Legend of Me
Page 21
Fastening his cloak, Raul strode to the door. When he flung it open, my mouth dropped open as I saw Father Reynaldo on our stoop, his hand raised, ready to knock.
“Father.” Raul stepped aside, holding the door for him to come in. “How good it is to see you again. We weren’t expecting any visitors.”
His labored breathing sounded like a whoosh of wind as he came into the house. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and he wiped a thick paw across it. “I wanted to bring you a late wedding gift. You mentioned during your visit that you’re recently married.”
He handed me a wooden box with brass brackets. I glanced at Raul then slipped the clasps open. There, nestled inside was a silver platter. The type one might expect to find in a lavish castle of a nobleman.
“It’s beautiful.” I ran my hand along the roses carved into it. “I don’t know how we can ever thank you.”
Priests shouldn’t have access to such treasures and I wondered where he’d gotten it. When I flipped it over, I noticed the tiny inscription.
To B, with love. K.
B and K? Stop being foolish. It had nothing to do with Kenrick and me.
“Ah, the only thanks I require is your presence in church.” He patted my hand.
The contact made me cringe with disgust, but somehow I managed to keep the fake smile upon my lips. “Of course, Father. What time does Sabbath begin?”
“Just after sunrise.” He scanned our house as if he searched for something.
My mouth went dry. I examined the floorboards, praying no blood remained—we’d been up through the night scrubbing it clean.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” I offered, crossing the cottage to set the tray on a shelf and put distance between us.
“I’m afraid I can’t stay long. I merely wanted to drop the gift off for you.”
Raul smiled. “We appreciate your generosity and hope you come by again.”
Father Reynaldo must’ve realized he was being dismissed. His eyes narrowed into thin slits, his fat red lips like bloody meat chunks.
“Oh, and before I forget, I meant to ask if you’ve seen Morris Farmer? His wife came to the church in hysterics, claiming he’s gone missing.”
My hand fisted at my side. He knows.
Raul scratched his chin. “No. We haven’t seen anyone up this way. We’ve spent most of our time cutting wood and getting our house in order. But if we run into him, I’ll send word right away.”
“Very well. Enjoy the rest of your day. I look forward to seeing more of you.” His focus lingered on me and my skin crawled beneath his scrutiny.
When he left, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
“We need to stay alert where he’s concerned.” Raul stared out the window at his retreating form. “Especially you. He watches you as if he might like to dine on you.”
I shivered then pulled down the tray to show Raul the carving in it. “Do you think this is a coincidence?”
“Perhaps, but it seems too timely.”
“Do you think he knows about the curse?”
“I don’t know. But we need to find out more about him.”
It took a few days for me to gather my courage to head into Fire Ridge, waiting for my opportunity to get back into the church. As I watched Father Reynaldo’s form wobble away from town, I knew now was my chance.
I waited several moments then gathered my skirts in my hands and raced to the monastery. A reed-thin man in long black robes knelt before the altar, candlelight dancing in the dimly lit worship area. As if sensing my presence, he glanced up then climbed to his feet.
“Welcome, is there something I might assist you with?” A smile formed on his lips.
“May I use your library?”
“Of course, come this way.” He ushered me down the hall and showed me inside. “If you need any help, just ring the bell.”
After he left, I scanned the shelves until I came across a book on the histories of Fire Ridge. I slid the leather bound book from its place and carried it to the table.
The pages were yellowed with age, almost brittle. I flipped through them, lifting the manuscript to get a closer look at a sketch when a piece of parchment fell to my lap.
My breath caught in my throat, as I picked it up.
Today the young knight of the Crowhurst Order has come to save us. He offers up his sword in our endeavor to rid our village of the Beast. Our hope soars.
The parchment went on to speak of more deaths at the hand of the Beast, or rather me. Then, I got to a portion that interested me greatly.
The demon has been captured. Our knight has fulfilled his duty. Lady Lucia had been right about the creature, she looks almost human. To think she has been hiding amongst us this whole time. She acts and appears so innocent. The girl is to be put to death on the morrow. We have identified her as …
The parchment ended in scorch marks. Someone had burned the end of it, keeping my identity a secret. Or perhaps prolonging this sick game we played. But there was one name that stuck out. Lucia. If she was alive when this note had been written, it meant she hadn’t died by my hand at Crawford Estate. Unless others could see her ghostly form as well.
Which raised the question: what was really going on?
My heart pounded loudly. I tucked the parchment into the book and leapt to my feet. How long had people been hiding information? My teeth grazed my bottom lip as I slid the book back onto the shelf. A chill settled in the air then the candle blinked out, plunging the room into shadows.
I clutched tight to the wall and felt my way along the wood until I reached the doorway. When I stepped into the hall, I stopped upon hearing the low murmur of voices.
“I told you, Father, I don’t know what the young lady is researching.”
“Very well, but from now on, I want you to keep a close eye on what items she takes from the shelves,” Father Reynaldo said, his voice hard as stone.
My stomach clenched with fear. I needed to leave. Now. Ducking, I moved away from their voices and to a door that led to the remnants of a garden behind the church. I threw open the gate and raced into the thicket, leaping over downed limbs and holes.
My lungs burned as I dodged into the market, trying to lose myself in the crowd. I bent over, my hands on my knees in an attempt to catch my breath. As I turned my head, I spotted Kenrick walking toward me.
Please don’t let him see me.
He stopped at vendor selling weapons and picked up several different daggers. He seemed to be examining the blades closely.
I took a step back, trying to push myself flush with the fruit stand I stood next to. When Kenrick was finished looking at the knives, he crossed the road and headed toward the tavern, not sparing me a glance, I sighed in relief. Shite. He’d already made it to Fire Ridge. I needed to get back to the cabin. Now.
When I arrived back to the house, Raul appeared from the woods, carrying strings of fish and hares. “Bri? Are you well?”
“Yes. But we have a problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“Father Reynaldo came back while I was there. He didn’t see me, but he was hassling someone about what I’d been researching. I’m almost sure he knows something. And that’s not all. I’ve seen Kenrick in Fire Ridge. It’s only a matter of time before he locates us.”
“Maybe we ought to send word to your grandmother and tell her we’ll meet her somewhere else. We can’t chance staying here.”
I nodded. “We can pack our things and head out tomorrow at first light.”
“I’m not so sure we should wait,” Raul said.
“We need our rest and time to get our things in order. I don’t think one more night will make a difference.”
“Very well, but we will be on our way in the morning. No arguments.” Raul glanced at the road behind us, his brow furrowed.
Would we ever be able to settle in some place, or was this my future? Always on the run, trying to hide what I was.
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Raul followed me inside, where we washed up for dinner. I poured us each a bowl of stew and we quickly ate. When we finished, Raul helped me clean up. There was a certain amount of comfort in having him here. Even though I knew the inevitable outcome of this. Tomorrow we’d be on the run again. Trying to beat a curse I wasn’t sure we’d ever find the cure for. But just for tonight, I wanted to pretend we truly were a married. As if we didn’t have a worry in the world. It was just him and I. Two people in love.
Once the fire was stoked for the night, Raul turned his back while I stripped down to my shift and sat on the edge of the bed. I sucked in a deep breath as I watched Raul take off his tunic. His sculpted muscles rippled with the effort. His mahogany colored eyes met mine. He was beautiful. Biting back the lump in my throat, I knew I loved him.
“Raul,” I whispered his name.
He sauntered across the room until he knelt in front of me. “What is it?”
“Do you think we should part ways? To keep you safe? It’s only a matter of time before Kenrick finds out the truth … I can feel it in my bones. After everything I’ve done. All the people I’ve murdered—Rhyne’s demise, I-I just don’t want to be responsible for your death too.”
Raul kissed my brow. “We’ve been over this, dear one. I will not part ways with you.”
My gaze shifted as his thumb brushed against my lips. I knew I should pull away from him, yet I didn’t. I wanted to feel him against me. To feel the security of his arms. To know, even if for one day, how it felt to be loved by someone.
Raul bent down until his lips captured mine. Fire blazed through my veins, his mouth crushing mine. My fingers weaved into his hair, drawing him closer. He deepened the kiss and I breathed him in. He was in my essence. My very soul. We were bound together. Behind my eyes, I saw a circle of flames surrounding us, connecting us for all eternity. My heart belonged to him. And if only for tonight, I’d be his.
As he pulled back, it astounded me how our skin glowed where we touched. I still felt his lips, even though we no longer kissed.
“You are mine,” he whispered.
“Always.”
He laid me back in the bed, then hovered over me, his mouth trailing down my neck. He pushed the collar of my shift to the side, revealing my scar. But this time, it wasn’t a blade that touched my skin, it was his lips.
My hands drifted along his muscled chest, to his shoulders, pulling him down to me. His fingers slid over my thigh to my abdomen. Gently caressing me.
“Bri?” His eyes darkened with passion. A fire I knew only I could put out. “If you want me to stop, just say the words.”
Emotion made it hard to speak, but I knew tonight might be all we had. And I wanted to give Raul every part of me. To show him how much I loved him. How much I desired him. That this flame, which we shared, couldn’t be put out.
“Please, don’t stop,” I whispered, letting my mouth cover his.
And so, I gave myself over to him. Our bodies melding, becoming one. I clung to him until at last we both collapsed with exhaustion. When we finished, he held tight to me and nestled my head against his bare chest. His fingers stroked my shoulder as my lids drifted shut.
Wrapped in his arms, he said, “I plan to make you my wife, Brielle. Tonight was only the beginning for us.”
Or the end.
“Raul, you don’t understand, I-I might not be able to marry you … ”
“If this is about your gram, I already told you I’d talk to her. Let’s not fight about this tonight.” He kissed me once more. “You need your rest. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.”
My grip on him tightened, knowing that tonight the Beast would come. Kenrick was in town—and knowing what I did about the curse, I would be punished, again.
I ran into the woods, shoving aside branches as I charged into the night. The crunch of my heavy footsteps sent small animals scurrying for safety. But it wasn’t them I was after. I tilted my head, catching the scent of humans. Like a predator, I followed the trail. I inhaled whiffs of lavender and alcohol.
I burst from the forest onto a road. There, ahead of me, stood a bar wench with her bosoms barely hidden beneath her low-cut bodice.
She spun to face me, her eyes widening. Fear rolled off her in waves I could taste it in the air. “No, please.”
She hefted her skirts and started to run. But I was too quick. My claws ripped at her back. Screams filled the night, echoing around me. I gripped tight to her hair and dragged her into the trees.
She kicked out, fighting my every step but I held tight. Her hair tore from her skull, blood seeping into her face. I bent over her, my tongue catching the fluid before it could hit the ground.
I needed more. My fangs sank into her throat, silencing her blood curdling yells to nothing more than a gurgled plea. The warm, human meat was the only thing to satisfy my hunger. With strong hands, I pulled her arm off much like a turkey leg and chewed the flesh from the bone.
Snap.
My head whipped around, eyes scanning the wilderness. A faint glow moved along the tree line, headed in my direction. But I turned my attention back to my meal and crunched down on the arm bone, swallowing. It turned to dust on my tongue.
“At last, Beast, you’re mine.”
A man stepped from the shadows, his face highlighted by the dancing flames of the torch.
Kenrick.
His sword flashed beneath the warm glow of firelight. I stumbled away from him.
Please. I needed to change back.
Panic burned in my veins as I spun to flee him. Briars scratched my skin and I pushed into the overgrowth. But before I made my getaway, something pierced my shoulder.
My head snapped around to find an arrow stuck in my flesh. A high-pitched growl erupted from my lips. It quickly turned to a scream.
“Ahhh … ” My shoulder throbbed as I fell to my knees. My claws sank back into my fingers and toes like splinters of wood being shoved beneath my skin.
More torches moved into the area, circling round. I was surrounded.
“Please, don’t kill me!” I screamed right as the sword came toward me.
Kenrick stopped mid-swing, his eyes flashing in surprise. He dropped his weapon then staggered back. Disbelief painted his features.
“You? You’re the beast? It can’t be. What kind of dark magic is this?” His face seemed stricken, almost disgusted.
I wiped the blood from my mouth, then tugged my sleeves down to hide the gobbets of flesh still trapped beneath my nails. “Please, it’s not my fault.”
But that wasn’t really true, was it? I’d held back. And it didn’t matter that I’d done so to spare him pain, because I’d also done so out of fear of what he’d do if he found out what I was.
Now I’d find out.
“Father Reynaldo came to the door of my room this night,” Kenrick said. “He told me you were a monster. I didn’t want to believe him, but he brought me to the church and showed me the parchment that named you. And still I gave you the benefit of the doubt.”
“I didn’t mean to betray you.”
Pain flashed in his eyes. “But you did. And now you leave me little choice. What else am I to do?”
One of the soldiers stepped between us, his sword raised above his head. “I’ll tell you what we do. We kill the Beast. That’s always been the plan.”
But Kenrick twisted and grabbed him by the wrist. “No. No one is to kill her. We’ll bring her to the dungeons until we can get to the bottom of this. That goes for all of you. Lower your weapons.”
“But, milord,” the soldier said.
“Do as I say. Are we not men of honor? This woman at least deserves a trial.” He dragged me to my feet, and he gave me a gentle shove forward. “Get the irons.”
Soldiers marched in, carrying rope, weapons, and shackles.
Tears trailed down my cheeks. “Kenrick, I beg you, give me a chance to explain myself.”
“Kenrick, please.”
“Don’t speak to me. Not now. You have twisted everything beautiful between us. I don’t know what to think.”
“But it’s a curse. I didn’t ask for—”
An explosion of fire whooshed through the trees, setting the branches ablaze.
“Look out,” one of the soldiers shouted, diving to the ground.
Raul and his grandmother stepped from the foliage, both armed with daggers. When had she arrived? Did she know about Rhyne?
I watched as Raul used the fire from the torches, causing it to strike like lightning. “Unhand her.”
Kenrick pulled me closer, shielding me. “Stand your ground, men. This is what we’ve trained for.”
“I’m warning you. You don’t want to stand between me and the girl I love. If you release her, we’ll let you live.”
“They’re the demon’s accomplices,” a soldier to our left shouted.
“She’s no demon. Brielle has been cursed. And after all these years, you should be smart to figure out who did this and why,” Raul snapped, moving in front of his grandmother and staring at Kenrick.
“Stop where you are,” Kenrick warned as he took another step closer.
“Raul, please, get out of here. You and your grandmother aren’t a part of this. Go while you can.”
“I won’t leave you,” he said. “I gave you my promise. That I’d be with you until the end.”
“You are not bound to me. Please. Go.” I didn’t want his death on my hands too. I couldn’t bare it. Hellfire, I could barely handle what I’d done to Rhyne. At some point, I felt as if I should be punished for what I’d done. And maybe that was this moment.