Page 95 of Rescued By the Beast
Then a sound breaks the silence.
A low, hoarse groan, laden with pain.
My heart skips a beat.
The muscles in Mark's neck contract abruptly, the tendons standing out under his skin, taut as strings about to snap. His body trembles slightly, almost imperceptibly at first, but then a violent spasm runs through his limbs, shaking him all over.
"We need to get him out of here!" I cry, desperate.
"I don't have much to offer, I'm just a human..." Ethan mutters, but his expression is fierce, determined. "I need my hands to work, but I can live without a leg..."
"No! You're not going to bargain with her, Ethan," Ted interrupts, his eyes quick and urgent, scanning each of us. "No one will leave there without limbs or organs. I can offer part of my essence, maybe combine it with something else, but we need a plan..."
I've already made my decision.
"The plan is simple. We go to the old woman. I don't have any artefacts, but I have something she'll want.
The three of them stare at me.
"You're a cat..." Ted seems to understand.
I smile bitterly.
"Exactly. I have a few lives left." I swallow hard. "But I won't last long, it has to be now, I only have about thirty minutes left..."
"Like this?" Ethan asks.
I grit my teeth, frustrated that we are wasting precious seconds on useless conversation. My condition is not the most urgent at the moment, but they need to know.
"I've been cursed to be trapped in my animal form. I have no control over my body. I'm managing to transform into a human for a few minutes, but my essence is already running out."
Balthazar gasps, looking at me curiously.
"Only the one who cast the curse can break it... or you yourself, if you discover the key to undoing it."
I store his words in a corner of my mind, but now is not the time to think about them. Mark's life is in our hands; he is the priority now.
"My curse can wait," I declare through gritted teeth. "Mark can't, every second counts."
"Ethan, help me carry him to the gate," Ted orders. "I asked an employee to bring my van while Zephyra transported us through the air. It should be here by now."
Without wasting any time, they begin to carry Mark. Ted holds his arms, and Ethan takes his legs.
With a burst of energy, I get up, remembering too late that my body is still exposed. I try to cover my nakedness with my arms; there's no time to fetch the dress I hid on the other side of the yard.
The urgency consumes us, dragging us along like a rushing river.
"Here, put this on." Balthazar approaches with a fluid movement, removing his black robe and holding it out to me.
His gaze is lowered, giving me privacy.
"Thank you." I accept the garment and cover myself hastily, tying the cord at the waist to keep the fabric closed in place.
I run to the gate and quickly type in the code. As soon as it opens, I see the white van with the company logo. The key is in the ignition. I open the back door and get in, helping Ted and Ethan settle Mark into the seat. I gently place his head on my lap, feeling his hair stiff with blood and the coldness of his skin. A wave of helplessness washes over me, but I still look at him as if my presence could make a difference, as if I could transfer some of my strength to him.
Ted hurries to the steering wheel, and the van's engine roars to life. Before I know it, we're all inside, racing through the night as if we're running against time — and, in fact, we are.
I pray to the stars as Ethan leans over, sitting in the seat across from mine, his gaze fixed on his friend as he listens to his heart. Balthazar, in the passenger seat, keeps his eyes on the road, giving Ted quick directions to follow. The witch is in another forest, and traffic causes us to lose ten minutes before we reach the road that leads to it.
