Chapter 21
Sandra
My cat-like eyes are fixed on the door, alert, waiting. My tail twitches, my claws dig into the floor. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing like a plea to the stars.
He'll be back... He has to be back!
A warm pulse vibrates in the gemstone against my neck. It's a familiar rhythm, like another heartbeat, as agitated as mine.
I try to concentrate, but fear poisons my thoughts. I know Mark can take care of himself, but what if this evil energy is something much worse than we imagine? What if it's connected to a powerful demon? What if he's no match for it?
No.
I can't think like that!
He'll be fine.
He'll come back to me...
Suddenly, something inside me pulses, a scorching current that runs through my chest like thunder tearing through the sky.
My spine lengthens, a brutal pressure spreads through my bones, as if they need to be forcibly aligned.
I widen my eyes, a strangled meow escapes my throat as the pain tears me apart.
It's as if my essence, however little there is of it, is pounding against an invisible barrier, trying to escape, trying to be free. A small groove forms in the shape of a , and my soul throws itself against it, pushing, tearing, biting... until, with a snap, the lock breaks.
My body collapses on the floor. Bare skin against the cold floor. My muscles burn, my breathing is ragged. Trembling, my fingers dig into the floor. Fingers. My human fingers.
"What?" I murmur, stunned.
My vision blurs for a moment, my chest heaving in despair. My body is trembling, exhausted. All the energy and essence I had has been sucked into this transformation.
Am I free?
Has the curse been broken?
My eyes scan the room, desperate for something, anything. Then I find the computer still on. But the screen is locked, and I don't know the password. If I knew, I could warn someone. Ask for help.
Is there a landline phone around here? I don't remember seeing one, but maybe...
Before I can move, a sharp cold creeps through my veins. My chest tightens, and the pain returns. Brutal. Excruciating. Sharp as a thousand blades tearing through my flesh.
No!
My bones bend against my will, twisting, forced to shrink. My skin burns, shrinks, reshapes itself. I try to resist, try to hold on to my human form, keep my body, my freedom, but something stronger drags me back.
"No!" I scream, a desperate sob escaping my lips.
A single hot tear slides down my face before everything collapses.
My body gives way.
I shrink, I writhe, and in the blink of an eye, I am back in my animal form. The world seems bigger, my body weaker, my voice reduced to a high-pitched, pained meow. My breathing falters.
What was that? How did I manage to transform back, even if only for a few seconds?
The pain still throbs in my chest, the remnant of the force that almost set me free.
What if... what if this is connected to what's happening outside? The dark energy Mark went to face. What if it has something to do with the witch who cursed me?
What if this force pulling me back means that Mark failed?
That he's hurt? Dead?
An anguished meow escapes my throat. Fear consumes me, each beat of my heart a drum of panic and despair. I lie back down in front of the door, my claws dug into the floor, forcing my eyelids to stay open.
Please, Mark... come back to me.
***
Hours drag on. My eyes are heavy with exhaustion when, finally, the door opens. My heart races and my paws race with it, ready to run to Mark — but I freeze in place. My stomach sinks.
It's not him.
Ethan looks at me with an easy smile, his dimples pronounced. He closes the door behind him and lifts a bag.
"Mark asked me for a favour, Kitten. I came to bring you some food, since he's stuck at work."
My tension dissolves in a shaky sigh. He's alive.
But the relief is short-lived. My nose wrinkles in disgust when Ethan pulls out of the bag... dog food.
Seriously? After getting used to the succulent meals Mark prepares, now I have to settle for this?
I'm not even hungry anymore...
My stomach growls, betraying me.
"I brought the best dog food there is," Ethan continues, pouring the food into the bowl. "Mark practically threatened me."
He crouches down, running his hand over my head in a quick pat before standing up.
"I have to get back to the clinic. Bye, Kitten."
I glance indignantly at the bowl. I approach cautiously and sniff the food. It's not so bad... maybe...
I chew a small piece.
Dry. Bland.
Argh.
I walk away, drinking water to try to fill my stomach and get rid of the strange taste on my tongue.
The sun sets. Darkness fills the house. I try to transform again, but nothing happens. My essence is there, still trapped, but it doesn't have enough strength to push the barrier again. I sigh, frustrated, curling up near the door.
It's past eleven o'clock at night when the doorknob turns.
This time, it's him.
Mark is wearing different clothes than when he left that morning. He doesn't look hurt. Just tired.
My muscles relax and I run to him, rubbing myself against his legs, purring loudly. He's fine. He's come back to me.
"Kitten," his voice is low, almost a prayer.
He picks me up in his arms, pressing me against his chest. His stubble scratches my head as he breathes deeply against my fur. My purring grows, vibrating against his skin, synchronising with the beat of his heart.
He carries me upstairs and places me on the bed. His fingers slide behind my ears, eliciting another satisfied purr from me.
"Sorry for leaving you alone for so long... and for not preparing your food today," he murmurs.
He looks exhausted. And upset.
I rub my muzzle against his palm before he walks away to get a change of clothes and go to the bathroom. When he returns, his scent of fresh soap fills the room. He lies down, wearing only sweatpants, and places me on his chest.
I purr. If I could, I would live here, on his warm skin, listening to his heartbeat.
The silence lingers. The wind howls outside. An owl hoots. And then, his voice breaks the stillness:
"Today, I failed."
My breath catches.
"I couldn't find out who's behind the evil energy.
I underestimated the protection. As soon as we found the grimoire, everything exploded.
By the time the team arrived, the book was gone.
And worst of all..." His hand squeezes my skin lightly.
"I wasn't quick enough to protect Viklaus. He was hurt and lost control."
His heart races under my ear. I rub against him, trying to comfort him.
Mark carries the weight of us all on his shoulders.
His heart is noble, loyal, and fair.
The Beast only becomes a monster to those who threaten his community.
And to those who dare to betray him...