Beast

Chapter 9

Scarlett looked with wide eyes at the dark figure sitting on her bed. He stood up and you could tell he was at least six foot nine inches and was covered from head to toe. Her yes darted to the door, as of someone was going to barge in.

"We are safe in our own house." the man said. He held out his arms and took a few steps forward. 

She ran to him and threw her arms around his scarf covered neck and buried her face in his chest. He chuckled and rubbed her back soothingly.

"I have missed you." she said softly.

"And I you." he said before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

She pulled back slightly so she could see his eyes, or at least the dark shades that covered them. "Where is Mother?" she asked.

"I believe she is in the kitchen with Martha. She learned a lot of new recipes and wishes to try them out." Her father explained. He sighed. "Be careful or else she'll fatten you up with those new deserts."

"Is that why you seem to have more of a gut?" Scarlett asked playfully. "You are suppose to be 'the great and powerful Jared'."

"Well, even the great and powerful have their weak points. Mine is you and your mother."

"Is that why you give mother and me anything we want?" Scarlett didn't have to ask, she knew good and well how her father can be. He is monstrous to others and if you look at him the wrong way he'll ring your neck. But to his family he is nothing more than a big teddy bear.

He nodded. "You'll be the same way once you're a mother. Your mother once wanted to give you the crown jewels cause you called them pretty when you were just a little toddler." A smile graced the old man's face at the memories.

Scarlett released from her father's embrace. "I think I am going to go see Mother."

"Before you go, why did you rush into here so fast? Is something wrong?" Jared asked. Scarlett could only imagine the worried look in his eyes that she had seen so many times before.

"Nothing is wrong Father." He gave her a knowing look. She sighed. "One of the servants told me that mother called so I was rushing back in here to get ready."

"Your mother called an hour ago." Scarlett's father said.

"I only got the message a few minutes ago." Scarlett said. I'll talk to Kane about that later. She mentally noted. He placed a kiss on the top of her head before Scarlett exited the room and headed down to the kitchen to greet her mother.

                                                                                 ***

Kane was currently resting in the small blocked off area that he had found Scarlett and May-Belle in the other day. He could see why they hung out there, it was very peaceful. He was leaning back on the large tree, an apple in hand. He heard the sounds of two voices approaching.

"I see that everything is still maintained." Said a deep voice that Kane couldn't recognized.

"Yes sir. Your daughter is doing a fine job maintaining the house hold." Jasper squeaked out nervously.

"I would expect she would. She is just like her father." The man said proudly.

"Indeed." Jasper agreed.

The voices were very close by now.  Kane could see the shadows getting closer towards him. He heard someone breath in, then a deep growling. The next thing he knew, Kane was hanging upside down. He craned his head to look up. A large man covered from head to toe suspended him in the air by his foot.

"Hello." Kane said with a slight wave of his hand.

"Who in the hell are you?" The man growled.

"Kane Knight, and you?"

The man looked over at Jasper, who looked like he was in the presence of a demon, and growled out at him. "Go get my musket."

"Uh, going hunting?" Kane asked nervously.

"Yes. Hunting your ass." The man chuckled darkly.

"Father, mother wanted to-" Kane and the man looked over to see Scarlett walking over. She stopped and took in the scene. "What's going on?"

"Killing this insolent human." The man growled.

"Father, let him go. He is a servant." Scarlett explained.

Scarlett's father dropped Kane on the ground. "I really see the family resemblance." Kane groaned as he rubbed his head, standing up. He turned towards Scarlett. "What is it with all the violence here?"

Scarlett's father grabbed Kane by his hair and turned Kane to face him. "Do not speak to my daughter like that!"

"Father, leave him. He is not worth it." Scarlett sighed. Jared let go of Kane and pulled his daughter towards him. "What are you even doing in here?" She asked Kane.

"Besides getting abused, just relaxing. Martha said there was nothing I could do today and wanted me gone after I ruined breakfast." Kane shrugged. "And this place came to mind to hang out."

"Why exactly do you even allow the human to live?" Jared asked.

"I am waiting to see if he'll be of some use." Scarlett shrugs.

"I thought it was because of the gun show." Kane joked, flexing his muscles. Jared growled again at Kane. Kane stopped flexing and gave a nervous smile. "Just a joke, sir."

"It better be. I will not allow any form of courting to my daughter by some human." He sneered.

Kane was about to argue before Scarlett interrupted. "Mother was looking for you. She wished for you to try some new desserts she prepared in the kitchen."

Jared nodded and kissed Scarlett's head before glaring at Kane. "You fall even a toe out of line I will make sure your death is brutal." He then disappeared into the house.

"He seems like a ray of sunshine." Kane said sarcastically.

"He is not all that fond of most humans." Scarlett explained.

"What do you mean most? And why does he hate humans in the first place?" Kane asked.

Scarlett sighed before walking over to the small pond and sat down. Kane sat down next to her, close enough that their arms were touching making Kane slightly uncomfortable but he didn't dare move. He was surprised at how warm her body was.

"My father went through a lot when he was young. Things that involved humans. It happened after he married my mother, who is human. He just dose not wish for me to go through the harm he has went through by humans." Scarlett explained.

"Harm? You? Your dad does realize you're like a fighting machine. I know this and I've only seen you in combat once. It's probably impossible for you to get hurt." Kane said. "You're like a freaking female Chuck Norris! Nothing can touch you."

The next thing that happened Kane didn't expect. Scarlett started...laughing. Her smile was wide, showing off her pearly white fanged teeth. Her face shown and her laugh was hypnotic. Kane was utterly stunned by the sight and found himself starring at her as she laughed away. Once she stopped laughing she looked over at Kane and raised an eyebrow. Kane flushed.

"Uh, Sorry. I never saw you laugh like that before." Kane said, rubbing the back of his neck. Never heard a laugh like that either.

"Well, your enthusiasm amused me." She said. "Thanks for the compliment though."

"You know I like this you. Nice and laughing." Kane said.

"What other 'me' is there?" Scarlett asked.

"Cold exterior. Not letting a smile pass your lips. That you." Kane explained.

"Scarlett!" Martha called from inside the house.

Scarlett sighed and stood up. Before she left she said "There are many sides to people Kane. People are like onions. You just have to find someone to peel back the outer pieces and then you'll have the inner core of someone."