The Monster Within

Kenai

Hollis stared into the leaping flames, arms around her knees, deep in thought. Night had fallen, and Oberon had taken off for his usual perimeter check. She sighed, resting her chin on her knobby knees, eyes slipping closed, the feel of his skin on hers igniting her own fire within, even if only a memory. She felt tugged—pushed and pulled by her impossible emotions. He wasn't human, he was more predator than anything, yet here he was, choosing her constantly over everything. She wasn't all too sure why.

What was so special about her to him, aside from the fact she was the only young woman he'd come across in their journey? Was it her looks, her mind? She felt so small when considering such matters, especially when coupled with what he really was. She felt inferior, basic, plain. It made her heart ache in despair, for she seemed to sense that he would someday find another woman—one who was fierce and beautiful and strong, one who could match him in every aspect.

Her eyes flashed open, settling upon Cole's dark mop of messy hair across the fire. He adjusted his sleeping bag before his eyes found hers, and he gave a skittish smile. Her stomach flipped. He had a sort of boyish charm to him, more gentle and innocent than their other companion. She found she was intrigued by everything he knew—whether from traveling the world or science and medicine. He was like a walking book, and so eloquent.

She straightened, exhausted from her break down this morning and their subsequent trek, but she finally felt some relief, emotionally speaking. They were nestled at the base of a mountain, the air cool and the land lush around them, teeming with life. Oberon had already hunted them rabbits and made them a fulfilling meal, but Hollis missed other creature comforts—chocolate, or soda. Her mouth watered at the thought. They would make a final pit stop tomorrow before entering the scablands, the thought pressing heavy on her heart. Danger always seemed to be lurking around every corner of the great wide world, and she wondered what was next—a human or supernatural foe this time.

She was thankful for Obe, in that sense. In the span of time between the protection rite and now, she'd not been visited by Tiberius. A chill coursed through her at the memory of his unnatural, sanguine eyes, his sneering, sinister face like a sallow hawk searching for easy prey. She shoved the thoughts away, wishing to never relive that pain, or those memories, again.

"Hollis," Cole whispered, a bit of urgency in his tone that pulled her from her reverie. She stilled, eyes flashing to his across the fire. They were wide behind the lenses of his round glasses, his lips parted. Her brow furrowed, about to ask what had him looking so worried, when he held up his hand to shush her.

A thrill of fear ran through her. Oberon had just left a few minutes ago, and he usually took his time securing their camp. Tyr snorted, pawing at the ground in angst as Winston threw his head. A twig snapped to her left, and her eyes found Cole's once more.

"Don't move," he mouthed, shaking his head slightly. Her heart thundered in her ears like a battle drum. Another twig snapped, this time behind Cole. A scream was beginning to claw its way up her throat, but it was stopped short as a low, rumbling growl met their ears. Cole's face turned to ash in that short span of time, Hollis' fingers searching across her plaid sleeping bag for the machete she knew Oberon had taken with him, her eyes not leaving Cole's face as their hearts both seemed to beat in synch. Left without a weapon, they were an easy target for whatever was out there, just beyond the reach of the flame's light.

The brush behind Cole trembled before a grey and white four legged beast leapt forth, an animal Hollis had never seen before. She truly did scream now, scrambling back as Cole ducked and rolled away, but the creature's intents were not on him. It skirted around the fire as the horses whinnied and tugged against their bridles, its mouth full of razor sharp teeth situated along a long, narrow snout.