Perpetual

Chapter 14

"Mason!"

"That's not my name."

Tessa sat up groggily, confused as to what was going on. Her head hurt and her eyes felt heavy. In front of her, the Beast was forming.

Mason was turning into the Beast. He roared, grabbing the nearest Dread Doctor and throwing him across the room. Someone scooped Tessa up, rushing towards Scott and Liam as they crouched out of the way.

Theo, she realized. Theo was carrying her. He reached the others, carefully lowering her into their arms before standing in front of them protectively.

The Beast killed another Dread Doctor before storming past them, slashing at Theo's chest as he headed towards the last doctor.

"Success," the Surgeon said.

The Beast grabbed him, dragging him away as they sat there in shock. Scott and Liam glanced at each other before quickly running after them, Liam helping support Tessa.

As they opened the door, the scene before them unfolded. A flaming Parrish was running towards the Beast while the Dread Doctor lay on the ground. Gunshots started raining down as the Argents joined the fight.

The Beast roared, running away as it was shot at repeatedly. He made it to a small bridge a little ways away before black smoke surrounded him. They watched as he transformed back into a man. But it wasn't Mason.

"La Bete du Gevaudan!" Gerard Argent called out. "I know your name."

The man turned, blood dripping down his back.

"Do you remember mine?"

"Argent," the man spoke in a heavy French accent.

He glanced back for a second longer before taking off into the woods. Parrish started after him.

"Who the hell was that?" Scott asked

"You've seen the Beast of Gevaudan," Gerard said. "That was the man."

"Sebastian Valet," Chris said.

Nobody moved as the forest grew silent once again. Tessa heard a low groan from inside the old building. Rushing back inside, despite the protest of the others, she found Theo on the ground.

She knelt down beside him, reaching her hand out to his chest where the beast had injured him. she hesitated, her hand hovering over the boy's chest.

She placed her hand down, the familiar black veins started to run up her arm and she gritted her teeth against the pain.

Theo grabbed her arm as her body shook with pain. "What are you doing? Stop," he gasped.

She shook her head. "I'm healing you. Now shut up and be grateful."

Theo shook his head, a pained chuckle escaping his lips.

Tessa finally let go, breathing out a sigh of relief as she leaned against the wall beside Theo.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"You weren't healing," she stated simply.

"Why would you want me to heal?" He asked.

Tessa shook her head sadly. "I don't want you dead, Theo. You helped us tonight. And I think there's still good in you no matter what the others say. The way you took care of me when I lost my memories, I know there has to be something good inside you. Even if it's buried deep down."

Theo's face froze for a moment. "You remember?" he whispered.

Tessa smiled, offering a hand to him which he took. She pulled him to his feet.