Touched By A Beast

Chapter 4

Ezra drove us along a long gravel road into the woods. It felt mysterious and a bit frightening, but I kept quiet. He parked the car, and Alex and I exchanged glances with him. All we could see were trees and thick bushes surrounding us. If he had bad intentions, he was clever about it. My hands clenched into fists, just in case this was a trap. Yet, he showed no signs of aggression. "Do you trust me?" he asked softly, waiting for my answer. I doubted my trust in him again, but he still seemed calm. "I trust you," I replied, nodding as he smiled and opened the door. "Come with me." My eyebrow raised as Alex jumped out. I hesitated, shaking my head in confusion. I opened the door, and Ezra stood right in front of the car. "Ezra, what are we doing?" I asked, walking to the front and taking Alex's hand in case we needed to escape. Ezra smiled with his eyes as he looked into mine. I shook my head again, puzzled. The wind picked up, and the soft autumn breeze brushed against my skin. I turned back to him, and his lips curled into a smirk. "Ezra, where are we? Why are we out here in the middle of-" I glanced back at the trees, my eyes widening as a large golden gate appeared before me. My mouth dropped open in surprise. The gate was part of a tall golden wall, with the same swirls as on Ezra's chest etched into the double doors. The wall stretched endlessly. I was speechless, captivated by the beauty of the gate. "Nowhere..." I managed to say, feeling a rush in my stomach. The once-brown bushes transformed into stunning white hydrangeas. My eyes darted around as the autumn trees brightened with color. It felt like a dream; I had never seen anything so beautiful. The gates slowly swung open, revealing the same path we had taken.

The path stretched on for miles. I shook my head again, my eyes growing wider and my eyebrows lifting in surprise. In the distance, I spotted villages and a few grand castles perched on a mountain. I could hardly breathe as I watched these tiny details come into view. Long vines clung to the autumn trees, and leaves drifted down, sparkling as they fell. Birds sang, and a gentle breeze blew. The scent of hydrangeas filled the air, tickling my nose. Alex's eyes widened just like mine as he stepped closer, mesmerized by the beauty. Ezra finally broke the silence. "Welcome to Talvana," he said, gesturing with his hand. I looked at him, still in shock, trying to find my words. "H-how is this possible?" Without hesitation, he extended his hand. I took it, and he led Alex and me into his shielded world. As we passed through the gates, they closed behind us, but I didn't feel trapped. Ezra released my hand, and I took a few steps forward, feeling like I was in a fairytale. I turned back to Ezra, my mouth agape. His eyes a bright gold, and his ears were pointed. His human clothes shifted into a black and emerald green leather vest with a bronze belt. His jeans stayed the same, but his ankle boots transformed into knee-high leather ones. His tattoo symbol rested on the chest of his vest. Alex looked more fascinated than afraid. "Talvana reveals our true form," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. My heartbeat slowed as Alex found the courage to ask, "Are you a knight?" Confusion crossed his face. Ezra glanced down at Alex, and I felt shy, looking down at my feet. He chuckled and knelt beside Alex. "Something like that." Alex's eyes sparkled with excitement as he admired Ezra's grace. Ezra got back up, and our eyes met. "How did we miss this place before?" He nodded and took a few steps ahead. I followed, holding Alex's hand.

"Our realms is protected by magical gates." We walked along the path, the gentle wind brushing against us. "Magical gates," I asked, glancing at my feet. "We are very different from humans, so we had to hide ourselves. Talvana and other realms are concealed from humans." I listened carefully, taking in the beautiful and mysterious surroundings. "The magic some of us have created the gates and realms." I looked at him, feeling confused again. "Earth used to be our home, but when humans discovered our differences, they banished us." He shook his head, staring down the long path. Alex seemed lost in his own world, skipping ahead, which made me smile. "So we created our own world, Talvana, and others, where Beasts and creatures can live freely." He waved his hand. "The gate we entered connects our world with yours. Some of my kind live among humans, like me, but most tezraliens stay here." He shrugged, tilting his head slightly. I looked down again, thinking about the Beasts living among us. It didn't frighten me, but it made me curious. "How many ar-" Before I could finish, an arrow whizzed past my head. Ezra quickly pulled me into his arms, my heart racing as he held me tight. The arrow struck a tree nearby, and Ezra growled, turning his head. Two figures in hooded cloaks appeared on the other side of the path. One of them, holding a bow, readied another arrow to shoot. Ezra swiftly moved me and Alex behind him. "Sorin, you dumbass! Put that down!" My heart raced as I clutched Alex close, his small frame pressed against me. Ezra growled again, speaking sharply. The man let out a light laugh. He put down his bow and took off his hood, with a big smile. The person behind him remained hidden. He was as tall as Ezra, but my focus was on his eyes- pearly white and silky. His ginger hair swayed as he chuckled. He wore a black cloak with gold sparkles, a white tunic, black pants, and knee-high boots like Ezra's. He was strikingly handsome. "Thank you, My Lady," he said, stepping closer with a big grin.