke English, like me, which was stranger still.
It suddenly occurred to me that I was in the presence of horrid beasts, and that I should run.
The cat roared in pain and the combatants broke apart. Panting, the cat said, “Look at her. She’s weak. Your mission is to kill her. Now’s your chance.”
The wolf barked once. “My orders are none of your business. Now either you leave or I kill you.”
The cat laughed. “You’ve gone soft. What happened to the fearless Locanis I heard stories about? You’re supposed to be a cold-blooded killer, not a simpering pup.”
The wolf was on the cat before he had a chance to defend himself.
In the distance I heard another howl and then several more. The blond wolf’s nose came up. He shook his head. “Get out of here!” He yelled those words at me.
“What? I—”
The cat took off down the hill.
The wolf perked his ears. They twitched and turned, listening.
“Hey,” I called after the wolf. “What’s going on?”
He wouldn’t look at me.
“Hey,” I yelled again, feeling a strong need to see his face. I knew if I did everything would be okay.
“Shut up. Get out of here. You don’t know what you’re doing and you’re going to get yourself killed.” He ran in the opposite direction of the cat.
I was suddenly very alone and very frightened. The wolf was right. If he hadn’t come along I’d be dead. I reached out after him. “Thank yo—“ I yelled as I glanced down at my hand but it wasn’t a normal hand. It was large and the back was covered with honey brown fur. The claws were long and pointed. I thought about what I’d been doing outside, on the mountain, before the other cat showed up. I’d been hunting.
Was I like him? A creature?
Feeling a strong need to find out, I dashed toward my house, past trees of pine and ash. I jumped over large bushes and wild strawberry patches. I ran through tiny trickling streams, burrowed under brush, and snapped at the heels of a family of elk I came upon. There was only one thought and it pushed me to run faster than I ever believed was possible.
I needed to see what I was.
I would check my reflection in the pool behind our house. When I came to the border of the Cavanaugh land, I stopped. I’d forgotten about the super tall chain link fence that went all the way around the back part of our property. How had I gotten out? I clawed my way up the fence. At the top was barbed wire. With effort I climbed over, though much of my fur snagged on the barbs. Jumping to the ground I ran to the pool and then slid to a stop.
My pulse raced with apprehension. Peering over the edge, I saw what I’d been afraid of. “No.” I quickly stepped back, took a deep breath and tried again. The beast was still there, staring at me with a horrified expression. I touched a paw to my face, watching it move the way my brain told it to. Except for my eyes, I didn’t recognize myself. Fizban had told me I was a Vaktare. Was the hideous creature staring back a Vaktare?
“How did I get this way?” I whispered the words, feeling those blasted tears push at my eyes again. I roared. “I am a beast!” The thought made me sadder than I’d ever been. My parents were gone and I had no idea what was happening to me. I couldn’t even call them and ask. The numbers I had for my mom and dad had been disconnected.
A pile of sadness seemed to bury me.
I wa
lked over to one of the patio lounge chairs and tried to climb on. My claws tore through the polyester. But I didn’t care. I rested my head against the part that was still whole and closed my eyes.
“It’s all a dream, Beatrice. It’s all a dream.”
Naked And Tangled Up
Ten
When I opened my eyes I was shocked at how bright my room was. Seconds later I realized I wasn’t in my room. I wasn’t even on my window seat. I was outside. Birds chirped in the pine trees nearby. Squirrels prattled on at each other as they searched for nuts. The smell of pine and chlorine immediately told me I was by the pool. Shocked, I tried to stand, but my limbs were tangled within the broken patio chair.
That’s when I remembered last night. There’d been a large cat with the blue eyes. He’d tried to kill me. And the huge blond wolf. The cat had called him Locanis. Was that his name or his species? Whatever he was, the wolf had protected me. And then I’d seen my reflection in the pool.
I was like the black one, a large, weird, talking cat. I shuddered in dismay. If it had been a dream, how had I ended up outside in the exact spot where I’d lay down in my dream? Before I could find an answer, I heard my name in the distance.
“Beatrice,” Adam called, an edge of fear in his voice.
“Miss Cavanaugh.” That was Isaac.
“I’m over here,” I tried to holler, but the words got caught in my throat.
“Bea. Bea, it’s me, Will. Where are you?” He sounded close.
“Here,” I called. The word came out raspy like I smoked two packs a day.
A shadow passed over my face. I squinted, trying to see who it was. “I seem to be wrapped up in . . .”
Will laughed. “What happened?” He leaned down and started to unwind the polyester material from my legs. His hands brushed my backside and I realized with a start that I was naked.
A Beauty So Beastly Page 7
