Page 47 of Falling for the Beast

Thaddeus turned off the main highway after ten minutes and headed into town. The homes were old, the neighborhood well established. He pulled up in front of what she would have described as the creepy house at the end of the street. Dark green paint peeled off the sides, and the steps were in need of repair. Half the windows had broken shutters. The whole thing said, ‘Stay away.’ Aribelle swallowed and tried to calm her nerves. Just a conversation. That was it.

Thaddeus motioned to the door. “I think it’s best if I hang back here, but I don’t want you to go in. Stay where I can see you.”

“Okay.” She dismounted, her legs feeling shaky. She could do this. Talk. That’s all it was. She handed Thaddeus her helmet.

She walked up the broken sidewalk and climbed the stairs. The wooden railing wobbled. She was careful not to get a sliver from the wood. She approached the door and pushed the ornate doorbell. Inside the house, she could hear the chimes ring.

Shuffling noises came and the door opened. Aribelle didn’t know what she was expecting, but the woman who stood before her wasn’t it. She was young. And stunning. She had black hair hanging down to her waist and wide almond shaped eyes. “Yes?” When she spoke, her voice sounded melodious. Like she belonged in a coffee shop reciting poetry.

“I’m looking for Catherine.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed, and she took a quick glance over Aribelle. “Who wants to see Catherine?”

“My name is Aribelle. I want to talk to her for a few minutes.”

The woman assessed her for a moment longer before shrugging and opening the door. “Okay. Come in.”

“Actually, can she come to the door?” She pointed to Thaddeus, still on the motorcycle. “I don’t want to leave my friend.”

“I’ll ask.” The woman disappeared into the house.

A few seconds ticked by, and she heard more shuffling noises. Then Catherine appeared. She was tall and had striking silver hair. Thaddeus had called her old, but she looked to only be in her sixties. And she wore it well. “Can I help you?” Catherine asked.

“I’m Aribelle.” She awkwardly stuck out her hand, but Catherine didn’t move to take it, so she let it fall. “You don’t know me. My friend came to you eight or nine years ago.” She glanced at Thaddeus, who hadn’t moved a muscle, although she knew he was listening quite closely and could be at her side at a moment’s notice.

“Who?” Catherine asked, staring at him.

“Thaddeus Walker.”

A gasp sounded from inside the house, and Aribelle looked past Catherine to see the younger woman, her hand to her face. Catherine craned her neck to look at Thaddeus, then shook her head. “I don’t know him.” She turned her attention back to Aribelle. “What do you want?”

“The night Thaddeus came to you, he asked you to heal a girl.”

“That’s not out of the ordinary.”

“She was dead.”

Catherine stiffened. “I remember now.”

Aribelle could have sworn the air turned colder, and she involuntarily shivered, clutching her coat tighter around her. The woman was kind of creepy, but she had to keep going with this. She couldn’t turn back now. “You cursed him.”

Catherine’s dark gaze pierced through her. “He deserved it.”

“I have no doubt about that. But he’s changed.”

The woman sneered and folded her arms across her chest. “Really? And you’ve come to beg me to lift the curse, I suppose?”

“Well…” Aribelle didn’t know what to say. Obviously, that was what she wanted. But it was clear that Catherine wasn’t going to believe that Thaddeus had changed and didn’t want to help her.

“Has he gotten his temper under control?” She arched a brow at Aribelle.

Temper? Aribelle thought back to the first day she’d met him. He’d been so horrible to her she’d vowed never to come back. And last night, he’d yelled again. She chewed her bottom lip.

A smug smile developed on Catherine’s face. “I thought so. Let me give you some advice.” Catherine leaned closer. “Get away from him as fast as you can. He’s bad news. Leave before he drives your head through a steel pole like he did the other one.”

She moved to shut the door and Aribelle panicked. “Wait. Please. Just hear me out.”

Catherine frowned. “Nothing you could say could change my mind. He’s a selfish monster. And he deserves everything he got.”

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