Page 11 of Cursed Beasts

“Says the man who made me, it seems like you are also flawed too, Father. You created me like this,” the Belladonna said, before the driver closed the door.

The window lowered, a bag dropped on the floor, but the man kept his gaze forward. “I didn’t want you in the first place. I’m just glad your sisters didn’t turn out like you. Thank the goddess, you’re no longer my problem.”

I felt Aeon and Lucien join me when the car drove off. She stood next to the luggage watching the car leave.

Hearing the last part of their conversations filled me with so many questions. It seemed like she was a true Belladonna, but what did he make her?

I had also never seen such venom from a family member. It was usually words of encouragement like the last time, with a whole mess of tears. I wanted answers about what we were getting into.

The smell of fear excited me, it had been a long time since we had had a good chase.

I looked at Aeon and Lucien, who were both looking at her. Maybe Aeon’s feeling was right. This time, it was going to be different.

5

KATARINA

My whole body was aware they were outside looking at me. I don’t know if it was because my father had been with me, but their presence now was stifling. They gave me the feeling they were the predator, and I was the lamb who was just left by her father to get slaughtered.

I immediately thought that this is what it must feel like if I was the virgin they gave to the gods for sacrifice. A trickle of fear entered my mind wondering why the hell my father had left me here. I had no magic and I didn’t know what the hell was going on.

It felt like some sick joke, but I knew it wasn’t. My father was very calculated in everything he did. He didn’t have time for jokes.

“Shall we get you settled in?”

I jumped as the blonde one stood next to me. Goddess, he was tall. He made me feel tiny even with my heels.

“I think there has been a mistake,” I said, feeling panic settling in. “I don’t have any—”

“There was no mistake.” The dark rich voice behind me was close.

I glanced over my shoulder. It was the guy with the ponytail who spoke. He grabbed the trunk on the ground, picking it up like it weighed nothing, and walked into the house. The other man grabbed my luggage while the blond picked up the bag my father had dropped on the floor.

“Come on, I can escort you to your room.” He held out his arm, but I felt apprehensive about taking it. “I can give you a quick tour, too. It won’t be everything, but enough so you know where the important things are at.”

He gave me a smile that made me melt a little. He looked like a teenage heartthrob that I grew up watching; he looked younger than the other two.

“I need to go back home,” I said, trying to muster up the courage to do something like run away.

“I’d like to go back home, too.” A flash of anger crossed his handsome features before he looked heartbroken which melted into a flat expression.

“Is that why I am here? To break the spell so you can go home?”

He looked at me, searched my face for something like I might be lying or who knows.

“I think that is better discussed tomorrow when we have all had our rest.” He extended his arm out again like a gentleman. This time I took his arm with no hesitation, feeling a little calmer when I was holding on to him.

“That is the dining room there and there is a sitting room across the way that is only for formal uses. The couches are stiff and not comfortable at all,” he said as we passed both rooms. “The kitchen is down that way, and your room is in the west wing.”

“We have chosen the room for you but if you feel you need different accommodations, we can see if we can find you another room,” he said, as we walked up stairs that led to a landing that veered off to the east and west wings.

“This is a huge place you have here,” I said, looking at everything. It was like it was stuck in the eighteen hundreds. Everything looked like it had been opulent once. Now, it was dark and dingy, giving it major creepy vibes. It looked as if a really bad horror film had taken place here or the crew of Ghost Adventures had filmed one of their shows here. The only light came from a few candle sticks, giving a little bit of light but casting shadows that looked menacing.

We climbed another set of stairs that led to a darker hallway. It seemed the higher you went, the more shitty the place became. We walked down the long hallway that had so many doors; it made me wonder if all these rooms were bedrooms.

“This seems like a big place for you guys,” I said, as we turned a corner, seeing the other two guys walking back to us.

“Don’t take too long,” the long-haired one said, looking at me a little suspiciously.

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