Page 41 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

He shook his head. “Yes, I mean, I admit it makes me nervous, but I haven’t seen you turn into anything yet. I trust you.”

I narrowed my eyes and stepped back. “So easily?”

“What are you talking about?”

Hot air fumed from my nostrils; I could feel my blood growing hot. “Iwon’tbe fooled by your acts of kindness and flattery. No, I won’t be teaching you to read anymore. If you know what’s best for you and the others, you’ll stay away.” I turned on my heel, but when I got to my door and looked at him, he only stood in the hallway, staring back silently, twisting his fingers in his hands as if he wasn’t sure what to do.

Clenching my teeth, I growled and turned away, shutting the door and locking it behind me. As I climbed the stairs, my heart had never felt so weak.

I went back up to my room with the intention to write, but I was too upset to do either, and instead, I stared out the window at the chicken coop he’d finished.

Gritting my teeth, I ran my hands down the stone walls, my eyes searching for . . . what? I didn’t know. My mind felt hazy, and that beast inside me wanted out, but I refused to let him. Only when I stepped back from the window did I notice the scratches on the wall, four marks on each side of the window.

I looked down at my hands and saw the fur, which was almost up to my elbows, and the dark, curled claws.

No.

I closed my eyes, willing the beast away, and thankfully, my arms returned to normal.

Cale continued to work with Edgar in the yard through the week, keeping the animals inside the barn when it was too cold and keeping the ground in the garden covered. I watched out my window as he worked, as I did every day.

It had been three days since I last spoke to him, and I could hardly stand to be apart from him anymore. I needed to see him, be near him. I needed to apologize.

Again.

I rubbed a hand down my face and moved away. “What is wrong with me? Why do I just instantly assume he’s pretending to be nice so he can stab me in the back?”

‘It is called trauma,’Dyna said.

Sighing, I stood from my chair. “What do you know of trauma?”

‘Enough to know that this curse has hurt everyone. I see many things that you do not from your people.’

“They’re not my people, though I certainly feel as though they’re my children at times, having to make sure they’re fed and safe.”

My conversation with a cat was interrupted when I heard a scream from the courtyard. I rushed to the window, craning my head out to see what was going on.

“My lord!” someone called.

I made my way to the door, running down the winding staircase and out to the hall and through the house until I was outside. The cold wind hit me like a knife.

Eugenia held her bow up, an arrow strung and ready to shoot. I followed her aim to see a ghastly creature near the wall. It was all black from head to toe, with a white, inhuman face that reminded me of a deer skull. Wisps of smoke curled from its body.

My hands clenched. Moving carefully, I made my way to Eugenia. “How did it get in here?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I just saw it, and then Mary screamed and ran inside. It’s been standing there ever since, just waiting.”

I looked around. In the chicken pen, Edgar stood holding an axe, and on the path we were on, Cale stood with a basket of eggs. My eyes darted back to the entity, what I knew was called a Shade. It wasn’t a spirit to negotiate or speak with at all.

“I’ve got a machete!” Royce called from behind, and I turned, putting my hand out to stop him.

“I encountered it the last time I went into Ashwood,” I told them. “I want it off my property.” My eyes cut to Eugenia. “Shoot it.”

She pulled back on the string, but the Shade darted away, moving quickly toward Cale.

I ran ahead, meeting the creature head-on, and it jerked back and turned quickly with a rush of wind, the impact sending Cale and I to the ground.

The Shade raced toward Eugenia, and she leaped out of the way, but Royce stood firm, holding the machete out, and slashed at it.

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