I pulled a silk robe in the darkest blue off a hanger and tied it. When I came back into the room, it was to see Adam pacing, his body between Fizban and the closet, protecting me. “Adam, meet Fizban, the . . . What are you exactly?”
She smiled. And then Greg appeared on the bed next to her. Adam growled again, preparing to attack.
Greg sat beside Fizban. “Relax, Locanis. No harm will come to you or Beatrice on this day.”
The hair on Adam’s back stood on end. “That does nothing to comfort me.”
Standing beside him, I stroked his fur, trying to help him relax.
Fizban and Greg exchanged a look.
“We are called the Unknowns. We are the creators of your realm, of your magic, and of your species,” Greg said.
Fizban met my gaze. “I wasn’t too happy about how things were going, what with what a jackass your grandfather became, so Greg and I decided on one last hurrah.” Fizban winked. “It was either that or destroy all of you.”
I rocked back on my heels, astounded. “Creators? Like Gods?”
“Something like that,” Fizban said with false modesty.
“The legend of the Unduyee was our creation and we brought you, Beatrice, in to being.” Greg smiled, his turquoise eyes dancing with happiness.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to live up to your potential, but you came through.” Fizban’s eyes locked on Adam. “Didn’t she?”
Adam—who was still in his werewolf form—growled.
“And you weren’t so bad yourself,” she went on.
Greg’s gaze never left Adam as he spoke. “We were worried when you first showed up, especially when the two of you seemed to have feelings for each other.” Greg tsked. “You know better.” Adam gave a low snarl. “Beatrice, now you know better as well.” He stood. “So, let’s put this craziness behind us and get you to Hiraken where you can become Queen and begin working on your destiny.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t ready to begin working on my destiny. I didn’t even know how control my ability to shift. “Fizban. Greg. I really appreciate what you’ve done.” That was a large overstatement. But I was at least glad to be alive. Since they were Gods of some sort I felt obligated to lay the graciousness on thick. “The curse, reverse curse thing you did has helped me become a better person.” I gave Fizban a pointed glance. “I think I understand what you meant when you said sometimes those that appear the most beastly are the most beautiful.”
Fizban smiled. “Of course you do.”
“But I’m not ready to be Queen. I don’t even know how to control the were part of myself, or my abilities, for that matter.”
The Unknowns turned to each other. They seemed to be communicating without talking. And then their bodies started to change, to shimmer, and become like mist or ghosts.
Adam hadn’t seen them change before and I was worried how he’d react. But when I glanced over I saw he was no longer in the room. It was probably for the best. The Unknowns and I had come to know each other slightly.
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. How dare you question those more powerful than you?” The voice sounded like Greg even though I couldn’t see his mouth anymore.
“If you wish to see your parents again, you will obey our commands and go to Hiraken and take back the kingdom that is rightfully yours.” That was Fizban’s voice.
The mists hovered in the air, their scent like that of a rain shower. I stepped backward, trying to keep my distance, but I’d run into what was left the wall next to my bathroom.
My parents, I thought. It sounded as though they knew where my parents were.
Adam came back. “Hold on, Fizban and Greg.” He was in his human form and dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved black tee shirt. “The curse . . .” He paused, shaking his head. “Or the reverse curse you put on Beatrice gave her a year, right?”
The mists both changed direction and headed toward Adam.
“Perhaps.” Fizban said, floating around him.
“What business is it of yours?” Greg hissed.
“Well, right now she’s way ahead of schedule. So what if you allowed her to train?” Adam glanced at me. I nodded. I liked the idea. “I will teach her to control her werecat form and assist her in learning how to use all of the abilities she’s been given. Then, when the year’s up, she’ll be more prepared to fulfill her destiny.”
Fizban and Greg’s misty forms gathered. I heard whispering in a language I couldn’t comprehend.
Adam came to stand beside me. He took my hand and squeezed it.
After several seconds, the mists reassembled into Greg and Fizban.
Fizban came forward and held out her hand, indicating I should take it.
Hesitant, I reached out and grabbed hold. She grinned. “We will give you the remainder of your year. We’ve decided you’ve earned it.”
“Thank you,” I said, pulling her close and hugging her. She returned my hug carefully.
“There are conditions,” Greg added.
I nodded. “I’m listening.”
Fizban locked her hands behind her back and began to pace. “Number one: You will keep your promise to Professor Pops and help him find Cole.”
“Agreed,” I said. I would’ve done that with or without their conditions. “Do you know where he is?”
Greg snorted. “We do.”
“Are you going to tell me how to find him?” I hated that they were acting coy. Why would they do that?
“In time, Beatrice. First you must consider our remaining conditions.” Fizban wrapped a piece of red hair around her finger.
“Fine.” As I watched the Unknowns, the way the moved, the secret smiles they gave each other, the strangest feeling came over me. Was my life even my own? Even though I believed I controlled my own fate, the Unknowns seemed to create problems and then demand I fix them while they just sat back and watched. Like a character in a TV show doing what the directors ordered.
“Number two: You will train with Adam and learn to control your beast and your abilities,” Greg said.
So far, the conditions were easy. “I understand,” I said, solemnly.
“Number three: You will memorize the laws of your species, including no cross-species procreating.” Fizban’s scrutiny roamed between Adam and me.
My heart fell. It wasn’t like I wanted to do that now, but I did like Adam. Like a whole freaking lot.
“Did you hear me?” Fizban asked.
“Yes.” I picked at some dead skin on my hand.
“Adam?”
He gritted his teeth. “I understand.”
“Excellent,” Greg said.
“The final condition: You must go to Hiraken and rescue Adam’s sister.”
I heard Adam suck in a breath.
“This last is of the utmost urgency. The vicious Vaktare king ruling the land has been torturing her.” Fizban’s features softened. “She’ll be dead within the month.”
I took hold of Adam’s arm. “We’ll go immediately.”
He nodded.
“The sooner the better, Beatrice, but make sure you have a plan. Adam is an enemy to those in control now, just as you are. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“You’d better,” Fizban and Greg said together. Their bodies started to shimmer and I knew they would evaporate shortly.
“Wait,” I said. There was one more thing I needed to know.
“Yes,” they said together.
“My parents? Do you know where they are?”
“Of course we do, Beatrice. We’re the ones who took them.”
It was hard to tell if the Unknowns were good or bad. Maybe they were neither. Maybe they were both. Or maybe those words, good and bad, meant nothing to such creatures.
“What? Why? To keep them safe?” I hoped that had been the reason, but the look on Fizban’s iridescent face told me otherwise.
“We took them to keep them away from you.” Their forms were almost transparent.
I k
new they’d vanish any second. “Wait.”
“We grow weary of you, Beatrice. Ask your question so that we may go.”
I swallowed. “Did you . . . kill my parents?”
The Unknowns laughed. The sound echoed off the walls.
“They are alive. Perhaps you’ll see them again,” Greg said.
“If you do as we say,” Fizban added.
“Of course I will, just bring them back.” I spoke the words to empty air. They were gone.
“Why would they do that?” I asked Adam, taking a shuddering breath, relieved they were gone but still upset by what they’d done.
Adam’s shoulders sagged. He sank onto my bed. I knew his heart was as heavy as mine.
I sat beside him. At least I knew my parents were alive. Adam’s sister was being tortured. “We will get her out. We have to.”
Adam ran a hand over my cheek, causing my whole body to quiver. It was great to have him close. I wrapped my hand over his, pressing my face into his touch.
“Adam.” My emotions were overflowing with need.
“I’m here.” Adam scooted closer. His lips were inches from mine.
I sighed. “You heard what the Unknowns said.” I felt I should at least state the obvious, even though I wanted him to kiss me with every ounce of my being.
Adam’s lips tilted in a smile and he leaned in, kissing my cheek. “I did hear what they said.” He kissed my other cheek.
My breathing increased, and the fireworks that lit up every time he was near exploded into the softest rose petals. They fluttered around inside my lower belly. “Yeah.” I couldn’t even think. Every nerve was sparking with need.
Adam kissed my forehead. “They said we couldn’t procreate.” His lips kissed the tip of my nose. “There are ways to ensure we don’t make any babies.”
“You’re right,” I whispered. Hope beat through my heart.
Adam’s lips claimed mine. He lay back on the bed, pulling me with him. Adam and I had a lot to think about, a lot to deal with. My parents. His sister. Finding Cole. But for right now, it was just the two of us.
“You’re bad, Adam Haddox. So, so bad,” I said against his mouth.
Adam smiled, nibbling on my lower lip. “What can I say, you accomplished your goal.” He growled, rolling on top of me.
“I did?” I asked, breathlessly. I had no idea what he meant.
“I am more beastly than you are.” With those words, he covered my mouth with his, taking his kisses to a whole new level of passion.
End of book one.
Afterword
Thank you for reading A Beauty So Beastly. I hope you enjoyed reading the reinvention of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. It’s a story I always loved, but with my twisted mind thought it would be fun to go deeper, more strange, which is how I came up with the idea of making the beauty also the beast.
Beatrice is a character who beautiful and beastly. Through the course of the story she comes to realize what that means.
I hope you enjoyed the story. If so, I would really appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to go back and leave a review on the purchase site.
Sincerely,
RaShelle Workman
Coming Soon
Earth’s Guardian
Zaren is an immortal guardian from the planet Kelari. After losing the woman he loves twice, Zaren takes off in a transport for a hundred years of cybersleep. But twenty-one years into his rest a human child awakens him. He doesn't know how it happened, but he isn't one to let an innocent suffer.
Landing his transport, he rescues her from a deviant alien hiding as a human on Earth. And it gives him new purpose.
He knows what he must do. He must fight for the innocent, save those who can't save themselves, and he'll do it with the help of three sisters who happen to live inside his head.
Add it to your Goodreads.
Vampire Secrets
A dream is a wish your heart makes...
It's been a month since Jasmine agreed to the wish that would keep Laeddin safe. By all accounts she should be happy. She's attending high school, hanging out with friends, and dating, dating, dating.
But something is off. Something big.
Demonic creatures keep showing up in Salem and they're determined to destroy Jasmine. The question is why?
With the help of Zoe, Peter, Laeddin and some friends from the mansion next door, Jasmine must figure out what the creatures want and do so before her sixteenth birthday.
Add to your Goodreads.
About the Author
RaShelle Workman is the author of the popular Blood and Snow series. She loves to reinvent fairy tales that older teens and adults can sink their teeth into. Her stories include kissing, vampires, werewolves, witches, aliens, and more kissing. Sleeping Roses, Exiled, Beguiled, and Dovetailed have foreign rights contracts with a Turkish publisher. RaShelle is also one of the co-founders of Indie Recon LIVE.
Her books include:
A Beauty So Beastly
Sleeping Roses
Exiled
Beguiled
Dovetailed
Blood and Snow (1-12)
The Cindy Chronicles
Vampire Lies (Blood and Snow Season 2)
Short stories:
Cindy Witch
The Hunter's Tale
Gabriel
After the Kiss
Zaren's Travels
Visit www.rashelleworkman.com to join RaShelle's EXCLUSIVE mailing list and be entered to win a signed paperback copy of Blood and Snow volumes 1-4 (Special Edition). And be sure to like her Facebook page for all the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/rashelleworkman.
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