Academia of the Beast: A Dark Retelling of Beauty and the Beast(2)

She’d tried to break free from his grasp, surprised that he had learned her secret, but he held tightly, his brown eyes looking at her with love and not the fear or judgment she’d always expected.

“They will find you. And they will kill you.” The stern look that filled his eyes had sent chills through her body as he held her hands out behind her house in the woods. “Let me take care of you. Let’s leave and start a new life together,” he’d said.

That was last winter when she still thought he loved her more than any girl in the world—before he gambled all of her life savings away.

That was before the Wolf sniffed her out at the festival and she’d fled for her life. As Allyn cleaned her tiny apartment, dusting her bookshelves and sweeping the vinyl floor, she tried to forget the fear of being hunted. The same fear haunted her at night, warning her that the hunt was not over.

She remembered the first time she’d heard of a young woman being sniffed out by the Wolves and how that woman ended up publicly executed.

Exhausted from lack of sleep, Allyn wiped her brow and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror over the short bookcase. There were tears in her green eyes. Her wavy red hair was a stark contrast to her porcelain white skin splattered with freckles.

She squeezed her eyes shut and turned away from her image. She hated her face and the red hair that was so rare that she’d suffered constant teasing as a child. The only reason she didn’t dye it another color was because it reminded her of her mother, and how much she loved it.

A knock on the front door startled her. Instead of rushing to answer it, she froze, her face paling as she held her breath.

She didn’t move a muscle, afraid that one tiny squeak of the wooden floor would make the landlord aware of her presence. They were behind on their rent and any day now they would be forced out onto the streets.

“Allyn,” a muffled female voice called from the other side and Allyn exhaled.

Relieved, she crossed the room and unlocked several bolts on the door.

Big blue eyes widened when Allyn opened the door. “Goodness gracious. You look like a freaking ghost!”

“Shush, Aude,” Allyn said, pulling the young blonde woman in by her small hand. “I do not.” She shot a glance down the dark hallway, relieved that the landlord was nowhere to be seen.

“Yeah, you do. Are you eating? Sleeping? Why haven’t I heard from you?” Aude asked. She was dressed in a black coat and jeans, her blonde hair tucked in a green beanie Allyn had knitted for her.

She took it off and rushed to warm herself in front of the meager fire. Allyn watched her, not sure how long the wood would last.

“I’m fine,” Allyn murmured.

“Whatever. Liar. I can see it all on your face that something is wrong. Have you left this awful apartment since I last saw you at the bakery?”

“I told you that I’m fine. I’ve just been staying inside and trying to stay warm.”

“Sure. I can’t blame you for not going outside. It's damn cold out there,” Aude said. “I think the Winter Winds might be coming early this year.”

Allyn chewed her bottom lip. She knew that to be a fact, but she couldn’t tell Aude that she could feel the change in the air. Though they’d been friends for the past nine months, she still wasn’t sure she could trust her with her darkest secrets.

“I need more firewood,” Allyn said, opening the closet to get her coat out. “I think we can make it to the shops and find some on sale.”

“I’m not so sure. They like to raise the prices for last minute shoppers. It might be too expensive.”

Allyn’s shoulders slumped. “I have to try. The power was cut off last week and I don’t know how I’ll survive without a fire in the middle of the winter.”

Aude took her hands. “Come stay with Khia and I. Our electricity is paid for the rest of the year. You can even sleep on our bed. We’ll make a comfy spot on the floor in the studio. It will be cozy.”

Chewing her lip, Allyn considered it. But she feared that as soon as she’d leave, Byron would return and wouldn’t know where she was. Even though he had hurt her numerous times, she still loved him.

“What do you say?”

Allyn shook her head and slipped on her coat. “But, what if Byron returns?”

“Come on, girl. Get over that scum. You know he’s probably sleeping in another woman’s bed right now...drunk or drugged to oblivion.”

That stung. Allyn’s cheeks turned red as she fought to disbelieve Aude’s accusations.

“And, you won’t be stuck. One of the designers Khia works for has passes to leave during the winter curfew. For once we get to go to parties and events that only the wealthy go to. Maybe you can meet a man...a real man. With money.”

“Enough,” she said, feeling like an idiot as the words escaped her lips. She knew that Aude was right, but what would she do without Byron? Allyn crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you coming with me or not?”

Sighing, Aude nodded, putting her hat back on. “Let’s go before it gets dark.”

Outside, the bitter cold assaulted their exposed faces, and Allyn pulled her red scarf across her mouth and around her head. She shivered and groaned, hating how the wind roared down the black streets, nearly knocking her over.

Winter in the magical kingdom of Elastria was a time of darkness and frost. Allyn pulled her navy wool coat tighter to her body as a swift wind blew her crimson hair around her pale face. She stepped onto the icy sidewalk, careful to avoid slipping.