Page 7 of The Beastly Earl

A small voice in her head told her to look up. When she did so, she saw a light flickering in the darkness. Hope swelled inside her, and she stumbled toward the faint glow. She’d only gone a few feet when she tripped over a rock and fell. Slowly she climbed to her feet and continued toward the light.

The rain-soaked skirt of her dress grew heavier with each passing moment until it felt as if she were dragging a heavy cart behind her. Exhaustion settled in her limbs while the pounding in her head only added to her misery. The sensation of walking on broken glass made her bite her lip as the rest of her body protested against the tiny little needles of pain trying to puncture her skin.

Willing herself not to cry, Louisa plodded her way forward. Suddenly the light disappeared, and a hard wind knocked her off her feet. As she tried to stand up, a wave of hopelessness swept over her. Slowly, she sank back down to her knees. No more. She was in too much pain, too cold, and too weary to take another step.

“Stand up right now, Louisa Rockwood Morehouse. A Rockwood does not quit.” Harsh with anger, Caleb’s voice rang out clear and strong above her.

Startled by the sound, she jerked her head up to see her brother standing in front of her, arms folded across his chest as he glared at her.

“Caleb…?” She blinked rapidly as she made out his solid form. Certain she was dreaming she closed her eyes against her brother’s image. With a growl of disgust she remembered so well, Caleb squatted in front of her.

“If you’re a true Rockwood, little sister, you’ll get up onto your feet this minute.”

“I…can’t…I’m so cold.”

“I don’t give a fuck how cold you are, Louisa. Get up.” Outraged by the brutally caustic tone of his voice more than his crude language, she scowled fiercely at him.

“Do…not…talk…to…me…like…that,” she said angrily through her chattering teeth. “Sebastian…wouldn’t.”

“I won’t mollycoddle you like our oldest brother would. And Sebastian’s not here to tell you what to do,” he snarled viciously. “I am. Now for once in your goddamn life, do as I say. Act like a Rockwood and stand up.”

Anger drove her to stand upright as the Rockwood stubbornness suppressed the throbbing in her head to a dull murmur. Swaying where she stood, she scowled at her brother as he smiled with smug satisfaction.

“So—now that I’m dead you decide to listen to me.” At the mockery in his voice, she cried out in sorrow.

“No.” The anguish in her objection made him grimace.

“It’s all right, little sister. Everything will be all right,” his voice was soft with affection.

She’d always hated it when Caleb had referred to her as his little sister, but at the moment, it was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard. The sensation of a gentle kiss brushed against her brow even though he didn’t move.

“Turn to your right and look, Louisa. Look hard.”

Like an obedient child, she did as he commanded and peered into the darkness. In the far distance, a small light flickered. Sanctuary. She took a slow halting step toward the light. It was an excruciating one.

“I know it hurts, Louisa, but you can’t stay here. You’ll die, and I’m not going to let that happen,” Caleb whispered in her ear. “The boys need you. He needs you.”

She didn’t understand what he meant, but the thought of Charlie and Wills made her obey her brother. Every part of her body was stiff with cold. Each of her limbs protested savagely as the icy rain and frigid wind seeped its way deep into her bones. It made every step she took agonizing, but she pushed on knowing her brother was right. If she stayed where she was, she would die. Overhead another flash of lightning lit the sky, and she blinked away the rain and searched for the light again. It was gone. Louisa’s heart sank.

“It’s there, little one. Keep going. He’s coming for you.”

“I…don’t…under…stand.” Her teeth made a loud clacking sound as she spoke, but she continued in the direction she’d been heading. She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other trying to ignore the pounding in her head and how numb her body was.

Unable to see where she was going, she encountered a small drop in the landscape and lost her footing. With a cry she pitched forward to land hard against the ground. She tried to push herself up, but she didn’t have the strength to do so. The salt of her tears mixed with the stinging rain drops on her cheeks as she cried out for help. An invisible, tender touch brushed against her cheek.

“He’s coming, Louisa. It won’t be much longer, little sister.” With each whispered word, Caleb’s voice grew fainter as she slipped into the abyss.

Chapter 2

The harsh wind outside pelted the window of Ewan’s study with a hard rain. A particularly strong gust shook the double doors that led out to the small balcony overlooking the moors. He turned around in his seat half expecting to see the doors give way and fly open with a resounding crash.

Satisfied the fragile-looking doors would hold under the weight of the storm, he settled back into his seat once more and returned his attention to his book. In his effort to ensure the doors would stand up against the storm, he’d lost the comfortable placement of the book he was reading.

A noise of frustration escaped him as he struggled to adjust the position of the volume so he could see the text with the only eye he possessed. Although it wasn’t in as comfortable position as it had been, he could at least see the text. He picked up where he’d left off, and a moment later reached out to turn the page with the hand he no longer possessed.

“Fuck.”

In a violent move, he sent the book flying through the air with his only hand until it landed on the table several feet away. The heavy volume hit an oil lamp, which teetered for a moment as if it would remain standing. It lost the battle and careened downward. The instant the lamp’s flame hit the large amount of oil spilling out onto the floor, a small fire erupted.