Page 20 of Their Pretty Little Monster

The creatures hiss and gnash their teeth, hurling themselves toward the bridge, their claws scraping against the metal as they attempt to climb. Sage screams, and I twist my attention to her as she teeters dangerously close to the edge, flinching each time the bridge shudders.

Fuck me!

In a heartbeat, I grab her hand, pulling her forward. “Run!” I command, and to my surprise, she quickly falls in step behind me, navigating the narrow, swaying platform.

“This is insane,” she replies, her grasp squeezing my hand, yet she surprises me by keeping up.

Suddenly, the platform sways violently under us, and Sage’s weight shifts perilously to one side. She cries out, her hand slipping from mine.

Darkest hells.

I spin on my heels, maintaining my balance with practiced ease, only to see one of the creatures has climbed onto the platform, its weight causing the structure to tilt dangerously.

Bastard Tidecreeper.

Acting on instinct, I scoop Sage into my arms, her body pressed tightly against mine. Her eyes are wide with terror, fixed on the monstrous figures swarming in the water directly beneath us. I don’t let her see the danger for long. In one swift motion, I throw her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing.

She releases an oomph and clings to me.

“I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that lizard in the cave. I think these ones know and are coming for revenge.”

Somehow, I manage to laugh at the situation.

“These beasts’ brains are as small as pebbles. I doubt they have the capacity to think beyond attack and eat.” With her secured, I sprint the remaining distance to the vessel.

“Shut it fast!” I yell as I lunge across the threshold.

“On it,” replies Howler, the vessel, almost robotic in nature, distinctly male. The door closes behind us with a swish, sealing us in the Arrival Pod, shutting out the rain and creatures. I hit a palm against the button in front of the glass doors, and they slide open with a swift, seamless motion. Carrying Sage, I step into the Transition Chamber.

Gently, I set a shaking Sage down on her feet. She’s trembling, her eyes bouncing around the room. Like before, she has a doe-eyed, terrified look, as if she might pass out once more.

“What is this place?” She hugs herself, glancing around, turning on the spot.

“This is where we manage everything from gear to preliminary decontamination—kind of a buffer zone before you enter the main areas of the vessel, especially for when we go deep sea diving.” I half grin, but she doesn’t notice.

She’s too busy scanning the stark, utilitarian room, offering a station equipped with the removal and storage of gear and anything we bring back with us from hunts from deep sea dives.

“And… are we safe here?”

“Safe as you can be on a vessel that’s home to creatures like me,” I explain, trying to offer her a reassuring smile.

“I saw your transformation back in the cave into your monster form, which was pretty terrifying.” She glances down at my shredded clothes.

I shrug, not giving it much thought because when we go hunting here, we do so in the nude. Nothing gets in the way.

“Clothes are easily replaced.” I pluck a blade of grass from her wet hair. “Now, you need rest first. There’s a room prepared for you where you can relax without fearing for your life. It’s where you’ll be staying. Later, you can ask me all the questions you desire.”

Sage moves about hesitantly, her body still shaky. She tilts her head back, meeting my gaze with that vulnerable look.

“This morning, I was at home, and my mother was making me porridge. Now, I don’t even know how to take all of this in. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced or imagined in my life.”

I walk over to the shelving unit, grab a towel, and hand it to her. She dries her face and hair.

“The place will grow on you. You’ll see. Now, come, let me take you to your room. You’ll want to get out of those wet clothes,” I say, trying to make my tone as gentle as possible. “Later tonight, you’ll join us for a welcoming dinner to meet the pack.”

She blinks, and I can’t tell if she might cry, yet her brow furrows. “And then what? I become your bride?” She holds my stare, the shy girl revealing her brazen side. Then she dumps the towel on a shelf.

“First,” I start, placing a hand on her lower back, directing her to the sliding doors that lead into the main hall of the vessel. “There’s a ritual you will need to undergo.”

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