Captured

Nine

Despite the beating that had actually knocked the wind out of me, it felt twenty times worse. This is just what Lucian wanted. Now that I had shifted, what was going to happen to me? I couldn't hide from him forever, or have Casper be my bodyguard. Not that he would be my bodyguard in the first place. 

How do I shift back? I practically wailed, my blue orbs wild as I looked around at the vacant servents. They seemed to lack any kind of soul or any indication that they weren't robotic. However, now that I had shifted, the little angel on my shoulder had disappeared. I was alone now, and royally screwed over. The semicircle of humans didn't look like it would budge, and there was a heavy feeling in my gut that if I tried to get away they would attack me again.

Damn it, you got me into this, now get me out! I demanded, searching my head for the feminine voice that had told me to embrace the light. My searching, however, ceased when I looked at the ground. Paws. I had, paws. A new wave of panic washed over me like a tsunami. Oh God, I had paws. What the hell is happening to me? 

I backed up into the wall, on fours. Well from what I've been told I'm some sort of cat, one definitely on the smaller side, I decided, trying to organize my thoughts so I could devise an escape plan. The quicker I got away from these people, the better. I didn't know when Lucian would decide to show up, or if he would wait it out to drive me insane waiting for the beating I knew was to come. I'm spotted, ish, I decided, keeping one eye on my paw and the fur that was sprouting out of it. Oh god. 

My head snapped to the entrance of the hall when I heard the heavy doors start to move. Fear filled my eyes, but no one seemed to turn around to acknowledge whoever had entered. It's Lucian, that's it, I'm dead. He's going to kill me. Just as I was running through different ways of attacking him, now seeing that I actually had a chance of fighting back now with my cat form, I heard her voice. 

"What the - ?! Why the hell are you all standing about? We have work to be done, damn it, and Casper will - " Amber's voice broke off as she broke through the unreactive crowd. "What the hell is a snow leopard doing in the castle!?" she nearly screamed, her hazel eyes wide as she stared at me. If she got any louder, the attention she could attract would be fatal on my part. Quickly, I shook my head, my eyes pleading with her own to connect the dots that it was me. It's me, Addie, I tried to say, but my muzzle wouldn't form the words. 

"Why are you all just standing here?" she nearly shrieked at them, panic filling her eyes. No, not panic. Upon closer inspection it seemed that she was scared of me. But I wouldn't hurt anyone, I thought. Then again, she didn't know that it was me under the coat of fur and sharp teeth. She turned to run, and that seemed to be my cue. If she left, rumors of the snow leopard in the palace would spread like a wildfire and Lucian would be down here, after my head. 

Wait! I wanted to cry as I quickly darted after her, my back leg hindering my movements. Despite the shift, it seemed as though my leg was still in fact broken. Amber shrieked when she realized that I was chasing her. Before she could reach the door, I pounced on top of her, pinning her to ground, the claws that I was equipped with fully sheathed. She opened her mouth to scream for help, which I quickly realized, and pretty much shoved my paw down her throat to muffle the cries. 

The group of servants hadn't moved and it seemed like I could make an escape if I wanted to; it would only be a matter of time before I was discovered, or the group of missing servants. Please recognize me, I need your help, I prayed. I headbutted her chest, trying to show that I wouldn't hurt her. Amber however, was squirming and still shrieking around the fur, trying to throw me off to no avail. It's me, god damn it! I thought, a growl forming in the base of my throat. Immediately, the growl cut off, and my eyes widened. I hadn't meant to do that.