Page 8

T heo tossed and turned for hours thinking of a possible escape route or, at the very least, a way out of his chains.

His eyes grew heavy with sleep when a low, rumbly growl of an animal sent a shot of adrenaline through his veins.

He bolted up right in bed and stared into the darkness, listening close to the silence. The soft green glow of his scar was the only light. It came again.

It was louder now and reminded Theo of rolling thunder.

Quietly, he crept out of bed, holding a tangle of sheets to his chest to block out its light. The heavy chain attached to the bed scrape lightly on the floor as he walked.

When he got to the door and peered through the keyhole, his heart leapt into his throat.

The dark outline of an animal he'd never seen before was making its way up the hall. It walked on all fours and was long and tall. Its whole body was covered in thick, spotted fur and it had five tails that moved like ribbons in water at its back. It stalked up the hall with a leisureliness only reserved for predators. On its head were two large, lopsided opal antlers that looked like thick, sharp branches with a tangled bramble of thorny grey stems wrapped around them. Blood dripped off them, confirming that whatever this thing was, it had killed recently.

The prowling creature went still mid stride as if it felt Theo's gaze through the door. After what felt like an eternity, it chuffed and stalked lazily up the hall out of sight.

Theo sank to the floor. Is that beast the prince's version of a guard dog? Are there more? With his heart pounding in his chest, he let out a shaky breath.

He took a step back and the floor let out a loud creak and an instant later, a growl cut through the night. The door shook in its frame and Theo let out a startled scream as he stumbled back. The sheets wrapped around his ankles and sent him crashing to the floor.

This only spurred the beast on more. It clawed wildly down the door, sending splinters of wood clattering. The scent of dried blood grew stronger. The hinges rattled, ready to pop off and let the beast into Theo's cage.

He scrambled backwards on the floor until he was pressed up against the wall under the window.

The door cracked as the creature rammed the door with a snarl.

"Sebastian?" a voice called.

Abruptly, at its master's name, the creature abruptly stopped. The heavy paws faded into the dark as it continued its journey up the hall.

Theo's whole body trembled and as he sat wide awake, he kept his eyes trained on the door, worried the beast would come back.