Thorn in the Rose {Book 1 Of The Once Upon A Time Chronicles}

Chapter 54: A Kept Promise

The room is filled with the Beast's mighty roar and howls of pain. Blood drips from his shoulder collecting in a small puddle on the dusty floor. I stare in horror at the long arrow buried into his flesh mattering his dark fur with blood.

"Henry!" I scream. I try to rush toward him but the second my feet start moving another arrow flies in our direction this one hitting the floor by my feet. The arrow head smacks the floor sending the whole thing flying in the opposite direction and settling there.

"Get away from him!" the attacker yells, and my heart sinks.

I hastily spin around gasping as I come face to face with a furious Adrien. My eyes wander to the loaded bow grasped tightly in his hands.

"Adrien, what are you doing?" I ask.

He points the bow back in Henry's direction. "What needs to be done," he hisses.

Before he can let the arrow fly, I jump in front of Henry and the group making myself as big as I can to block them from his fury. From the corner of my eye, I see Miss Potts trying her best to remove the arrow from Henry as he grunts and moans. Maurie and Charles are standing in front of him and the cowering girls turning themselves into human shields for whatever else might come.

Looking deep into Adrien's eyes my heart cracks at the blinding hatred shining in them. This isn't the Adrien I met the day he burst into the inn wearing that stupid mask. This isn't the boy I've spent months living with. This man in front of me isn't my friend. This is someone hell-bent on causing harm or even worse. But I won't let that happen. Come what may I will not let him harm these people, especially Henry.

"Get out of my way, Valerie," he demands trying his best to aim his next arrow so that it will go around me. With every slight movement that he makes I copy it blocking every angle. He scowls as his frustration grows and grows, and before I know it the arrow is pointed right at me. "Why are you protecting him?"

"Because he doesn't deserve to die."

Disbelief and betrayal flash in his eyes. "He's a monster, Valerie. He tried to kill Gaston and he murdered my grandfather of course he deserves to die."

Now it was my turn to be thrust into a state of disbelief. I know about the incident with Gaston but how did Adrien's grandfather suddenly come into the picture?

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

Tears start to pool in Adrien's eyes but despite this wave of sadness washing over him the rage is still very much there. "My grandfather came to this castle to try and prove my uncle's story. He didn't come home and a few days later he was found dead in the woods mangled by some beast. They said wolves did it, but now I know the truth. That thing you're protecting murdered him!"

Henry groans, and I briefly hear Miss Potts whispering something to him. I glance over my shoulder watching silently as he slowly pulls himself up. His hand grips his wound trying to stop the blood but a small stream still manages to seep through his fingers.

"What are you doing?" Fabienne asks.

"Sit back down," Miss Potts commands.

But he doesn't listen to either of them and instead walks past Maurie and Charles's shield and doesn't stop until he's standing next to me.

"Yes, I hurt Gaston. He broke into my home and I took action. One that I deeply regret. But, I did not kill your grandfather. As far as I know, until two months ago no other person entered this castle."

Adrien shakes his head and aims his bow at Henry.

"You're lying. I know you're lying. Just like I know you're keeping all these people hostage and you want to do the same to Valerie. I won't let you take the woman I love!" he cries.