Beasty | First Draft Sample

19

The click and thud of the library door opening behind me didn't even have me flinching as I just stood there and stared at the ghost standing out in the balcony.

"Olivia!"

Gasping, I turned around.

Romanov.

The rush I felt as I thundered into his arms, next, was something that I would cherish forever. Instantly, his arms came around me as he frowned, looking around the room.

"What were you doing here? I've been looking for you for hours!"

"I— Ro— I—" I couldn't speak, my throat seemed like it was glued together, my mind kept going blank, my mouth kept opening and closing like a fish. Frustrated I turned around again, my eyes widening as I watched the same balcony that had occupied the century old ghost — now empty.

Cold dread swept down my back.

"Olivia! Why were you screaming?"

Desperate, I turned towards Romanov and hid my face against his chest, grasping at his long sleeved grey shirt, trying to breathe against the fright as his arms tightened around me. His pure male cologne wafted into my nostrils, calming my soul and I stayed there.

"I— t—take me to my room. Quickly. Please!" My gaze snapped to Romanov's and his curious ones widened. Steeling over with silent anger as he suddenly bent down, he immediately scooped me up and turning towards the door, Romanov ran.

Corridors and stairs passed with a blur around me, and a few exhales later,
Romanov slowed, my eyes quickly adjusted to the new speed.

A glance ahead and I blinked at the man standing by Romanov's room's closed door. A very alarmed looking Orik quickly pulled the large doors open just as Romanov speeded into his room.

I cringed as my laptop and the large book bounced against my chest when Romanov dropped me on the bed. The loud drumming of my heart felt as if a cardiac arrest was well on its way, and by the look on Romanov's face, I had a lot of explaining to do.

I gulped, putting the books down on the bed as I turned away, unable to look at Romanov in that moment. I didn't want to see the look of guilt he would have. I knew — he would have.

"I saw her."

It was a low mumble, almost as if I hadn't even said it, but the sharp intake of Romanov's breath cut all my hopes short of him missing it. He had heard.

"She was there... out on the balcony," I continued, this time turning towards Romanov slowly, lifting my eyes to meet his black pools. To my surprise, not a sign of guilt shadowed his expression. Instead, he seemed furious.

A vein popped out on his neck and my gaze snapped to it immediately, a dozen more veins following after.

My eyes widened as his facial features quickly began morphing into his true self. His whole self. His ears peaking up, as his jaw tightened and narrowed. His nose morphing half way into a muzzle.

"Olivia, did she hurt you?" Romanov bit out each word slowly, as if it was difficult for him to talk. I blinked as I watched him stand in front of me looking like it took him great effort to even just stand there.

"No," I shook my head, trying to smile at his half beast form. His shoulder length black hair that looked like it had been finger combed back, strangely made him look even more lethal. I almost shuddered.

"Lies!" The beast in front of me suddenly snarled into my face and I moved back, his sudden close proximity catching me by surprise.

"I'm not lying," I spoke out quietly, taking in a low, slow voice as I looked at the creature in front of me. A creature I had always imagined to only be in movies, or books.