~Beast~
Chapter 3
~~~ooooo~~~
The sun hung low, a dark scarlet-gold, just peeking out over the horizon. Around it, the moon and a few stars had already staked out their place in the red-violet sky. The lone figure on the road cast a quick glance upward, the last light of the sun revealing his features plainly for a brief moment, and the deep, jagged scar that ran down the middle of his forehead.
The young man ran a gloved hand down his face and let out a weary sigh.
"Hell and damnation," he swore irritably. "What a damned, miserable day."
Clearly he would have to find a place to stop for the night. Not that he had much hope of finding an inn or even a farmhouse. He'd only come across a handful of farms the whole day and not a single one had looked like it had anything more than a run-down barn to offer a man, much less suitable lodgings, no matter how deep his pockets.
His run of bad luck had begun that morning when his horse had thrown a shoe a few hours after they'd left town and he'd ridden him nearly to the ground before realizing the animal was in terrible pain. The widow and her daughter he'd left him with had barely been able to spare half a loaf of bread, let alone a horse or mule that wasn't on its last legs. His only recourse had been to leave his horse in their care, along with a purse of munny and his word that he'd send someone back for him and continued his way on foot.
He was already a week behind schedule and would be a few days later still at his current pace.
"Gods damn it!" he cursed, and tried to push the cold fear and dread that came with the thought aside.
He lifted his head and glared in defiance at the pale face of the moon.
"I'm coming," he muttered grimly, quickening his strides.
~~~ooooo~~~
The smell of lavender from her bath clung to the air as the maid tidied up the bedchamber and rearranged the pillows on the bed while the young woman sat at the dresser, contemplating the dazzling array of jewelry spread out before her. As she went about her chores, the maid sneaked a glance at the woman every now and then out of the corner of her eye, noting with pleasure the thick, dark curls that she'd insisted on washing and brushing to a shine despite the owner's protest.
Her duties completed to her satisfaction, she crossed the room and stood behind the young woman that the butler had placed under her watch the previous night. The maid observed silently as she reached forward and ran her finger absently across a magnificent black opal pendant sitting upon a bed of white velvet inside an equally splendid gold jewelry box.
"A fine choice." Her voice made her new mistress jump as she snatched her hand back and rose from her chair.
The maid removed the necklace from the jewelry box and held it up so that every line of the exquisitely detailed figure of the wolf's head engraved into the opal was picked up by the candlelight. In doing so, she inadvertently set off the stone's natural rainbow of iridescent colors, and the ebony diamonds embedded in the wolf's eye sockets and all along the necklace sparkled like stars in the soft light.
Her gasp was echoed by her mistress.
"May I?" She motioned for her new charge to turn around so she could place it around her neck. "The Master's family has a particular fondness for the wolf. I've never known him to bring this piece out—"
"No." The woman shook her head. "That is to say, thank you, but I can't accept."
The maid paused. "Then what would you like to wear, Mistress?" She set the necklace back inside the case gingerly.
"Aeris," she was quick to correct. "I don't wear...or use any of these things."
Another pause. It had not escaped the servant's notice that her mistress had shown no interest in the various perfumes, cosmetics and creams she'd put out for her on her dressing table either.
"If you are ready, I can snuff out the candles for you before I leave, Mistress." She turned toward the bed and waited.
"My name is Aeris," she said automatically and stilled. Her eyes widened and the maid saw she had taken her meaning. "T-tonight?" she stammered. "I... A-all of them? Can't we leave just one candle lit?"
"The Master likes it to be dark wherever he is," she explained gently. "That is the one rule you must always be mindful of here in the castle."
Green eyes darted to the dozen or so candelabra situated all around the huge bedchamber, fell on the four-poster bed, before finding and fixing on the drawn black curtains over the windows and balcony doors, and her breathing quickened. For the first time since her arrival, the maid saw panic on her face and understood the reason for her fright. The woman standing before her was all alone and a stranger to the area. Moreover, she was innocent in the ways of men. To make the agreement she had...
"Mistress...? Aeris? You have nothing to fear."
The young woman snapped out of her thoughts and her eyes found the maid's.
"Thank you, Bella," she said quietly and moved toward the bed.
~~~ooooo~~~
Long after the doors had closed behind the maid, she still sat in bed, staring into the dark, listening to the silence of the castle. The sound of her heart pounding in her ears grew louder and louder, drowning out the silence, and she almost didn't hear the doors creak open.
A part of her had secretly hoped for more time to get used to the idea but she also realized most people in her predicament probably didn't even get one night.
She heard a slight movement, sensed a figure moving toward the bed and stop right outside the curtains on the bed beside her. For a moment there was nothing, then a hand reached through the opening in the drapes, startling her as his knuckles brushed over her cheek. Aeris drew in a shaky breath, recognized his earthly musk and was stunned at the same sensations prickling her skin that she had felt at their first meeting.
Her heart still racing, she turned her face into his touch, and he inhaled sharply. She let her body relax into him even as her breathing came faster. As he stroked her face, she peered through the sheer lace curtains enclosing the bed but could only make out a black shadow in the darkness.
What was he?
Was he even a man?
"Will you have me?" His voice rasped. "Will you take me?"
"I will." She took a deep breath and blurted out what was foremost in her thoughts, a question that no one else in the castle would answer. "On one condition." He hissed, clearly angry that she would dare to bargain with him now and she rushed to finish. ''Will you tell me your name? Please."
The hand cupping her cheek jerked.
"Cloud."
She smiled and heard him draw in his breath.
Large hands grasped her head, tugging her forward and she gasped as his lips came down over hers. He took quick advantage, delving inside her mouth as his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her roughly to him, and heat and need coursed through her, burning her. She shivered and moaned, tried to respond, to get closer. Her fears forgotten, all she knew was she wanted this. She wanted him. She whimpered, felt his answering groan as he shuddered against her.
He pulled back slightly and Aeris could feel him looking down at her in the darkness.
"Cloud Strife."
Note: Yes, I just had to give the maid that name. So sue me. ;)