The Obsidian Pillar

Chapter Fifty-three - The Beast

'Why are you doing this?' he growled as he contorted on the floor. He could see her in the corner of his eye, standing still, as naked as a newborn child. The pain in his shoulders intensified and he fell flat, his nose excruciatingly hitting the stone floor.

'It's time, sweet one. All these years I have waited, I have watched you grow and I've been patient. Now it is time to reap the rewards and take what we deserve. Our freedom.' His limbs were always the first thing to change. He saw the red fur in his blurred periphery and growled deeply whilst the contortion travelled up to his torso. 'Make it stop!' he yelled. He had never adapted to the pain of the change. He cursed as his wings sprouted from his back, tearing through skin and bone. Mauden did not hear him; she was so deep into her thoughts that she took no heed of the young man's agonising transformation.

'Are you finished?' she asked bluntly, her eyes finally alighting upon his hideous form. He flicked his spiked tongue towards her face and she smiled as it stopped just before her eyeball.

'Now, sweet one, I need to know that you won't let me down today, this is very important.' She waltzed over to him, running her hand down his tail before he could flick it away from her.

'Leave me alone!' he bellowed, not hearing the door open in the corner of the room.

'Ah, an unwelcome guest. Come in, Rosa, don't be shy,' Mauden called with mock sweetness as Rosa hesitantly stepped forward.

The beast tried to hide his pull to her. If Mauden noticed his inclination towards Rosa in this form then she would understand how fruitless her bond with him was. He was hoping that Valla would stop her, before it was too late.

'Come here, Beauty, and hold my hand.'

Rosa's eyes were wide with shock at Mauden's nakedness, ignoring the beast's drooling jaws as she walked obediently over to the sorceress. 'Now, darling girl, I want you to look at your master and order him to leave with me,' she jeered, holding the girl's hand out to the beast like a puppet, thrashing it in his direction aggressively. He sneered angrily.

'Mistress, I-'

Before the words were out, Mauden interrupted, wrapping her hand around Rosa's mouth and digging her claw-like nails into the girl's cheeks. The beast growled fiercely.

'Sweet one, I need you to pay close attention now. Should you refuse to join me today, I will make sure that you never see Rosa again, do you understand?'

He roared in response, padding around the room angrily, his tail scraping against the four-poster bed. 'I guessed that you would have second thoughts.' Mauden smiled repulsively and squeezed her hand so tightly around Rosa's face that the girl turned into smoke, which then retracted into Mauden's large, black eyes.

'Look at me, darling. Look into my eyes, do you see her? Do you see her trapped in there?' She giggled brashly, squaring up to the beast's large face. He saw Rosa's delicate face within the sorceress's eyes. Trapped.

'What have you done, you bitch!' he yelled before letting out a ferocious roar.

'You can have her back if you do everything that I ask.' She grinned wickedly before grasping his tail and yanking it harshly. The beast whined in pain. 'Do you agree to this, sweet one?' she cooed as she mounted his back effortlessly.

He did not answer. He did not make a sound. He simply took to the dark skies above the raging battle and cursed Valla of Willowheathe for breaking her promise to him.