Hey friends, if you've read this far, thank you! Here comes the beast! I hope you like him...or don't like him. Or enjoy reading about him...haha okay I'm done.

The breath whooshed out of me as an iron hand gripped my throat. With a choked scream, I kicked backwards, not making contact with anything.

"That won't do much for you." His voice was so… hypnotic, so soothing, but it had a hard edge to it. Anger? I vaguely heard Papa yelling for him to let me go. Black spots spotted my vision, and I clawed at the hand holding my throat. It loosened, and I crumpled, gasping for air.

My captor turned toward my father. "You have your prize. You can now fulfill your vow."

"Let her go!" I'd never seen him so angry. I could practically feel the waves of rage rolling off of him.

"Ah. But I cannot. She is a trespasser and a thief, and as her punishment, she will remain here. Forever."

"Keep the Rose, Sir. But please give me my daughter!"

He just laughed. It was a disgustingly melodic sound. "Go to your Queen. Give her what she seeks, before I decide to send my wolves to escort you."

I finally found my voice. "So they are your wolves?" He ignored me, still staring daggers at Papa.

"Paragon, Par, I can't leave you," he murmurs. "Wait," he turned back to my new, life-long housemate. "Take me instead!" I looked up at the monster/person, finally brave enough to take a good look at him. He wasn't something easy to describe. He looked human, but seemed to have a veil of darkness around him, like he was part shadow. The longer I watched, the darker and blurrier he got. I shivered when he looked at me.

"Go before I decide to just kill the girl and be done with it!"

Papa's eyes widened. "Just go, Papa. I'm sure I'll be back sometime or other. He'll probably get tired of me pretty fast anyway." I forced a smirk onto my face. "Love you."

"I love you too." And then he left me with Shadow-monster for all eternity.

"Are you just going to sit there?" he asked. I really, really wanted to punch him, but I did steal his Rose so….

"I'm actually enjoying sitting, thank you. I've done more than enough walking for one day." He yanked me to my feet, and I glowered at him. "I take it making friends isn't your strong suit?"

"And I suppose tact isn't yours." Ooh. A comeback. For half a second, I almost liked him. And then I remembered I didn't. He took my arm and dragged me to the front door.

"What's in there?" I asked, suddenly scared.

"Skeletons, bubbling cauldrons, and ghosts. Also, mountains of asparagus. Beware." Wait, did he just make a joke? But then I remembered his fingers clenched around my throat and bit my lip. Would he really have killed me? The door swung open, without him even having to touch it. "Thank you," he said. Did he just thank the door?

The floors were beautiful hardwoods with thick scarlet rugs. The furniture was just big. Actually, everything was big, as was he. I felt dwarfed by it all.

"How old is this place?"

"Four hundred and twelve." It was strange. I couldn't quite tell where he began and where he ended, but his hand felt so solid and normal on my arm.

"How long have you lived here?" His shadows grew darker, and he didn't answer.

"Jase, take the girl to her room now." I looked around, but saw no one. A cold hand took my free wrist, and I screamed. The shadows darkened once more. "Go." He released my arm.

"No! Wait, please!" I screamed after him, but he stalked away. " Let me go. Jase? Please! Who — who are you?"

"Calm down, child." I screamed again. "What? Can't you see me?" I shook my head rapid fire. "Huh. I was afraid of that. I can see myself, of course. And the Master can see me, but the others can't, I'm afraid. It's all Jezabel's fault, the witch."

I took a breath. "So, you're invisible?"

"Apparently."

"And, you're, um — human?" I had to ask.

"Last time I checked."

"And, just to be clear, you're not going to kill me?"

"Of course not! Don't be absurd!" Well, it didn't seem too absurd considering that his master had nearly suffocated me earlier, but I was glad Jase didn't want me dead.

"Right. Do you mind my asking why?"

"Because I'm not a murdurer!" he said, indignant.

"No no. I meant, why are you invisible?"

His grip on my wrist tightened. "Ah. We aren't to speak of that. Take care you don't mention it to master, or he'll be angry. Trust me, you don't want him angry."

"Wh — why not?" I stuttered, hoping he'd actually answer. As much as I liked the idea of magic, this whole thing was a bit much.

"Well, he hasn't been the same. Not since….well, I'm not supposed to speak of that am I?"

Okay, I put a little more action in now. What'd you all think? Sorry the last two chapters were so short! I'm not sure if I'll be able to update tomorrow, so I thought I'd just post two chapters today :)

PLEASE REVIEW! Sorry...did that seem too desperate?

Smiles and sunshine,

me 3