Academia of the Beast: A Dark Retelling of Beauty and the Beast(3)

Allyn looked down at her gloved hands, feeling heat radiate from her palms—heat that could warm her and Aude—but too afraid to chance it.

She had enough to worry about with an eviction notice stamped to the door to the flat she shared with Byron to add to the witch hunt that plagued Elastria.

“Let’s hurry before the shop closes,” Allyn said, taking careful steps along the sidewalk. Her black boots crunched salt that had been sprinkled along the roads and sidewalks of the inner city. No amount of salt could keep the onslaught of snow that would soon fall from the perpetually gray sky.

“Yes,” Aude said, as they walked down Gilded Street toward the largest indoor market in the entire kingdom.

The crowds were already lined up outside the golden doors, prepared to buy everything they’d need to survive the cold winter. Allyn checked her brass pocket watch that hung from her waistcoat. Like the others, she’d waited until the last minute to do her final shopping. In just a few days, all shops and centers would close, and the city would enter a form of hibernation. If she hadn’t had to wait for her last check of the season to arrive, she might have been able to avoid the long lines.

She stood there at the back of the line, anxious to get in and get out. “This is going to be fun,” she said with a sigh.

Aude looked around, her blue eyes scanning the two separate lines that filed into Grand Castile Plaza. “I don’t see anyone that we know.” Her shoulders slumped. “So, we are stuck.”

Allyn shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m in no rush. I’ve been stuck in the house all day, cleaning, and trying to keep my mind off things.” She put her hand to her forehead as all of her worries flooded her mind. With a sigh, she forced a smile. “I’m lucky to have such an amazing friend.”

Aude hugged her, seeing how fragile her new friend was. Within such a short time, they’d become close, closer than Allyn had been with anyone back home. Back home she didn’t have friends, just painful memories. There were good ones too, up until a point. While the memories she fought to repress continued to haunt her most days, Allyn was determined to look forward.

“Everything is going to get better, sweetie,” Aude said, smoothing Allyn’s hair. “You have Khia and me and we both love you like a sister. There’s no way we will let anything happen to you.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

They stood under the red awning as fat snowflakes continued to cascade from the sky.

Allyn glanced back at her house, her heart dropping when she saw a black police van pull in front of her apartment building. She clutched Aude by the arm.

“Oh no,” she whispered and Aude followed her gaze.

“Shit,” Aude said. “I’m sorry.”

Tears burned Allyn’s eyes as she watched another truck pull up behind the police. Four big men jumped out and followed the officers inside the building. She knew what was happening and there was no longer any use shopping for supplies.

They’d come to put her out of her home and take her things.





CHAPTER 2


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KHIA OUTSTRETCHED HER arms to Allyn, her pretty heart-shaped face saddened by the news of Allyn’s eviction.

“Come here, honey,” she said and wrapped her arms around Allyn. “It’s going to get better. I promise. Aude and I are going to take good care of you. Don’t you worry. We have enough to get all of us through the season.”

Aude kissed Khia on the lips. She took off her hat and coat and hung it up on the coat rack by the door before going directly to the fireplace to warm her hands.

Allyn sucked up tears. “You’re too kind. Thank you,” she said, hating herself for crying over Byron. Just when she thought she had no more tears to shed, he ushered them forth once again. “I’m really looking forward to better times.”

“Khia is right. It will get better, especially now that Byron is out of your life,” Aude said. “When the season starts up again, you can actually save your money and not have him spend it all on stupid shit.”

“I don’t want to hear his name. I really don’t,” Allyn said, pulling away from Khia. She held out her arms. “Let’s just stay warm and try to make the most of this season.”

“Good. That’s the plan.” Khia was almost a foot taller, with perfect brown skin, waist-length brown hair and hazel eyes that made her one of the most sought after models in the city. Khia’s earning potential alone paid for their lavish apartment in the Heathrow area.

Allyn’s eyes scanned the studio apartment. The studio apartment was compartmentalized to show the definition of space. A king-sized bed was at the far end beneath a large window, separated by a half wall just before the office space. Shelves lined the entire wall from waist-length to a few inches below the ceiling.

The living space was the biggest portion of the studio, with black sofas and a red coffee table, a flat screen hanging on the wall, and a piano that Aude played on when they had parties.

She hated charity, but at least she would be warm for the winter. With nowhere else to go, she’d have to do what was necessary to survive.

So, she shrugged off her waistcoat and put it on the coat rack.

“Make yourself at home. Like I said, Khia and I are happy to sleep out here and you can take our bed.”