Beauties and Beasts Read online

  “Thanks, Josh,” I muttered as the rain pelted us.

  “What happened?”

  “I fell and hit my head.” I lied, not really feeling like explaining the whole story again.

  “Then why is your leg bandaged?”

  “Because I hurt it.”

  “Oh.”

  It was quiet ride back to my house, which was fine with me. It felt like someone was continuously pounding on my head with a hammer.

  “Thanks for the ride, Josh,” I grumbled when we reached my house.

  “Hey, no problem, man. You sure you’re alright? I’m guessing you’re not coming to work tomorrow?”

  I shook my head and sighed.

  “Well, if you need anything, gimme a call.”

  “Thanks.”

  ~*~*~*~

  My headache was no better the next morning when I woke up despite the three ibuprofens I had taken when I got home. I lay in bed pretty much all day. I knew I should have probably called my boss and told him I wouldn’t be in, and I probably should have called my mom to tell her what happened. But, my cell phone was still in my truck, and I didn’t feel like walking out in the rain to get it.

  Around three in the afternoon, hunger got the best of me and I stumbled out of bed and limped outside to get my phone. I wasn’t surprised to see that I had five missed calls. Two were from my mom and three from my boss.

  First things first, I called and ordered a pizza. Then, while I waited for the pizza guy I called my boss and told him that I had a concussion and wouldn’t be in for a few days. I didn’t want to freak my mom and Sara out by telling them that Kathryn was kidnapped, so I just texted her and said everything was fine. Sara was stressed out enough about starting classes and everything, I didn’t want to make it any worse.

  My head hurt too much to watch TV or do anything else, so I just sat in my chair and waited for the pizza to be delivered.

  Thoughts of Kathryn and the men who had taken her tormented me. Why would they take her? Theories as to why it happened that I played through in my mind. This seemed too premeditated. Why would they risk their lives to take her?

  All of it hurt my head too much think about.

  Before I knew it, the doorbell rang. It took me about five minutes to try and count my money so I could pay the guy.

  After that, I lay awake on the couch, continuing to relive last night over and over again in my mind until I wanted to scream and punch something. The longer I sat there and thought through it, the more the details stuck out. Especially, well, the certain little part where she told me that she loved me and then kissed me. That part, I definitely didn’t understand.

  The doorbell rang and pulled me away from my thoughts. I didn’t feel like making the effort to stand or walk, so I just ignored it. Whoever was could probably wait. A minute later, there was another knock and I let out a frustrated sigh.

  After the third knock, I groaned and rolled off of the couch. I didn’t feel like grabbing my crutches, so I took my time and limped over to the door.

  “Yeah?” I asked impatiently, opening the door to find an older-looking guy with graying light brown hair standing on my porch in the rain.

  “Are you Abel Kearney?” He asked in a deep, gruff voice. “Yes, who are you?” I asked, leaning on the door frame. “I’m Aidan McLeod, Kathryn’s dad.”

  I was a bit taken aback. That’s why he looked familiar! I saw him in that picture that Kathryn had in her room.

  “I need to know exactly what happened.” He took a step closer and looked me straight in the eyes. He was at least three inches shorter than me, but I was still intimidated by him.

  I saw the same fiery look in his eyes that Kathryn got when she was angry or determined to do something. If he was anything like his daughter, I was sure that he wouldn’t leave until I told him everything. So I nodded and opened the door for him to come in.

  “You can sit down,” I said, still a little confused as to how he found me.

  “So what exactly happened when she was taken? I need to know every single detail.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you what I can remember. Right after I got home from dropping her off, I turned back around because I felt bad leaving home alone.”

  “So you were going to stay over there?” He asked, his eyebrows knitting together in displeasure.

  “No, she was, uh, going to stay here—in my sister’s room, so she didn’t have to stay alone in that big house. She was scared because she thought that someone tried to break in a few nights ago—”

  “She said that someone broke in?”

  “Yeah…yeah she did.” Now that I thought about it, I wondered if these events were somehow connected. What if someone really did break in that night that Sara was sleeping over?

  “I didn’t believe her then. She had me check the whole house, and I found no signs of a break in.” I scratched the stubble on my chin and thought for a moment. What if that someone who tried to break in was the same someone that kidnapped her?

  “So you were driving back to get her, and...?”

  “Yes, I was driving back and I saw her running along the road. I stopped the car and got out to see what was wrong. Before I knew it, I was shot in the leg and someone was dragging her away.”

  “Do you remember what the person looked like?” Aidan asked, leaning forward in his chair. I sighed and shook my head.

  “I suppose he was on the taller side. It was hard to tell, I mean I was on the ground. Kathryn was screaming for me. I crawled over to my car to get my gun so I could go after them but I wasn’t able to get far before Kathryn came running back to me.”

  “She came running back?”

  “Yeah, she said, she only had a minute but that they were there to kidnap her. I tried to convince her to take my truck keys and get out but she said that she wouldn’t because they had threatened to kill me.” I growled and shook my head. “When of the men came over and tried to pull her away. I had a clear shot and I took it. He pushed Kathryn down and jumped at me. I shot him twice in the chest, but it didn’t do anything. I suppose I missed…we struggled for a moment until smacked my head hard on the ground and I blacked out. Next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance.”

  Aidan sat back and scratched his graying beard.

  “How long have you and Kathryn known each other?” He asked after a moment.

  “Kathryn has been best friends with my younger sister Sara since they were in the sixth grade. I didn’t really get to know her until she was in high school though, since I joined the Army soon after graduating.”

  “Graduated high school?”

  “Yes, sir. I toured in Afghanistan in 2008.” I sighed, remembering all of the indescribable horrors I had seen there. “War is hell.”

  “Don’t I know it?” Aidan muttered.

  “Were you in the military, too?” I asked.

  “Something like that. So are you and Kathryn close?”

  The image of Kathryn’s beautiful self hovering over me, her blue eyes sad and desperate right before I kissed her flashed in my mind’s eye. “Yeah, I guess you could say that,” I mumbled.

  “Are you guys dating?”

  “No, sir,” I answered honestly. “But I intend to find her if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “Why?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in curiosity.

  “Because, I feel responsible for this. I should have been able to stop them,” I said, gritting my teeth, anger rising in my chest.

  “Even if you did shoot them, Abel, I don’t think you would have been able to stop them.” Aidan said, almost

  sympathetically.

  “Why not?” I asked defensively.

  “Because they were werewolves.” I raised my eyebrows and couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Very funny.” I said, sitting back in my seat.

  “I’m not trying to be funny.” He said, his serious facial expression telling me he wasn’t joking around.

  “Honestly? Werewolves?”

  �
�I’m dead serious.”

  “So you’re telling me that a bunch of werewolves came here just to kidnap Kathryn?”

  “Yes.”

  “But they’re not real, that’s just fantasy.”

  “That’s what most people believe.”

  “So…why is this not all over the news or taught in schools?”

  “Mainly because of the public hysteria that would be caused by it. There would probably be a nationwide shortage of silver on top of things and then the public would be helpless.” I was scared because somehow all of was making sense to me.

  “Now how do you know all of this? Do you work for the government or something?”

  Mr. McLeod nodded his head.

  “Yes, I am a sort of werewolf hunter and I work for the government.”

  “Is that why they took her? Because they knew she was your daughter?”

  I saw the pain in his eyes as he nodded his head, despite that fact his face remained expressionless.

  “It’s a long story, but there is one person who might be trying to get at me.” Aidan replied, averting his gaze.

  “Do you think he’s using her as bait?” I asked.

  “Either that or he’s going to try and kill her to make a point.”

  Anger burned in my chest. “Once I get my hands on these wolves I’m gonna—”

  “Who says you’re coming with us?” Aidan asked with an amused look on his face.

  “I do.” I replied matter-offactly. “Who exactly is ‘us’?'” I asked.

  “Me and my son Ryan, my old friend Boone, some of the other werewolf hunters.”

  “When do we leave?”

  “I am leaving soon, but there’s someone I need to speak to first.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “You have a concussion. And how are you supposed to keep up with that leg?” The look on his face was one of amusement; but I thought I could see a glint of something else in his eyes. Surprise maybe? Respect? Either way, I somehow convinced him to let me come along.

  *~*~*

  The car ride over to Kathryn’s stepfather’s house was quiet except for the gentle hum of the motor. I was still trying to process the whole werewolf thing. The skeptical part of me was thinking that Kathryn’s dad belonged in the loony bin; but there was a small voice in the back of my mind that was able to piece it together and realize that it actually could be a possibility. I guess I would just have to wait and see how Kathryn’s mom reacted to whatever Aidan was going to say— whether she knew about this whole thing.

  Aidan took a deep breath before getting out of the car and walking up to the front door of the Arnett’s house. I slowly shuffled behind him, interested to see how this was all going to go down.

  “Aidan?” Kathryn’s mother gasped in disbelief. She was sitting on the front steps outside of their house. Her eyes were red from crying and her makeup was smudged all over her face.

  “Hey, Jana,” Aidan chuckled nervously.

  “Who’s at the door?” George called from inside the house.

  “What do you want, Aidan?” she asked coldly, ignoring George.

  “It’s about Kathryn,” Aidan said slowly.

  “Oh my god, did they find her? Is she okay? How did you know?”

  Aidan took a deep breath, then sighed. “No they haven’t found her. But…I think she’s been taken by—”

  “Jana, who’s—oh, it’s you. What the hell do you want pal?” George sneered at Aidan, pushing Jana aside and lunging toward Aidan. Aidan didn’t back down at all, he just took off his sunglasses and calmly said—“I’m here to speak to Jana about Kathryn.” They stood in silence for a moment, all looking at each other. “Alone.”

  “Why? What do you have to say to her that you can’t say in front of me?” George asked accusingly.

  “Well, if I told you what I was going to say, that would defeat the purpose of me speaking to her alone now, wouldn’t it?” Aidan asked dryly with a bit of a sparkle in his eyes. George’s face turned red and his eyes bugged out.

  “Get off my property,” George stated with venom in his voice.

  “If you would just give us a moment—”

  “No.”

  “George, let me speak with him,” Jana spoke up, tucking her sleek black hair behind her ear. George growled and turned to give her a hateful look.

  “That little bitch caused us nothing but trouble—”

  “That little bitch is my baby; would you please just give us a minute?” Fire lit up her dark brown eyes, and she stood up a little straighter. Maybe Kathryn had a bit of her mother in her after all.

  George cursed under his breath and stomped back in the house like a four year old, slamming the door behind him. I saw pain as Jana’s eyes as she turned to look at Aidan.

  “Please tell me you found her and she’s alright,” she said, her voice quivering a little.

  “No, we haven’t found her. But…I think I may know who’s taken her.”

  “Oh, Aidan…does this have something to do with the Pierce boy?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  Jana closed her eyes and shook her head. When she looked back up at Aidan, there was such hatred written all over her face that it made me cringe.

  “You bastard, I thought you said that we would be better off away from you? That the children would be safer. Now one of them has run off to join you in your insanity, and the other is lost to us. Taken by the monsters that you are supposed to be saving them from! I can’t believe you let this happen!” Anger burned in her voice as she shouted at Aidan, who just stood there looking rather guilty.

  “I know, Jana, I know. I’m going to get her back.” Jana’s hands shook as she

  “Is he dragging you into this nonsense too?” she asked me, completely ignoring Aidan.

  “Well—”

  “No, he wants to help. Jana, there’s a very good chance of us getting her back since she was only kidnapped two days— ”

  “Don’t give me false hope, Aidan.”

  “Jana, listen to me! I think I know who took her, and what he wants. I think this is Vladimir’s doing.”

  “You told me that he would leave us alone. That he had promised he’d never hurt any of us. You said that he was good.”

  “He did say that. But now I’m not so sure—I’m not sure of anything anymore, quite frankly. He’s the only one who knew about our family.”

  “We all know what’s probably going to happen to her. And you did this! This is all your fault, Aidan. Now we’re never going to see her again. I…I can’t even stand to look at you! Leave, just leave!” She pushed him off the porch with tears streaming down her face. Aidan sighed and started to walk away.

  “I’m going to get her back, Jana,” he called, turning around to look at her once more before getting back in the driver’s seat of his car.

  Mrs. Arnett went back in the house and slammed the door behind her.

  “Well…that went better than I thought it would, ” Aidan said with a relieved chuckle.

  “So, what do we do now?” I asked.

  “We get my daughter back,” he stated, putting the car in drive.

  Chapter Ten, Conan

  I shook my head and sighed as Kathryn fell to the ground, out cold. We probably could have handled that a bit better. “Liam, carry her back to camp. Valko, make sure she’s

  alright. Sawyer, put some damn clothes.” They did as they were told as I paced back and forth, trying to work out the events of the day in my mind. She reminded me of someone…someone from long ago. The memories sent shivers down my spine as the soft glow of the crescent moon shone on my skin.

  I wasn’t tired, which surprised me since I was up all day. I sighed and went back to the others, who were hovering around Kathryn. Valko was gently wiping the blood away and dabbing some kind of ointment on her head. She must have smacked it on that branch pretty hard; the skin near her scalp was split and bleeding.

  “Is she alright?” I asked Valko, feeling a l
ittle concerned for the girl. If she had given herself a concussion it would definitely set us back. Vladimir wouldn’t be too happy about it either.

  “She should be fine, but she is going to have one hell of a headache when she wakes up.” “Well, hopefully she’ll be out for a while. I’m not sure how many more meltdowns and escape attempts I can take,” I stated, shaking my head. It’d been a while since I had dealt with women. I had forgotten what a bother it was to take care of them.

  “It seems to me that this is going to be an eventful trip,” Liam chuckled.

  “Should be interesting,” I mumbled, rubbing my face. “That

  is, if you find dragging a stubborn she-devil through the

  wilderness interesting.”

  “Ah, lighten up, Conan—it’ll be fun,” Liam said, laying down

  and placing his hands behind his head. “At least she’s easy on

  the eyes.”

  I saw the gleam in his eyes and immediately sat up and

  shook my head. “Here we go,”

  “Ah, come on, Conan,” Sawyer said. “She's beautiful.” “Which is precisely why she is not leaving my sight,” I

  muttered.

  “Lighten up, dude,” Liam said. “You’ve got to admit she is

  very pretty.”

  “I never said she wasn’t. All I’m saying is that you boys

  better keep your hands to yourselves,” I grumbled, laying back

  down and closing my eyes.

  “Just our hands?” Sawyer questioned, feigning innocence. I ignored his stupid remarks and tried to get some rest. I

  was unsure if I could take a whole month of her acting like this. There was no doubt about it, the boys and I had our hands full.

  *~*~*

  Kathryn didn’t wake up until early the next morning. She

  groaned and sat up, touching her head and wincing as her

  fingers made contact with the swollen skin.

  “We match now,” I said. She looked confused for a second;

  then realization flashed across her face when she saw the

  bruise on my forehead.

  “Is that from me?”

  “Mhm.”

  “Well, good,” she said. She paused for a moment and looked

  at her feet, then looked up at me with fearful eyes. “Did…did