A Beast Sees No Beauty

Chapter Seventeen

Juliet escaped into the night before anyone could apprehend her. All of her evening companions were blind to her absence. Before long, outrage broke out over what happened. Drunken men and women trying to understand what was happening by yelling and punching. Jeremiah and Vincent were too busy getting the women outside before any of them got hurt to even notice the other party missing in their group.

"We need to find Juliet, she doesn't know the way well-"

"You need to hurry!" Rosaline giggled, staring at her ring in complete satisfaction. She looked up only long enough to gauge their puzzled expressions. "Cousin doesn't do well when he gets angry. Especially when he's drunk." 

Her eyes met Vincent's, a serious look being taken over by the silly grin on her face. "Don't you remember what happened to Rupert?"

It all came back to Vincent. Rupert. Rupert was head over heels in love with Rosaline. He was on the brink of obsession. Rosaline only had sights for Vincent, which she made obvious time and time again. When Rupert reached his breaking point, he stole Rosaline away and tried to force her into submission. In less than an hour, Harris found them.

Vincent and the others met them at the hospital when word got back to them. Rupert was bloodied and broken beyond recognition. The doctors were surprised he even survived the night. Rosaline had nothing more than a scrape and a bruise from being tossed aside during the fight, and Harris merely had bloody knuckles.

It was a mess. It was Vincent's second time meeting Harris Jones, and for good reason. Vincent purposely avoided that man because he knew Harris could not be trusted. Such a violent outbreak was wrong, even Vincent knew that.

That was why he didn't esteem Harris. He just couldn't remember the face, but he knew deep down that there was something... off.

He needed to find Juliet. Now.

~~

Juliet couldn't believe the nerve of that man! Just up and say they were engaged and in love! How dare he! Of all the inconceivable, uncharacteristic, and completely uncalled for scenarios going through her head the moment he spoke up a marriage proposal - no, marriage coercion - was the last thing on her mind.

She came across the street they were at earlier, but previously they crossed through the alleyway to avoid traffic. She hesitated, not liking the way the alley looked at night. No doubt someone could be hiding in the shadows, waiting to attack her. Was it a risk she was willing to take? Should she wait here to ask for directions from a stranger?

That could end just as horribly.

Taking a deep breath, Juliet took the first few steps into the darkness. Before she was completely enclosed, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the dark. Juliet let out a gasp at the abrupt movement before a smile smothered her features. "Vincent?"

The name escaped her before she even thought about it. She wanted Vincent right now. She wanted him to hold her hand and brush off her fears like she's crazy. Instead, she's met with Harris, out of breath and very, very angry.

"Vincent? Is that why you said no?" Juliet attempted to pull herself away, but it was pointless. Harris had a vice grip on her wrist and had no intention of letting go. She struggled against him still, trying to rip her arm away. "I love you. You have to love me. You have to."

Before she could utter a word, he shoved her into a wall, letting her skull slam against the bricks. The hit left her breathless, dizzy, and in pain, but she managed to get a step away. Juliet needed to regain her balance before she could even consider running off. Then, he slammed her against the wall again. Her head caught the corner of loose brick, causing blood to pour out of the wound. Her vision spun with her head, making the pain worsen tenfold.