The Beast of Napa

21 - Curses

Griffin's spine stiffened, his eyes turning cold. Catriona followed his gaze to an older man standing in the doorway, wearing a satin long coat, gray hair speckling his trimmed beard. On his arm was a woman considerably younger, her blonde hair swept back in curls behind her shoulders. As the doorman took their coats, the older man waved in Griffin's general direction. Griffin didn't respond, but Catriona saw darkness invade his eyes.

"Who is it?" Catriona asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

It seemed to take a moment for Griffin to register her words. After a breath, he tore his eyes away from the doorway to look her in the eyes as he answered.

"My curse," he said.

The older man and young woman came forward to greet them. Griffin held tight to Catriona's hand, not in fear or possession, but more like a man holding onto the edge of a cliff to keep from falling.

"Nathaniel!" the older man said, his voice light with admiration.

The older man spread his arms for an embrace, stepping in and separating Catriona from Griffin as he did so. Griffin took it, the darkness in his eyes seeming to seep out of his eyes and cascade down the rest of his body.

"I hope you don't mind Sam and me crashing the party," the older man continued when he had finished with the hug. "We heard from Bill Walters that there was a celebration here, and we had to come and see how you'd been doing for yourself."

Griffin held the muscles in his jaw still. "Did you come all the way from Chicago?"

The older man waved his hand dismissively. "We had a business trip in San Francisco. It's a curse to be successful, isn't it? They need to invent some way for me to get around the world faster if so many people are going to demand my attention."

"Just remember who gets you first, darling," the young woman said, her voice as smooth and calm.

She kissed the old man on the cheek. Griffin licked his bottom lip, the edges of his teeth showing.

It was then that Rose swept in front of Catriona, taking Griffin by the arm in an affectionate stance. Catriona could do nothing but watch. It was obvious that Griffin needed protecting, and obvious that Rose knew both why he needed it and how to do it.

The jealousy made Catriona nauseous.

"Arthur," Rose said with a soft and warm tone to the older gentleman. "It's been some time."

The older man's eyes visibly widened. He took a dramatic step back, a smile flying to his face as he raised his hands in greeting.

"Why, little Rose!" he exclaimed, taking her also into an embrace. He held her by the shoulders, taking a look at her. "It seems you've gone from a small bud into a full bloom."

Rose smiled, practically glowing. She took Griffin's arm once more.

"Thank you," she said. "We appreciate you coming to Nathaniel's celebration. He's been doing well for himself these days, you know."

Griffin looked as if he was about to interject, but the older man didn't allow it.

"Of course!" the old man said. "He has my business sense and good looks. He, unfortunately, didn't inherit my charms, but those things aren't as important, I suppose."

He laughed with good humor, but Griffin didn't laugh with him. Rose's eyes shifted uncomfortably.

"Is that you, Uncle Arthur?"

Patrick made his way over, greeting the old man with a hug. It was a replica of the hug the older man had given Griffin and Rose.

"Patrick!" the older man said. "Look at this suit! As sharp as always."

Patrick straightened his coat. "I take after my favorite uncle, you know."

The two men chuckled, bantering with one another as Rose placed a hand of concern on Griffin's arm. Catriona could see his eyes were now fully clouded, the blue in them almost burning white.

"Uncle Arthur," Patrick said with a hospitable bounce, "let me give you and - er - Aunt Samantha a tour of the place. There is some great farming technology you'd love to see. Rose, be a dear, and watch over my Catriona, would you?"

Patrick pushed the happy couple along towards the vineyards as Griffin clenched and released his fist.

Rose patted him on the shoulder. "Are you alright?"

He took a deep breath. "They have no power over me."

He shrugged Rose off, straightening his jacket and walking out of the room.

Catriona stepped in to speak to Rose, looking between Griffin as he walked away and the couple heading towards the vineyards with Patrick.

"Was that... Mr. Griffin's father?" Catriona asked.

Rose nodded unenthusiastically. "You'll want to avoid Nathaniel for a while. He'll be in a mood."

There was a crash on the far side of the room. Rose huffed.

"Disasters never come alone," Rose muttered. "Excuse me for a moment, Catriona."

Rose stepped away to address the crash. Catriona's eyes fell to the floor, her eye catching something glittering on the ground. She leaned down to pick up Nathaniel's golden bracelet, inspecting the broken clasp.

The Beast of Napa is drenched in gold and black, his wealth accenting his darkness.

Those were the rumors. But looking at the broken clasp and remembering the whites of Griffin's eyes, the rumors seemed incomplete.

The Beast of Napa was in full form... and Catriona needed to know why.

Catriona clutched the broken bracelet in her hand, going to find the beast.