The Lost Hunter ⚜ Crossover Fanfiction

Chapter 81 ⚜ Maid of Gévaudan

I and the still-injured Parrish are in the basement armory of the Argent Apartment, where Gerard, Cassie, and Chris are telling us what they know about the Beast, picking up right where the events are.

Parrish looks discouraged and overwhelmed after everything that he has just learned about his nature as the Hellhound. Parrish exhaustedly "Maybe someone should resurrect her." He turns to walk out the door.

I rush after him to stop him "Don't go!"

"My dreams aren't like yours, Lydia. I'm not just a harbinger of death... I'm the cause of it." Parrish turns to leave.

I call after him and follow him "Jordan..." Before I can leave.

Gerard and Chris stop me, Gerard says "Let him go."

I turn and look at Gerard with exasperation, clearly not a fan of him even after all this time "Why?"

Cassie sighs "Because as much as we believe Parrish could take on the Beast... Neither of us thinks he's our only hope at stopping it."

I'm confused "What do you mean?"

Chris says "We think there's another."

Gerard smirks "You." I, Argent, and Gerard are still in the basement armory, where the men are explaining to me what they know about the Beast "Marie-Jeanne was a lot like you, Lydia. Skeptical of her own abilities. And once, actually, just as skeptical of the supernatural..."

Gerard as Narrator POV

In flashback, Tavern Gevaudan, France, 1764. A French tavern is full of talking and drinking patrons as one of the employees. Bernard takes a large poster that reads, "Recerché: La Bête," and prepares to pin it to the nearby wall.

However, while he's searching for the pin, a crossbow bolt flies across the room and pins the poster to the wall.

Bernard looks alarmed for a moment before looking back at the source of the bolt-- Marie-Jeanne, who is sitting at the bar with her crossbow and giving him an amused look. Bernard smiles and bows to her "Merci, Marie-Jeanne."

Bernard returns to behind the bar, where he refills Marie-Jeanne's drink while she re-reads the letter she received from Sebastien. When Bernard sees her despondent expression, he gives her a reassuring look "Don't give up hope."

Marie-Jeanne smiles weakly at him and nods as he walks over to the nearby table to refill the patrons' drinks, where Monsieur Tolbert and an unnamed man are arguing about the Beast

A man says "Her name was Agnes. She was eleven years old. Eleven. Torn limb-from-limb. There wasn't enough of her for a proper burial."

Tolbert rolls his eyes, and Marie-Jeanne, who is peeling an apple with a knife at the bar, curiously listens to them argue.

Tolbert nods "I am well aware. I'm also aware that every new report conflicts with the last! Some say it is part-hyena, part-wolf. It has red fur, black fur, cloven hooves, a stripe down its back!"

Bernard says "We know it kills at night. It targets the head and neck. This we know for sure."

A man says "It won't stop. Where the wolf finds a lamb, there he seeks another."

Bernard says "But, it never eats its victims. It kills for sport."

Tolbert scoffs "No animal kills for sport!"

A man says "This is no animal."

Tolbert says "Tell that to the King. I have word he may send a contingent of his own professional hunters. Until then, we can use volunteers for a hunting party. Especially someone to lead it."