Author's note: Just in case you'd like to be made aware ahead of time, his chapter contains non-consent sexual imagery, torture and violence.
- Chapter 21 -
Theo sat under an awning of crushed purple velvet; sipping plum flavored wine and casually watched as his men tried to break the Beast like a wild horse. He barely paid attention to the screams he made. This was the last cup of his favorite wine. At least, until his servants brought more from the Palace stores. Which could be days from now. The wait was nearly unbearable.
He remembered that his Jewel also enjoyed this particular favored wine. He used to pour it into her mouth while he rode her body. Licking up any extra that managed to slip past her lips.
Gods it had been so long since he tasted her lips or her body. He missed it. Almost as much as she probably missed him.
Another roar cut through the air, robbing him of his pleasant thoughts. His gaze shifted towards the sound. Angrily eyeing the root cause of his loneliness.
It was a bit strange to be around a creature that still physically looked mostly human, and yet completely acted like an animal. Especially because he barely talked now. Just demonic snarls, growls and hisses.
Which was a bit discouraging and inconvenient, considering the Beast was the only one who knew where he had hidden Theo's Jewel. Theo had hunting parties scattered in all directions across the land – thinking that she couldn't be far. He felt completely confident that he would find her again. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms and soothe her tears. Gods only knew what this Beast had put her through over these long weeks.
Chat Noir snarled again and made his metal chains rattle. Theo groaned at the sound and how much it annoyed him. Perhaps with a bit of training, he could actually be of some use to Theo. Having a magical Beast at his disposal would certainly benefit his quest for world domination. And when he had his Jewel again, maybe the Beast would obey to his commands better. The creature was obviously attached to her.
In fact, one of the last coherent words he had muttered was a female name. Something that began with an M. It might be her name? Or what he called her? Either way, Theo didn't care. She was his Jewel. Forever and always.
A refreshing salty breeze played with his thin jet-black hair. They were camped less than a hundred yards from the pounding ocean waves. A very picturesque and lovely site with crystal clear water and light pink colored soft sand. He had been dining on the Ocean's gifts almost every evening, and loving the variety of flavors she offered up to him.
He longed for the luxuries of his Palace, but, for the moment, was comfortable with the beach-y setting. Perhaps he'd build a future Palace on this site? Something to always remind him that this was the very spot where he broke the creature who tried to steal his Jewel.
A bullwhip cracked loudly. Drawing his attention back to his new pet. He frowned slightly at the treatment he was receiving, thinking that it wasn't good enough.
Downing the last bit of his wine, he stood up and walked forward. The hot sun beat down intensely on his neck and shoulders. He would hurry back into the shade once he dealt with this personally.
"No. No." Theo told the guard, snatching the whip from his hand. "You've got to flick your wrist downward."
He demonstrated efficiently. Letting the steel tip slice a six inch long bloody gash into Chat Noir's back – who roared with pain. His blood sprayed across the ground. Practically steaming as it hit the hot dirt.
"See?" Theo showboated. "Now you try."
The guard nodded wordlessly and accepted the weapon back. Mimicking the False Prince's demonstration, he cracked the whip again. This time the steel tip caught Chat Noir under the ribs. Digging deep into his flesh before pulling free. Leaving more of a puncture wound and less of a gash.
Theo huffed in annoyance. "Must I do everything?" he whined. The summer sun causing him to start sweating. Oh how he loathed having to sweat.
He turned his dark eyes towards Chat Noir, who was already intensely panting in the heat. His tongue hanging out of a mouth filled with elongated and sharply pointed teeth that seemed to retract into his gums with every breath.
His black armor looked like it was bubbling and smoldering as the magic that surrounded him pulsated and breathed – especially around his clawed hands, which had grown about four inches in length. Looking like cleavers dangling off of his fingers.
Over the past week, they had quickly learned not to get too close to those claws. Even standing nearby made their human skin start to sting. If he managed to get off a surprise scratch, it meant loosing an appendage as it physically melted off and turned to ash. Man-made metals seemed to be the only thing that penetrated through all that magic and drew his thick bright red blood to the surface.
Right now, his claws were digging deeply into the sandy dirt. Holding on to the earth as he dealt with the pain being inflicted on him.
He would kill them all for separating him from… Who? Keeping him from finding… What? He couldn't remember anymore. There was nothing beyond the anguish he endured.
He grimaced and groaned as the whip cut across his skin for the countless time. The pain slightly more tantalizing and intense when the polished fake Prince took his turn with the torture. To him, the wounds were only superficial compared to what he would do to them, when he inevitably broke free.
Without moving his head, he turned his matte green eyes to glare at the group of humans. His eyes had bled to a solid void of cloudy green ink. Without any pupils or whites to the eye. Just a sickening, soupy and soulless color that did not reflect any light.
The mask that once only covered half of his face had grown and morphed to now slide down his neck, connecting to the blackness of his armor. The armor itself being more like a skin hide coated with short dark fur.
He lay deathly still as they continuously tore into him. Giving off the illusion that they were getting to him. Taming him. Breaking his spirit. Even though he could always smell their fear of him. It faintly clung to the air like the smell of rotting flesh.
And yet, the whole time, he was vividly imagining how sweet their flesh would taste ripping through his teeth. Their blood tasting like sweet copper coins on his tongue.
He reacted to their inflicted pain because it still hurt to feel the metal bite into his skin and rip open a new wound, even though his magic healed it just a short time later.
He stayed toying with the silly humans. Carefully biding his time until one of them royally fucked up and let him go. Then their blood would begin to rain down upon the world.
Marinette lay on the ground with her chin pressed into the dirt, not moving anything except her new honey colored, brown eyes. Tikki's spell keeping their true color hidden. Although, as her emotions were riding high with every moment, they often flickered back to blue until she took in a steadying breath to calm her nerves.
Beside her, Plagg mirrored her body language. Enjoying the fact that she was taking this so seriously, and not just charging in there head first like an idiot.
The sea of canvas tents flapping gently in the ocean breeze. And from less than fifty yards away, the two of them simply watched Theo's camp, as it made ready for the evening hours.
Theo had men hunting the countryside to find her. Turning over every rock and stone with their efforts. Little did he know, she was so nearby, and making ready to get even closer.
She had an axe lying beside her. It's wide blade perfect for cutting through chains. Special thanks to Plagg for stealing it. He had actually made several sneaky trips into the camp. Gathering the necessary intel so they could come up with a reasonable plan of attack. Or rather: a plan not to be seen.
Their strategy was simple. Get in, free him and get out. What happened after that was up to Fate.
Even if his mind was completely gone and he wasn't her Adrien anymore, he deserved better than torture and chains. If she survived the encounter, she would live the rest of her life happy having known true love. However brief and bittersweet it was. It had existed. It had been real. How many people could say that they truly had experienced such an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
And knowing that was enough to make her feel blissfully content with her decision.
Marinette turned to the older man. Determination glowing across her face.
"Plagg, I need a distraction." She whispered.
His yellow eyes flashed in amusement. His voice was hauntingly playful when he answered.
"A distraction?"
She nodded quickly and curtly. "Pull as many guards away as you can."
He tilted his head to the side in question. "What exactly do you expect me to do?"
She smirked. "You're the embodiment of chaos and destruction, are you not? I'm sure you'll think of something."
Plagg stared at her. And then, very slowly, his lips turned upwards into a little half smile.
"You're a strange little mortal." He cooed affectionately. Silently wishing he had taken more time to get to know her. Humans were often predictable. But she was full of surprises. Tragedy and trauma seemingly having zero affect on her resolve.
Marinette let out a throaty chuckle. "From you, I'll take that as a compliment."
Without another sound, Plagg disappeared from her side. She instantly felt alone. His warm magical aura left her skin feeling quite cold. Her eyes went back to observing the campsite. Waiting for his distraction to take shape – whatever it might be.
Within the camp itself, Chat Noir lifted his head, sensing that his creator nearby. Curious what he was doing here.
He sniffed the air, smelling another scent that made him physically purr.
The intense smell hit Marinette first before she even saw the bright flickering flames rip through the tops of the tents. The smoke was thick and heavy as it moved with the changing ocean breezes.
Soldiers emptied from their tents and ran towards the immense fire. Attempting to put it out before it all but consumed their resources and supplies. Horses panicked and screamed in fear. Running through the camp. A few with their tails on fire.
As the tents burned, Marinette slipped in amongst the pandemonium. Griping her axe as her quick feet darted in and out of the shadows. She tried not to cough with the cloud of intense smoke that rolled through the camp.
She found him easily. As a large space had been cleared to keep a safe perimeter. He lay in a shallow pit, on his belly, and chained to the ground with spikes driven deep into the earth. His arms and legs were spread widely apart so he couldn't move or even sit up.
She would never be able to pull the spikes out from the ground. But she hoped to at least cut him free enough to defend himself.
She approached him cautiously, afraid to see just how cruel they had been. Her feet sunk deeply into the course sand as she slid down the shallow embankment. The ground smelled like blood, excrement, sweat and filth. That smell mixed with the thick smoke, and she was suddenly gagging. Forcing herself to breath through her mouth.
His large back heaved with labored breaths. Thinking him suffering, she touched his shoulder to give him a small comfort with her presence. His body did not react to her touch. If he hadn't been breathing, she would have thought him already dead. Her terrified eyes scanned and found multiple bloody wounds that glistened in the moonlight.
Little did she know, Chat Noir could smell her as intensely as the smell of ozone from a brewing summer storm. He could sense a faint bit of magic on her. A small spell that clung to her skin. And yet, it was the polar opposite of his own power. It made her already sweet smell all that more intoxicating.
Beyond that magic, he could smell his vessel's imprint deep within her body. Not strong enough to believe that their was life growing inside of her. But just enough to smell the lingering physical intimacy.
Marinette stood up, got into a low stance, and gripped the axe with both hands.
In her anxious rush, the first chop went wide. Digging into the ground and missing the chain completely.
Drawing in a shaking breath, she swung again, this time the axe blade connected with the chain link. Although not with enough force to break it.
The anxiety of the moment made tears begin to drip from her eyes as her panic bubbled over and all but consumed her.
He stayed very still and simply watched her through slatted eyes. Curious if she would succeed in freeing him. Excitement building within him.
The wind changed, and she abruptly smelled the intense smoke from the fires. It stuck in her nose and throat, clogging her sinuses and forced her to cough violently. Her lungs screaming for clean air.
Gripping the handle of the axe tightly, she swung for a third time. Her body was stressed and exhausted as she threw her remaining strength into the action. Praying that her muscle memory would remember exactly where to strike.
The metallic clank echoed in her ears as the chain snapped. Her body slumped in the sand as she watched his arm move freely.
Sluggishly, he brought his magic claws to his other wrist, and the metal disintegrated away under the weight of the destructive magic. He sat up, twisting around to do the same to the chains on both legs.
Finally free from the man-made chains. He slowly stood up to his full height, and stretched his stiff limbs like he was unfolding out of a cocoon. The night seemed darker around him. The wild chaos magic finally free and taking a moment to fan its wings. His feline tail swishing playfully along the ground.
Chat Noir cracked his knuckles, popping each joint like they were stiff. He carefully admired the claws that tipped his unnaturally elongated fingers. His face was protruding outward, as if his jaw had to make room for all the extra teeth in his mouth.
It hurt to look at him. Because despite the mixture of alien and feline features, she could still see the little bits of human in him.
For the moment, he seemed enamored with himself and his new found freedom. So Marinette took the opportunity and carefully crab crawled backwards away from him. Afraid of what she had just unleashed into the world.
He caught her movement out of the corner of his eye. He didn't see her for her. He had been Chat Noir for too long. His mind was fractured and broken.
He only saw another human. A human who had chained and tortured him. Without another thought, he lunged towards her, claws ready to strike her down.
Marinette saw him come for her and could do nothing but wait for death.
She barely blinked and Plagg leaped down and suddenly stood over her. He caught Chat Noir's hands with his own, holding him back.
"It's her, you idiot." Plagg hissed to Chat Noir, but his voice was straining as he tried to drive him off.
He and Plagg were now interlocked together. Hand in hand, pushing their magical strength against one another. Each fighting to overtake the other.
Chat Noir's teeth and jaws snapped loudly and constantly at the empty air in front of Plagg's face. Which made Plagg wince and turn his face away.
Marinette scrambled to crawl away as the two men were clashed together above her, their elbows bending under the weight of the pressure they shoved against one another.
Chat Noir lunged forward and his jaws connected with Plagg's shoulder. Piercing spiked teeth deep into the flesh and holding tight. Blood soaked through Plagg's clothes almost instantly and began dribbling down his arm.
Plagg groaned, but did not cry out in pain. He sneered, yellow eyes flashed briefly like a bolt of lighting.
Chat Noir released his jaws from the bite. Canines tinted pink as they pulled away with blood and bits of flesh.
Despite the injury, Plagg still held him back. Although his arms were beginning to tremble.
Slowly, Plagg's knee touched the ground as Chat Noir pushed him down into the sand. He was moments from overrunning him.
Plagg was losing the battle against his own creation. But he shouldn't be so surprised. This was his own magic, after all, he knew exactly what it was capable of doing. He was just surprised to see fully take shape.
Seeing his victory, Chat Noir abruptly shifted his weight and brought his foot forward, kicking Plagg firmly in the abdomen. The blow broke Plagg's grip on his clawed hands and he collapsed backwards.
Chat Noir rushed forward, swiping his claws across Plagg's chest. The cloth sizzled and crackled as the magic started to consume it. But he was falling backwards too quickly for it to connect with his skin. In the same fluid movement, Chat Noir brought his fingers together into a combined fist. He delivered a blow straight down from above his head so intensely that it slammed Plagg's body into the ground with the nothing but the sound of crushing bones and quaking earth.
A hush fell over the scene. Holding its breath, waiting Plagg to move. But he didn't.
Only Chat Noir stood up victorious as he pressed his foot into Plagg's chest, digging the other man deeper into the sand.
Mariette watched the whole scene. Petrified to blink or breath. If she wanted to get out alive, she would have to run for her life. But a little dark voice in the back of her head remembered not to run from the Beast. Running only made it worse. It sparked his urge to hunt.
So she lay immobile on the ground and watched him huff and grunt as he circled Plagg's body.
Chat Noir turned his head and eyes towards the sky, letting out a glorified roar that shook and threatened the very stars to challenge him.
Marinette whimpered at the sound. Tucking her chin to her chest and tried her best not to cry. Seeing him so far gone like this. It was destroying her.
She would have stayed huddled on the ground, trying to appear small and hidden, if a thunderous sound hadn't begun to fill the air. Dozens of heavy footsteps stomped closer. Boots and armor-clad legs rushed past Marinette where she lay. Unable to do anything except watch as the soldiers rushed the Beast.
She should warn them. They were wasting their lives by attacking him. They didn't stand a chance against him.
And yet, Theo's army encircled Chat Noir – who casually stared them down with his intense gaze like they weren't even a threat to him. He watched patiently as they surrounded him by the dozens, all pointing swords, spears and drawn bows.
A hand clasped down and wove rough fingers into Marinette's hair, fisting it and dragged her backwards. She kicked along the ground as she tried to pry the callused fingers from her scalp.
More guards ran forward as she was pulled back, putting a human wall between her and Chat Noir. She couldn't even see him anymore around the sea of bodies blocking her line of sight.
She screamed against the distress as she was violently pulled to her feet and spun around. Her vision was now filled with Theo's face and her heart stopped beating. He looked like he had aged ten years. He had soot on his face and smelled like burning hair.
Theo seized her possessively by the arm, snapping her against the front of his body. He dropped his sword in order to use his free hand to grab onto her face.
He kissed her roughly, all teeth and tongue. He tasted like alcohol and smoke.
Marinette fought against him, separating their lips and striking him in the side of the head. He either didn't feel her blows or was too caught up in the moment to feel them. Instead his fingers dragged up the side of her face until they got dangerously close to her eyes. His dirty fingers pulled at her eyelids, prying her eyes open.
Through the moonlight, even through the cloud of smoke, Theo stared down into the face he remembered and found his treasure gone.
Some distance behind them, Chat Noir snarled.
"Where are they?" he whined, his voice nearly cracking.
He stared achingly into her face. And Marinette bravely blinked her spell covered eyes up at him.
"Where did they go?" Theo pouted. "Tell me where they are!"
Marinette squared up her jaw and spoke fearlessly. "What are you talking about?"
"My eyes!" he wailed in a violent tantrum as his fingers dug into her skin. Half moon puncture wounds filling up with blood.
"My jewel. My blues. Where? Where? Where? Where? Where?"
Despite her distress, she smirked. Choosing to break him with her words. Like he had attempted to do to her so many times.
"I've never had blue eyes." She spoke confidently. Knowing that her confidence only made Tikki's spell grow stronger. The honeyed brown hue flashing at him to prove her words.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Theo's bottom lip quivered and his nostrils flared. "No… No… you did. You did, I know you did!"
She sneered. "You're wrong. Can't you see that? You're absolutely… wrong."
Theo sucked in a whiney breath, and struck her across the face. The stinging blow knocked Marinette into the sand and dazed her almost to the point of rendering her unconscious. She tentatively touched her lip, finding blood on her fingertips.
Theo stood over her as she lay in the sand far below him. Her defiance eating at him and singing across his skin. He felt like less than a man by her words. He knew that he hadn't imagined the color. And he refused to be spoken to like an incompetent fool.
If he went back without them, people would think him mad. He'd lose his only way to fund the path to his throne.
But, as he stared down at that ugly color reflected in her face. He began to doubt himself. She put that voice of uncertainty into his head and belittled him. Above all, he couldn't ignore the fact that her eyes were truly gone. Or had they even existed? His brain couldn't remember the color anymore.
He shook his head back and forth, trying to remember the blue, and finding his memories scattered and broken. He wasn't a simpleton, he would recollect that shade. But then again, why couldn't he picture it anymore?
Without those eyes, he would lose his mind. The eyes were his, and his alone.
His hands fisted his hair, ripping it out by the remaining stringy clumps. His rage boiled over and the monster within him came out for all the world to see. He had to have them back. His life would be paralyzed without them.
As his fingernails scratched shallow gashes into his cheeks and neck, he stared down at her. His wicked mind figuring out what to do.
Obviously, she had been away from him for too long. The distance had depressed her, and the color hid itself because of it. The blue would come back to him if he loved her again, and brought the pleasures back to her body that he knew she loved so much.
Robbing him of his current thought process, he looked forward as he distinctly heard the sounds of metal scraping against metal. Along with the screeching of men loosing their lives.
Reaching down, he grabbed Marinette by her long hair and dragged her limply along the ground as he started to stride away from the brewing fight.
"Kill him." Theo ordered his army. Just in case they had any hesitation about the cat Beast's future. He wanted every link to her capture destroyed and burned along with the rest of his already burning camp.
"I don't care anymore. Just kill him now."
Besides, he had more important things to worry about. Like the woman struggling and fighting to resist him. The poor thing, she didn't remember him. He'd soon fix that.
Theo moved far away from the large group as he hauled her towards the beach. The breaking waves drowning out the sounds of the carnage happening behind them.
He lugged her through the lush dunes. Sliding down a small hill of fine sand as they made it to the picturesque beach.
With a rough shove, he threw her against the hill, and pressed her against it with his greedy body.
Marinette's head was fuzzy from the blow and being dragged such a distance. She had sand in her mouth, eyes and ears. But she could feel the thickness of his excited groin as he restrained her against the earth.
His demanding and cruel hands went beneath her skirts. His fingers ripping at cloth and seeking her bare skin. She screamed in his face. Fighting to get him off of her.
Theo leaned off of her enough to coil a fist and strike her in the side of the head. Which earned him her compliance. The sharp blow made her vision swim and her brain slowed everything down as her ears rung loudly.
Her body went stupidly limp. And it gave Theo the precious seconds he needed to dig deeper into her clothes. His fingers coarsely brushed against the opening to her body and he smiled in satisfaction.
Despite the head injury, her voice managed to still fight on. And she screamed every ounce of hatred into his face.
To try silence her, because her screams were distracting, he covered her mouth with his hand. Although his fingers were poorly placed, and as soon as Marinette felt the digit get close enough, she bit down on the appendage. Hard enough to feel warm blood enter into her mouth.
Theo hissed against the pain, staring at his beloved Jewel as she fought against him so strongly. It excited him to see her fight like this. It brought back delicious memories of when she was first brought to him. Their first few months together, when she was all fight and spunk.
He loved the idea of getting to break her all over again. To train her back into the perfect companion. So, he let her have his fingers to bite onto and shed his blood. Because he wanted to watch her continue to try and fight him while she was writhing beneath him.
Using his body weight to keep her pinned, his other hand went to undo his pants. He was almost free of the tight garment and stood poised to take her by force.
"I know they are in there." He told her hoarsely. "Let me see them again."
She bit down on his finger harder than before. Grinding her teeth and jaw into his skin. Blood pooling in her mouth, dribbling past her lips, and down her chin.
Past his meaty shoulders, beyond a stretch of beach, were the beautiful ocean waves glittering under the stars. The site was it alive with moonlight as the waves lapped rhythmically at the shore. Tossing sand and seashells in the most unspoiled melodic hum.
Only her screams added to the otherwise picturesque night. Destroying the perfect setting.
Barely making a sound as he sprinted on all fours, Chat Noir followed the sounds. Curious what the beach had to offer him. Since the burning camp was empty of life now.
He appeared just above them. Sending little piles of fine sand tumbling down onto their heads as he stopped and crouched down. He stared at the two of them with his head cocked to the side as if curious by the scene.
Theo looked up from his actions, and saw the nightmarish creature glaring at him.
His long claws hung from limp arms as he squatted on his haunches. His lips were agape as if his mouth wasn't big enough for all the new sharp teeth. His tongue panting ever so slightly past his parted lips. If he had blood on him, Theo couldn't see it beyond all the blackness of his skin.
The beast's skin was crackling and surging with pulsating magic that coiled around him like fire. With every breath, the magic pulsed. Catching nearby plants and singeing them instantly to ash.
Despite staring face to face with a Being that could end his life with a flick of his wrist. Theo needed to make clear what was his. He would have everything he ever wanted. No one would influence him otherwise.
"She's mine!" he roared, unafraid.
Chat Noir's head snapped forward, and his eyes narrowed. This insect was simply in his way.
He leaped, claws outstretched. Landed on top of Theo, and knocking the man backwards and into the sand. Upon impact, his claws buried themselves deeply into the man's chest. Piercing through his armor, chainmail, silken clothes and finally his flesh, organs and bones.
Despite the claws buried deep into his chest, Theo had enough willpower to draw a thin dagger from his boot and plunge it into Chat Noir's side with a satisfying thunk.
Chat did not even finch as the blade slid between his ribs. He leaned his body weight onto his claws, sinking them even deeper into Theo's body.
Theo gasped as they pushed deeper into his chest; feeling like the beast was crushing his heart. His brown eyes went wide at the realization that his life was slowly being drained away.
He rolled his head to the side, finding Marinette staring at him. Weakly, he tried to reach for her, but his arms wouldn't work anymore.
"H-Help… me, my Jewel." he begged to her. She loved him. She would save him. "H-Help m-me."
Marinette heard his pleading words and despite her pain, a huge smile crept across her lips. Mixed with his drying blood on her chin and lips, her bright smile looked clownish and demonic.
She smiled at the death of the man who had tormented her for all those years. Who had tried to control her every thought and action. Who forced himself on her every night. Who sold her to the highest bidder to fund his Throne. Who never bothered to know her name. Who stole her life and her youth.
She smiled brightly because he was dying. And she was delighted by it.
In a hallowed voice, she said the last two words that she would ever say to him.
"Just die."
Theo's eyes widened, showing the whites of his eyes as he glared at her in absolute shock. Because along with her words, her eyes briefly flashed their true blue color, echoing her determination.
Chat Noir snarled in the other man's face, letting Theo's life linger on just enough so that he could truly feel the agony.
Before the light completely died from his eyes, Chat Noir wretched his claws outward. Tearing a cavern sized opening into the flesh of Theo's chest as his claws tore free. Dragging with them the guts, innards and bones of the False Price.
Theo swallowed a wet breath. Still feeling air as it entered into his lungs. Thinking that if he could still breathe, he would continue to live. But as he strained his neck to look down onto the ruin of his chest and abdomen, and seeing his own organs on display, he wondered what he had done to deserve this?
He was supposed to live forever. Wasn't he?
He let his head fall back against the sand. But he was long dead before his eyes could completely close.
Marinette let out the smallest cry of joy. The accomplishment of his death washing over her senses like cold water. Never had she felt more set free. As if all evil in the world had died along with him.
She sat up straighter and tilted her head up to stare at the stars, wincing at the pain it caused. However, she wanted to look up into the first sky that Theo did not share with her anymore. And he never would. Ever again.
Chat Noir watched her subtle movements, turning his neck sharply in her direction, and then his body slowly followed. He crawled on all fours in the soft sand. Slowly stalking the short distance towards her.
His eyes were a solid, blank screen of green. No light or emotion reflected in them. It was like staring into fog.
Staring into those lost eyes, Marinette saw that all the perfect moments they had shared together along their journey were gone now. All the precious pieces of a long lost love having returned had vanished, and left her feeling alone in the world she was recently liberated from.
He had hidden himself away. Forgotten the human parts of him that loved her. She couldn't see him anymore. Only a Beast remained. The world would never see him as she once knew him.
She backed up out of fear, pressing herself against the sandy dune.
He moved like a shadow along the ground. Crawling up the front of her body and pressing himself solidly up against her from chest to groin. Because the memories were too fresh in her mind, her lips let out the tiniest of moans.
His bloody claws gripped the sand on either side of her head. Gore and other fleshy bits mixing with the sand creating a thick paste that squished in her ears.
Marinette swallowed her pulse down.
"C-Chat." She whined. So terrified of him in this moment that she was about to pass out from it.
To the Beast, she wasn't prey nor was she his enemy. She was food and sex.
He leaned closer to her. Pushing his face less than an inch from hers. She could feel his panting, hot breaths. She could count the dagger-like teeth in his mouth. She could smell the stench of death that clung to his body.
Bending down, he licked a hot, wet and delicious line up from her sternum to across her collarbone. His sharp needle-like teeth catching her flesh and opening the skin almost instantly. Little thin lines of bright blood glistened in the moonlight.
He pressed his excited body against her so tightly that they appeared melted into one being. There was no clothing to fuss with. His black armor had become his skin. And his raw sex rubbed up against her. Feeling her shaking in complete horror beneath him. He growled from a place deep within his chest at the sensation. His claws teased her exposed legs, making little track lines of blood on her skin.
If Theo hadn't just done the same thing, she may have welcomed him between her legs. However, this was not her Chat Noir anymore, nor was it her Adrien. She was looking at a demon of the shadows. A Beast who happened to be wearing the face of her true love. It confused her body into wanting him. Even though he terrified her.
"Adrien." She whined softly.
Gods if he was still in there, let him hear her voice.
He heard her enough. And let out an animalistic cry upon hearing that word. Because the name meant nothing to him. He was all-consuming, and that name held no power over him. It was a piece of his human self long forgotten and caged up into a walled room without windows or doors.
The wild noise almost stole her consciousness away with how much it horrified her. With the last bit of hope, her shaking fingers brushed softly along the top of his hand. Gently petting the space on his finger where the silver ring used to be. She could feel the lump underneath his new skin; as if the ring was being absorbed into his body.
"Please." She begged the uncaring Beast.
He felt where she touched, and hissed at her. The primal desire for sex drifting away as she handled a piece of his past.
He leaned off of her. Poised now to strike and tear out her throat.
Unexpected anger shot through her body. Mixing with her fear and boiling together until it became her emboldening resolve. It angered her, enraged her even, to see him so broken, and know that she could do nothing to fix him, nothing to save him, except beg a creature, who would rather kill her, to spare him.
"Please let him go." She tried again.
It didn't seem like she was getting through to him. Despite how sweetly she was weeping. Her confused body crying, even while angry.
He growled irritably at her words. He lunged down, spreading his lips wide to consume the side of her neck, and the thundering pulse that fluttered within.
She cried out as his teeth broke through and brought more of her blood to the surface. Her own blood felt like dripping wax on her skin. In the moment before darkness consumed her vision, she remembering Plagg's words:
He had to willingly give it up.
Cautiously, she reached up and touched the side of the beast's face. Attempting to press him back just enough to look into his face one last time.
She spoke tenderly, and with her last bit of remaining strength. "Adrien…"
Calling out his name like that granted her the ability to push Chat Noir away just enough so she could see into his face.
She plunged a little bit of that magic which concealed her eyes into him. Suddenly, her eyes were blue again. So impossibly deep blue that they looked like polished gems.
"… Let go."
In his opaque eyes, a tiny black sliver of the pupil opened.
Her hand fell away and flopped onto the sand, leaving the side of his face feeling cold in the wind.
He stared at her unmoving hand, then to her face, her hand once more, and back again. Sucking in a breath, something within him stirred.
Deep within a dark and shapeless room, wrapped in coiling chains and bound to the shadows, Adrien limply lifted his head. He cried out into the void. Letting it know that he was still in there.
One clawed hand reached out towards her, the other fisted the sand, threatening to maintain control as the human wiggled in his coccoon.
Adrien stared through Chat Noir's eyes. He couldn't look away from the blood that seemed to cover every inch of Marinette's failing body. He hated it. The sight of blood infuriated him. The rich smell driving his collapsing mind crazy. Because even if all of it didn't belong to her, he thought that it did.
There was no escape from the Beast in his mind. He had nothing to break the spell. No ring to pull from his finger and make it all stop.
And yet, Adrien wanted out. The chains quaked as he took a shallow step forward.
Destruction and chaos could only understand more chaos. So, in a fit of wild rage, his finger went into his mouth and between his razor sharp teeth. He began biting and tearing at the fur and flesh that covered it up.
Through the dripping blood and frayed skin, a peak of the silver metal appeared.
His fangs continued to bite and maul at his own finger until he could wrap his lips around the metal and wretch it from the exposed bone.
Marinette watched through half opened eyes as he freed himself of the spell. The solid force of the chaos magic pinning her against the ground. It felt like it was crushing her chest and lungs.
She tried to breathe, but found no air. The amount of power released was suffocating her.
Her vision flickered, unable to withstand the pressure inflicted upon her mortal body. She just looked up at him with shadowed eyes, and a sad smile on her lips.
She was ashamed to gaze at him, because even though she was slipping away, he was still fighting that battle in his mind.
And now, he would fight it alone.
Her hand shook as she reached out for him, trying to touch him one last time. But it collapsed mid-air, as her body lost consciousness.
In a roar of emotion and defeat, the Beast was ripped from its host. Adrien could still hear the growls echoing in his head.
When he finally came back to himself, he was kneeling in the sand, remembering how to breathe. His sense of smell came back first. He could smell the salty ocean air, as well as the stench of blood and smoke. Next to return was his hearing. He could hear those rolling and pounding waves just behind him, perhaps even the occasional seabird. No screams, only the wind. Finally, as he blinked his grit-encrusted eyes, he gaze fell upon the aftereffects of this nightmare.
He reached out and grasped the fabric of her clothes with his human hands. The blood on his own hands instantly staining the cloth red. The fabric greedily soaking up what he only thought was her blood.
"No… no… please." He begged to what his vision was feeding his brain. Fingers touching her chin, trying to wipe away the drying blood.
The action caused her head to roll to the side.
It rolled so easily that he jumped and pulled his hand away. Pinching his eyes closed, he stared at the darkness of his eyelids, feeling his heart crushing.
It was tragic that he had wanted so few things in his life, and yet he had always wanted her. And now, all those moments will be lost forever in time, like tears in the rain.
The pain of his hopeful future had ravaged this magnificent creature. This lovely girl had been unable to find a way to survive in this brutal world. She was meant to live for so much more than what he could offer. Even though he had tried. Gods, he had tried so desperately. Only to be her downfall. To lead her into chaos, and be unable to rescue her from it.
Hadn't he known the purity of her heart could not withstand the sins of this world?
He made no move to touch her again. He couldn't bare the weight of his actions.
His body was failing him now. And while he couldn't feel any physical pain, the numbness was about to consume him.
He felt the ring throb in his hand like a faint heartbeat. He stared down at the seemingly small and insignificant piece of metal. How could such a simple object have such power? How had he let it ruin him?
He knew there would be sacrifices. But he always thought they would be his to bare. And his alone.
And yet, it had cost him everything. Everything he sought so hard to protect. Everything he loved. Everything he valued. And, in the end, he was the one left alive. Although, not for much longer.
Pulling himself to his feet, he walked a few shaky and stumbling steps towards the breaking waves. The tears flowed freely down his cheeks. Hot tears of anger and desperation that blurred his vision.
Pushing whatever strength he had left into his arm, he drew back and angrily threw the ring into the Ocean. Watching at the water devoured it. But oh so happy to be rid of it.
He began to sway, the aftershocks dragged him down. His life was leaving him and the exhaustion was taking over.
His hands shot out as if to stop the fall that was inevitable. This was the fall in which he had created. So he collapsed onto the wet sand.
He heard nothing except the waves. He barely felt his own heartbeat.
The edges of his vision were trimmed with darkness. If this was death, it was peaceful – at least for his body. Gone was the nausea and coughing fits like before. The curse wanting to claim its ultimate sacrifice.
His heart was nothing but a cold stone. And his mind was shattered in sorrow. It vaguely dawned on him that if he had truly sold his soul to become Chat Noir, then there would be no seeing Marinette in Heaven.
He would do better in his next life, he decided. A promise which haunted him, a promise which had fought its way into his heart, and floated through his mind.
Taking one last look at the tiny granules of pink sand, he closed his eyes and gave himself over to the night.
Author's Note: I've done it. It took all I had, but I wrote it. I need a hug...