Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
At last, almost everyone had squeezed through the door except for most of the Superior Council, who had been trampled in the desperate stampede. One of the last ones through was old Moonah, who had trouble walking fast, let alone running. Breenah saw her hobble out the door, casting a terrified glance over her shoulder as she did so.
And then, she was essentially alone with the Beast.
Rax’s Beast had burst out of his clothes by this time. He still looked like Rax—if you squinted, she thought—except he was a lot hairier and his eyes were golden and filled with a terrible hunger. That look filled her with terror and she pressed herself flat against the wall and held her breath, praying the Beast would overlook her.
And it truly seemed that he had. He swung his head from side to side and then bent to sniff at the trampled bodies of the Superior Council. Finding nothing to interest him there, he began moving towards the main door, where everyone else had gone.
“Hurry, Moonah!” Breenah heard someone out in the Corridor calling. “That thing is coming! Hurry!”
“I can’t, child!” Moonah’s breathing was heavy and labored. “Got something wrong with my leg—it won’t work right! You go on without me.”
Moonah—she’s out there and she’s hurt! The Beast will get her!
It was this thought that finally galvanized Breenah into action. As the Beast neared the door, she rushed forward, putting herself in his way.
“Stop!” she gasped, holding out her arms—trying to make herself big enough to block the doorway. “Stop—you can’t go out there!”
The Beast loomed over her, looking ten feet tall, and a low growl came from his broad, hairy chest. His golden eyes blazed at Breenah from the tangle of long, black hair. He opened his mouth and bared a pair of fangs that looked as long and sharp as daggers.
Breenah’s heart skipped a beat and her knees felt like the sweet jelly they served sometimes in the Dining Hall for dessert. Oh, dear Goddess—what had she done? She had drawn the attention of this mindless creature and now what was she going to do to keep him from attacking her?
Numbly, she fumbled for her poisoned leeza knife—only to find it was gone from its sheath around her waist. Mistress Work-worthy must have disarmed her before she dumped her in the dormitory, she realized with growing horror. What was she going to do now to defend herself?
Breenah had no answers and she felt as though she was frozen to the spot, unable to move or run away.
The Beast’s nostrils flared and he bent down from his great height and inhaled deeply. His eyes narrowed and he sniffed again and grunted—a sound of interest but not necessarily one of threat, Breenah thought, her heart slowing just a little. At least he hadn’t roared at her. He wasn’t being aggressive, but she definitely had his attention, so now what?
Well, first, you have to lead him out of the Compound so he doesn’t attack anyone, whispered a practical little voice in her head. Moonah is still in the corridor—you can’t let him go out there. You have to lead him out and away!
The thought and the fact that the Beast wasn’t acting aggressive towards her seemed to unfreeze her feet and she found she was able to move again. Luckily, there was a door in the Guard Room that led out into the fields around the Compound. Breenah went in that direction, backing slowly towards the exit, making certain the golden eyes were fixed on her.
“This way,” she said, in a low, coaxing voice as she motioned for the enormous Beast to follow her. “Come on now, er, Beast—come this way. You can do it—follow me.”
The Beast cut his eyes towards the door to the Compound once more, but then he took a step towards Breenah…and then another and another. And then, somehow, they were at the door.
Fumbling behind her, Breenah pushed it open, letting in a gust of cool night air.
“Come on,” she coaxed. “Come out with me—out into the night. Isn’t that better than being cooped up inside?”
She felt a surge of triumph as the Beast ducked low to get through the door and followed her outside into the moonlight. But the triumph was followed by a surge of fear. Now that she’d gotten him out here, what was she supposed to do with him?
Breenah thought she had never felt more vulnerable, standing here under the light of the triple moons with the long grass cool and ticklish around her feet and ankles and the cold breeze blowing, making her nipples tight with its chill. She was out here alone with a ravenous Beast—what was she going to do?
A sudden thought occurred to her. She knew that Rax’s ship was in the North field. What if she lured the Beast in that direction and somehow trapped him in the ship? If she could manage to lock him inside, he wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone and once the Equinox—which wasn’t that long—had passed, he would turn back into Rax.