Page 84 of Beauty's Beast

“She is gone,” the wizard said.

“It can’t be Charmion,” Kristine said, confused. “I … I hit her. I killed her.”

“Apparently you did not,” the wizard remarked. A wave of his arm dissolved the shimmering cloud.

Kristine hurried to Erik’s side, one hand reaching out for him.

“No!” He backed away from her. “Don’t touch me.”

“Why?”

“I can feel her power crawling over me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m afraid for you, afraid you’ll feel what I’m feeling if you touch me.”

“What do you feel?”

“You don’t want to know.” He closed his eyes, fighting the sharp, stabbing pains that grew more intense with every breath. “She’s punishing me,” he said. “Punishing me for coming here, for trying to cheat her of her victory.”

Kristine stared at Erik. “How can she be alive?”

He shook his head. It didn’t matter how. It was enough to know Charmion still lived, that Kristine and his child were still in danger, and he was helpless to protect them.

“Erik”

“Leave me.”

“No.”

“Please, Kristine.”

“Come, child,” the wizard said, “I believe he needs to be alone.”

“I just want to help.”

“I know,” Caddaric said, his voice laced with sympathy. “I know.” Draping his arm around Kristine’s shoulders, he led her from the room.

Left alone, Erik collapsed on the floor, surrendering to the pain that lanced through him with his every breath, every heartbeat. They had come here seeking help. He knew now that no help would be forthcoming.

It will be less painful if you stop fighting.Valaree’s words rose in the back of his mind. Was that the answer, to simply give in? If he stopped fighting the transformation, would it take place more quickly? It would be so easy to give in, to stop fighting and accept the inevitable. So easy …

Closing his eyes, he sank into the velvet blackness that waited for him.

“What are we to do now?” Kristine asked. They were sitting in the wizard’s chambers. It was a large, square room, the walls lined with bookshelves crowded with books, scrolls, and manuscripts. Plush gray carpets covered the floor. Several flowering plants added splashes of color. The white raven regarded them from a perch in the corner.

Kristine stared into the cup of green tea the wizard had conjured for her. “It’s useless to fight her, isn’t it?”

“Fighting evil is never useless,” Caddaric replied.

“But you can’t help Erik, can you?”

The wizard blew out a deep sigh. “I’m afraid not, my child. But I might be able to help you.”

“Me?”

He nodded. “I cannot reverse the curse Charmion has put upon Erik, but she has no power over me. She cannot enter my keep, nor can she harm those in my protection.”

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