A Beautiful Evil (A Beautiful Book. 1) #Wattys2015

Chapter Ten - The Zoo

"The Zoo? You still call it that?" I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Well, no. I never really called it that until you came around," he confessed, grabbing my hand in his giant one, leading me down the corridor. "And plus, I haven't seen my division sense we left. It'll be good to see them again."

"Your numbers grow numerously everyday. I can guarantee you won't even recognize any of them." I challenged. "Human's are very creative, Ranjeet. Their minds work in mysterious ways. Ways that my father hasn't even begun to understand. I promise you that you won't even recognize some of the monster that are now under your control."

Ranjeet looked over his shoulder, giving me the stink eye. "At least I knew most of my subjects before we were cast out. Did you even bother trying to build a relationship with yours?"

I scowled. "No. But that's only because Daddy said it isn't good to make friendships," I defended, bristling slightly. "And plus, I knew Lilith and Rusalka-" I choked on the last name. Suddenly, my anger at Avery raged up, pouring out of my mouth before I could even stop it. "Do you remember, Ranjeet? Do you? Rusalka. What a beautiful Succubi she was. What a beautiful cheating, whore." I just wanted to shrink away, to hide in the shadows like I had for the past half-millennium. Tears burned my eyes and I had to glance away, looking at the floor to make sure Ranjeet didn't see my cry. He did, of course.

"Mara... That was many years ago. She's dead now anyway... You know this. She died a horrible death, one that I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy," he paused, his large fingers squeezing mine. "One that your mother will face if we don't find who did this. Now, if you want to have your own pity party then be my guest, but I don't want to sit here and watch. I want to talk to my sister." We finally reached the end of the long and twisting corridor, and Ranjeet let go of my hand briefly to unlock the brass lock. "So, the decision is up to you," he said, holding the large wooden door open for me.

I glared at him, sticking my tongue out. "Like I have a choice," I snarked, sliding past him and into the yard.

"You've always had a choice, and you always will." Like everything else in the castle, the yard, or in this case a very dense garden, was just as I remembered it. The sky was inky black, a blanket of darkness. There was no moon, no stars, because this simply wasn't earth. I followed Ranjeet down a narrow, concrete path, twigs and branches snagging my already destroyed sweatshirt.

We walked for what seemed like a few hours, single file to avoid being scratched by the bristly branches. Every now and then, just out of the corner of my eyes, I'd catch a glimpse of a pair of glowing eyes, and some animal scuttling through the thick undergrowth, snarling quietly. Once, I even thought I saw a white wolf behind me, and my heart pounded with excitement. Could it possibly be? I turned around, and it wasn't my imagination. It is!

Fillin stood in the center of the confining trail, tail wagging wildly and his eyes glowing like blue fire. "Fillin!" I shouted, making Ranjeet jump with a curse. At the sound of my voice, the wolf barked twice and bounded towards me. I met him halfway, opening my arms. Two giant paws railed into my shoulders, and a soft, bright pink tongue licked my face. "Hey boy!" I greeted, and Fillin yapped again, his light pink tongue flopping out in a wolf grin.

"Look's like somebody else missed you."

I turned on Ranjeet, smiling so hard my lips hurt. "Did you know he was following us?" I asked.

"Do you think I would have almost shit my pants if I had?" I smiled harder, turning to gaze at the white wolf whose tail thudded repeatedly into the soft earth, happy as could be. I don't know why, but gazing at the wolf made my heart flutter with happiness, but also sink with loss. Why? I suddenly thought of Alkaia.