The Beast

Chapter 2

It was daybreak, and Hollis was up and about. Lazy and hungry, Brandon entered the kitchen as soon as breakfast was finished. It's like he was watching and waiting.

"Mom and Dad gone?" he asked.

"Yeah. They said not to burn the house down."

"Ah ah, you're so funny."

She chuckles and gives him his breakfast. "I'm heading out now. Don't let my pies burn or it's your share."

"Where are you going?"

"Don't know yet. But I'm passing the river. There's a first time for everything."

"Just be careful."

She gets her medium-sized basket and heads out. The sun was rising over the mountains to warm the place up.

She keeps her eyes wide open for anything that seems valuable. Since she had never passed the river, she was looking forward to whatever lies beyond it. They were told not to pass it because it would bring them into the beast's territory.

The beast happened to be Rune.

She doesn't remember seeing anything strange about him.

Well, except he looks too handsome to be real.

Anyways...

She climbed over a fallen tree and mentally cheered when she didn't get a scratch.

Unknowingly to her, she was being watched. Rune, perched above her, watched her walk around. The little dance she didn't almost make him smile.

Almost.

He follows behind her silently cause crossing the border means crossing into the badlands.

It would be a shame to let such a pure soul be killed. He jumped to another tree, and she stopped. She was at the border that was clear as day. While where she is is all flowers and beautiful water, the badlands don't do beautifully. It almost looks dead. He doesn't live on the bad side thank God.

She crossed into the badlands, and it was dead silent. Not even crickets chirp. He heard them before he saw them.

Jumping down, he startled her, but it scared the wolves off. Even his kind was scared of him.

He looks into her eyes as she stares at him. He was mesmerized by the beautiful shade of blue.

"Hi."

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he asked, though it came out more like a growl. He was pissed off at her stupidity. She shakes her head quickly. "Curiosity gets you killed."

"Sorry. I just want to see how bad it is."

"Bad enough that they are waiting for their foolish food to step across."

"Thank you."

"Don't try it again. I don't like saving humans."

She gasp. "So it's true! So what are you? Oh, that's so rude. I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Hollis. I already know you're Rune."

He raises a perfectly arched brow.

"You're a bedtime story."

"Ah. That makes sense." He's the story that makes kids behave and eat their vegetables. How fun.

He was the beast after all.