The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 37

Enid heard Senka sniff beside the grave as they lowered the tiny coffin. She glared at her as Senka wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said, "she's in a better place now."

Enid resisted the urge to push Senka down the hole and bury her alongside Nadi. But Nadi had suffered enough.

Enid should have been crying too, sobbing in fact. She told herself she must have cried herself dry, but in truth, she felt only anger. Nadi's mother was in jail, awaiting trial and would miss the burial. Not that she deserved to be here. Between herself and Nikola, they covered the cost of a modest coffin and a small marble stone with her name on it. Nikola stood beside her and tried taking her hand. She thought he must need to comfort her if he would take her hand in front of Senka. Senka's belly protruded, a slight mound, visible only if you were looking for it, which Enid was. M and Rudi stood side-by-side, red eyed and weeping, each comforting the other. Senka clung to Nikola. He shifted and stole apologetic glances at Enid, his eyes red as well. Only Enid's were clear.

She bent to grab a handful of dirt, followed by the rest. She threw it on the grave and walked away before her newly formed walls crumbled. Nikola was the only one who had a chance of reaching her, the only one who might have a tool to chisel away at the mortar. But his hands were full and as she glanced back to see him comforting Senka, the fortress solidified and she knew was buried inside.

She wandered through town for hours, not thinking, just walking. She took no notice of the spring blooms, the fragrant flowers bursting from the trees, the hum of the bees feeding hungrily on the nectar of spring. Spring, a rebirth, a metaphor for hope. Enid smirked, she herself believed time and again in hope. Hope for a family, for love, for kindness. She found it at times, all those things she longed for. But they never lasted. M and her animals were the only constant in her life all these years. And to them she would return, to live out her days as M did, in isolation. She would choose a life dedicated to her beasts. Even the library held no joy, for it was a reminder of her time with Nadi.

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Nikola found her a few nights later, standing outside the lion's cage. He stepped softly but the lion sensed him before Enid did. The lion raised his great head and sniffed the air, his roar echoing through the hall and deep into Enid's heart. He paced back and forth, rubbing his whiskers against the cage as Nikola came up beside her. The beast loved Nikola. Maybe he sensed a kindred spirit in him for he began to purr as Nikola stroked his head through the bars.

Enid sighed but said nothing as she leaned her head against the iron rails, watching them.

Nikola began, "What happened that night, after I left you?"

Enid looked at him out of the corner of her eye but didn't turn her head. If she told him, he would become involved in a way he didn't ask, and it would require her to trust him. It didn't matter much anymore, whatever life they hoped to share was now changed, maybe even impossible.

She turned and looked at him, spite filled her and she said, "it was Stevan. He was looking for me and found Nadi instead. It's my fault this happened, if I wasn't so busy with you, Nadi would have been safe."

She turned away and rubbed the lions back as it paced back and forth, its deep rumbles vibrating inside the stone walls. His deep roar reminded her of Nikola's voice, so strong and deep she felt it in her bones.

"Where is he?" Nikola asked, through clenched teeth.

Enid smiled, a slow, nervous smile. As she turned to look Nikola full in the face, she saw him shiver.

"He's gone. He won't hurt anyone again," she said, pride erupting in her voice.

"What happened?" he grabbed her arm and squeezed.