Page 309 of Castings & Curses

Bella turns to me, eyes glistening. “You know what’ll happen when I step outside, right?”

I half-smile, half-terrorized and half-trusting this woman entirely. “I know,” I simply reply, then add, “But you’ll remember who I am, right?”

She corks her head and grimaces. “I turn into a beast, not a monster! Of course, I’ll remember the pixie who made me come last night, jeez!”

Her frown turns into a laugh, and we both snicker like eejits. We’re about to die and she decides now’s the time to make stupid jokes. Ah, Bella. I hope I’ll get to make you come a thousand more times. My visage decomposes at the thought that I might not even have tonight, let alone another night with her.

She must have picked up on my anxiety because she caresses my cheek in the most tender gesture she’s had for me so far. “Let’s do this. Your friend needs us.”

I marvel at her selflessness. Ever since she’s figured out Nola was in danger; her attitude and entire demeanor have changed completely. It’s like saving my roommate has given her purpose. AS if having these bestial abilities made sense now. I take an ounce of her confidence as I inhale loudly. “OK, let’s do this.” I open the doors and step outside.

Bella hesitates so I hold out my hand. Hers shakes as she reaches for the comfort of my palm, and for good reasons. As soon as her fingers pass the threshold of the house, they transform into a clawed and furry paw, very reminiscent of her long, agile digits but bonier, all knuckles. I grab it all the same, trembling as we touch. A simple moment of clumsiness and she could tear my wrist off with claws like that.

Bella treads outside one limb after another, changing before my very eyes. Toned muscles make way for gnarly joints; smooth skin disappears under a furry cloak; gorgeous breasts become a powerful chest; and the lovely toes I nipped at a few hours ago have turned into dreadful talons. I stare at her wide-eyed with jaw dropped. Nothing remains of her beautiful visage but the eyes, and as I peer into the two sapphires, I recognize her humanity behind the facade. She’s there alright, scared as fuck of my reaction.

I lift my hand gently and caress her maw with the same tenderness she’s just shown me. It pays off. She relaxes and whimpers her appreciation. A rush of affection overwhelms me and in a bold move, I jab my arms around her and sink my face in her chest, just where her heart is. Beating, strong, fast. She releases the tension my sudden movement created in her muscles and eases into the embrace, and we stay like that a moment. When I let go of her, I drop a kiss on the top of her snout and smile at her.

She lifts me at once and I can’t help but scream as she drops me on her back. “What the fuck? Put me down! What are you doing? Bella?”

But she’s running already and doesn’t stop for all my complaining. I hold on to her neck for dear life as trees rush past us--or are we wheezing past them? Gosh, the woman is fast! I bury my face in her nape for sheer dizziness. It wouldn’t do to puke on the woman you had sex with last night now, would it? Though technically, she’s not really that woman anymore right this instant.

I don’t even have time to ponder on that philosophical dilemma that she slows down already. AS she comes to a halt, she gently puts me back on my feet, and holds me up as my knees give out under me. I realize we’re at the fringe of the forest, on the border of the Malevant mansion’s grounds. Across the impeccably manicured lawn stands the architectural beauty that contains the chamber of hell where Nola is held captive. Under the sunlight, it appears less grandiose and definitely not that terrifying. But the knot in my guts and the beast at my side tell me never to trust appearances.

I would expect armed guards sweeping the perimeter. I mean, what good is it to have an army at your call if they’re not safeguarding your territory? But something tells me Gwideon Malevant doesn’t really want us to stay at bay. Nothing prevents us from getting where we need to go. Unless he’s rigged the grounds with mines. It wouldn’t even surprise me at this stage. Bella sniffs around, probably as dumbfounded as I am by the lack of defense. She decides that it’s safe and ventures onto the grass, signifying with a grunt to follow her.

As luck would have it--it’s a trap, come on; I know it, she knows it; none of us cares--we get to the staff entrance unbothered, and of course, it’s open. I check with Bella.

“You do realize it’s a trap, right?”

She growls.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Are we sure we want to do this?”

Her deep-set azure eyes glare at me. Are we sure? It’s my best friend we’re talking about. I would die for her. Or at least get mildly injured. I never actually imagined we would end up in a crazy warlock billionaire’s dungeon in the ten years we’ve spent braiding each other’s hair. Well, hers, not mine. Mine have always been short.

Bella grunts again, breaking my nonsensical daydream. I inhale deeply. I need to pee. That’s nerves talking, but still, it’s annoying. I tuck my stomach in and force my bladder to behave, biting my lower lip and frowning, which gets me a little yapping from Bella.

“Huh? Oh, I’m just concentrating to get my nerves in line.”

She scoffs.

“OK, well, if you think it’s a good idea... Let’s find Nola and pray the gods we can get her--and us--out in one piece!”

What a pep talk. Aragorn has nothing on me. Pfff. I turn on my heels and push the door wide open. Not a soul in sight. The kitchen is empty; no sign of the maître d’ or any of the dozens of bouncers present the other night. Ugh. I shudder at the creepiness of the situation. And its danger. Fuck. Stop thinking now.

I amble through the corridors, retracing my steps. I am blessed with an uncommonly good sense of direction when I focus. Too bad I was way over my head then, I may never have found the dungeon, the orgiastic demons and the cursing asshole leading the ceremony. How my life would have been easier.

Then again, I wouldn’t have met Bella. She follows me at every turn, keeping her distance as though she thinks want her away. I don’t. I want her right next to me, but the hallways are too narrow for her own comfort, so I guess space is good. Her talons scratch the wooden floor and bring me a strange comfort of my own. She’s massive in her beast form. I guess that’s where she gets her strength from too. Will she turn back into a human witch if we defeat Gwideon? Will she still want me when she’s back to her normal self? Why wouldn’t she? I’m fucking awesome! I am, aren’t I? Those doubts are just the fear of dying taking the form of my long-time nemesis, because my brain can’t fathom the danger we’re in right now. Yeah, must be that.

We’re in the rocky tunnel now. No torches this time. Great. I turn towards Bella and bump into her almost at once. I can’t see shit in this darkness. Without so much as a grunt, she lifts me in her paws and moves forward. I bet she has night vision. Duh. She found me in the woods in the dead of night, didn’t she? I release some tension as I nestle into her arms, but it ends too fast. We’ve arrived in the dungeon. A faint light glows from the altar in the center, and as my vision gets used to the shadows, I make out a human silhouette sitting on the stone table. As if on cue, the silhouette moves, releasing the jitter of chains.

“Nola?” I mutter, my voice barely perceptible in the vastness of the empty chamber.

“Ro... Rowan?” she replies, voice strained and shrill, also known as the anxiety cocktail. “Rowan, is that you?”

“It’s me!” I reply, already running towards her.

In the dim light, her face streaked with make-up and grime glisten with fresh gleaming tears, and the shackles that hold her hands together shine like disturbing jewels. I follow the links to an anchor set in the altar. IN her ripped crop top and crumpled skirt, she looks the part of a London-based princess Leia, if Jabba the Hutt was a proper sarcophagus.

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