Page 13 of Beast of the Bayou

"Assault me," I whisper tears prickling my eyes. I quickly wipe them away. "So I ran. I had nowhere else to go."

I see the way his jaw clenches. His fingers curl into a ball and his breath comes out heavy and short. Edgar lets out a hiss.

"No one will ever hurt you again," Solomon replies, looking back towards the window.

I don't know why, but I believe him. It could be the way he said it. Or maybe for once I just want to believe that I've finally found somewhere safe to be. Maybe now I can finally stop running. I reach across the table and gently touch his hand. "Thank you, Solomon."

His eyes drop to where my hand rests. Then he turns his hand against mine so that its resting in his palm. He closes his long, thick fingers around it and just nods.

Chapter 7: Solomon

Ican hear Lila's soft breathing and the gentle thud of her heartbeat. She's sleeping peacefully. I close my eyes and listen—try to match my breath and heartbeat with hers. After several long minutes, I finally pull myself from the soothing sounds to walk to the balcony.

The moon is full and bright tonight. The gown Lila wore when she arrived is tucked in my hand. Ms. Lenora saved it for me. When I requested it earlier, she offered no protest. Just pulled it out of her wardrobe where she had it folded into a plastic bag and handed it to me. Then she touched my cheek, told me to be careful, and walked away.

I lift the gown to my nose. Lila's sweet scent is all over it. But the metallic smell of blood is mingled in on the drops on the front of it. I sniff those drops. A low growl leaves my mouth.

"Make him suffer," Edgar purrs behind me.

I don't respond. Taking off my shirt, I place the gown down as my body transforms under the glow of the moon.

My spine arches as heat floods through me.

My muscles tighten and expand.

My shoulders broaden as my arms lengthen.

My hands stretch, fingers elongating as thick claws extend from my fingertips.

Dark fur pushes through my skin along my forearms, shoulders, chest and the sides of my neck.

I brace myself against the stone railing as my legs lengthen beneath me, muscles twisting and reshaping until I'm taller, heavier and stronger. My feet double in size, thick padding covering the underside.

My jaw tightens as my upper and lower canines descend. I close my eyes. The night explodes around me. Insects moving through the grass. The rustles of leaves in trees. The distant splash of Dubois moving through the water.

My eyes open. Glowing gold now, as my pupils dilate until the darkness becomes as clear as daylight. I can see everything. Picking up the gown, being careful not to shred it with my claws, I leap onto the balcony. A deep growl vibrates through my chest. With another leap—I jump off the balcony and land with a heavy thud on the grass beneath my window.

Then I'm off.

Running through the vegetation with a speed no human can match. The smell of a dead man walking is trapped in my nostrils. I know exactly where he is. Branches crack underneath my steps as I rush towards the small house. It takes me no time to arrive, and when I do, his scent is so thick I can almost taste his blood in my mouth.

He's outside smoking on the back porch with another man when I creep through the trees, camouflaged by the darkness. They're talking:

"Man you think that bitch gon' call the police?"

"Fuck no. It's my word against hers. I'm the one with my nose all fucked up. Crazy bitch." he grumbles.

He's not even regretful for what he did.

I can see her again, standing in my kitchen that day. Barefoot. Disheveled. Scared.

Rage surges through me. I step from the trees. Neither man sees me coming. One second they're talking—the next, my hands are around their throats.

Their eyes widen in terror but they don't have time to scream. I drag them both from the porch and into the woods, their feet kicking uselessly against the ground. Their fear floods my senses but it does nothing to satisfy the rage burning inside me.

He hurt her.

That's the only thing I can focus on. I carry them deep into the woods before dropping them on the ground. They scramble backwards, finally seeing what's standing before them. I don't give them time to beg.