Page 19 of Beauty and the Grendel

I stared at him, my mouth agape, as the weight of his words crashed over me like a tidal wave. Hot tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After the connection we had forged, he was casting me aside like a discarded toy.

“Griiq, please,” I pleaded, my voice cracking with emotion. “Don’t do this. I can’t leave you, not like this. We need each other, now more than ever.”

But Griiq remained unmoved, his gaze as cold as the stone walls of the castle. “It’s for the best, Harlow. You’ll be safer away from here, away from the danger that the Camazotz poses.”

I shook my head vehemently, the tears now streaming down my cheeks. “No, Griiq. I won’t let you push me away. I’m not going anywhere, not until we find a way to stop the Camazotz together.”

Griiq’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an icy determination that chilled me to the bone.

“I’m sorry, Harlow,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But this is the way it has to be. The butler will be here shortly to take you to the bus station. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty street. I stood there, my heart shattering into a million pieces, as the realization of what had just happened sank in.

Griiq had pushed me away, had severed the bond we had worked so hard to build. And now alone, my dreams of adventure and inspiration crumbled to dust at my feet.

Chapter 14

Griiq

The moment I turned my back on Harlow, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I couldn’t bear to see the pain on her face as I pushed her away, but I had no choice. Her safety was my top priority, even if it meant sacrificing my happiness.

As the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind her, I slumped against the cold stone wall, my head hung low. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breathing.

But the respite was short-lived. A familiar stench wafted through the air, and my muscles tensed instinctively. The Camazotz had returned, its putrid breath filling the room as it sniffed around, searching for its prey.

I growled, low and menacing, as I pushed myself off the wall. My claws extended, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. I had to wound the creature, lure it into the old basement dungeon where I could contain it. It was the only way to keep everyone safe.

The Camazotz’s eyes locked onto mine, glowing an eerie red in the dim light. It snarled, baring its razor-sharp teeth as it crouched low, ready to pounce. I braced myself for the impact, my heart pounding in my chest.

But the attack never came.

Instead, the Camazotz’s head snapped towards the door, its nostrils flaring as it caught an unfamiliar scent. Before I could react, it bounded past me, its claws scraping against the stone floor as it raced towards the exit.

My eyes widened in horror as realization dawned on me. The Camazotz wasn’t after me at all. It was following the trail left by Mason and Harlow when they left for town.

“No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

My feet pounded against the ground as I pushed myself to move faster while racing after the creature. I had to catch up to it before it reached Harlow. I couldn’t let her get hurt, not after everything she’d done for me.

The cool night air whipped past my face as I burst through the castle doors, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the Camazotz. But it was too late. The creature had already disappeared into the shadows, its scent trail leading straight towards the town.

Fear gripped my heart as I realized the danger Harlow was in. The Camazotz was relentless, and it wouldn’t stop until it had what it wanted. And right now, it wanted Harlow.

I had to find her before it was too late. I had to protect her, no matter the cost. Even if it meant facing the Camazotz alone.

With a determined growl, I set off into the night. My senses heightened as I tracked the creature’s scent. I wouldn’t rest until Harlow was safe, even if it meant sacrificing everything I had.

I raced through the darkened streets of Grimsby, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched for any sign of the Camazotz or Harlow. The creature’s scent had disappeared, leaving me with no trail to follow. Frustration and fear battled within me as I realized I had lost them both.

With a heavy heart, I turned back towards the castle, my mind racing with possibilities. What if the Camazotz had caught up to Harlow? What if she was hurt, or worse? I shook my head, refusing to let those thoughts take hold. I had to believe that she was safe, that she had escaped.

As I approached the castle gates, I saw Mason’s car parked out front. A glimmer of hope sparked within me. Maybe he had seen Harlow board the bus, and maybe he could tell me where she was.

I burst through the front doors, my eyes scanning the entryway for any sign of Mason. I found him in the library, pacing back and forth with a worried expression on his face.

“Mason,” I called out, my voice hoarse with emotion. “Did you see Harlow? Did she get on the bus?”

Mason stopped pacing and turned to face me, his brow furrowed. “I... I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t actually see her get on the bus. I just assumed...”

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