My Beautiful Beast

Chapter 4: Adrian the Valliant…Peasant

-Boom- -Boom- -Boom-

Dominic looked up from his position on his favorite chair. He frowned, standing and storming to the castle door.

"Open up, and release my brother!"

What in the seven hells? Dominic nodded to the doors to open and readied himself to be terrifying. He waited until the man stepped in with surprise as the doors swung open of their own accord. The peasant looked about, pickax in hand, as he stepped into the Prince’s lair. He seemed to be battle ready, stepping lightly and scanning the place for some dark shadow to move.

Dominic almost felt the need to roll his eyes at the peasant’s valor, instead he just growled.

The man jumped, looking about. "Who's there? Show yourself," he commanded.

Dominic mustered up a feral growl again, and flashed past the man in the shadows. The peasant swirled, and held his pickax with a steady hand.

"I know you are there, Beast. Release my brother," the peasant said into the darkness. "Or I will slay you and release him myself."

Dominic wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the entire scenario. So the peasant was here to play knight in shining rags, was he?

"I've eaten him," Dominic said simply, trying to keep the chuckle out of the deep, growling, inhuman voice he'd come to recognize as his own. "Not much to the thing, he was all skin and bones." The Prince needled. It had been ages since he'd had quite so much fun.

The peasant's eyes grew wide, and Dominic could see the shift in the man's spirit as his righteous anger flickered to horror, then grief, and then back to anger again. It was quite interesting to watch, really. The peasant suddenly whirled about, and lunged into the shadows with a fierce cry, swinging the primitive tool at him.

Ah, a fight. Dominic had so longed for another good spar. He hadn't had a man try to slay him in nearly a decade now. Dominic dodged the man's wide swings easily, swiping a heavy paw out at him with a growl.

The peasant barely dodged, and swung the heavy tool at Dominic again. Dominic parried the blow with his claw and flung the tool away. To his surprise, the peasant did not balk; he simply launched himself forward into Dominic, actually knocking the wind out of him. Dominic's large, hulking, fur covered body hit the ground hard as the peasant regained his balance and dove for his axe.

Dominic snarled and rolled over onto all fours, about to launch himself at the male when he found himself dodging a flying wooden handle. Clever dog had pulled the heavy iron blade from the handle and was now wielding it like a dagger.

Well, seemed the male really was out to kill him. Dominic drew himself up onto two legs again, and looked at the male. Fire burned in those cerulean depths, and Dominic couldn't help but find himself a tad enchanted with them.

"Put your toy away boy. Your brother is quite safe," he said, staring at the peasant who still stood in a striking position. "He is my prisoner."

Now the peasant looked ready to take a step forward. "Where is he," the man ground out.

Dominic snorted. "Where prisoners are kept, of course," he said, like it was simple. "However, I will propose an…exchange."

The peasant looked at Dominic with a new fire in his eyes. "What? That I spare your life? That is the only deal I will enter into with you, demon!"

"Demon? That is a new one…" Dominic mused, paw to his snout. "I have been called monster, beast, freak, creature—vile creature, hellish abomination…but not demon," he said with a nod. "I must say that I am a tad hurt by the comparison. I do not have horns nor do I have a forked tail. Honestly," he said, managing to sound slightly affronted as the peasant looked at him in disbelief and confusion. Dominic knew what he was thinking: was the great, ugly Beast actually making a joke? Dominic could hardly believe it himself, but being as utterly bored as he was alone in this castle; he needed something to cheer him up.

"What?" was all the peasant could manage it seemed, and Dominic wanted to laugh again.

"I propose an exchange peasant. You amuse me. You will trade your life, for the child's," Dominic said to the male, looking at him.

 

•  

 

Adrian looked at the great beast in front of him. It was only partially visible, but Adrian could see the outline of the creature's great, massive, furry form. It stood on its hindquarters, and seemed to regard Adrian as if he were sizing him up.

But Adrian had heard him. The Beast had his brother, and it wanted him to stay in exchange for letting Jeffery go. Adrian frowned, but Jeffery had his whole life ahead of him. Adrian could handle this Beast, perhaps even kill it later and go in search of the Prince, if he was even still here.

"Tick tock, peasant," came the guttural growl from in front of him. "I grow impatient."

Adrian glared at the Beast. "Fine, I'll stay. But you'll release my brother first, and allow me to see him…to say goodbye. And if anything's been done to him—I swear to you I'll—"Adrian stopped talking when he realized he was alone. The damned thing was fast.

Adrian stood in the foyer, not quite sure what to do with himself, but he kept a hold on his axe blade, ignoring the burn of his hand where the sharp iron had bit into his flesh. He needed to be ready when the monster returned.

And it did return, dragging a whimpering, sniveling Jeffery with him. "Jeff!" Adrian gasped, looking at his brother as Jeff gasped and wrenched away from the monster, stumbling over to his brother with a happy sob. Adrian caught the boy, checking him over for injuries before pulling him into a fierce hug.

"Adrian! I'm so sorry, I just wanted to prove to Sven and everyone that I was a man and—"he began, and Adrian shushed him.

"Hush kiddo, it's alright. Just get ready to head home, alright?" he said, kissing his brother's temple. "Mom and Dad must be worried sick." He said, shaking his head.

"Y-yeah, let's go…" Jeffery said with a shuddering sigh, feeling safer now that his big brother was here. Adrian, on the other hand, bit his lip and looked at the boy. "I'm sorry Jeff. I can't go with you."

Jeffery looked up at his brother with large eyes. "W-what do you mean?" he asked, huge brown eyes doe-like and brimming with tears.

"I…I agreed to stay, in exchange for your freedom Jeff. It was the only way it would let you go," Adrian said looking at his brother.

Jeff looked ready to cry again. "What? But Adrian! You can't stay here—it'll lock you in the dungeons and—"

"I will do no such thing. And I am quite obviously a male, peasant child," came the haughty sniff from behind them.

Adrian ignored the Beast and looked at his brother, who now had tears streaming down his face. "Don't worry, Jeff, I'll be home soon, I promise. I don't know when yet, but I will be home." Though, in the back of his mind, he could feel the damned Beast rolling his eyes.

"Now, go, kid. Go before the demon changes his mind," Adrian said, pushing his brother towards the door.

"You will make sure he gets home safely," he said, looking at the Beast.

The creature snorted. "That was not part of our agreement. I was not responsible for his getting here," he said, turning for the shadows. "My servants will show you to your room." He said to the man.

Adrian's hands fisted and he glared at the monster. "But it's pitch black outside, you demon! He's only a child!"

"Again, not my problem," the Beast said, presenting Adrian with his back. Jeff was shaking and crying, and Adrian went to the doors, which refused to open for him, no matter how hard he pushed or pulled.

He looked at Jeff. "Outside is my torch. Use it, and take this," he said, handing the boy his axe as he fitted it back on its handle, "to get the bushes out of the way."

"Adrian…" Jeffery started.

"Go, Jeff. Get home," he said, pushing the boy towards the doors as they swung open. "Go Jeff, I'll be home soon, I promise," he said as his brother stepped outside and the doors slammed shut behind him, trapping Adrian in the monster's dark lair.