Ch. 6: The Creature

As the day went on, Gabriella learned that Tristan was a very active man. He liked to walk around the castle, goof off occasionally and most of all, stay with Luka. She stood at her balcony with Abby late in the afternoon when she noticed Luka being chase after Tristan. The young man grabbed hold of the little boy, lifting over his shoulder with Luka laughing hard.

"He's really good with him," she stated to Abby.

Abby smiled and nodded, "When Tristan and I were kids. We didn't see eye to eye all the time but he treated me as if I was his sister since my Mama took care of him so much. But, when Aaron and I got married, Tristan walked me down that aisle happily. He told me that no matter what he would be there."

"Then Luka?"

"Tristan was there when Luka was born. He…had his accident already when I gave birth. He raised Luka with us and Luka doesn't ask about his scars. He just sees him as Tristan."

Tristan looked up at the balcony seeing Gabriella and Abby, he waved at them before placing Luka down. He could see the sun going down and looked down at the boy, "Luka, you know I have to go tonight."

"Not the cage, Tristan," Luka said softly. Tristan nodded and Luka gently hugged him before the two began to walk back inside.

Gabriella came down the stairs to meet Tristan and Luka. The little boy walked over and hugged Gabriella before climbing up the stairs. Tristan climbed up the stairs and smiled at Gabriella, "Hello Gabby."

"Hello Tristan," she greeted back. "Are you planning to join us for dinner?"

Tristan shook his head and moved closer, "Not tonight, Gabby."

"How come?"

"Just not tonight," he quietly walked up past her before turning around, "Good night Gabby."

"Good night Tristan."

B&B

Aaron watched as Tristan walked into the cage before he locked it up. He turned the key before he looked at his friend. "What do I tell Gabriella if she wonders," he inquired.

"I don't know." He turned around and he gazed up at the window finally seeing the night finally taking over the sky. "You better go, Aaron," Tristan told him. Aaron nodded and walked out quietly before closing the door.

As the door shut, Tristan could feel the pain running through his body, he could feel his body taking over. Sweat began to move down his face as he could feel the claws slowly pushing from his hand. He groaned and doubled over feeling the pain becoming worse.

Suddenly everything went dark.

Wake up Gabriella, a voice whispered. She first thought it was Constant or the General but the voice was not even close. Wake up Gabriella. Her eyes slowly opened and she sat up rubbing her eyes, seeing that the night still covered her room. Why she was awake, she was unsure of but something in her told her she must wake up.

Suddenly she heard a loud howl mixed with a roar. She jumped slightly, never hearing that before. Tristan did mention that there are weird and dangerous things, she thought to herself. Suddenly another roar came, Gabriella stood up, letting her curiosity get the best of her. She began to walk out of the bedroom quietly, following the sound until she reached the white door.

Be strong, she remembered as she looked at the door. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, before turning the knob and opening the door. When she entered, she looked up to see the lifeless portraits staring down at her; she also noticed that two were cover with curtains. She looked around again before hearing a low growl.

She looked down the center to see the cage that was in her dream shinning from the darkness. Inside the cage, she could see an animal that walked on all fours; its ears pointed up at the sound of Gabriella's movements and turned slightly, looking at her. Its fur was pure black and had dark golden eyes; a scar covered one of the eyes as well as a couple on its chest. It reminded Gabriella of Shadow but it was twice as big and more aggressive.

It snarled at Gabriella and she jumped back. Be strong, it wants acceptance, Gabriella remembered again. She could remember the strong arms that wrapped around her and the calmness of his voice but she also remembered the white roses also that Tristan gave her. How they were so simple and elegant, hand picked according to Aaron when he heard about it. She took in a deep breath and approached the cage again.

The wolf's snarls began to lower seeing her approach. It growled slightly before Gabriella quietly said, "It's okay. I won't hurt you." The wolf suddenly stopped as she gently placed her hand out to it, the wolf approached gently placing its head under her touch. She smiled gently, "I accept you."

"Careful," Gabriella suddenly turned to see Andrew with a small knife in his hand, "it might bite you."

"I'm not scared of it but Tristan warned you to stay away from me."

"Tristan's not here." He slowly walked up her as the wolf suddenly began to growl again. Gabriella went around the cage but soon was corner by a pillar in the room.

She swallowed a bit before she whispered, "Tristan, please come. I need you." The wolf's growls became louder and soon the cage began to shake but Andrew ignored this as he moved toward Gabriella. He placed the knife back into his sheath as he pressed his body against her.

He moved his hand down her hip as Gabriella quickly slapped him. Andrew chuckled lowly, "I see why Tristan likes you. A pretty face and body…"

His hands slowly began to run down her body and Gabriella slapped again. "Tristan," she pleaded one more time before a loud crash came through. Andrew backed away as they both looked to see the cage open. He spun around the room before the wolf lunged at him quickly. Andrew slashed at it causing a loud howl to rip through the room before it clawed at Andrew before he was drag out of the room magically but not before Andrew cursed, "Damn you Tristan." The door opened then quickly shut leaving Gabriella alone with the wolf.

She trembled slightly but she moved closer to the wolf. "Tristan," she whispered gently as the wolf turned around. It shook its head and its golden eyes suddenly changed to the blue gray eyes that Gabriella had come to know. She gasped realizing that it was he as she went on her knees, "Oh Tristan."

Tristan quietly walked over to her, gently placing his head under hers, lifting her chin up for their eyes to lock. He looked away, shamefully before she turned his head back toward her. She smiled through her tears, "You came for me."

Tristan nodded before he whimpered slightly. Gabriella looked down to see that Tristan's chest was slightly bleeding from a cut on his chest. She bit her lip before saying to him, "Sit down please."

Tristan's eyes went from blue to gold then back to blue again as he blinked a couple times. He sat down looking at her before she walked over to one of the chairs that were cover by a white sheet. Suddenly the Castle formed a small basin for water, she smiled up at the Castle's ceiling whispering her thanks before starting to dab on Tristan's chest. He whimpered loudly but kept his poise before he howled loudly causing Gabriella to back away surprisingly.

Suddenly Tristan began to change right before her. The fur slowly disappeared back to skin that were covered in scars, his wolf face reformed back to a human face as he collapsed back against the wall. He groaned loudly and Gabriella looked down at his chest to see that the cut was still bleeding through his shirt. She walked over to him, lifting him over her shoulder, walking him out of the room.

She walked down the hallway until she reached some stairs, she walked up them with Tristan holding her down a bit but soon she reached his chambers. She slowly pushed the door open to see a dark room. Wish I had some light, she wished to herself before a flicker of light went on by the bedside. She walked Tristan toward the lighten area before placing him down on the bed.

It was truthfully a real moment for Gabriella to look down at the man before her especially after what happened. His skin was slightly pale and sweaty with his black hair messy from the change while his scars were slightly raised. Gabriella gently sit him up, pulling his shirt slowly off to reveal a muscled chest with the wound bleeding slightly. She could see that scars also traveled on his down his chest also.

She could feel a blush rush up her cheek for it was the first time; she truly was this close to a man with his shirt off. But, as she looked down at Tristan, she couldn't help but admire the muscle. She gently laid him back down as he slightly groaned in pain.

"Shhh…it's ok," Gabriella whispered to him as she grabbed the cloth dabbing on his wound.

Tristan groggily looked up at her. "Curiosity kills the cat," he whispered back to her. Gabriella chuckled slightly as did Tristan before he hissed from his wound; Gabriella held his arm down for a moment before releasing. "I thought I told you not to go in," Tristan told her.

"I know but something just drew me to the room."

"This rarely happens…"

"What does?"

Tristan looked down at his hand, "Usually I have to wait until dawn before being back to human form." Suddenly he realized something as he observed his wound; he sat up while Gabriella leaned forward, their faces close to each other. Tristan looked up at her, gently touching her arms, "Are you okay?"

Gabriella nodded. Her hands landed on his shoulders, she moved them down before wrapping the bandage around his body. "You saved me," she whispered, her eyes looking away from Tristan.

He gently lifted her chin, moving closer to her. She closed her eyes at his touch as she gently wiped the tears that formed in her eyes. Tristan marveled at the touch of her skin, the warmth as he whispered to her, "Has anyone told you that you are beautiful?"

Gabriella nodded, "I hear it but that's all they see."

"I see something else."

Gabriella opened her eyes and for the first time, Tristan could see that her eyes were a beautiful green. Almost like an emerald and Tristan couldn't help but gaze at them for a moment before she looked in his, "What do you see?"

"A good heart."

Gabriella felt her eyes welled up while she lunged at Tristan in a big hug. Tristan fell back in his bed from the force of the hug but held on before Gabriella pulled back slightly. Her arms wrapped around Tristan's neck while his arms wrapped around her waist.

For a moment, they were still until as if it was naturally in them, Tristan comfortably laid back in the bed while Gabriella lied on his chest. She gently closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat that was slow and steadily. His hand suddenly began to do small circles on her back; she looked up, "What are you doing?"

His hand stopped with his eyes peering down at her, "Sorry it's a habit of mine."

"It's okay. I like it actually, it's very calming," she smiled as she rested her head back down on his chest again.

Slowly they closed their eyes falling into a deep sleep.

"Papa! Tristan is missing!"

"What?"

"Honey what's happening?"

"Tristan's missing!"

"Gabriella's missing too!"

"Everyone spread out and someone find Andrew!"

Gabriella grumbled a bit before moving closer to the warmth that was by her. She nuzzled her neck inhaling a small scent of roses and spring air. It was rare smell that she was very fond of especially when she needed assurance. This smell and the mixture of warmth added more security to her. She knew that she was cuddling Tristan but she didn't care one bit as she tightened her hold on him. He did the same action as she smiled against his neck.

"I swear, where can two people go to?"

"I'll try the bedroom."

"Tristan won't be in there."

"You don't…" suddenly the door opened to with Aaron, Abby and Sofia all staring inside Tristan's room. They could see in the bed where Tristan laid in, his eyes closed and for the first time, in Sofia's eyes, at peace. The evening's events did not show but she could see that his arm wrapped securely around Gabriella's waist.

Gabriella's nose was nuzzling into his neck, her arms wrapped around him securely also. "Did you find-" Abby quickly covered her son's mouth before looking at her husband then her mother.

Sofia grinned slightly, "I think we'll leave these two be."

"What happened," Luka whispered. "I'm confused. Why's Gabby in Tristan's room?"

Abby and Aaron quickly took Luka away from the doorway while Sofia chuckled at her grandson while she slowly closed the door saying quietly, "Some night."

A/N: *humming* Who sees what I see? I think this is my favorite chapter :). Now who hates Andrew raise your hand? *raises hand up* Well, so much more to explain! Review, PM, etc. You guys are awesome!