Shadow of the Beast (Twisted Dark #2)

Chapter Two: All That Glitters

The scent of dust assaulted my senses. Mold was a close second but the scent of the witch I wanted was no where to be found.

Find her

My instinct sliced at my nerves, its rage present in my bones and skin. It urged me to rage, to let the beast loose to tear and kill till we found the witch who had stolen from us. I fought the urge off. I needed to be smart, the witch didn't play fair so I couldn't play by normal rules.

I slowly, looked around, taking in the cluttered shelves and the dusty air. I narrowed my eyes, grinding my teeth together as a growl rumbled my chest. The witch wasn't there but I knew this was her shop. The fae I had grabbed and tortured had told me as much. I gave the room once more scan before my eyes landed on a pixie like face.

I jolted slightly, surprised by the small female. Her eyes were wide and I could practically taste the fear that radiated off of her but I couldn't help how my mouth tugged up. If the little pixie worked in the witch's shop, then the little pixie would know where the witch was. I started towards her and she inhaled quickly, her eyes growing wider before she let out a small chirp of fear before turning and bolting.

I curled my lip up in agitation before I followed her, my long strides eating up the distance between us and I caught her around the waist right as she entered the back room. She let out a piercing cry of fear that had me wincing but I ignored it as I set her down. "Sit." I pointed to a barrel and the little witchling looked at me, her fear thick in the air around her. I narrowed my eyes as I moved closer. "Sit." Her form trembled but she didn't move, her eyes still terrified and locked on me. I let out a snarl and grabbed her around the waist, setting her on the barrel, ignoring how she gave another sharp cry.

"Be quiet!" I snapped the words out, unable to take anymore of her piercing sounds against my sensitive ears. "Where is the witch?" I spat the words out but her mouth stayed firmly shut as she trembled, watching me as a doe would have my beast, frozen in terror of the death to come.

Make her talk

Need to find witch

My instinct was relentless but even I had a line. I wouldn't needlessly harm a female, certainly not one as pretty as the little pixie. Females were delicate creatures, needing to be protected, not tortured. Besides I knew with how scared she was she would tell me anything I wanted to hear if she was even able to speak at all. Not to mention the sour stench of fear that hung off her. She was useless as she was.

I pointed at her, narrowing my eyes as claws wanted to push out of my nail beds. "Stay." I bit off the word, daring her to defy me as I moved back out to the front of the shop. The bitch had to have some sort of clue as to where she was hiding. I needed to find her, she needed to die. No one took my brother without paying for it. I had been tracking her for weeks, ever since she had snagged Lyxton from our northern camp. I wasn't going to simply give up my twin without a fight.

I bared my teeth before starting to turn the place over, looking for anything that would help me find the witch or her coven. I didn't care about the breaking glass or the items I destroyed as I cleared shelves in my search. It served the bitch right. I narrowed my eyes, my anger hot and burning on my tongue. It had only grown since Lyxton had been taken. Each day he was gone it burned brighter, grew hotter. I knew it would only disappear when the witch was dead by my hands. The bitch would pay for messing with my blood.

I moved to the front desk, yanking at the drawers, searching through the papers for something I could use. There was nothing but meticulously written receipts and precisely placed pens. I dumped the drawers out, heedless of their well placed contents as I knocked on the bottoms, searching for a hidden compartment. I tossed them away with disgust as each drawer gave me nothing. I stalked back into the back room, the little pixie still sitting on the barrel, her eyes wide and the fear still hanging around her. I was surprised she stayed or hadn't attempted to retaliate against me. Witches were notoriously vengeful when they wanted to be, the End Bringer has shown us that much.

I started pulling lids off barrels and slats off crates, digging around in the contents in my search. I was becoming increasingly agitated as my instinct hissed words at me. I kept glancing at the little witchling, knowing that I could hurt her just a little and she would sing for me but I continually pushed the thoughts back. Lyxton would fight me to the bitter end if he knew I had mistreated a female in my rescue of him. Witch or not, he was the gentleman of us two. I always found his manner to be boring and too human like but he was my twin and we held a strong bond and I loved him regardless of how he chose to act.

I grabbed a barrel and the little female made a small eep and I snapped my head to look at her. Her gaze was fully on the barrel, her small hands grasping at the edge of her spot so tightly I could see her knuckles turn white. I narrowed my eyes at her as I made a fist and slammed it down on the top of the barrel, splintering the wood. She made another sound and it made me more determined to get to the contents to the barrel. To my surprise it was empty except for a purple velvet bag at the bottom.

I picked it up, it had a slight weight and when I jiggled it I could hear numerous coins clicking together. The soft patter of bare feet on wood was all the warning I had before a dainty hand tried to snatch the bag away. I immediately lifted it up above my head as the witch jumped for it, an angry sound in her throat. She made another jump for it and I watched her carefully. There was no fear to her, only vexation.

Opportunity arises

Take it

My instinct settled down and I jiggled the bag, making the coins click together. The witch's eyebrows drew together and anger made her face flush slightly as she looked at me, her jaw settling itself in a stubborn position. "Give it back." It was a harsh demand carried in on soft tones and I suddenly understood what my instinct was telling me. The little pixie would do much for her gold coins, even give up the Elder Witch who had Lyxton.

"Such a wee thing ye are but I'll give it back if ye can take it." I slowly lowered the bag and she jumped for it again, an angry cry in her mouth as I yanked it out of her reach. I repeated it until she refused to jump again. "Can't, can ye?" I watched as the angry red grew darker on her skin as she glowered up at me, all fear gone.

I bent down closer to her, enjoying the anger she showed, the defiance, because I knew I would stamp it out. "Tell ye what. Take me t' the witch an' ye'll get yer gold back." I wanted to smirk at her, the little witchling would have to make a deal with the devil to get her gold back and she didn't know this devil would burn her master's world to the ground for the evil she had done to me and mine.