Page 14 of Their Pretty Little Monster

Wiping my face of rain, a cry lodges in my throat as I struggle to process what’s happening.

Around me is a large expanse of land, patches of grass and scattered stone under my feet, with a massive cliff looming ominously behind me and a savage ocean before me. Waves beat against the shore with ferocious intensity, the water churning.

Desperately, I glance left and right, searching for shelter from the rain, but there’s nothing. I’m drenched, drops finding their way down the back of my shirt and skating down my back like frozen fingers.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I spy a massive vessel shaped like a glass globe balanced on a platform farther out at sea. It’s enormous, bobbing on the rough water.

I move toward the stone wall, praying for some semblance of cover from the relentless rain. The brooding sky suddenly bursts into a brilliant golden and purple color, throwing dozens of lightning bolts crashing down simultaneously, not too far from the sea vessel. The sky overhead glows like a cracked earth, more lightning spearing out, striking the water. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Almost immediately afterward, a tremendous boom explodes, so loud that the ground beneath me shudders. I cry out, teeth chattering, as fear grips me wholly.

Just as I lose my footing, beginning to fall, strong hands catch me around the waist, lifting me back to my feet.

Terror slams into me, and I scream in panic, whirling around to face what I instantly assume is my monster coming for me. I shove against him frantically, but it’s not a monster—it’s the Viscount.

“Wh-what… Why are you here?” My breaths come out raspy against the howl of the storm.

Rain runs down his face, his hair is plastered flat, and his clothes are thoroughly soaked as he stares out at the ocean.

“They’re not going to make it to shore in this weather. Fucking storms.”

“Are we meant to get on that thing out there? Is that where my monster is?” I’m shouting over the heavy sheet of rain drowning us. “It doesn’t look safe at all.”

“We need to go.” He grabs my arm and drags me into a fast walk. “We’re not safe out here like this.”

“Why? What’s going on?” Part of me is starting to wonder if I hit my head and I’m imagining all of this.

When a great splash sounds behind us, I glance back to discover something black is pulling itself out of the water, close to where I stood moments earlier.

What the fuck is that?

The creature’s as big as a horse but has six short legs with webbed feet. It half drags itself on its belly over the rocks. Spikes stick out around its frilled neck, and a long snout protrudes forward, two long tongues flicking in and out. Disgusting drool seeps out from the sides of its mouth as four beady eyes fix on us with unsettling interest.

Its mouth gapes open to rows of razor-sharp teeth, and it unleashes a hiss that has me whining and bumping into the Viscount.

“Oh Gods,” I practically scream.

The Viscount–Killian–glances around to see what’s turning in our direction. “Fucking Tidecreepers.”

“What?”

Then we’re both running the length of the rocky wall, him holding me tightly. Suddenly, he swings left into a narrow cave, steering us away from the storm’s fury. He doesn’t slow down; instead, we’re hurrying faster into the depths of the cave.

As we navigate the passage, he brings us to a stop. I sense him bending to pick something up—and in an instant, a warm glow comes to life from a small sphere that fits perfectly in his hand.

“That’s unusual,” I remark, using the time to catch my breath, watching the light flicker against the shimmering cave walls. They glow a pale blue hue as if they’re made of sparkling ice crystals. The ground beneath us crunches of loose, compact soil.

He nods, glancing at me momentarily with a tight smile that worries me, then we’re moving again. “The transfer to the ship doesn’t always go smoothly. The storms in this world are relentless, so there are always emergency items left here for such situations. It’s not the first time.”

How many times has he visited this world?

By the time we rest again, my lungs are stinging, and I’m panting.

He retreats a few steps the way we came, checking if we’ve been followed.

Still wet from the storm, I stumble about, curiosity drawing me toward the walls of the cave. Despite it being darker with the lantern away from me, there are sparkles all over the wall. My hand reaches out, needing to understand what I’m looking at.

“Don’t touch that!” The Viscount’s voice cuts through the dim cave abruptly, causing me to flinch. “Everything here will try to kill you. The walls are poisonous, and those shiny points you’re drawn to are pin-sharp and will cut through your skin the moment you touch it, injecting toxins into your bloodstream. You’d be dead within minutes.”

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