Page 2 of The Musician and the Monster

The man tugged the rope and stalked her way. “I’m warnin’ ya.”

Father. Gerard.Her heart raced as she flicked her gaze to the house, praying for anything other than the empty yard that greeted her.

“Please.”Someone. Anyone.But if she waited for Father or Gerard, it might be too late. The thief could get away, and who knew if they’d be able to track him down? The nearby houses loomed dark and empty. Few lived in this part of town anymore with its old houses and little yards. She’d never thought it a problem until this moment.

Goddess, give me strength.Ceridwen advanced on the stranger who stood still in the street, knife toward her. She raised her hands, flute clutched in one, the other empty. “Please don’t take her from us.”

The man leaped forward, thrusting the knife in her direction. Ceridwen yelped and lunged backward. Nell bleated again, struggling against the stranger’s hold, but he only jerked the rope tighter.

“Get gone, girl, or I’m gonna—”

A deep growl echoed from the shadowed alleyway, sending a cold sweat breaking out over Ceridwen’s skin. The thief twisted toward the sound. The rope he held dropped from limp fingers. Nell ran back to the house, never slowing.

Red eyes glowed as a form stalked on all fours into the street. Skin as black as night stretched tight over bones. Hanks of dark hair clung to its knees, elbows, and the ridge along its spine. The thing was too big for a wolf. Too…wrong with its lanky limbs.

Run, run, run.A voice screamed in Ceridwen’s head. But she couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t respond to the panicked commands racing through her.

The monster slunk toward the man as she watched in horror, unable to move, its maw bared to display wicked fangs.

“Demon!” The man shifted his stance and swiped at the beast. It reeled away with a sharp screech. Claws swiped and missed. The second knife swipe struck home, leaving a streak of red across the monster’s leathery shoulder.

Time slowed as the beast reared and then leaped. An icy chill wrapped Ceridwen in a vise, constricting her chest. A scream split the air. Both figures tumbled onto the ground.

Her eyes snapped shut.Goddess, no.This wasn’t happening. A dream. A hallucination. It had to be. She’d wanted the man gone, but this?

The screams cut off abruptly. A shuddering, dry heave racked her body. Something scraped on stone, followed by a heavy thud. The rapid thump of her heart echoed through her soul in the sudden silence.

At length, she forced her eyes open and wished to the Goddess on her high throne she hadn’t.

The creature’s head bobbed, growing larger as it bounded in her direction.

“No!” Ceridwen threw her arms in front of her as the creature approached, rising to the height of a man before it barreled into her. Pain flared through her back and shoulders as they slammed against the stones. Her head followed with enough force that her teeth rattled. A scream lodged in Ceridwen’s throat as her arms flew wide and her flute spiraled away.

Spots swam in her vision as she opened her eyes to darkness pierced by two red orbs.

“Goddess, spare my soul.” The traditional prayer rose on instinct, her last defense against the monstrous thing looming above.

The snarling ceased, though warm, dark liquid dripped from the gaping maw onto her chin, neck, and dress. A hot, coarse tongue licked at the side of her face, sending another shiver down her spine.

“Please,” she begged.

The edges of its eyes lightened, turning white, almost humanlike.

Wood cracked against the monster’s side. “Off her, beast!” Father yelled.

The monster roared and leaped away. Father stood above her, brandishing the splintered end of his cane at the creature.

Ceridwen scrambled back, hands slipping on the wet cobblestones as her mind struggled to take in the monster.

Gerard stepped next to Father, swinging the metal end of a shovel toward the creature. “Stay back, fiend!” he roared.

Neither man would be able to stand against such a monster. It was a miracle Father stood at all without his cane.

The beast’s eyes flicked to her, looking almost human in the pale light filtering down from the moon above. Its irises alone remained red, a dark pupil visible now in the center.

Her rapid pulse hammered in her chest. Ceridwen’s older sister, Bronwyn, dropped to the ground next to her and pulled her into her arms. She stared at the monster with the fiercest look Ceridwen had ever seen, as if she could slay it with a glare alone.

In a breath, the monster turned and ran off between the houses, vaulting a stone wall to disappear into the night.

---