The Beasts [Book 1]

CHAPTER THREE - Selene's beast

Selene stood on a flat slab, overlooking her tiny world. Everything looked so small from up there, it really did. She could feel it clawing at her skin, begging to get out. Razz. What could Razz possibly be? A rat? How would a rat help with taking down rabid vampires?

She sat down, sighing. There was no point in waiting; they had to get this done before nightfall. Grace had told them both that all the voice needed was permission, so she was preparing herself. Razz had been silent when they got to the top of the mountain, and it made The brunette nervous. But she thought anyway; speaking to him. I give you permission. But try to make it as painless as possible? It looked horrible for Grace.

"Well sweet cheeks, I'll do my best." Razz snorted, and then the pain started. Slow, just an ache at first, but then she couldn't resist the scream that escaped her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gasped, going through the same thing that Grace had. She'd left everyone else behind at the Mountain checkpoint; it was run by a few humans who hadn't been turned... yet. She didn't want her friends to worry too much, so she decided to go it alone. But she knew she wasn't alone. She had Razz, didn't she? He'd take over when she couldn't hold on anymore. He'd promised her that!

It seemed to go on forever. Her fingers stretched into claws, which left deep strikes in the earth. Her ears lengthened and she stared down at her black paws. Wolf? Her paws weren't furry, though. She turned around, wishing she had a mirror or something to see her reflection in. She looked at herself, craning her neck to see over her shoulder. A long, slender tail seemed to reach out further than she thought was possible for any animal, and it was furless. The tip seemed to have a spike. Poison tipped, probably. What poison could kill a vampire? She didn't know but she would find out eventually, if they had to fight to survive against the vampire-apocalypse.

What are we, Razz? She asked, and Razz simply replied, "Fossa." She didn't know what the fuck that was but it sounded exotic. She turned, deciding that it would be faster if she ran down the mountain in her "Fossa" form.

She found that she was extraordinarily flexible, slipping in between rocks and boulders easily, and climbing down headfirst.

When the mountain checkpoint came into view, relief hit her and she could sense Razz's relief, too.

"Holy shit what are you?" Jordan's eyes were wide as he stared down at his sister's new form. She spat out her clothing, and looked up at him before crawling into her shirt, she was that small. She shifted back, the shirt luckily managing the shift back.

"A 'fossa'! Sounds exotic. I haven't heard of them ever." Selene said excitedly. I wonder what you'll be!" She tapped her finger to her chin. "Fox, Fossa, and what?"

Jordan swallowed hard. "We'll find out soon. The blood moon doesn't mean a blood red moon. Its a vampire term, used for when Vampires meet together all in one place, under the moonlight. To discuss their plans, I guess. But it's happening tonight." He looked very nervous, and Selene felt bad for her brother.

"Does that mean we have to find their meeting spot?" Grace asked, chewing on a granola bar she'd found rummaging around in the checkpoint's small cupboard of food.

"Yes it does. But I think it's happening near here. Now explain to me what Ya'll are doin up on this mountain and why lil miss Selene came down lookin like a weasel?" The male who ran the checkpoint, Diesel, raised an eyebrow.

"We'll explain everything, but fast." Grace looked over at him, eyes shining. "It all began with very stupid decisions on all of our parts..."

CHAPTER FOUR - Jordan's Roar